VARIATIONS or fluctuations in blood pressure in patients with hypertension proved to increase the risk of complications. The larger the range of variations, the higher the risk for damage to various vital organs. "Recent studies prove it," said the neurologist Yuda Turana at a medical discussion in Jakarta last week.
He cited the case of two people with hypertension whose average blood pressure is the same value, 140 mmHg. One is stable at 140, while the other suffers in numbers 110, 120, 140, 150, or 170. "Although the average is 140, people with varying blood pressure are at greater risk of internal organ damage," said the doctor who also Dean of Faculty of Medicine Unika Atmajaya Jakarta.
Why is that? Yuda likens blood pressure like voltage or electrical voltage. "When the electrical voltage changes, the electronically powered electronics will break down faster." Even so with the organs in the body. All organs get the supply of nutrients and oxygen in the blood that flows through the blood vessels. Changing blood pressure in people with hypertension, he added, more quickly damage the endothelium, one layer of blood vessel walls. When the endothelial is damaged, the blood vessel is more susceptible to atherosclerosis (stiffness), narrowing, and even blockage so that it can not distribute blood properly to the target organs. As a result, organs such as heart, brain, and kidneys will be damaged.
"So when there are two people with hypertension, one stroke or kidney failure, while the other is not, and because of genetic factors also due to variation factor of this blood pressure," added the doctor who practiced in Atmajaya Hospital Jakarta. According to Yuda, so far not determined the range of blood pressure variations that are considered dangerous. "However, experts agree, the greater the deviation deviation (difference) the value of blood pressure, the greater the risk of organ damage."
Therefore, continued Yuda, it is very important for people with hypertension to regularly measure blood pressure independently at home to know whether there is any variation on blood pressure. "The variation in question could be the difference in blood pressure between morning, noon, night, or between yesterday and today, or different when measured in the clinic by home."
A person with hypertension whose blood pressure varies is recommended to consult a doctor immediately. Improvement efforts can be done through the selection of appropriate types and combinations of drugs. "Hypertension medicines of the era are now developed in addition to lowering blood pressure as well in order to maintain the stability of blood pressure as long as possible.His direction, how to with a one-time drug blood pressure patients can be maintained normal and stable all day," he explained.
Needs vs. addiction
Associated with the treatment of hypertension, Yuda explained, for the early stages of treatment always begins with the application of a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, reduce consumption of salt and alcoholic beverages, and manage stress. If the effort fails, then the medicine is given. The selection of drug types and combinations is determined by the patient's condition. "Whether the sufferer has a comorbid illness, whether it has complications, it all determines the selection of the drug used."
Regarding the question of when to take hypertension medication? Yuda replied, "Lifetime, because there is no cure for hypertension now, the drugs that control blood pressure to prevent complications like kidney failure, heart attack and stroke." Some people, Yuda said, often mistake it as a form of drug dependence. That is not true. "Not dependency, but necessity."
What about the side effects that are also often feared? Yuda explained that every drug does have side effects. However, the side effects of hypertension drugs are not so much when compared