One of the most frightening complications of hypertension is kidney failure. Long standing hypertension without appropriate treatment may cause kidney failure. And finally the patients will need to have dialysis or even kidney transplantation.
If someone experience kidney failure, then their quality of life will be greatly reduced, where the dialysis will be done two to three times a week, ranging between 4-5 hours each time dialysis. And they will spend a lot of money to have that kind of treatment.
Therefore, the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure is very important. Given, many wrong myths developed in society. For example, high blood pressure medication is taken only when experiencing dizziness or headache. If the patient does not experience a complaint, then the drug is not taken.
The habits of patients who are reluctant to take these anti-hypertension drugs are at risk of experiencing various complications of hypertension. Though targeted blood pressure is expected to reach below 130/90 mmHg. Because the principle of high blood pressure treatment is to control blood pressure remained within normal range. Hypertensive patients should continue taking daily anti-hypertensive medicines even if their blood pressure is normal.
There is another myth about taking anti hypertension drugs for long time would damage the kidney. I can say that this myth has no basis, because it is hypertension that will cause kidney failure if not controlled by such medication.
There is also a myth that an elderly person is considered normal if his/her blood pressure is above 140 mmHg. This is also a misnomer, because the definition of hypertension is systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥90 mmHg. We can see the groupings based on the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) on hypertension into several categories. Blood pressure <120 mmHg and <80 mmHg is normal. BP 120-139 mmHg or 80-89 mmHg is called pre-hypertension. BP 140-159 or 90-99 is called stage 1 hypertension and BP ≥ 160 mmHg and ≥100 mmHg is called stage 2 hypertension.
For those who have normal blood pressure is recommended to have their blood pressure checked at least every 2 years. Pre-hypertension once a year but still do exercise regularly, eating healthy foods, not smoking, not drinking alcohol. While those who have experienced stage 1 and 2 hypertension, they have to meet their doctors every month and to take medicine every day.
Because hypertension would cause many complications including kidney failure, stroke, and heart failure, the people with hypertension must be aware about these threat. Examining regular blood pressure and getting optimal treatment is an important step. They also need to have regular exercise, at least three times a week for 30 minutes and drink 2-3 liters per day. And restict salt as well.
BAHASA INDONESIA
Salah satu komplikasi hipertensi yang paling ditakutkan adalah gagal ginjal. Hipertensi lama yang dibiarkan tanpa pengobaan yang menyebabkan gagal ginjal sehingga membutuhkan cuci darah ataupun transplantasi ginjal.
Bila sudah gagal ginjal tentu saja kualitas hidup penderita akan sangat berkurang, di mana cuci darah akan dilakukan dua hingga tiga kali seminggu, berkisar antara 4-5 jam setiap kali cuci darah. Selain itu, biaya yang dibutuhkan sangat besar.
Oleh karena itu, pencegahan dan pengobatan darah tinggi sangatlah penting. Mengingat, banyak mitos salah yang berkembang di masyarakat. Misalnya, obat darah tinggi hanya diminum apabila mengalami pusing atau sakit kepala, kalau pasien tidak mengalami keluhan, maka obat tidak diminum.
Kebiasaan pasien yang enggan minum obat ini, sangat memprihatinkan karena beresiko menimbulkan berbagai komplikasi dari hipertensi. Padahal target tekanan darah yang diharapakan tercapai berkisar dibawah 130/90 mmHg. Karena prinsip pengobatan darah tinggi adalah mengontrol tekanan darah tetap dalam batas normal. Pasien hipertensi harus tetap minum obat anti hipertensi setiap hari walaupun tekanan darahnya normal.
Ada lagi sebuah mitos yang tidak dapat dipertanggungjawabkan berkembang dalam masyarakat Indonesia, yakni apabila terus-menerus minum obat darah tinggi maka efek dari obat-obatan tersebut dapat merusak ginjal. Mitos ini tentu saja salah, karena justru hipertensilah yang akan menyebabkan gagal ginjal bila tidak terkontrol.
Ada juga mitos kalau seseorang yang sudah tua dianggap wajar kalau tekanan darahnya di atas 140 mmHg. Ini juga keliru, karena definisi hipertensi adalah tekanan darah sistolik ≥ 140 mmHg atau tekanan diastolik ≥90 mmHg. Kita dapat melihat pengelompokan berdasarkan Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) terhadap darah tinggi atau hipertensi ke dalam beberapa kategori. Bila tekanan darah (TD) <120 mmHg dan < 80 mmHg adalah normal. TD 120-139 mmHg atau 80-89 mmHg disebut prahipertensi. TD 140-159 atau 90-99 disebut hipertensi stadium 1. Dan TD ≥ 160 mmHg dan ≥ 100 mmHg.
Bagi yang mempunyai tekanan darah normal disarankan untuk kontrol minimal tiap 2 tahun sekali. Prahipertensi setahun sekali tapi tetap olahraga teratur, konsumsi makanan sehat mengandung sayur dan buah-buahan, tidak merokok, tidak minum alkohol, dan menurunkan berat badan. Sedangkan yang sudah mengalami hipertensi stadium 1 dan 2 kontrol setiap bulan sambil minum obat setiap hari.
Dengan resiko komplikasi gagal ginjal, sudah sepatutnya hipertensi tidak boleh dianggap enteng. Periksa tekanan darah teratur dan mendapatkan pengobatan optimal merupakan langkah penting, selain diet, olahraga teratur minimal tiga kali seminggu selama 30 menit dan minum 2-3 liter per hari. Juga membatasi asupan garam.
Warm Regard,
dr. Abdul Razak, SpPD /
Internal Medicine Specialist
Munyang Kute Redelong Hospital
Bener Meriah District of Aceh Province, Indonesia
