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Due to the busy life of modern times, stress, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, high blood pressure has become a very common health problem today. People also know this disease present in every household by the name of ‘silent killer’, because it gradually hollows out the vital organs of the body like heart, kidney and brain from inside. Generally, when a person’s blood pressure increases, the doctor advises him to take anti-hypertensive medications (Blood Pressure Medications) regularly, and the patient starts living his life normally with the help of those pills. But, many times such complex cases also come to light in the medical world where the patient is taking the most expensive medicines with full regularity, but despite this his blood pressure does not come under control. If the same is happening with you or someone you know, then this case is not normal. There may be a hidden medical condition behind this which sometimes even experienced doctors fail to catch at first sight. Let us know in detail what are the secret reasons behind this condition and what steps should patients take in such times.
In the language of medical science, this serious condition is called ‘Resistant Hypertension’. This is when a person is taking at least three different types of high blood pressure medicines (including a diuretic) on a regular basis, and yet his blood pressure remains above the target level. Compared to normal high BP, the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure increases many times more in patients with resistant hypertension. The biggest challenge is that the patient feels that even though he is taking all the medicines on time, why is the disease not being controlled? Behind this, there are some secondary reasons hidden within the body which are not directly visible in normal blood pressure test and which require special diagnostic tests to detect them.
When all the medicines start failing, then doctors and specialists have to think deeply that there is some other hidden disease at the root of high blood pressure. The most important reason among these is ‘Secondary Hypertension’, under which other parts of the body are affected:
Hormonal Disorders: Adrenal glands in our body produce many important hormones. If there is a small lump or tumor in these glands, which starts secreting hormones like aldosterone or cortisol excessively, then the blood pressure starts skyrocketing like a rocket. This condition is called hyperaldosteronism, which requires special blood tests to detect.
Renal Artery Stenosis: If the main arteries supplying blood to the kidneys get narrowed due to accumulation of cholesterol, then the kidney starts sending signals that the blood pressure in the body is low, in response to which the body’s system increases the blood pressure further. It is not easy to catch this blockage every time with a normal stethoscope.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Frequent stopping of breathing and loud snoring while sleeping at night is called sleep apnea. The body of patients suffering from this disease remains under stress throughout the night, due to which their blood pressure becomes dangerously high as soon as they wake up in the morning. Many times doctors just keep changing the BP medicine and the real root cause of sleep apnea remains hidden.
Unknowingly taking medicines (Hidden Drug Interferences): Many times, patients keep taking such over-the-counter medicines (like painkillers or nasal decongestants) for their general physical pain or cold, which completely neutralize the effect of effective blood pressure pills.
Not only internal diseases, but there are also some unspoken habits related to our daily lifestyle which make all the doctor’s prescriptions fail. Consuming excessive amounts of sodium (salt) dilutes the effect of every BP pill. Nowadays, there is a lot of hidden salt content in processed foods, packaged snacks and fast food, which the patient does not realize.
Additionally, chronic stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep are factors that keep the sympathetic nervous system constantly active, causing narrowing of the arteries. Regular consumption of alcohol and smoking also reduce the elasticity of the arteries, due to which medicines are not able to do their job properly.
If you or any of your relatives are struggling with the same problem and BP remains above 140/90 even after taking medicine, then first of all do not panic but contact a good ‘Nephrologist’ or ‘Endocrinologist’. Discuss openly with the doctor whether there is any secondary cause in your case.
Monitor your blood pressure at home and keep a record of it in a diary to help your doctor understand the true pattern. Make drastic changes in lifestyle and minimize salt intake, make yoga, pranayam and walk a part of your daily routine. Remember, if the medicines are not working, it does not mean that there is no solution, but it means that you need to get to the bottom of your disease and find the right and accurate treatment.