Patient's question:
I have a two-year history of hypertension, but it is mostly characterized by high systolic pressure, while the diastolic pressure remains within the normal range. Then, I would like to ask if there are medications specifically targeting systolic pressure? How effective are they?Doctor's answer:
Purely systolic hypertension is a special case in the elderly, indicating arteriosclerosis, where insufficient elasticity prevents blood vessels from relaxing, leading to normal diastolic pressure. Current antihypertensive medications are sustained-release tablets, which do not immediately lower blood pressure rapidly to normal levels but gradually reduce it. If blood pressure drops too quickly, patients may experience some uncomfortable clinical symptoms. Calcium channel blockers are still quite effective for patients with high systolic blood pressure.