Patient's question:
My aunt is a patient with high blood pressure. The doctor prescribed her antihypertensive medication. However, when I visited her at her home, I noticed that she takes her medication at a rather casual time. She always says that as she gets older, she tends to forget things. But I always feel it's not quite right, and I'd like to ask a few questions: Is there a secret to the best time for hypertensive patients to take medication?Doctor's answer:
The timing of medication for patients with hypertension is based on scientific reasoning, as blood pressure is not constant over a 24-hour period and exhibits spontaneous fluctuations. During deep sleep at night, blood pressure can rise significantly. If hypertensive patients frequently forget to take their medication during the day and instead take antihypertensive drugs right before bedtime, it may lead to excessively low blood pressure at night. This is particularly risky for the elderly, as it can increase the likelihood of ischemic stroke.