Patient's question:
My grandmother has been feeling dizzy and having headaches these days, sometimes she feels her heart racing. She went to the hospital to check her blood pressure, and the highest reading was 180/110mmHg. I would like to consult about this. For a 60-year-old elderly person who has just been diagnosed with high blood pressure, do they need to take medication? What are the side effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs?Doctor's answer:
Your grandmother's blood pressure is 180/110 mmHg, which is high blood pressure and the diagnosis is quite clear. In cases like hers, it is generally necessary to use antihypertensive medication. At the same time, the medication should be adjusted according to blood pressure levels. Typically, this condition requires two antihypertensive drugs to maintain control. If two blood pressure medications still do not control it well, it may be necessary to use three antihypertensive drugs. Additionally, it is important to be cautious of a recurrence of stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.