Ms. Zhang, 57 years old, has been suffering from hypertension for 8 yearsLong-term use of antihypertensive drugs
She has a hobby, that is, she loves fruits, she believes that fruits are rich in vitamin C, which helps to enhance immunity and is good for diseases, so she eats some fruits almost every day. In the past three months, she has been particularly fond of the sweet and sour taste of yuzu, and she will eat some yuzu for breakfast or afternoon tea every day.
But recently,Ms. Zhang often felt dizzy after taking the medicationIn order to avoid a more serious situation, the family took her to the hospital for a check-up
After blood and imaging tests, Ms. Zhang's results showed that there was no major problem, but the doctor found that Ms. Zhang's blood pressure was only 93 59 mm Hg, which was not like the normal blood pressure of a hypertensive patient, but Ms. Zhang said that she had not overdosed, and her blood pressure had been good before.After careful questioning, the doctor learned that Ms. Zhang likes to eat grapefruit very much, and then found the reason. The doctor gave Ms. Zhang and her family a brief explanation:This fruit causes the blood pressure medication to increase in the blood concentration in the body, resulting in the drug being too effective, which can produce symptoms of lightheadedness. The doctor advised Ms. Zhang to reduce her intake of grapefruit and to eat it at least 12 hours after taking the medicine.
After returning home, she followed the doctor's instructions and only ate a little occasionally, and it was staggered with the time of taking the medicine, and after a period of time, her blood pressure also stabilized, and she no longer felt dizzy and uncomfortable.
Like Ms. Zhang, many patients with high blood pressure rely on antihypertensive drugs to control their blood pressure in their daily lives. You may not realize that there are 3 things that need to be avoided after taking blood pressure medication to ensure the effectiveness of the medication and your own health safety.
One is: milk
Interactions between antihypertensive drugs and milk may affect drug absorption and efficacy. The calcium in milk can chemically react with the ingredients in some antihypertensive drugs to formInsoluble compounds adhere to the surface of the drug, thereby reducing the absorption rate of the drugThis may result in the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs being diminished and not being able to achieve the desired antihypertensive effect.
Milk contains a large amount of butyric acid, and the receptor blocker in antihypertensive drugs contains substances that inhibit the decomposition of butyric acidCauses a sharp rise in blood pressure, increasing the risk to health.
For some patients with severe hypertension, the drug does not take effect at the normal time and the blood pressure rises sharply, which will cause certain harm to the body and increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the long run.
It is best to take antihypertensive drugs with plain water, not milk, and if you need to take milk, it is best to take milk at a distance from the time of taking the medicine to reduce the harm of food and drug interaction.
The second is: alcohol
Antihypertensive drugs work through different mechanisms, including dilating blood vessels, reducing cardiac workload, and inhibiting salt retention in the kidneys; Whereas, alcohol can depress the central nervous system in a short period of time, causing blood vessels to dilate and heart rate to increase. This means that antihypertensive drugs and alcohol have the same mechanism of action in regulating blood pressure.
When antihypertensive drugs and alcohol are taken together, the same effect can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension, or fainting [1].
In addition,Drinking alcohol before and after taking the drug may also interfere with the metabolism and elimination of the drugThe concentration of the drug in the body increases or decreases, which in turn affects the efficacy of the drug. It is advisable to avoid the intake of such drinks or foods before and after taking the medicine.
The third is: grapefruit
Furanocoumarin, a natural compound contained in grapefruit, has the effect of inhibiting certain drug metabolizing enzymes, including those required for antihypertensive drugs.
Specifically, antihypertensive drugs are usually metabolized and cleared by metabolic enzymes in the liver, and furanocoumarins can inhibit the activity of these metabolic enzymes, so that antihypertensive drugs stay in the body for a longer time.
This means that the concentration of the drug may increase, increasing its effectiveness and the risk of potential adverse reactionsIt can cause dizziness, palpitation, and fatigue, and can induce angina, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which is very dangerous [2].
Therefore, although grapefruit is rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, during taking blood pressure medication, in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of the drug, it is best to choose other fruits to meet the nutritional needs, orAt least 12 hours between the time of consumption and the time of taking the medicine.
Antihypertensive drugs are a class of drugs that are commonly used in clinical practice for high blood pressure and to control blood pressure levels. In addition to the above contraindications, there are also some precautions to be observed in the case of long-term medication to ensure its efficacy and safety.
Take the dose according to the doctor's instructions, do not stop the drug and increase or decrease the dosage at will
The right dosage can ensure the efficacy of the drug, improve the success rate of blood pressure control, and reduce the risk of ***.
Some antihypertensive drugs have some drug dependence, which can cause withdrawal symptoms if the patient abruptly stops taking these medicationsFor example, abruptly stopping certain receptor blockers may cause symptoms such as tachycardia, angina, etc. In addition,The patient's spontaneous discontinuation or increase or decrease of the drug dose may also lead to uncontrolled or sexual increase in blood pressureThis in turn affects health and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Blood pressure is not always better
Although high blood pressure may lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, low blood pressure can also cause harm to the body.
Normal blood pressure levels are regulated by a variety of pathways in the body, including the autonomic nervous system and kidneys, and excessive lowering of blood pressure may interfere with these regulatory mechanismsInsufficient blood flow** causes symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and palpitations [3]. Therefore, blood pressure control should be individualized, and doctors determine appropriate blood pressure targets based on the patient's age, underlying health status, and other medical conditions.
The type of medication cannot be changed at will
Different classes of antihypertensive drugs have different indications and mechanisms of action, for example, calcium channel blockers are mainly indicated for patients with hypertension with angina or arrhythmias, while receptor blockers are indicated for patients with hypertension with heart failure or coronary heart disease. If the patient changes the type of antihypertensive drug at will, it may lead to a decrease in the effect or adverse drug reactions.
Different types of blood pressure medications also have different ***
For example, ACE inhibitors may cause a dry cough, calcium channel blockers may cause dizziness, and receptor blockers may cause a drop in heart rate. If the patient has some uncomfortable symptoms, changing the type of antihypertensive medication at will may increase the risk of drug ***.
Therefore, the dose, type and combined application of antihypertensive drugs are personalized by doctors for different types of hypertensive patients.
Hypertension is a common chronic disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, so it is important to follow the above precautions while taking medication. At the same time, it is equally important to understand the triggers of high blood pressure, whether it is a healthy person or a pre-existing patient, to help prevent and control the disease.
Unhealthy eating habits
A high-salt dietIt is an important cause of the disease, which on the one hand causes the body to drink more water, and on the other hand, due to the ion balance between cells, the amount of fluid in the blood vessels increases, which in turn leads to an increase in blood pressure. In addition,High in fat and cholesterolEating habits can also increase the risk of atherosclerosis, which in turn can lead to the development of high blood pressure.
To prevent high blood pressure,We should avoid high-salt diets and eat more healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Obesity and overweight
Excess weight increases the burden on the heart, causing the heart to contractile and the amount of blood in the blood vessels to increase, which in turn leads to an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, you can establish a reasonable diet plan and stick to moderate physical activity to help lose weight and control high blood pressure.
Common chronic diseases
Some common chronic diseases such as:Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and kidney diseaseetc., which are closely related to hypertension.
These diseases mayThis leads to damage to blood vessels, abnormal blood circulation, and abnormal kidney function, which in turn leads to the development of high blood pressure. For the control of these chronic diseases and**, it is essential for the prevention and control of hypertension.
Genetic factors
Individuals are at increased risk of developing hypertension if they have a family history of hypertension, and hereditary hypertension may be associated with certain genetic variants that may affect the elasticity of blood vessel walls and blood pressure regulation mechanisms.
While genetic factors cannot be changed, knowing a family history can remind individuals to pay more attention to the prevention and monitoring of high blood pressure.
Predisposing factors for high blood pressure include:Unhealthy eating habits, obesity and overweight, common chronic diseases, and genetic factors. Among them, genetic factors and chronic diseases are uncontrollable factors, but the risk of hypertension can be reduced through a healthy lifestyle.
Ms. Zhang unknowingly ate grapefruit with antihypertensive drugs, which led to a series of adverse reactions.
Combined with Ms. Zhang's example, we should pay attention to the taking of antihypertensive drugsIt is best not to consume grapefruit during the period of taking the medicine, or to eat it more than 12 hours apart, and do not drink alcohol or milk immediately after taking the medicine.
At the same time, we also need to understand the predisposing factors of the disease and the precautions during taking the medicine, so as to protect our health to the greatest extent and maintain a good state of health!
References:1] Zou Zhengsheng. Absorption, metabolism and relationship between alcohol and medication [J].Dr. Hepat, 2018, (05): 7-9
2] Gong Lili. Yuzu and many medicines are "opposites" [J].Friends of the Farm, 2013, (10): 41
3] Jiang Xingyong. Effect of different rates of antihypertensive attainment on important target organs in patients with chronic hypertension and diabetes mellitus[J].Journal of Integrative Medicine Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2015, 13 (07): 943-944