Dr Deepak Chaturvedi, renowned physician and director Akshay Heart Hospital, addresseed a press conference on the eve of World Hypertension Day and informed that Refractory or Resistant Hypertension is a treatable disease. It is a condition in which blood pressure remains uncontrolled in spite of giving three or more anti hypertension medicines to the patient.
These patients are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and renal dysfunction, and they are also more likely to experience target organ damage, because of the potential complications caused by elevated blood pressure.
The complications of Refractory Hypertension include cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease. It is difficult to manage Refractory Hypertension in patients having black and brown complexion, oldage, diabetes and kidney disease and obesity, he added.
Dr. Chaturvedi furthers said that Renal Sympathetic Deneration (RSDN) and Baroreceptor Pacemaking are two latest therapies to effectively control this condition. Although preventive care and timely and strict adhrence to prescribed medicines are the best remedy.
He said there are three reasons which lead to Refractory Hypertension. First one is related to patients’ negligence towards medication. Taking medicines irregularly, reducing doses or stopping the medicines are some of them.
In order to do better management of the disease Dr. Chaturvedi also suggested Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitory of the patient. With the help of this small device a 24 hour track record of patient is obtained. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) measures blood pressure at regular intervals.