Combined therapy of hypertension

Overview

The tracking down, diagnostics and control of hypertension have improved in the CzechRepublic over the past 15 years. The target values of blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg,however, is still attained in only around 38 % of treated patients. The treatment of hypertensionhas to be complex. It begins with changes in lifestyle and when blood pressure fails to decreaseto normal, medicaments are administered. The choice and dosage of the drugs depends on theinitial blood pressure and accompanying risk factors and diseases.Monotherapy on the averagelowers diastolic blood pressure by 4-8 mmHg, and systolic blood pressure by 7-13 mmHg.Normalization is attained in about 50 % of those treated. Combined therapy is much moreeffective, it lowers diastolic blood pressure by 7-14 mmHg, and systolic blood pressure by 12-22mmHg, normalization being attained in 80 % of hypertonic patients. In view of its effectiveness,appropriate combined therapy allows to lower the doses of drugs as well as side-effects; inhigh-risk patients it lowers the risk of development and progress of cardiovascular diseases. Itis proper to consult cases of hypertension resistant to therapy with a specialist in treatment ofhigh blood pressure.

Key words:
hypertension - monotherapy - combined therapy.