Blood Pressure Control: Helping Patients Take Their Medicine

Blood Pressure Control: Helping Patients Take Their Medicine

September 13, 2016

By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

According to the latest CDC Vital Signs report, about 5 million US adults over the age of 65 and on Medicare Part D are not taking their blood pressure medicine as directed. This means they may skip doses or stop taking it altogether.
So, what are the risks involved in not taking blood pressure medication? Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and death.
Blood pressure medicine, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can protect the heart, brain, and kidneys, but only if patients take it and keep their blood pressure controlled. “A simple action can avoid potentially deadly consequences: take your blood pressure medicine as prescribed,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. “Health care providers can make treatment easier to help people keep their blood pressure controlled.”
READ MORE: Blood Pressure Control: Helping Patients Take Their Medicine