Question

Since hypertension can often be asymptomatic,

(1) what are some effective methods that can be utilized to help us identify it early, and

(2) what are the risk factors that we need to look for, and (3) what are some of the main barriers to patient compliance with pharmacological therapy? What can we do to help improve compliance?

Answer 1

Hypertension means high blood pressure

1)There are some ways that help to identify hypertension early,firstly routine blood pressure checkings helps to recognize the disease and if any elevation in the readings makes the physican to check the readings regularly whether is still elevated or not .By this way we can identify hypertension early.Secondly,by home monitoring :make a chart of bp reading and any varaitions in the reading inform the physican and they can start the treatment.

2)The risk factors are aging,family history,obesity,smoking ,stress,excessive alcohol and so on

3)Some of the barrier are forgetfulness,ignorance,not knowing the proper usage of medication and sideeffects,cost of medication or financial barriers,patients attitude ,availability of meications,lack of trust in the health care system ,belief about medications.

To improve this eucate the patient aboutthe medication use and its importance ,assess patient's beliefs about the meication and to modify it with factual knowlege.Involve patient in while prescribing medication and simplify the instuctions ,use adherance improvement aids like cards or calenders and assess and iscuss with patient during followups regarding any concern with adherance.