This eBook has been developed by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd as a resource to help the understanding of hypertension. It provides a useful summary of current information about the condition, the diagnosis procedure and available treatments. It also outlines the strategies people with hypertension can use to manage their condition as effectively as possible.
The book is intended for the use of a general audience.
“I struggled to accept the diagnosis at first, because in my mind, only ‘old’ people had high blood pressure and I was just 48 years young! Now I know that whatever your age, it’s important to look after your body.”
Patient
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is one of the most common medical conditions and its prevalence continues to rise. According to a recent study, the number of people affected by high blood pressure has almost doubled over the past 40 years, with about 1.13 billion people living with the condition worldwide.
As hypertension generally develops over many years with no distinctive warning signs or symptoms, many people don’t even realize they have high blood pressure. Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart failure, stroke or kidney disease. The World Health Organization estimates that hypertension causes 7.5 million deaths a year, which equates to about 12.8% of all deaths worldwide.
Many of these deaths could be prevented, as high blood pressure can be detected with a simple test and can often be controlled with a healthier lifestyle and appropriate medication.
“It came as an absolute shock to me to be told that my blood pressure was dangerously high. I had not had any symptoms and was just getting on with my life.”
Patient
Blood pressure is not a steady number, but can be affected by what time of day it is, eating and exercise habits, stress levels and other factors. These short-time fluctuations are normally nothing to worry about, but if blood pressure remains too high for a long period of time, problems may arise. Hypertension – high blood pressure – can “overwork” the heart and cause damage to blood vessels, which can harm other important organs over time.
“When I was first diagnosed I bought a blood-pressure pump so I could take my own readings at home and stay on top of my health. This was really helpful as I could tell when my medications weren’t working anymore and simply make an appointment with my doctor to review my treatment.”
Patient
— Patient
While making changes towards a healthier lifestyle (as described in the next section) often has a significant impact on lowering blood pressure, they might not be enough on their own and need to be supported by medical treatment. The category of drugs prescribed will depend on the blood pressure category and medical history of the patient.
Blood pressure medications are often more effective in combination than as a single drug. However, finding the most effective combination of drugs while keeping side effects to a minimum can be a challenge. Avoiding unwanted interactions between different medications is therefore an important consideration for the prescribing healthcare professional.
"I was given three different tablets and it has been a real battle to get my blood pressure down. My blood pressure is never quite what it should be and I find it quite frightening that they can’t seem to control it. Last year I had a small stroke, fortunately I recovered very well and it is only my speech that is sometimes slurred if I get tired."
Patient
Estimations of how many patients with high blood pressure have true resistant hypertension range from 2% all the way to 10%, which reflects the difficulty in diagnosis.
Compared to “regular” hypertension, patients with resistant hypertension are more likely to be older (above 75 years of age), overweight and to have a medical history of diabetes, kidney and heart disease, stroke, and/or sleep apnea. Chronic kidney disease and diabetes in particular make these patients more vulnerable and increase the complexity of finding the right treatment combination.
— Patient
Generally, the approach for resistant hypertension is to add a fourth antihypertensive medication to the three drugs the patient is already taking. The fourth drug often has a different mechanism of action (the way it works in the body) compared to the other three medications. Yet these drugs often have their own limitations and can be associated with side effects that force the patient to stop taking them.
Therefore, new treatment options for resistant hypertension are needed, especially for patients in whom other, traditional forms of antihypertensive drugs are ineffective.
“Positive lifestyle choices have kept me in control of my blood pressure; I make sure to keep a healthier diet than I did when I was younger and try to do some sort of exercise every day.”
Patient
While effective medical treatment can be the key to lowering blood pressure, especially in severe and resistant hypertension, the role of a healthy lifestyle cannot be overstated.
The lifestyle changes described in this section can not only help to lower blood pressure and keep it down, but also to avoid, delay or reduce the need for medical treatment.
If you find you need support beyond your own social circle, you might consider joining a hypertension support group that provides both emotional guidance and practical tips on coping with the condition.
— Patient
This resource has been developed by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals in order to provide an environment to deliver a better understanding of resistant hypertension and to pool information regarding the disease, the diagnosis procedure, available treatments and the impact it could have on the life of someone diagnosed with resistant hypertension. The resource is for use by a general audience.
The information in this resource is not intended as a substitute for advice/treatment by a physician, whose instructions should always be followed. Neither does the information provided constitute an alternative to advice from a doctor or a pharmacist and should not be used on its own to produce a diagnosis or to commence or cease a particular treatment.
The links provided are for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval from Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd of the services or opinions of the corporation, organization or individual.
Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites or subsequent links. You are requested to contact the respective external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
The information provided is valid on the publication date but may be subject to further modifications. Even though Idorsia aims to provide accurate and up to date information at all times, please acknowledge that the present resource is made available “as is”. Idorsia does not give any warranty or representation, whether expressly stated or implied, of any kind related to the comprehensiveness, usefulness, reliability or timelines of the content of this resource. Idorsia cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damage of a material or non-material nature that might be caused by the use or non-use of the information presented.
