Side effects of drug therapy

Currently there is no single hypothesis about how stroke originates. There was a time when surgeons claimed that the cause of most strokes was the narrowing of one of the two carotid arteries. However, a special circulatory system present in the brain provides a normal blood supply to the brain tissues even in case of complete blockage of one of the arteries. This system has refuted the previously held theory. The most accepted approach nowadays is the identification and study of risk factors. They are a set of circumstances that happen at the same time when a stroke occurs.

One of the causes of strokes and heart attacks are medicines used to treat hypertension. These medicines lower the blood pressure and increase the risk of a stroke.

Blood pressure reduction causes deterioration of the blood supply to the brain. This fact is confirmed by the section where side effects are listed. They include "dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, nausea, drowsiness and weakness." Some drugs ("Diroton", "Enap") expressly state that side effects may include "myocardial infarction, tachycardia and ischemic stroke."

It is possible to draw a simple conclusion: an increase in the consumption of these medications causes an increase in the number of strokes. The fight against hypertension,a very common condition in modern lifestyles, has led to the fact that over the past ten years, the death rate from stroke has increased by 30%.

To prevent strokes it is necessary to stabilize and maintain the normal functioning of the entire circulatory system. Diagnostic measures for circulatory deviations and their restoration have been around for a long time and they are commonly used. Nevertheless, limiting or completely eliminating hypertension medication can be one of the preventive measures to reduce the risk of stroke.

Individual characteristics of the patient in treatment of hypertension

During antihypertensive therapy, it is necessary to take into account the regulation of cerebral circulation in patients with hypertension. It is especially true for patients suffering from atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. Normally, cerebral blood flow stabilizes at a constant level (approximately 50 ml per 100 g of brain substance per minute) with a systolic blood pressure variation from 60 to 180mm. Hg. In patients with hypertension autoregulation of blood flow in the brain adapts to increased blood pressure. The lower limit of autoregulation is shifted.

A systolic blood pressure decrease to a level of 119-130 mm. Hg. can be critical for a patient with hypertension leading to a significant reduction in perfusion of blood pressure and the onset of symptoms of cerebral ischemia. Hence in order to reduce the likelihood of developing stroke, it is necessary to limit the reduction of blood pressure - no more than by 10-15% of the initial level in the first months of antihypertensive therapy . As the patient adapts to lower blood pressure, it is possible to gradually reduce it to optimal parameters.

Also see other articles on this topic:

• Cedar oil for Stroke Prevention
• Aggression propensity and stroke
• Chocolate reduces the risk of stroke

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