High blood pressure is very widespread in Germany – 20 to 30 million people in Germany are affected. However, around one in ten people do not seek treatment even though they know they have high blood pressure. This can be dangerous: If blood pressure remains untreated, it can damage organs, trigger a heart attack, kidney failure or a stroke. Many sufferers are prescribed blood pressure lowering drugs by their doctor in order to regulate the high values. They have to be taken daily, sometimes for years or decades. Having to take medication every day can seem daunting, but it is important and useful if you have high blood pressure. Stiftung Warentest examined common antihypertensive drugs.
High blood pressure, also known as arterial hypertension, is chronically increased pressure in the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the organs. From values of 140/90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) one speaks of arterial hypertension. The two values indicate the pressure when the heart is pumping (systolic) and when it is relaxing between heartbeats (diastolic). The optimal blood pressure for people aged 18 and over should be 120/80 mmHg. Treacherously, many patients don’t notice their high blood pressure for a long time – it doesn’t cause any pain. And it is often only noticed when secondary damage such as coronary heart disease has already occurred.
The first signs of high blood pressure are non-specific symptoms: nervousness, palpitations, dizziness, headaches, sleep disorders and reduced performance. What helps: Measure your blood pressure regularly. Stiftung Warentest recommends having the value checked during a visit to the doctor if it’s convenient. But blood pressure can also easily be measured at home. However, a value of 135/85 mmHg is considered high blood pressure because the value is measured in a relaxed situation within your own four walls.
ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta blockers, sartans, calcium antagonists – these are the names of the five major classes of blood pressure lowering drugs. Stiftung Warentest examined their effectiveness. And the result: All remedies can demonstrably lower blood pressure. And Stiftung Warentest rates them as suitable. This means that the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. Depending on the previous illnesses and the severity of the high blood pressure, the treating doctors select the appropriate preparations. When you start taking antihypertensive drugs, you may feel tired.
In rare cases, high blood pressure can have organic causes; several factors usually play a role: age, genes and lifestyle. People with high blood pressure can change their own lifestyle.
Read the entire test (for a fee) at Stiftung Warentest!
Sources: German Heart Foundation, Lancet study, RKI hypertension fact sheet, Hypertension League
