As of: March 14, 2024, 6:11 p.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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Hypertension patients should not stop taking their beta blockers without consulting a doctor.
This can trigger a racing heart or even a heart attack.
Experts speak of high blood pressure when blood pressure is above a systolic and diastolic value of 140 to 90 mmHg for at least 24 hours.
However, warning signs of high blood pressure are often not noticeable or understandable for those affected, as a high blood pressure patient directly describes.
This makes regular blood pressure measurements at the doctor's office, pharmacy or at home even more important.
The better those affected know their blood pressure values and, if necessary, receive drug therapy, the more likely consequential damage such as strokes and heart attacks can be prevented.
Anyone taking a beta blocker to lower blood pressure should not simply stop taking it on their own if side effects or for other reasons occur.
It is important to always do this in consultation with the treating family doctor or cardiologist.
Lowering blood pressure: What treatments are there?
Blood pressure-lowering medications such as beta blockers should never be stopped independently without consulting a doctor.
(Symbolic image) © imagebroker/Imago
In Germany, around three million people live with high blood pressure; around one in three is affected.
Over 30 percent of those affected know nothing about their illness - why is that?
High blood pressure causes no or only unspecific symptoms.
“You can’t see it or feel it, that’s the tricky thing about high blood pressure.
That's why high blood pressure is also called the 'silent killer',” as Prof. Dr.
med.
Thomas Eschenhagen, member of the scientific advisory board of the German Heart Foundation and head of the Institute for Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, describes this to the German Heart Foundation.
High blood pressure is actually the number 1 risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
According to the German Heart Foundation,
88 percent of those affected who know they have high blood pressure seek treatment
.
Over three quarters of patients achieve blood pressure values within the normal range as a result of the therapy.
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If blood pressure cannot be brought below a value of 140 to 90 mmHg simply through an adapted lifestyle with lots of exercise and a healthy, Mediterranean diet, medications called antihypertensives are usually used.
These require a prescription and are prescribed by the doctor treating you.
According to the German Heart Foundation
, preparations that
are used for drug therapy for high blood pressure are:
Beta blockers, alpha-2 agonists and alpha blockers
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers
Calcium antagonists/calcium channel blockers
Diuretics (water-relieving medications)
Direct renin inhibitors (active ingredients such as irbesartan and candesartan)
Discontinuing beta blockers: What to consider if you have high blood pressure or heart failure
In many cases, blood pressure treatment is started with a smaller dose of beta blocker and gradually increased.
This allows possible side effects to be reduced or avoided.
The same applies to the end of therapy with beta blockers: on the recommendation of the doctor, the tablets should never be stopped immediately, but should be tapered off.
The original evening dose is gradually reduced to zero over weeks.
Only then should you stop taking the beta blockers completely, as
described in
Focus Online practical tips .
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Abruptly stopping the antihypertensive medication can result in serious side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias, rapid increases in blood pressure or even rapid heartbeat.
People with heart failure or a reduced blood supply to the heart muscle (angina pectoris) can even suffer a heart attack if they suddenly stop taking beta blockers.
The higher the dose of beta blockers originally taken, the higher the risk that side effects can occur,
Focus Online
continues.
Reasons for discontinuing the beta blocker may include side effects from taking the medication, a change in medication or a time-limited therapy.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.