Adherence / Compliance Your Cooperation is Important!
High blood pressure is often detected incidentally during a medical examination. It is rarely noticed by the affected individuals in the early stages. Therefore, many find it difficult to see the necessity of changing their lifestyle or taking medication. The term compliance, which is now considered outdated in medicine, refers to the cooperative behavior of a patient and the willingness to actively participate in therapy. It can also be translated as therapy loyalty. A patient has good compliance if they consistently follow their doctor's advice. Unfortunately, in the area of pharmacological treatment for high blood pressure, only about 50 percent of those affected adhere over time.
Meanwhile, "Compliance" has largely been replaced by "Adherence." While compliance was primarily understood as the patient following the doctor's instructions, adherence represents a trusting doctor-patient relationship on equal terms. The concept of the doctor dictating and the patient following is being replaced by a treatment agreement made with the patient as an active partner. Any necessary lifestyle changes, for example, should also be feasible for the patient. The individual needs of the patient must be considered just as much as the treatment goals. Therefore, this must be discussed together and, if necessary, implemented in smaller, manageable steps for the patient.
In the treatment of hypertension, experts estimate that at least half of the prescribed medications are not taken or are taken inadequately. Although it is rarely a therapeutic problem to lower high blood pressure, the percentage of hypertensive patients who have normal blood pressure under treatment is about 50 percent this can also be a sign of insufficient cooperation from those affected. And this is the case for at least 150,000 people in Germany who die each year from the consequences of high blood pressure.
But why is there often a lack of cooperation?
As mentioned above, high blood pressure often causes no symptoms. Therefore, the pressure to eliminate an undesirable, possibly painful condition does not exist for most affected individuals. Many are unsettled by the unwanted side effects listed in the medication's package insert and see this as a welcome reason not to take the tablets. For others, the refusal to cooperate is an expression of self-determination against the - perceived as authoritarian - medical advice or prescription.
This is where the adherence concept comes into play, bringing the patient in as an active partner. Good health literacy also strengthens adherence. Those who know their condition and engage with it, understanding it as well as possible, can act much more confidently as partners on equal terms in discussions with their doctor. You can promote your health literacy regarding high blood pressure, among other things, by reading our BloodPressureDB Infomail.
However, the optimal therapy, the best recommendation for lifestyle changes, or the best diet plan is of no use if they are not followed.
I would like to draw a comparison:
Brushing teeth in the morning and evening is simply part of the daily ritual for most people. One knows that teeth can be damaged if they are not brushed, even if there is no pain. Pain only comes when the teeth are damaged.
It is very similar with high blood pressure. It initially causes no complaints. Nevertheless - or precisely because of this - it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations and to take the prescribed medications regularly and as directed to prevent subsequent diseases.
Incorporate this into your daily routine as a fixed ritual. After breakfast or dinner, take the tablets (depending on what you have agreed upon with your doctor), go for a half-hour walk at a fixed time, and include more healthy dishes in your meal plan. The more often you implement these changes, the more they will become a habit and feel easier until you no longer have to think about them. If unwanted side effects occur, which can happen especially at the beginning of pharmacological therapy, discuss this with your doctor instead of quietly stopping the tablets or reducing the dose.
The doctor cannot repair you like a car. However, they can work with you to develop a plan on how you can individually lower your blood pressure. The responsibility for daily implementation lies with you. Here, it is about taking personal responsibility for yourself.
Sources:
By Sabine Croci.
This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (11/2024).
Information on the website and within the app cannot replace a consultation with a doctor, but can certainly complement it.
