“Don’t Stop Taking Medicine If You’ve Got High Blood Pressure ”, Doctor Warns

A Zambian medical doctor has urged people living with high blood pressure not to stop taking their prescribed medication simply because they feel better.

Dr Mwiya Silishebo says hypertension can remain dangerous even when a person has no obvious symptoms, making continued treatment and regular medical reviews important.

He shared the warning after recalling the death of a woman who was brought to hospital after suddenly becoming unresponsive at home.

Dr Silishebo says the woman arrived with extremely high blood pressure, reportedly above 240/140 mmHg. Doctors suspected a stroke and started emergency treatment, but although her blood pressure came down, she did not regain consciousness.

A scan later showed that she had suffered a haemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain. She later died.

According to Dr Silishebo, the woman had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure and had been taking medication but stopped after feeling well.

Her case, he says, demonstrates why patients should not assume that feeling better means their condition has been cured.

Hypertension often has few or no noticeable symptoms, but uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage vital organs and increase the risk of serious complications, including stroke.

Dr Silishebo is therefore encouraging patients who have been prescribed medication for hypertension to take it as directed and attend their scheduled medical reviews.

He is also urging families to support relatives living with chronic conditions, including by helping them remember their medication and, where possible, monitoring their blood pressure at home.

He cautions patients against stopping treatment on their own or relying on short-term solutions when managing a chronic condition.

If a patient is experiencing problems with their medication or feels their treatment is not working, Dr Silishebo advises them to speak to a qualified healthcare practitioner rather than stopping treatment without medical guidance.

His message is straightforward - feeling well does not necessarily mean high blood pressure has gone away.

Patients diagnosed with hypertension should follow their prescribed treatment and seek professional advice before making changes to their medication.

This article is based on comments by Dr Mwiya Andrey Silishebo. It is for general information only and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Patients diagnosed with hypertension should follow their prescribed treatment and seek professional advice before making changes to their medication.

This article is based on comments by Dr Mwiya Andrey Silishebo. It is for general information only and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.