Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about taking an active role in managing your health. Previously, we mentioned that you should know what your blood pressure is and if you should be doing something about it. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, it’s important to work with your doctor to manage it.
Dr. Joseph Ravenell, an internist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says it’s important to communicate with your doctor about blood pressure treatment. If you can’t take prescribed medication because of cost or side effects, there are a number of other drugs that may work better, but your doctor has to know about the problem first. To get the most out of your blood pressure medication, try to take it every day at the same time. Keep medications visible to remind you, and use a pill organizer to keep track of doses. Set reminders on your PDA or set an alarm to remind you to take your medicine.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/heartlungvascular to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in heart, lung and vascular.
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May 2008
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