Treatment FAQ

why does ascvd go down when not taking hypertension treatment

by Maia Terry Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

What is the risk of ASCVD in 10 years?

No individual has a 7.5% risk for ASCVD in 10 years; it is either 0% or 100%. The probability assigned by risk equations needs to be understood as a weather forecast, so that patients and clinicians can decide if the risk is high enough to consider carrying an umbrella (i.e., taking a statin).

What are the aspirin recommendations for patients with ASCVD?

Previous aspirin recommendations: • Aspirin recommended for patients if ≥ 10% risk of ASCVD over 5 years. • Use shared decisionif patient has moderate risk (5–10%) over 5 years, LDL cholesterol > 190 mg/dL, or diabetes. • Aspirin not recommended for patients with < 5% risk over 5 years.

How can I manage ASCVD?

The foundation for managing risk factors for ASCVD is adoption of a healthy lifestyle including achieving a normal weight and blood sugar, and increasing physical activity that benefits lipids and provides other benefits. Statin and other lipid-lowering drug options are based on individual risk.

What is the ASCVD risk for statins?

ASCVD risk ≥ 15% over 10 years Initiate or continue moderate- to high-intensity statin. People with diabetes, aged 40–75, with Initiate or continue moderate-intensity statin. Consider ASCVD risk ≥ 7.5% over 10 years use of a high-intensity statin.

How can the risk of ASCVD be reduced?

According to the latest American College of Cardiology (ACC) clinical guideline, adherence to certain lifestyle interventions, including regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco, as well as the use of lipid-lowering medications, are recommended to reduce the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ( ...

Does ASCVD include hypertension?

ASCVD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Risk factors such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, inactive lifestyle, hypertension, smoking, and family history inform ASCVD risk assessments.

How does treating hypertension reduce risks for heart failure?

Treating high blood pressure can provide dramatic protection against atherosclerosis. Much of the decline in the death rate from heart attacks and strokes is due to improved treatment of high blood pressure over the past 50 years.

How does sustained hypertension contribute to myocardial infarction?

A chronic hypertensive state causes cardiac hypertrophy which is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with increased oxygen demand leading to the development of new arterial vessels (collaterals) to supply the myocardium.

When should I start statin therapy ASCVD?

While prior guidelines suggested high-intensity statins for patients with diabetes if their 10-year ASCVD risk is ≥7.5%, the current guidelines recommend initiating high-intensity statin for those with the presence of multiple risk factors to reduce LDL-C levels by ≥50%.

What determines ASCVD risk?

The information required to estimate ASCVD risk includes age, sex, race, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure lowering medication use, diabetes status, and smoking status.

How does hypertension cause decreased cardiac output?

High blood pressure adds to your heart's workload: Narrowed arteries that are less elastic make it more difficult for blood to travel efficiently throughout your body. This causes your heart to work harder.

How does hypertension contribute to heart failure?

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. This causes the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to thicken. A thickened left ventricle increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

How does hypertension affect the cardiovascular system?

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause: Chest pain, also called angina.

Can you have good blood pressure and still have clogged arteries?

Although high blood pressure is common, it's not harmless. High blood pressure is a major cause of atherosclerosis, the artery-clogging process that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Blood pressure higher than 130/80 is seen in: 69% of people who have their first heart attack.

Why does hypertension cause left ventricular hypertrophy?

The most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy is high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than normal. The extra work it takes to pump blood can cause the muscle in the left ventricle walls to get larger and thicker.

How long does it take for statins to stop working?

Patients often are not taking their medication regularly. Approximately half of patients who start on statin drugs stop them on their own within 1 year.

What is the LDL goal for statins?

Generally, LDL is 1measured only as follow-up for patients on statin therapy to assess response and adjust dose if needed. The LDL goals listed above may not fit all patients. An alternative goal is a 30–40% reduction from the previous LDL measure.

Does Kaiser require a guideline team?

Kaiser Permanente requires that team members participating on a guideline team disclose and resolve all potential conflicts of interest that arise from financial relationships between a guideline team member or guideline team member's spouse or partner and any commercial interests or proprietary entity that provides or produces health care–related products and/or services relevant to the content of the guideline.

Is Gemfibrozil contraindicated with statins?

Gemfibrozil is contraindicated with statin therapy due to an increased risk for muscle symptoms and r habdomyolysis. Use caution in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment (CKD 2–3).

Is icosapent ethyl over the counter?

Icosapent ethyl has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with hypertriglyceridemia ( not shown to reduce pancreatitis). The generic omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza) and over-the-counter alternatives are also available in this treatment category.

Do triglycerides need pharmacologic treatment?

Triglycerides do not require pharmacologic treatment unless they are higher than 500 mg/dL. (Treatment/investigation at higher than 1,000 mg/dL would also be reasonable. Use shared decision-making.) If a patient has elevated triglycerides, consider the following workup:

Can you take ACE inhibitor and ARB together?

ACE inhibitor and ARB combination therapy is not recommended. There is evidence that there is harm and no additional benefit in combining an ACE inhibitor and an ARB. Numbers needed to harm (NNH) are 33 for hypotensive symptoms, 1,000 for syncope, 250 for diarrhea, and 250 for renal impairment.

What is the purpose of the Mobius HD system?

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and performance of the Mobius HD system in subjects with resistant hypertension. This is an open-label, multi center, First-in-Man clinical trial that is conducted in the U.S. Patients with stage II resistant hypertension, that are treated with a minimum of 3 antihypertensive medications including a diuretic and who consent to participate in this study are assigned to treatment with a MobiusHD system (Vascular Dynamics). The office blood pressure needs to be greater than or equal to 160 mmHg following at least one month of maximally tolerated treatment. The patients are followed for appeared of 6 months. Patients with vulnerable plaque or ulceration of any size in the carotid artery or aortic arch are excluded from this study.

What are the nerves that connect the kidneys and nervous system?

The kidney and the nervous system are linked through the renal nerves. The renal sympathetic and sensory nerves are located adjacent to the wall of the renal arteries. The stimulation of the renal nerves can lead to changes in arteries and veins, release of enzymes such as renin and sodium and water retention. The increase in a renal nerve activity has been implicated in hypertension.

How many people have hypertension?

Over 85 million adults (one in every three) in the United States have hypertension and about 20% are not aware of it. It is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The direct and indirect costs of hypertension are very significant. Hypertension can be linked to 50% of cardiovascular disease and 75% of strokes. High blood pressure costs the nation 46 billion dollars each year in healthcare services, medication and missed days of work. It is labeled the “silent killer”. Most of the time there are no obvious symptoms. High blood pressure does not cause headache or nosebleeds except in cases of hypertension emergencies when blood pressures can reach 180/110mmhg.

When medications fail to reduce blood pressure, we should consid er “structural” hypertension.

When medications fail to reduce blood pressure, we should consid er “structural” hypertension. In the absence of sleep apnea or reno vascular disease, worsening of essential HTN or failure to respond to medications can be related to structural changes in our large capacitance arteries. Aging, smoking and diabetes are all associated with isolated or predominantly systolic HTN (systolic BP >160 and diastolic BP <95) as well as the loss of elasticity of our major blood vessels. After the age of 50, HTN is likely to be structural and almost 70% o f uncontrolled HTN after the age of 65 is structural.

Why is high blood pressure called the silent killer?

High blood pressure is sometimes known as “the silent killer” — so named because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, but often goes unnoticed because of its lack of obvious symptoms. In fact, you may have high blood pressure and not even know it. But resistant hypertension, just as the name says, is when your high blood pressure is ...

What is resistant hypertension?

“Resistant hypertension is the failure to reach your goal blood pressure when you’re adhering to maximally tolerated doses of an appropriate three-drug regimen that includes a diuretic ,” explains Dr. Thomas.

What can I take to raise my blood pressure?

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen), oral contraceptives and nasal decongestants all can boost your blood pressure, Dr. Thomas says. “Be sure to bring all of your pill bottles, including over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements or vitamins, to your medical appointments,” he says.

Can you smoke before blood pressure?

You haven’t rested long enough before checking blood pressure. You experience “white coat hypertension,” or elevated blood pressure due to anxiety in the doctor’s office. You smoke or have caffeine right before having your blood pressure taken as this can artificially inflate the numbers.

Can sleep apnea cause hypertension?

There’s also evidence that obstructive sleep apnea can contribute to resistant hypertension. Your doctor may order a sleep study if this is a concern. 4. If your doctor rules out lifestyle factors and medications, he or she may look for other causes related to hormones or vascular problems.

Can you take water pills with high blood pressure?

Put another way: If you have high blood pressure, and you’re taking the maximum dose of three different blood pressure medications including a water pill (diuretic), and your blood pressure still isn’ t at safe levels, you may have resistant hypertension . And you’ll need to do more to control it.

Finding and treating underlying causes and making lifestyle changes will help

Many people have high blood pressure in older age, and sometimes it’s hard to control. That problem is called resistant hypertension — blood pressure that stays above a set goal, such as 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), despite taking three classes of blood pressure drugs (including a diuretic) at the highest tolerable doses.

Reassess all medications

Bring your doctor a list of all the medications you are taking, or bring a bag with all the medication bottles. Include over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. The list, or bag, of medicines can help your doctor identify drugs or supplements that may be raising your pressure.

Treat underlying causes

Underlying conditions can also keep your blood pressure high (see "What causes resistant hypertension?"). Getting them under control is essential. But figuring out if you have one can take detective work and a thorough physical evaluation.

Make lifestyle changes

You may need to ramp up healthy habits to maximize their effects. Start by eating a plant-based diet that’s low in salt; aim for less than 2,400 milligrams (mg) of salt per day. You should also be getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

What else will help?

If these strategies don’t reduce your blood pressure, your doctor may feel it’s necessary to prescribe more pills. But don’t despair. "No matter what you are taking now, your doctor should be able to make affordable changes in your blood pressure medications to bring down your numbers," Dr. Bhatt says.

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