What do people with hypertension use to reduce blood pressure in addition to conventional medication – Is this related to adherence?
European Journal of Integrative Medicine, cilt.13, ss.49-53, 2017 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 13
- Basım Tarihi: 2017
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.eujim.2017.07.004
- Dergi Adı: European Journal of Integrative Medicine
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.49-53
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Herbal medicine, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Adherence, Forgetfulness, Lemon, Garlic, Yoghourt
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction Patients with chronic diseases may sometimes prefer to use alternative approaches to improve their health. Such approaches may be used solely or in combination with their conventional western medication. This survey in a primary care setting aimed to evaluate dietary substances used by patients with hypertension and to explore whether there was a relationship with adherence to conventional drug treatment. Methods The study group was composed of 465 patients who were registered with the Family Medicine Center in the city center in the period between April 2016 and June 2016. Socio-demographic characteristics of the patients and substances they used in addition to the drugs were recorded. Results The dietary substances most commonly preferred were lemon, garlic, yoghourt, and combinations of these. Medication adherence among patients with hypertension was moderate to high with 72.25% of patients using their medications. Patients forgetting to take their antihypertensive medications were more likely to use these substances. Conclusions Patients reported high adherence to their use of conventional medication. The most important problem was “forgetting” in low adherent patients and they mainly used lemon, garlic, and yoghourt at times of sudden blood pressure elevations. Physicians should inform the patients who struggle with hypertension about the risk of nonadherence which can result in serious morbidity and possibly mortality.