Česky
18.5.2015
"One of the most important reasons for the active involvement of pharmacists is the number of undetected hypertensives in the Czech Republic, the severity of this long asymptomatic disease, and the fact that pharmacies are very often the first place in the health care system where patients go for advice about their problems," explains Mgr. Tomáš Veverka, head pharmacist of the Hořovice pharmacy.
Arterial hypertension is defined as a repeated increase in blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mm Hg, measured on at least two different visits to the doctor's office. In the Czech Republic, the prevalence of hypertension is around 40% in people aged 25-64 years. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age, with 72% of men and 64% of women aged 55-64 years having hypertension. Hypertension is often asymptomatic, so up to ¾ of hypertensives are unaware of their disease. Yet it is one of the main risk factors for the development of heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, dementia and other diseases. These cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide, so early diagnosis is very important. In addition, sufficient compensation for hypertension reduces morbidity and mortality from stroke by 30-40%, ischaemic heart disease by 20-25% and heart failure by up to 50%.
"From Monday, 18 May, pharmacists in the pharmacy in Horovice will focus more on the orientation measurement of patients' blood pressure, they will fill in a short anonymous questionnaire with them, part of which will remain in the pharmacy for further anonymous statistical processing, and one part will be given to the patient, with marking of the measured values, target values and also suggested measures," says Mgr. Tomáš Veverka. One of these important measures is to refer the patient to his/her general practitioner for a targeted examination if hypertension is suspected. The patient information leaflet contains information directly related to arterial hypertension. It explains in a simple way what arterial hypertension is, what its symptoms are, provides patients with information on medicines that aggravate hypertension, correct blood pressure targets and, last but not least, motivation to change their lifestyle. "We will be glad if patients come to their pharmacists during the week of 18-22 May to get advice on how to deal with arterial hypertension properly," says the pharmacist from Horovice.
