Too often, high blood pressure gets short shrift in doctors’ offices. And there are two big reasons for this. “Part of the problem is that even though hypertension is extremely common, it’s not generally recognized as a medical specialty. There are no board examinations to qualify as a specialist. And, for most physicians, it’s not their prime interest. So hypertension frequently doesn’t get the professional scrutiny it needs. It’s treated mostly by family practitioners, internists, nephrologists and cardiologists,” says Dr. Pickering.
The other part of the problem is the sheer amount of time hypertension demands. “You have to give patients tender loving “” care. But it’s hard to do on a IS-minute schedule. If you don’t, though, you’re doomed to failure;’ says Ray W. Gifford, Ir., M.D., professor of internal medicine at Ohio State University College
of Medicine and consulting physician in the department of nephrology and hypertension at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. “One of the most common mistakes is that doctors don’t spend enough time up front convincing patients that the way to reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack is to lower their blood pressure. Then the doctors need to talk to
their patients and make lifestyle changes tempting because people tend to resist them. They have to make sure patients know that those changes are almost sure to bring blood pressure down so they may not need medication.”
“You can’t tell patients to start a low-salt diet and an exercise program and come back in six months. They need to come in three times during those six months to reinforce lifestyle modifications. They need a physician who spends the time to keep evaluating them once they’re on a program.”
But how do you find a dedicated doctor if you can’t look him up in the Yellow Pages under “Hypertension Specialist, Long Hours?” Dr. Pickering has formed the Hypertension Network, which makes use of the Internet to provide people with up-to-date information about hypertension, including question-andanswer forums. It can also provide a list of physicians who have a special interest in treating hypertension. The website address is http://www.bloodpressure.com. Or write to the Hypertension Network at P.O. Box 302, Wingdale, NY 12594. If you don’t want to look for a new physician because you already have a long-time family doctor you like, make an appointment for a heart-to-heart talk with him or her. Come prepared: Write down your questions and refer to them. If you’ve read up on the subject and made notes for discussion, bring them in, too. Tell your doctor your concerns about your blood pressure and its treatment. Let your doctor know you’re willing to take an active role in managing your condition by recording your blood pressure and by making appropriate lifestyle changes.

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