Edith* never clearly explained why she stopped taking her blood pressure medication, or why she stopped coming to Doylestown Hospital's free monthly blood pressure checks. But her story is definitely a tale worth retelling.

For many years, Edith's doctor had treated her hypertension with a combination of three drugs: a diuretic ("water pill"), an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker. (See article inside for further description.) The medications kept her blood pressure in a normal, healthy range under 120/80. Then, for more than a year, Edith was absent from the screenings, and when she did come back, her readings caused quite a stir among the screening staff.

The nurse who took Edith's blood pressure stared in disbelief at a reading of 220/200, so she tried again. This time the reading was worse: 240/210. When Edith was asked about her medication, she admitted that she had discontinued it two weeks earlier and replaced it with a natural product she had read about in a magazine. "It sounded so safe," Edith explained. She had just come to the screening to see if it was working.

Physicians refer to high blood pressure as a "silent killer" because it has no warning signs or symptoms. Yet, if left untreated, hypertension dramatically increases the risk for heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

Although Edith didn't feel any different, her blood pressure readings had climbed into the danger zone. The screening staff urged her to seek immediate treatment, and Edith reluctantly agreed to go to the Emergency Department where she was promptly treated with IV medication. Edith left Doylestown Hospital with new prescriptions and a greater understanding of the value of blood pressure screening.

Like Edith, many people do not fully understand the importance of routine blood pressure checks, particularly if they feel fine. But in this case, what you don't know has the potential to kill you. Similarly, changing the dosage or discontinuing medications without consulting your doctor can have disastrous results. Fortunately, Edith was able to regain control of her blood pressure before a medical crisis occurred.

Doylestown Hospital offers free walk-in blood pressure screenings in the Hospital's North Lobby from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month.

* Name Changed.