This article is part ofHealth Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series.
Julie Bang / Verywell
Meet the ExpertGladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care.
Meet the Expert
Gladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care.
Verywell Health: When should prescription drug intervention be considered to help prevent heart disease?
Dr. Velarde: Medication can and should be considered when honest efforts to incorporate lifestyle changes have not yielded the expected results.
Lifestyle Changes Can Prevent Heart Disease, Even for People With Family History
However, patients must know that there’s no finite period forlifestyle changes. They shouldn’t be abandoned because you are starting medication. Lifestyle changes should be made for life, irrespective of the patient being on medication or not.
This is especially the case for blood pressure. For example, we know that nearly half of the U.S. adult population (48%, or 119 million) suffers fromhigh blood pressure.So what’s the point of taking one or two medications if there is no sound lifestyle foundation first? Oftentimes, patients don’t do what is required—the basic lifestyle effort—for blood pressure to be controlled with medications.
In many cases, the baseline lifestyle commitments don’t take hold or are abandoned. The reasons for this are complex but constitute barriers we need to identify and overcome. Compliance with medications also often involves cost, access to care, and lack of awareness of the repercussions of risk factors if left untreated. However not achieving the baseline lifestyle changes necessary is an extremely important first step.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jones DW, Whelton PK, Allen N, et al.Management of stage 1 hypertension in adults with a low 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease: filling a guidance gap: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Hypertension. 2021;77(6). doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000195Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about hypertension.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jones DW, Whelton PK, Allen N, et al.Management of stage 1 hypertension in adults with a low 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease: filling a guidance gap: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Hypertension. 2021;77(6). doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000195Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about hypertension.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jones DW, Whelton PK, Allen N, et al.Management of stage 1 hypertension in adults with a low 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease: filling a guidance gap: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Hypertension. 2021;77(6). doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000195Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about hypertension.
Jones DW, Whelton PK, Allen N, et al.Management of stage 1 hypertension in adults with a low 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease: filling a guidance gap: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Hypertension. 2021;77(6). doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000195
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about hypertension.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
