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Many patients leave the hospital or doctor’s office with a new prescription to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Unfortunately, due to increased demand for services and staffing shortages in today’s healthcare settings, there is constant pressure to move patients in and out of the system as quickly as possible. While staff do their best to educate patients about their new anti-hypertensive medications, we often neglect to warn them of the side effects.

Antihypertensives can cause low blood pressure, also known as hypotension. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypotension is defined as a blood pressure lower than 90/60, with normal blood pressure ranges from 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg. However, any sudden drop in blood pressure can cause life-threatening effects. Some b

My twenty-five years as a bedside Registered Nurse have taught me that patients often leave the hospital or their doctor’s office without understanding the medical staff’s instructions. Patients cannot tell me what medications they are taking, the dosage, the dosage schedule, or what the medication treats. For the older populations, this is primarily a dangerous and prevalent problem.

I watched the physician explain the patient’s diagnosis and treatment options; the patient indicated that they understood, and later, it became evident that the patient did not understand the severity of their diagnosis or the treatment options. While I educate the patients at the bedside, it limits how many people I can help.

As a freelance health writer, I ai