Controlling High Blood Pressure Is A Must

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We know that high blood pressure is called the silent killer. It's also well known that many people refuse to take medications to control it or they stop taking medicine because of unwanted side effects.

Naturally, this is frustrating for physicians who want their patients to get better and it is clear we need to keep communicating the importance of this to everyone.

But, there are also people who don't always have the pressure under control because the regular medications that work for most of us don't work for them. In these cases cardiologists and nephrologists, doctors who specialize in kidney problems, can be of great help. Controlling hypertension is an important way to avoid the long-term damage of uncontrolled pressure.

The bottom line is, no matter how you do it, it has to get done.