Isolated Systolic Hypertension Treatment in India

Sneha Williams, a 68-year-old retired school...

Sneha Williams, a 68-year-old retired school librarian, had always been active and health-conscious. Over the past year, she noticed persistent, dull headaches in the afternoon and felt unusually tired during her volunteer work at the community garden. During a routine check-up, her GP found her blood pressure readings consistently high, specifically with a high systolic number (e.g., 165/82 mmHg) and a normal diastolic, a pattern confirmed over three visits. Her doctor, an internist, diagnosed Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH), explaining it was common with age due to stiffening arteries. He recommended starting a low-dose thiazide diuretic, alongside lifestyle changes like reducing sodium and increasing walking. Sneha was anxious about starting medication, fearing it meant her body was 'failing.' The treatment initiation was smooth, with minor initial dizziness. After six weeks, her systolic pressure dropped to a healthy 138 mmHg, her headaches vanished, and her energy returned. Emotionally, she moved from fear and denial to relief and empowerment, now viewing the medication not as a weakness but as a tool to preserve her active retirement.