Enlist a pharmacist to help manage high blood pressure

But identifying the right high blood pressure drugs can be a challenge. According to research from the University of Iowa, having a pharmacist on your medical care team could help.

The researchers found that when a doctor’s practice included a pharmacist, patients received more frequent medication adjustments—that’s often key to determining the right combination of drugs in the right doses to lower blood pressure. These patients had more tailored medication regimens than patients who relied on their doctor alone.

It’s important to reiterate that these pharmacists were part of medical practices and not neighborhood pharmacists in drugstores, who may not have strong working relationships with area physicians.

But even if your care team doesn’t have a pharmacist on staff, your local pharmacist can be a great source of information. He or she can monitor your blood pressure, do cholesterol and glucose screenings, show you how to use a home blood pressure monitor, and understand the results.

Pharmacists can also help you choose and correctly use over-the-counter medications so they won’t cause any negative interactions with your blood pressure drugs. The nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine, antihistamines, and items with caffeine are of particular concern.

Pharmacists are trained to do far more than dispense medications, so don’t overlook the insights that they can offer.