Q: It is said that blood pressure medicine should be taken life long. Is it same for cholesterol medicines as well?

A:Both the assumptions are wrong. Many persons suffering from high blood pressure due to temporary reasons, such as stress, do not need drug treatment for life. Others do not require them following lifestyle changes such as decreased salt intake and/or reduction of weight in obese and/or exercise, yoga etc. Anti-cholesterol tablets need to be taken only if other measures have failed and in some selected cases of familial hypercholesterolaemia.