Q: I am 38 years old. Two years back I was prescribed Irovel - H when I was diagnosed with having tensions in business. I used it for 3 months and stopped, as I felt normal. Again 9 months back the same thing happened and have taken the tablet for 8 months and last month went to the same doctor as my tensions came down. The BP was 140/100. He has prescribed Irovel-150, Nebicard 2.5 mg and Aspisol. My weight is 74 kgs, height - 165 cm and no sugar problem. But blood cholesterol was slightly high. I am a pure vegetarian, do not smoker and occasionally drink alcohol. Please advise me if using Nebicard is fine? If I do brisk walks and exercise & reduce weight, can I reduce the dosage?

A:First and foremost, we need to realise that hypertension is a silent disease. Do not decide on need for treatment based on symptoms alone. Medicine should not be changed or discontinued except under medical advice. It is true that exercise,weight reduction and salt reduction will help you. It is possible that the need for medicines may reduce. The expected increase in need for medicines may not occur. The risk for complications of hypertension may reduce. It is also important to take care of your serum lipids including cholesterol. Dietary fat needs to be reduced. There may even be a need for lipid lowering medication. Stress is not the same as hypertension and stress may need to be managed differently. Sports have a good stress relieving property. As for the choice of medication is concerned,this would need to be individualized by the treating doctor.