Hypertension & Diabetes - Take Your Medicine

The importance of controlling medication on board.

Stroke. Heart Attack. Sudden Loss of Vision

These are just some of the potential complications of uncontrolled hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Both hypertension and diabetes are common amongst seafarers.

Seafarers are allowed to take medication to control these conditions when on board.
This means that in many cases serious complications can be avoided.

Compliance Rates

You would expect that given the potentially very serious consequences that patients would be highly compliant with medical advice. But you would be wrong. For example US studies have shown that the compliance rate with oral medication for type 2 diabetes may be as low as 65%. And even more surprising in one US Study, compliance medication for hypertension averaged only 49%.

Simply put, patients just do not seem to want to take their pills. This is dangerous on land but even more so when on board a ship.

Prescribed drugs MUST be taken in the right dose, the right frequency, and at the right time.

A common trap that people fall into is the belief that a return to normal levels of blood pressure or blood sugar mean that you can stop taking the drugs. This is wrong. Medication should only stop when medical advice tells you to stop.

Planned Maintenance

The planned maintenance system on board is designed to make sure the ship runs smoothly over the long term. Taking medication for hypertension and diabetes can ensure your body runs smoothly over the long term.

Most medications stays in the blood for only a few hours to a day. Missed medication may mean inadequate protection for the following day. An unfortunate rise in blood pressure on a missed medication day can mean a sudden stroke, heart attack or sudden loss of vision. Drug levels have to be steady and sustained to prevent urgent medical issues.

Make sure you carry out planned maintenance on yourself. Take your medicine!