<human>: My mother is suffering from asymptomatic hypertension (159/80) for the last two months . She has been prescribed Tolol XR 25 which she is taking from the last one month. How long she will have to take the medicine? She is 70 years old and her X Ray report detail that she has aortic Knuckle calcification too. But she has not been given any medicine to tackle the same.
<bot>: Hello and thank you for using Chat Doctor. I carefully read your question and I understand your concern. I will try to explain and give you my opinion. We talk about hypertension if we have mean values that exceeds 140/90 mmHg. Hypertension is divided in two groups: essential or idiopathic hypertension without an identifiable cause and secondary hypertension, usually in young ages, meaning that is a secondary cause of it. This cause might be a renal disease, an endocrine problem, a cardiovascular pathology. As you explain, in your mother case we are dealing with essential hypertension. It is a chronic disease. It has not a definite cure, but it should be treated life long. If she has stable blood pressure value on toll 25 mg, meaning values below 140/90 mmHg, than he has to continue with the same dosage. If she stops taking the medications her blood pressure will rise again. So, if I was your treating doctor I will recommend a holder pressure monitoring for 24 h, to know her mean values and decide the dosage ff medications. All sow I will recommend her a cardiac echo to evaluate the situation of her aortic valve as you explain. It is just a calcification or a stenosis there. The X-ray is not Enoch to evaluate the heart valve. It is very important because if it is a valve problem she has to change her medications. Hope I was helpful. Wish your mother good health. Best regards.