By Munaeem Jamal
With insights from Dr. Suneel Dhand and contributions by Dr. Fareha Jamal (PharmD, BioNTech Researcher) and Maryam Jamal (5th Year Medical Student)
It started with a feeling.
A little dizziness after breakfast.
Some weakness in the knees.
Then one morning, an alarming reading: blood pressure in the 70s .
That's what happened to someone close to Dr. Suneel Dhand—a practicing US physician—who later realized that this elderly family member was overmedicated. And he's not alone.
Millions of older adults might be taking more blood pressure medication than they need , often unknowingly.
"It's a scandal," Dr. Dhand says. And he's right.
In a recent video that's caught quiet fire online, Dr. Suneel Dhand warns that far too many people over 60 are prescribed multiple blood pressure medications—sometimes 3 or 4 at a time—without proper follow-up. And often for decades.
"I see it every day in the hospital. It's everywhere. We treat aggressively—but we rarely reassess," says Dr. Dhand.
The problem? A blood pressure that's too low can be just as dangerous as one that's too high. Symptoms like:
-
Dizziness
-
Fainting
-
Confusion
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Increased fall risk
can all stem from excessively low systolic pressure , especially under 100.
And yet, many patients continue taking the same medications without reevaluation , even as their bodies age, their lifestyles change, or their diet improves.
The Most Common Cause Isn't Even Mentioned
Dr. Dhand, backed by years of clinical experience, points to insulin resistance —not just aging—as the hidden culprit behind high blood pressure.
That rings true for my daughter Dr. Fareha Jamal , a research scientist at BioNTech in Munich. She agrees:
"Insulin resistance is grossly underdiagnosed in older populations, especially in South Asia. Many patients can reduce their blood pressure by fixing their metabolic health—cutting sugar, losing visceral fat, walking more. But instead, they get prescriptions."
My younger daughter Maryam , a final-year medical student, adds:
"We're taught in med school to treat based on guidelines, but the guidelines aren't always patient-specific. Seniors aren't all the same. A 78-year-old who walks daily and eats clean might need less medication than someone sedentary."
So What Should You Actually Do?
If you're over 60 (like me), or you have a parent in their 70s or 80s taking multiple BP meds, here's a simple checklist based on Dr. Dhand's advice and my daughters' input:
✅ Never stop medications abruptly — Always consult your doctor.
✅ Buy a home BP monitor — A reliable one costs around $25–$35.
✅ Record BP 3 times a day — Morning, afternoon, and evening, for 14 days.
✅ Take your readings to the doctor — And take your device too. Match office readings with your own.
✅ Watch for “too low” signs — Like dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision, especially when standing.
✅ Ask: Can we try tapering? — If your readings are consistently below 120/80, or you're feeling weak, it's time for a conversation.
“We should treat based on symptoms, not just numbers,” says Dr. Dhand.
The Bigger Problem: A Broken System
Why does this happen in the first place?
Because we treat blood pressure like a “set it and forget it” diagnosis. Pills are added. Rarely removed. The follow-up is inconsistent. And primary care is overstretched.
Even Dr. Dhand admits:
"There's a medical-industrial complex. More prescriptions mean more profit. And overaggressive treatment is now the norm."
What Happened to My Family Member
That loved one I mentioned earlier?
Once we flagged his low pressure, the doctor cut back one medication. The result?
His systolic pressure returned to normal. His energy improved. His dizziness vanished.
It wasn't magic.
It was monitoring, curiosity, and an honest conversation.
Final Thought
If you're over 60, or love someone who is, here's the question:
Are you still on medications that your body no longer needs?
Because aging isn't a diagnosis. It's a process. And like any process, it changes with time. So should our medications.
Credit:
Original insights from Dr. Suneel Dhand – Watch his video here
Expert opinions from Dr. Fareha Jamal and Maryam Jamal
Words by Munaeem Jamal
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