💬Real Questions We Get at Sunny Health DPC Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Meds Q&A Edition

Patient:

“Doctor… if I start this blood pressure or cholesterol medication, do I have to take it for the rest of my life?”

Sunny Health DPC:

Great question! And one we hear all the time.

Short answer: Not always.

Real answer: It depends (and we’ll explain why).

Q: Why am I being started on medication in the first place?

A: Because your numbers matter, but your long-term health matters more.

We prescribe medications when:

• Blood pressure or cholesterol stays high

• There’s a higher heart or stroke risk

• Lifestyle changes haven’t had enough time or impact yet

Think of medication as a safety net, not a punishment

Q: So… can I ever stop taking it?

A: Possibly, yes!

If you:

• Eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods

• Move your body regularly

• Lose excess weight

• Sleep better

• Manage stress

• Cut back on alcohol

…and your numbers improve and stay controlled, we may be able to lower the dose or stop the medication. Safely and together.

Q: What if I stop the medication and my numbers go right back up?

A: Then your body just gave us important information.

That usually means:

• The medication was doing real work

• Lifestyle changes alone weren’t enough (yet)

• Stopping it puts you back at risk

In that case, staying on medication is often the healthier, protective choice

Q: Does being on medication mean I failed?

A: Absolutely not.

This is a big one.

Medication does not mean:

• You didn’t try

• You weren’t disciplined

• You “lost.”

It means we’re using every tool available to protect your heart, brain, and kidneys.

Lifestyle + medication = teamwork, not weakness.

Q: What’s the better question I should be asking?

A: We love this one:

“What would need to change for me not to need this medication anymore?”

That question opens the door to:

• Personalized goals

• Lifestyle medicine

• Ongoing re-evaluation (not “set it and forget it”)

Sunny Health DPC Takeaway

• Some people can come off blood pressure or cholesterol meds

• Lifestyle changes are powerful

• If meds help and cause no side effects, they can be protective, not harmful

• Your plan should never be one-size-fits-all

At Sunny Health DPC, we don’t just prescribe, we partner with you.

Have questions about your numbers, or wondering if lifestyle changes could reduce medications?

That’s exactly the conversation we love to have.