Lower Blood Pressure: Are Your Blood Pressure Drugs Really Getting You There?

Almost anyone who takes drugs for high blood pressure -- or has a spouse, parent, or pal who does -- will recognize this reaction: Do I really need to take this pill until Lady Gaga starts dressing like Hillary Clinton? (In other words: For freaking ever?) (Use this guide to talk to your doc about it.)

What gets to so many people taking blood pressure drugs is this: You don't feel younger. You don't look younger. You just fork over the co-pay every month (or just spring for the whole thing if you haven't lucked out with health insurance). You probably have moments when you're beyond unconvinced that swallowing one more blood pressure pill is worth it.

IT IS!! Note the capital letters. And exclamation points! Still, we YOU Docs get that font theatrics or another set of medical reassurances may not cut it. Maybe this will convince you:

Smack in the middle of the holidays, some startling new research arrived. It seems drugs that lower your blood pressure don't just put off heart trouble for a while. For every month you take them, they add a day (a healthy day) to your life. (Or, as we YOU Docs say: Zees pills add life to your years.)

Take 'em for 20 or 30 years (hardly unusual) and you're talking lots more days. You could have enough time to finish that book you intend to write, celebrate your 75th anniversary (it's diamonds, BTW), and really get to know your great-grandkids. We're not even factoring in the time you're adding by taking your vitamin D3, chucking the Oreos, and walking daily with a buddy (at a life-extending clip).

Good times from them small objects we docs call BP pills.

How low does your blood pressure really need to go? Glad you asked.

Slideshow! Find out the top 10 things you need to know about blood pressure drugs.