The second step: Evaluating the information
When making informed decisions about medical treatments, the first step is to gather reliable information. The second step involves assessing the information and weighing the pros and cons. The following examples and questions may help you do this.
Let's say, two men called Peter and Carl have been told by their doctors that they have hypertension (high blood pressure). And they have both been given a prescription for hypertension medication.
- Carl is 50 years old. He is 1.75 meters tall, weighs 80 kilograms (about 5 foot 9 and about 176 pounds), and is healthy. But his blood pressure is a bit too high, at 145 over 92 mmHg.
- Peter is also 50 years old. He is the same height as Carl, but weighs 10 kilograms (around 22 pounds) more. His blood pressure is 160 over 100 mmHg. And he smokes.
Neither of them really likes the idea of having to take tablets every day from now on. They have to decide: Do I want to take medication for hypertension or not?