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http://dx.doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2016.46.6.870

Life Threatening Complication of Self-Made Remedy for Controlling High Blood Pressure-Coronary Artery Vasospasm Associated with Iatrogenic Thyrotoxicosis  

Kang, In Sook (Department of Internal Medicine, Green hospital)
Pyun, Wook Bum (Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University)
Publication Information
Korean Circulation Journal / v.46, no.6, 2016 , pp. 870-874 More about this Journal
Abstract
We report the case of a middle aged woman who was previously diagnosed with hypertension. She had been drinking a kelp concentrate solution daily for her hypertension instead of taking the prescribed medicine due to her personal beliefs about the kelp solution. As a consequence, she experienced vasospastic angina complicated by myocardial infarction and cardiogenic syncope resulting from iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis. Complementary medicine is widely used by the general population. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding their efficacy and safety. This case shows that inadequate use of complementary medicine could have no effect and may even be harmful. In patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, self-care in the form of life style modification, home blood pressure monitoring and medial adherence are important for disease management.
Keywords
Complementary medicine; Kelp; Thyrotoxicosis; Angina pectoris, variant; Adherence;
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