An elderly patient consulted with her general practitioner regarding a temporary flu-like ailment. He noted that her blood pressure was 135/85. She received a prescription from him which she handed to her pharmacist. "What are these pills for?" she enquired of the pharmacist.
"These are pills for high blood pressure," the pharmacist informed her.
"Oh," responded the patient, "and what height should my blood pressure be?"
"Best to keep it under 145/90," the pharmacist advised her earnestly.
"But my blood pressure is 135/85," she replied, feeling a little confused.
"Well," said the pharmacist in a scholarly fashion, "then your doctor has prescribed these pill to keep your blood pressure at that level. Very important, you know, not to have high blood pressure."
"And for how long must I take these pills?" asked the ever more bemused patient.
"Oh, these," said the pharmacist, "you must take these pills for the rest of your life..."
"These are pills for high blood pressure," the pharmacist informed her.
"Oh," responded the patient, "and what height should my blood pressure be?"
"Best to keep it under 145/90," the pharmacist advised her earnestly.
"But my blood pressure is 135/85," she replied, feeling a little confused.
"Well," said the pharmacist in a scholarly fashion, "then your doctor has prescribed these pill to keep your blood pressure at that level. Very important, you know, not to have high blood pressure."
"And for how long must I take these pills?" asked the ever more bemused patient.
"Oh, these," said the pharmacist, "you must take these pills for the rest of your life..."