High blood pressure is a problem that many people struggle with.
But imagine if you could take just one shot and forget about it for the next six months!
It sounds like science fiction, but scientists are saying it might soon be a reality.
Why Pills Can Be a Pain
Most people deal with high blood pressure by taking pills every day. The downside? Life gets busy, and it’s easy to forget to take your daily medication.
In fact, more than half of people with high blood pressure aren’t taking their pills as consistently as they should.
That’s a big deal because well-managed blood pressure can help you avoid serious problems like strokes, heart attacks, and even dying young.
Meet the Game-Changer: Zilebesiran
Scientists from different parts of the world, including the University of Edinburgh, conducted tests on a new drug called Zilebesiran.
They gave it to a small group of people in the UK and found that their high blood pressure dropped significantly and stayed down for up to six months.
In more simple terms, Zilebesiran was able to decrease the power with which the heart pumps blood around the body. This is good because less force means less pressure on the arteries, reducing the risk of complications.
Even better? A single dose of the drug lowered people’s blood pressure by more than 10 points, and the highest dose brought it down by more than 20 points.
That’s enough to bring someone from the “high blood pressure” category down to a much safer level.
The best part is that the drug didn’t just lower blood pressure for a short time; it kept it stable throughout the day. Our blood pressure naturally changes during the day, so having a stable level is a big plus.
How Does This Magic Shot Work?
Zilebesiran was made by a U.S. company called Alnylam. The drug does its magic by stopping the production of a hormone called angiotensin.
This hormone usually makes the blood vessels tighten, which can push your blood pressure up.
Unlike other high blood pressure medications that also target angiotensin, Zilebesiran goes one step further. It stops the body from making a protein that creates all types of this hormone.
For those curious about the science, the drug uses a special trick to “turn off” the gene responsible for creating this troublesome protein, effectively stopping it in its tracks.
Next Steps and Safety Checks
The initial study had 107 patients, 80 of whom received Zilebesiran. No major problems were reported, but scientists want to do more research to make sure it’s safe for long-term use.
Professor David Webb from the University of Edinburgh said, “This could be a big leap in treating high blood pressure. It’s been 17 years since we had a new type of high blood pressure medication.
We’re excited about the drop in blood pressure this new drug can achieve and that it lasts for about six months after just one shot.”
In short, the days of daily pills for high blood pressure could be numbered. Scientists are hopeful, but they need to do more studies to be sure.
For now, though, the future looks promising for millions of people dealing with high blood pressure every day.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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