High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a prevalent condition affecting millions globally. It’s characterized by excessive force of blood against artery walls, posing risks for heart disease, stroke, and other health issues.
Factors contributing to hypertension include genetics, age, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and diets rich in salt and saturated fats.
Often called the “silent killer,” high blood pressure typically lacks noticeable symptoms, making regular checks vital for early detection and management. If caught early, lifestyle changes and treatment can substantially lower the risk of complications.
Key lifestyle adjustments to combat high blood pressure include regular exercise, healthy weight maintenance, reducing salt intake, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol.
For some, medication becomes necessary, with options like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers.
A recent study from the University of Virginia has shed light on a concerning aspect of long-term use of common blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors, often prescribed for hypertension and heart failure.
While these drugs are crucial for treatment, the study suggests they might contribute to kidney damage.
Chronic hypertension, affecting about a billion people, can lead to arterial and small vessel thickening in the kidneys, potentially harming the organ. The study highlights the role of renin cells in the kidney in this process.
These cells produce the hormone renin, which regulates blood pressure. However, when these cells undergo harmful changes, they can invade the walls of the kidney’s blood vessels, leading to vessel thickening and reduced blood flow.
The study also noted that long-term use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, may cause similar effects.
While these drugs are lifesaving and necessary for many, the researchers observed hardened kidney vessels in both lab mice and humans as a potential side effect.
Despite these findings, the importance of continuing these medications is stressed, alongside the need for further research to understand their long-term kidney impacts.
Managing high blood pressure is crucial in minimizing risks. Regular blood pressure monitoring, adherence to treatment plans, and stress management are key.
Stress reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga, along with exercise, can be beneficial.
With appropriate management, individuals with high blood pressure can lead healthy, active lives.
This study, led by Dr. Maria Luisa Sequeira Lopez and published in JCI Insight, underscores the complexity of treating hypertension and the importance of understanding the long-term effects of medications on the body.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
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