In a recent study published in the journal Hypertension, researchers from the University of Bologna have identified a concerning trend:
Women taking beta-blockers for high blood pressure, who have never had cardiovascular disease (CVD), are at a nearly 5% higher risk of heart failure compared to men when they face acute coronary syndrome.
Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed to manage hypertension, a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases.
The study aimed to explore the impact of these medications on men and women with high blood pressure but without a history of CVD, especially after they experienced acute coronary syndromes, which are severe conditions involving sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart.
The study analyzed data from 13,764 adults across 12 European countries. All participants had hypertension but no previous cardiovascular diseases. They were categorized based on gender and whether they were taking beta-blockers.
The findings revealed some striking differences:
Women on beta-blockers experienced a 4.6% higher rate of heart failure than men when admitted to the hospital with acute coronary syndrome.
The death rate for both men and women who developed heart failure was about seven times higher than those who suffered from acute myocardial infarction (a type of heart attack) without heart failure.
Specifically, women who had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) – a severe heart attack where a coronary artery is completely blocked – were 6.1% more likely to develop heart failure compared to men with the same condition.
Interestingly, the rate of heart failure was approximately equal among men and women who were not on beta-blockers.
The researchers emphasize the importance for women, particularly those without a history of heart disease but with hypertension, to manage their blood pressure through diet and exercise.
One hypothesis for the increased risk of heart failure in women on beta-blockers could be an interaction with hormone replacement therapy, though this aspect was not specifically investigated in the study.
This and other potential contributing factors warrant further in-depth research.
This study sheds light on the gender-specific effects of hypertension treatments and underscores the need for personalized medical approaches, especially for women at risk of heart disease.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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