High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that can silently damage your body over time. It puts extra pressure on your blood vessels, making them less flexible and more likely to become narrow or blocked. This can reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart, which increases the risk of chest pain, heart attacks, and other forms of heart disease.
Recently, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a major study to see if treating high blood pressure more aggressively could help reduce the risk of heart problems and even save lives.
Their research focused on bringing the systolic blood pressure (that’s the top number in a reading, like the 120 in 120/80) down to less than 120 mm Hg—lower than the usual goal of under 140 mm Hg.
The study included 9,361 people who were at higher risk for heart disease. None of the participants had diabetes or a past stroke, but they were still more likely than average to have heart problems in the future.
These individuals were randomly placed into two groups. One group received standard care, aiming to keep systolic blood pressure below 140 mm Hg. The other group followed an intensive treatment plan, aiming to keep it below 120 mm Hg.
The results were striking. The people in the intensive group had fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths compared to the standard group. Their overall risk of dying from any cause was also lower. This suggests that bringing blood pressure down further than usual may offer strong protection for the heart and overall health.
However, there was a downside. People in the intensive group also experienced more serious side effects. These included episodes of dangerously low blood pressure, fainting, and kidney problems. These risks are important to consider, especially for older adults or people with other health conditions.
After the study ended, the scientists continued to track the participants. Over time, the difference in blood pressure between the two groups became smaller, but the long-term results still supported the idea that lower blood pressure targets could be helpful.
Interestingly, heart failure occurred more often in the intensive group during follow-up, showing that even with benefits, the approach must be used carefully.
This research, led by Dr. Cora E. Lewis, gives doctors and patients valuable insight. It shows that lowering blood pressure more than usual may help prevent heart disease and save lives, but it can also cause serious side effects. That means the decision to aim for a very low blood pressure target needs to be made carefully, depending on the individual’s health and risks.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world’s most respected medical journals. The results have already had a big impact on how doctors think about treating high blood pressure. Still, more research is needed to figure out who benefits the most from intensive treatment and how to reduce the risks that come with it.
In the meantime, it’s important for anyone with high blood pressure to work closely with their doctor to find the right treatment plan. Controlling blood pressure—whether through medication, healthy habits, or a mix of both—remains one of the most important steps you can take to protect your heart and live a longer, healthier life.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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