High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major health problem in the United States and around the world.
It affects millions of adults and greatly increases the risk of serious conditions like heart disease and stroke—two of the leading causes of death.
To control high blood pressure and reduce these risks, many people take medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers. These medicines are widely used and often combined with healthy habits like better eating and regular exercise.
However, new research from Imperial College London has found that one type of blood pressure medicine may have an unexpected side effect. This finding shows how complicated it can be to treat high blood pressure and reminds us that even helpful medicines can come with risks.
The researchers used a new approach to study the effects of blood pressure medications. Instead of running a traditional drug trial, which can take years and cost a lot of money, they turned to genetics.
They examined the DNA of about 750,000 people to find genes related to the proteins targeted by common blood pressure drugs. By looking at how these gene variations affect health, the researchers hoped to learn more about how the medicines work and what other effects they might have.
As expected, the study confirmed that gene variants linked to lower blood pressure were also connected to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. But when the researchers looked more closely at nearly 900 other health conditions, they found something surprising.
Gene variants that mimic the effects of a specific type of calcium-channel blocker—called non-dihydropyridine—were linked to a higher chance of developing diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is a condition where small pouches form in the lining of the intestines, often in the lower part of the colon. While it doesn’t always cause symptoms, it can lead to serious problems if the pouches become infected or burst. It is especially common in older adults.
So why would a blood pressure medicine be linked to a digestive issue like this? The answer may lie in how the drug works. Non-dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers affect the muscles not only in blood vessels but also in the intestines.
These muscles are important for moving food along the digestive tract. If the medication slows down this movement, it might contribute to the formation of the pouches seen in diverticulosis.
The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Dipender Gill, explained that while the finding is important, people should not stop taking their medication. These drugs still play a critical role in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Instead, the study highlights the need for patients and doctors to have open discussions about medication choices and side effects.
This research adds to our understanding of how blood pressure medicines affect the body. It reminds us that even well-known and widely used treatments can have side effects that were not noticed before. By continuing to study the long-term effects of medications in new ways—like using genetic data—scientists and doctors can make better decisions about how to keep patients healthy.
If you’re taking medication for high blood pressure, this study doesn’t mean you need to panic. But it does show the importance of regular check-ups and honest conversations with your doctor about how you’re feeling and any changes in your health. As always, never stop or change your medication without talking to a healthcare professional.
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