High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common health problem that affects many people around the world.
It happens when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too strong. This can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems.
To treat high blood pressure, doctors often give medications. One popular medicine is called chlorthalidone, which helps lower blood pressure. But new research from Columbia University suggests this drug might have some serious side effects.
To understand this better, let’s first look at what high blood pressure does. You can imagine your blood vessels as roads and your blood as cars. When everything moves smoothly, there are no problems.
But if the cars go too fast—like when blood pressure is too high—there’s a bigger chance of accidents, which in the body can mean damage to the heart, brain, or kidneys. That’s why doctors try to lower high blood pressure using medicine, better eating habits, exercise, and less stress.
In the new study, scientists looked at health data from over 730,000 people who used blood pressure medicine for 17 years. They focused on two common drugs: chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.
Both drugs helped lower blood pressure and protected people from heart problems and strokes. But the study found important differences in the side effects of these drugs.
The researchers discovered that people who took chlorthalidone were almost three times more likely to have a condition called hypokalemia. This means they had low levels of potassium in their blood.
Potassium is a mineral that helps your muscles and nerves work well, especially your heart. When potassium is too low, people might feel weak, tired, or even have heart issues. In the study, 6.3% of people taking chlorthalidone had low potassium, while only 1.9% of those taking hydrochlorothiazide did.
The study also found that chlorthalidone caused more problems with electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals in the body, like sodium and potassium, that keep your heart and muscles working properly.
People who took chlorthalidone also had a higher chance of kidney problems. Your kidneys help remove waste and keep your body’s fluids balanced. If they don’t work well, it can lead to serious health problems.
This doesn’t mean everyone who takes chlorthalidone will get these side effects. Many people use it without problems. But these findings may make doctors think more carefully before giving chlorthalidone, especially when other drugs might be safer.
If you take medicine for high blood pressure, it’s important to see your doctor regularly. If you’re taking chlorthalidone, your doctor might check your potassium and kidney function to make sure everything is okay. Don’t stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first.
Besides medicine, there are other ways to help control blood pressure. Eating healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, and cutting back on salt can help. Regular exercise, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, and managing stress are also very helpful. Doing calming things like walking, meditation, or listening to music can lower stress and support heart health.
Scientists will keep studying medicines like chlorthalidone to make sure they are safe and helpful. If you or someone you know uses this drug, the most important thing is to stay in touch with your doctor and speak up if you feel unwell. Being informed helps you take better care of your health.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about drug that prevents kidney failure in 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 common painkillers may harm heart, kidneys and more.
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