High blood pressure is a serious health issue in the United States, affecting millions of adults and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke—two of the top causes of death. To manage this condition, many people rely on medications.
One common group of drugs used is called calcium-channel blockers, which help relax blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. These, along with ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, are among the most commonly prescribed treatments for high blood pressure.
While these medications are effective at lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a recent study by researchers at Imperial College London has uncovered a surprising side effect. The researchers found that one type of calcium-channel blocker might be linked to a higher risk of a digestive condition called diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pouches form in the lining of the intestine, especially the colon. It’s fairly common in older adults and often causes no symptoms. However, if the pouches become infected or burst, it can lead to pain, inflammation, and serious complications.
To study the possible side effects of blood pressure medications, the research team used a new and creative approach. Instead of running a traditional long-term clinical trial, they analyzed genetic data from about 750,000 people.
They focused on genes that are related to the proteins affected by blood pressure drugs. The idea was that if certain gene variations have similar effects to the medications, they could help reveal both the benefits and risks of these drugs.
Their findings confirmed what many studies have already shown: people with gene variants that naturally lower blood pressure are less likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke. However, when the team expanded their analysis to look at almost 900 other health conditions, they found something unexpected.
They discovered that gene variants which mimic the effect of a specific type of calcium-channel blocker—called non-dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers—were linked to a greater risk of developing diverticulosis.
This connection likely exists because these medications may reduce the strength of muscle contractions in the intestines. These contractions are needed to move food through the digestive tract. If they become weaker, it might increase the chance of developing diverticulosis.
The researchers stressed that this discovery doesn’t mean patients should stop taking their blood pressure medication. Dr. Dipender Gill, who led the study, explained that the benefits of controlling blood pressure far outweigh this potential risk for most people.
However, he also emphasized the importance of patients being informed about possible side effects and discussing them with their doctors.
This study is important because it shows that even medications that help prevent life-threatening diseases can have unexpected effects in other parts of the body. It reminds both patients and healthcare providers that managing health conditions like high blood pressure isn’t always straightforward. What works well in one area may have an impact elsewhere.
In the end, this research adds valuable knowledge about the long-term effects of common blood pressure treatments. It encourages open conversations between patients and doctors to find the safest and most effective treatment plan, tailored to each person’s needs.
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 health information, 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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