High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious health issue that affects more than one in three Australian adults.
If it’s not treated properly, it can lead to life-threatening problems like heart attacks and strokes.
To help control high blood pressure, many doctors prescribe a medicine called hydrochlorothiazide. It is one of the most commonly used blood pressure medications in Australia.
However, new research from UNSW Sydney has found a possible danger linked to this drug—an increased risk of skin cancer, especially in older people.
This is worrying because hydrochlorothiazide can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. That means people taking it may be more likely to get sunburned or suffer long-term skin damage from the sun.
The researchers used anonymous data from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. They looked at health records from people aged 65 and older in New South Wales between 2004 and 2015. These records included details about cancer diagnoses, hospital visits, and which medicines people were taking.
They compared people who had skin cancer—45 with lip cancer and 659 with melanoma—with a group of 13,300 people who didn’t have cancer.
They found that people taking hydrochlorothiazide were more likely to develop these two types of skin cancer. Also, the longer someone had been taking the drug, the higher their chance of getting lip cancer.
Even though these results are important, doctors say patients should not stop taking the medication on their own. Controlling blood pressure is very important, and suddenly stopping your medicine could put your health at risk.
Instead, doctors should be aware of this possible side effect and take steps to protect their patients. This might include checking their skin more often and reminding them to use sunscreen, wear hats and long sleeves, and stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
To help with this, the official prescribing information for hydrochlorothiazide has been updated to include the risk of skin cancer. This change will help doctors make better decisions and keep patients safe.
This study supports similar results found in other countries. It reminds everyone that while blood pressure medicines are helpful, they can sometimes have side effects that need to be taken seriously.
For people taking hydrochlorothiazide, the best advice is to keep protecting your skin from the sun and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
The study, led by Dr. Benjamin Daniels, was published in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. It helps us better understand how common medications can affect more than just the problem they are meant to treat.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about Scientists find link between high blood pressure drugs and this skin disease and common high blood pressure medication may not be the best choice.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about common blood pressure medication that may extend your healthy life span and common high blood pressure drug linked to sudden cardiac arrest.
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