High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the most common health problems in the world. It affects millions of people and often develops silently over many years.
Many people do not even know they have it until it causes serious damage. When blood pressure stays too high for too long, it can hurt the heart, the blood vessels, the brain, and the kidneys.
It can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, kidney disease, and even early death if it is not controlled properly.
Doctors usually treat high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and medication. People may be asked to eat less salt, exercise more, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy weight. When these steps are not enough, doctors prescribe medicine to help lower the pressure in the blood vessels.
For many years, one of the most common first choices has been a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. These medications work by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.
However, a new large study from Columbia University suggests that another type of medication may be a better and safer first option for many people. These drugs are called thiazide diuretics.
They are often known as “water pills” because they help the body get rid of extra salt and water through urine. By reducing the amount of fluid in the blood vessels, they lower blood pressure and make it easier for the heart to do its job.
To better understand which medication works best, researchers studied the health and insurance records of nearly five million people who had just started treatment for high blood pressure.
This made it one of the largest studies ever done on this topic. The scientists looked closely at what type of drug each person was given at the beginning of their treatment, and what happened to their health afterward.
They found that almost half of the patients were given ACE inhibitors as their first medicine. In comparison, only a smaller group started with thiazide diuretics. Even though thiazide diuretics were prescribed less often, the people who took them had better overall results.
They experienced fewer heart attacks, fewer cases of heart failure, and fewer strokes than those who took ACE inhibitors. In fact, serious heart-related problems were about 15 percent lower in the group taking thiazide diuretics.
Side effects were another important part of the study. While all medicines can cause some unwanted effects, the researchers discovered that people taking ACE inhibitors had a much higher chance of experiencing problems.
They identified 19 different side effects that were more common in people using ACE inhibitors. Some of these included a constant dry cough, high levels of potassium in the blood, and issues with kidney function.
In contrast, people who took thiazide diuretics experienced fewer side effects overall. This suggests that these drugs may not only protect the heart better but also be easier for many patients to tolerate over a long period of time.
This is important because high blood pressure treatment is usually life-long, and people need medication that is both effective and safe to use for many years.
The researchers also estimated how many serious health problems could have been avoided if thiazide diuretics had been the first choice for everyone who was initially given ACE inhibitors.
Their calculations suggested that more than 3,000 major heart-related events could have been prevented. This includes heart attacks, strokes, and cases of heart failure. This large number shows how powerful the right medicine choice can be.
Even though both ACE inhibitors and thiazide diuretics lower blood pressure, they work in different ways inside the body. ACE inhibitors change the balance of certain chemicals that affect the width of blood vessels.
Thiazide diuretics, on the other hand, reduce the amount of extra fluid in the body. This study shows that reducing fluid and salt may give the heart and blood vessels better long-term protection in many cases.
The researchers believe that these findings could lead to changes in how high blood pressure is treated in the future.
Doctors may begin to consider thiazide diuretics as the first option more often, especially for people who are just starting treatment. Of course, every patient is different, and other health problems, age, and medical history must always be taken into account.
For anyone who is currently taking medication for high blood pressure and having side effects, this study is a reminder that options do exist. It is important to speak with a doctor before making any changes to medication. With proper medical guidance, it may be possible to find a treatment that works better and causes fewer problems.
This research highlights how science continues to improve our understanding of common diseases. By carefully studying real people and real health data, researchers are finding ways to make treatments safer and more effective.
For the millions of people living with high blood pressure, this could lead to better health, fewer emergencies, and a longer, healthier life.
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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