A new study from Columbia University has found that one of the most common drugs used to treat high blood pressure—called ACE inhibitors—might not be the best option for many people.
Instead, another type of drug called thiazide diuretics may work better and cause fewer health problems.
The research was published in the medical journal The Lancet. Scientists looked at the health records of about 5 million people who had just started taking medicine for high blood pressure. They wanted to find out which type of drug gave patients the best results.
Doctors have several kinds of medicines to choose from when treating high blood pressure. These include ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and calcium channel blockers.
But there hasn’t been much strong research comparing which one should be used first. As a result, doctors often rely on expert opinions, which means different doctors may choose different treatments.
In this study, researchers found that almost half of the patients—48%—were given ACE inhibitors as their first treatment. Only 17% started with thiazide diuretics, even though these drugs showed better outcomes.
People who took thiazide diuretics had a 15% lower risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure compared to those who took ACE inhibitors. They also had fewer side effects.
In fact, people on ACE inhibitors were more likely to develop 19 different health issues, including kidney problems and a dry cough. These are known side effects of ACE inhibitors.
The researchers estimated that if all the patients in the study had taken thiazide diuretics instead of ACE inhibitors, about 3,100 major heart-related problems could have been avoided.
This study could change the way doctors treat high blood pressure. Thiazide diuretics have been around for many years and are known to be safe. They work by helping the kidneys remove extra salt and water from the body, which lowers blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors work in a different way. They help relax blood vessels so the heart doesn’t have to pump as hard. While both medicines can help control blood pressure, this new research suggests that thiazide diuretics may be a better first choice for many patients.
Dr. George Hripcsak, who led the study, said that doctors should rely more on real-world data when deciding which medicine to give. If thiazide diuretics help more people and cause fewer problems, doctors should consider using them more often.
This new information may lead to changes in medical guidelines in the future. By choosing the safest and most effective medicine first, doctors can help people avoid serious health problems and feel better.
If you have high blood pressure, this study shows there may be better treatment options. It’s important to talk to your doctor to find out which medicine is best for you.
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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