Beta-blockers are a type of medicine often used to treat high blood pressure. They are also used for other heart-related conditions.
But a new study from the University of Bologna in Italy has found that these drugs may not work the same way for everyone. In fact, they might be riskier for women.
The study looked at people who were admitted to the hospital with a heart emergency called acute coronary syndrome. This is a serious problem where the heart’s blood supply is suddenly blocked.
The researchers found that women without any past heart problems were almost 5% more likely to develop heart failure than men when taking beta-blockers during these emergencies.
This is important because beta-blockers are often given to people with high blood pressure, a major risk for heart disease. But if women respond differently to these drugs, doctors may need to think more carefully before prescribing them, especially to women who haven’t had heart problems before.
The researchers studied data from 13,764 adults in 12 European countries. Everyone in the study had high blood pressure but no past heart disease. They were grouped by gender and whether or not they were taking beta-blockers.
The findings showed that women who were taking beta-blockers had a 4.6% higher chance of developing heart failure than men in the same situation. The study also showed that if someone had heart failure, they were about seven times more likely to die than someone who had a heart attack without heart failure.
Another serious type of heart attack is called STEMI. In this condition, a coronary artery is completely blocked. Among people with STEMI, women had a 6.1% higher chance of developing heart failure compared to men.
Interestingly, men and women who were not taking beta-blockers had similar rates of heart failure. This suggests that the increased risk in women may be linked to the use of beta-blockers.
The researchers believe this is a good reason to encourage non-drug methods for lowering blood pressure, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly. These lifestyle changes could be especially helpful for women with high blood pressure who haven’t had heart problems before.
There is also a possibility that beta-blockers may interact with hormone treatments that some women use, like hormone replacement therapy. However, this idea still needs more research.
This study points to the need for medical treatments that take gender differences into account. A “one-size-fits-all” approach may not always be safe or effective. If treatments can be better matched to each person, they may work better and cause fewer problems.
For women with high blood pressure, especially those who have never had heart disease, it may be a good idea to talk to their doctor about the best way to manage their condition. Watching carefully for signs of heart problems and reviewing treatment plans might help lower their risk of heart failure.
The study, led by Professor Raffaele Bugiardini and his team, was published in the journal Hypertension. It adds to growing evidence that gender should be considered when choosing the right treatment for heart-related conditions.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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