High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common health issue affecting many people worldwide. It can lead to serious heart problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if not treated properly.
Doctors have different medicines to choose from when starting treatment for high blood pressure, but the challenge is figuring out which one is the most effective and safest to begin with.
There are five main types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure. These include ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
However, there hasn’t been enough research to clearly determine which type should be the first choice for patients. As a result, doctors often rely on their own experience and judgment when deciding on a starting treatment.
A team of researchers from Columbia University wanted to address this gap in knowledge. They decided to study which of these medications might be the best first option for patients.
The focus of their study was mainly on ACE inhibitors, which are the most commonly prescribed medicine, and thiazide diuretics, which are used less frequently.
The researchers analyzed the health records of nearly 5 million people who had just started taking medication for high blood pressure. They found that about half of these patients were given ACE inhibitors as their first treatment, while only 17% were initially prescribed thiazide diuretics.
The findings of this large study were quite surprising. Patients who started with thiazide diuretics had significantly better outcomes than those who took ACE inhibitors.
Specifically, the research showed that those taking thiazide diuretics experienced 15% fewer major heart-related problems, like heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, patients on thiazide diuretics reported fewer side effects compared to those on ACE inhibitors.
The researchers estimated that if all the patients who started with ACE inhibitors had been prescribed thiazide diuretics instead, about 3,100 serious heart problems could have been prevented.
This result suggests that doctors may need to reconsider their common practice of prescribing ACE inhibitors first.
It’s essential to understand that not every medicine works the same way for every person. Different patients might respond differently to medications based on their health conditions, lifestyle, and other factors.
However, the study provides valuable insights and raises an important question: Why aren’t thiazide diuretics used more often as the initial treatment for high blood pressure, given their apparent benefits?
The research findings, published in The Lancet, point towards a potentially better approach for treating high blood pressure. Still, the study’s authors emphasized the need for more research to confirm these results and to understand why thiazide diuretics perform better in some cases.
They also highlighted the importance of considering individual patient needs when choosing a treatment plan.
This study serves as a reminder that even with common health issues like high blood pressure, there is still a lot to learn. Medical knowledge is constantly evolving, and new studies can sometimes challenge long-held beliefs about what treatments work best.
In this case, the research indicates that thiazide diuretics, which are often overlooked, might actually be a more effective and safer choice for many patients starting high blood pressure treatment.
These findings could lead to changes in how doctors treat high blood pressure in the future, potentially helping many people avoid serious heart problems.
For now, it’s important for both doctors and patients to stay informed about the latest research and to consider all available options when managing high blood pressure.
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 information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
