Sudden cardiac arrest is a very serious health emergency. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating properly, cutting off blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body. Without quick help, the person can collapse, stop breathing, and die within minutes. Because it often strikes without warning, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most dangerous heart problems.
In Europe, sudden cardiac arrest is a major cause of death. It is responsible for about half of all deaths linked to heart disease and about one in every five deaths from natural causes.
Some people might have warning signs like chest pain, trouble breathing, or feeling sick before it happens. However, many people have no symptoms at all, making it very hard to predict or prevent.
Recently, scientists from the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network found something surprising. They discovered a possible link between a common blood pressure medicine called nifedipine and a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Nifedipine is often given to people with high blood pressure. High blood pressure means that the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries is too strong, which can damage the heart and blood vessels. Nifedipine works by relaxing the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. This helps lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers also studied another blood pressure drug called amlodipine. Like nifedipine, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. These drugs help open up the blood vessels to improve blood flow.
To explore the possible connection between these drugs and sudden cardiac arrest, the scientists looked at health data from two large groups of people. The first study included over 2,500 people who had experienced sudden cardiac arrest and more than 10,500 healthy people from the Netherlands.
They found that people taking a high dose of nifedipine — about 60 milligrams per day — had a higher chance of suffering sudden cardiac arrest. However, they did not see the same risk in people taking amlodipine.
To double-check their findings, the researchers studied a second group from Denmark. This group had over 8,000 people who had suffered cardiac arrest and about 40,000 healthy people. The results were similar: high doses of nifedipine seemed to be linked to a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
This discovery surprised many doctors because both nifedipine and amlodipine have been trusted treatments for high blood pressure for many years. Earlier studies did not show this risk, probably because sudden cardiac arrest happens so fast and can be hard to study.
The researchers say that more research is needed to fully understand the connection. They suggest that doctors and patients should be cautious, especially when using high doses of nifedipine. Patients who are concerned should talk with their doctor to see if there are safer treatment options available.
This study is an important reminder that even medications we have used for decades can sometimes have hidden risks. It shows why ongoing research is so important to make sure medicines remain safe for everyone.
For now, people taking nifedipine should stay informed, talk to their doctors about any worries, and not stop taking their medication without medical advice. Medicines can be life-saving, but they need to be used carefully and wisely to get the best results.
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 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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