A new study from the University of Bologna has found that women who take beta-blockers to manage high blood pressure may face a higher risk of heart failure compared to men, especially if they do not have a history of heart disease.
Beta-blockers are common medicines used to treat hypertension, which is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. However, this research shows that men and women may respond differently to the medication, especially when they experience sudden heart problems like acute coronary syndrome, where blood flow to the heart is blocked.
The research team studied health data from 13,764 adults from 12 European countries. All of the people in the study had high blood pressure but no previous heart disease. They were grouped by gender and whether or not they were using beta-blockers.
What the researchers found was concerning. Women who were taking beta-blockers were almost 5% more likely than men to develop heart failure if they were hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome.
The study also showed that heart failure made a big difference in survival. Both men and women who developed heart failure had a death rate about seven times higher than those who had a heart attack but did not develop heart failure.
Women who experienced a serious type of heart attack called STEMI, where an artery is completely blocked, were 6.1% more likely to develop heart failure compared to men. Interestingly, when looking at people who were not taking beta-blockers, the rates of heart failure between men and women were similar.
These findings suggest that women with high blood pressure but no history of heart disease might need to be more careful with beta-blocker use. The researchers pointed out that managing blood pressure through healthy lifestyle changes like diet and exercise is very important, especially for women.
They also mentioned a possible link between hormone replacement therapy and beta-blockers that could increase heart failure risk, although more studies are needed to understand this connection.
This study is important because it shows the need for more personalized medical treatments that take gender differences into account.
Most medications have been tested mainly on men in the past, but this research shows that women’s bodies might react differently to the same treatment. Personalized care could lead to better, safer ways to treat high blood pressure and prevent serious heart problems.
For women with high blood pressure, this study highlights the importance of working closely with their doctors. Regular check-ups, careful monitoring, and being open to adjusting treatment plans are key steps to reducing the risk of heart failure. It also reminds everyone how important healthy living is in protecting the heart, no matter what medications are used.
The study, led by Professor Raffaele Bugiardini and published in the journal Hypertension, adds important new information about how men and women may respond differently to blood pressure treatments.
It also strengthens the call for more research that looks carefully at how different groups of people respond to different treatments, helping to create better healthcare for everyone.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
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