High blood pressure is a common health problem that affects millions of people around the world. Many people need to take medicine every day to control it.
But a lot of them forget to take their pills, which makes it hard to keep their blood pressure under control.
When blood pressure stays too high, it increases the chances of having serious problems like strokes, heart attacks, and even early death. That’s why scientists are working to find easier ways to treat it.
Now, a new drug called zilebesiran may offer hope. This medicine is being tested by researchers from several institutions, including the University of Edinburgh. What makes it special is that one shot of zilebesiran may be able to lower blood pressure for up to six months. That means no need to take pills every day.
In a recent study done in the UK, people who got zilebesiran had lower blood pressure numbers. The top number in a blood pressure reading, called systolic pressure, went down after getting the shot.
People who received 200 milligrams or more of the drug saw their systolic pressure drop by more than 10 points. Those who got 800 milligrams saw a drop of more than 20 points. These are big changes that can help reduce the risk of serious health problems.
Zilebesiran is made by a U.S. company called Alnylam. It works in a different way from regular blood pressure drugs. Most medicines try to relax blood vessels or help the body get rid of extra salt.
But zilebesiran goes deeper. It stops the liver from making a protein called angiotensinogen. This protein leads to the creation of a hormone called angiotensin, which makes blood vessels tighten. By stopping this process at the start, zilebesiran helps blood vessels stay relaxed and open, which lowers blood pressure.
The first study involved 107 people with high blood pressure. Out of these, 80 people received one shot of zilebesiran. The rest got a placebo, which is a treatment with no real drug. The results were hopeful, but researchers say they still need to do more tests to make sure the drug is safe to use for a long time.
Professor David Webb from the University of Edinburgh said this could be a big step forward in treating high blood pressure. He said that it has been 17 years since a new type of blood pressure medicine came out. If zilebesiran works well and is safe, it could help people remember their treatment better and stay healthy.
If more studies confirm that zilebesiran is both safe and effective, it could change how we treat high blood pressure. Many people struggle to remember daily pills, and a long-lasting injection could be a much easier choice. This might help more people keep their blood pressure under control and avoid dangerous health problems.
Besides new drugs, there are also other ways to lower blood pressure. Eating healthy, moving more, and cutting down on salt can all help. Some foods, like potatoes, might also play a role in keeping blood pressure in check.
Zilebesiran is not available yet, but it gives hope to many people who are tired of taking pills every day. The results of this early study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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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