Many people take medicine every day to lower high blood pressure and protect their heart. But a new study from Columbia University says that one of the most common drugs used for this might not be the best option.
The drug in question is called an ACE inhibitor. It works by relaxing blood vessels so the heart can pump blood more easily. Doctors have been prescribing ACE inhibitors for years, and almost half of patients with high blood pressure start with this type of medicine.
But the study shows that another type of drug, called a thiazide diuretic, might be a better choice. Thiazide diuretics help the body get rid of extra salt and water, which lowers blood pressure. These drugs have been around for decades and are known to be safe and effective.
In the study, researchers looked at the health records of about 5 million people who had just started treatment for high blood pressure. They wanted to see how each type of drug worked and what side effects they caused.
The results were surprising. Only 17% of the patients were given thiazide diuretics, while 48% were given ACE inhibitors. But the patients who took thiazide diuretics had fewer serious heart problems like heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. In fact, they had 15% fewer of these problems than people taking ACE inhibitors.
Even more, those on ACE inhibitors had more side effects. They were more likely to suffer from 19 different problems, including kidney issues and a dry cough that doesn’t go away.
The researchers said that if everyone in the study had started with thiazide diuretics instead of ACE inhibitors, around 3,100 major heart problems could have been avoided.
So why do doctors still prescribe ACE inhibitors more often? The study suggests that old habits and unclear medical guidelines might be the reason. Until now, there haven’t been many large studies showing which drug is the best to start with. As a result, many doctors have just followed tradition.
This research, led by George Hripcsak and published in The Lancet, might help change that. It gives strong evidence that thiazide diuretics should be used more often, especially when someone first starts taking blood pressure medicine.
If you take medicine for high blood pressure, it might be a good idea to talk with your doctor. Ask if a thiazide diuretic could be better for you. These drugs are effective, safe, and could lower your risk of serious heart problems.
This study could lead to changes in medical advice and help people get better care for their heart health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and 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 plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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