A drug that many people take to control high blood pressure, called nifedipine, may come with a serious risk we didn’t fully understand before.
A new study by the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network has linked this medication—especially in high doses—to sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. This stops blood from reaching the brain and other important parts of the body. It’s extremely dangerous and often leads to death if not treated right away. In fact, it causes half of all heart-related deaths in Europe and about 20% of all natural deaths.
People who go into cardiac arrest usually collapse, lose consciousness, and may stop breathing or breathe strangely. Some may feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea just before it happens. These signs are very important and should never be ignored, because immediate help is needed to save a life.
In the study, scientists looked at two common blood pressure drugs: nifedipine and amlodipine. They studied over 2,500 patients who had been taking these medicines and compared them with more than 10,000 healthy people in a Dutch health registry.
What they found was unexpected. People who were taking a high dose of nifedipine (60 mg per day) had a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Interestingly, this risk was not seen with amlodipine.
To make sure their results were accurate, the researchers checked another large group of patients in Denmark—and they found the same results. This means the risk with high-dose nifedipine might be real.
This finding is important because these drugs have been used safely for many years. Past studies didn’t find this link, probably because sudden cardiac arrest is so quick and hard to study. Now that this possible risk has come to light, it’s worth paying attention.
If you are taking nifedipine, don’t panic or stop your medicine without talking to your doctor. The study doesn’t say that everyone who takes nifedipine is in danger—it mainly highlights the risk at high doses. Doctors and patients should be more careful when using higher doses of this drug and consider alternatives if needed.
More research is still needed. The scientists themselves say we need more studies before making big changes to treatment plans. But for now, being informed and talking with your doctor is a smart step.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, happens when blood pushes too hard against your artery walls. If left untreated, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems. That’s why it’s so important to manage it well—with medication, healthy food, exercise, and managing stress.
Medicines like nifedipine and amlodipine are tools to help with this. But like any tool, they need to be used with care. This study reminds us how important it is to understand what we take and how it affects our bodies.
In short, this new research shows a possible risk with a commonly used blood pressure drug, especially at high doses. It encourages doctors and patients to work together closely, stay informed, and make the best choices for long-term health.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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