A major study from Columbia University has given doctors and patients new insights into treating high blood pressure.
Over a span of 17 years, researchers studied more than 730,000 people who were using two common medications: chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide.
Both drugs are used to lower high blood pressure and help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and hospital stays for heart failure. But this study found some important differences between them, especially when it comes to safety.
Chlorthalidone has been known as a powerful drug for controlling blood pressure. However, researchers found that people taking it had a much higher chance of developing low potassium levels in their blood, a condition called hypokalemia.
Potassium is very important for your muscles and heart to work properly. When your potassium levels drop too low, it can cause serious problems like an irregular heartbeat, confusion, or even kidney damage. In some cases, it may also increase the chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
In the study, about 6.3% of people taking chlorthalidone developed low potassium levels. On the other hand, only 1.9% of people taking hydrochlorothiazide had the same issue. That means the risk with chlorthalidone was more than three times higher.
The researchers also discovered that people on chlorthalidone were more likely to have other imbalances in their body’s minerals, and more kidney problems—even when they took lower doses of the drug.
These results have led many health experts to rethink how often chlorthalidone should be prescribed. It is still effective, but doctors might need to monitor patients more closely if they choose to use it. Some experts are calling for updates to treatment guidelines to reflect these new findings.
High blood pressure is a serious health issue that affects people all over the world. If it is not treated properly, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions. That’s why it’s important to choose the safest and most effective treatment.
Medicine is only one part of managing high blood pressure. A healthy lifestyle is just as important. Eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting down on salt, staying active, losing weight if needed, and avoiding smoking and too much alcohol can all make a big difference. Reducing stress and checking your blood pressure at home regularly are also helpful steps.
This research shows how important it is to tailor treatment to each person. What works well for one person might not be the best choice for someone else. More studies like this one help doctors and patients make better decisions together.
The study was led by George Hripcsak and was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. It reminds us that even widely used medications can have serious side effects. The goal is not just to lower blood pressure, but to do it in the safest way possible.
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 health information, 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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