High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common health issue in Australia. It affects more than one in three adults.
If it’s not treated, it can lead to very serious problems like stroke and heart disease, which can be life-threatening.
To manage high blood pressure, many people take medications and try to live a healthier life. One of the common drugs used is called hydrochlorothiazide. This medicine helps lower blood pressure, but a new study from UNSW Sydney shows it might also raise the risk of getting skin cancer, especially for older people.
Hydrochlorothiazide is popular because it works well. But it can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. When people with sun-sensitive skin spend time in the sun, they may have a higher chance of developing skin cancer.
The researchers looked at health records from older Australians and found that this medicine could be linked to two kinds of skin cancer.
The researchers used health data from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Australia. They studied people who were 65 years or older and lived in New South Wales. The data included records from 2004 to 2015. The team looked at cancer cases, hospital visits, and what medications people were taking.
They focused on people who had been diagnosed with lip cancer (45 people) or malignant melanoma, which is a dangerous kind of skin cancer (659 people). Then, they compared them to more than 13,000 people who didn’t have these cancers.
They found that people who took hydrochlorothiazide had a higher chance of developing these skin cancers. The longer someone used the medicine, the higher their risk of getting lip cancer.
These results are similar to findings from other studies done overseas. But the researchers say there is no need to panic. People should not stop taking their medication without talking to their doctor first. It’s important to remember that hydrochlorothiazide helps control blood pressure, which is also very important for health.
Instead of stopping the medicine, doctors might just need to be more careful. They could do more regular skin checks for patients who take this drug. They might also remind patients to protect themselves from the sun.
For example, people can wear sunscreen, stay in the shade, or wear hats and long sleeves, especially during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
To make sure all doctors know about this risk, the information provided with the drug has been updated. This helps doctors make better decisions and protect their patients.
The study was led by Dr. Benjamin Daniels and published in the journal Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. The researchers say it’s important to balance the benefits of treating high blood pressure with the possible risks of side effects. This research helps doctors and patients make safer choices.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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