High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when the force of blood pushing through your blood vessels is too strong. If it stays high for too long, it can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes.
A study from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, brings hope for people trying to manage high blood pressure. The study was led by Dr. Nelson Wang and published in the journal JAMA Cardiology.
The researchers wanted to know if using a mix of three or four different blood pressure medicines—each at a low dose—would be better than taking just one medicine. They looked at results from seven past studies that included a total of 1,918 patients.
In four of these studies, people were given a combination of three medications. In the other three studies, they received four medications. The researchers then compared these results to people who took only one medication, standard treatments, or even a placebo (a fake pill with no medicine).
The results were encouraging. People who took the low-dose combinations had bigger drops in their blood pressure. These improvements were seen within just four to twelve weeks after starting the treatment.
Even better, more people in the combination-pill group reached healthy blood pressure levels—under 140/90 mm Hg. About 66 out of every 100 people who took the combination pills hit this target, compared to 46 out of 100 who took just one medication and only 18 out of 100 who took a placebo.
Two of the studies continued for six to twelve months. They showed that the benefits of the combination treatment lasted over time and continued to outperform regular treatments.
Some people did feel a bit dizzy while taking the combination pills, but there were no serious side effects. No one had to stop taking their medicine because of the side effects.
Dr. Wang and his team believe that these low-dose combination (LDC) pills could help about 70% of people bring their blood pressure down to a safe level. The team is now working on ways to make the treatment even more effective and comfortable for patients.
It’s worth noting that some of the researchers have connections to companies that make blood pressure medications, and some have filed patents on the idea of using multiple low-dose drugs together. While this is common in medical research, it’s still good to keep in mind.
Overall, this study offers a promising new way to treat high blood pressure. Instead of increasing the amount of one medicine, combining small amounts of several drugs may work better and be safer.
If you’re worried about your blood pressure, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out the best treatment plan. Other studies are also exploring different ways to manage blood pressure, such as the effects of natural plant pigments or black licorice.
This research is an exciting step forward in helping more people control their blood pressure and live healthier lives.
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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