A massive study lasting 17 years and including more than 730,000 people has given doctors and patients new information about two popular drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
These two medications—chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide—have been used for many years to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.
The study was done by researchers at Columbia University and shows that although both medications work well for controlling blood pressure, chlorthalidone may have more side effects than hydrochlorothiazide.
The most serious problem linked to chlorthalidone is a drop in potassium levels, known as hypokalemia. Potassium is a very important mineral in the body. It helps the heart beat regularly, keeps muscles working, and supports kidney function.
If potassium levels fall too low, people can experience dangerous symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, confusion, muscle weakness, kidney problems, and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In this study, 6.3% of people taking chlorthalidone developed low potassium levels, while only 1.9% of those taking hydrochlorothiazide had this issue. This means the risk of hypokalemia is about three times higher with chlorthalidone.
Even when patients were given low doses of the drug, they still had more problems with potassium and other electrolytes, as well as a higher chance of kidney problems.
Because of these results, experts are now asking whether chlorthalidone should continue to be the top choice for treating high blood pressure. Some doctors may decide to monitor their patients more carefully or switch them to different medications if side effects become a concern.
High blood pressure is a serious health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. If it’s not treated, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and other life-threatening conditions. That’s why it’s important to find the right treatment for each person.
Medications are just one part of the solution. People with high blood pressure are also encouraged to make lifestyle changes to help manage the condition.
Eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoking, and lowering stress can all help improve blood pressure. In addition, using a home blood pressure monitor can help patients keep track of their numbers and share them with their doctor.
The research was led by Dr. George Hripcsak and published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. It reminds us that every person is different, and treatment plans should be tailored to each individual. Doctors and patients should always weigh the benefits of a drug against its risks.
As more studies like this are done, doctors will be able to offer even safer and more effective ways to treat high blood pressure. This can lead to better health and longer lives for millions of people.
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 information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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