Sudden cardiac arrest is a very serious medical emergency. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating normally, which cuts off blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body.
Without quick help, the person may collapse, stop breathing, and die within minutes. Because it often happens without warning, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most dangerous heart conditions.
In Europe, it is a major cause of death. It accounts for about half of all deaths related to heart disease and about one in five deaths from natural causes.
Some people may feel warning signs like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or nausea before it happens. But many people have no signs at all, making it hard to know when it might strike.
Recently, scientists in the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network found something surprising. They discovered a possible link between a common high blood pressure medicine called nifedipine and an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Nifedipine is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure happens when the force of the blood pushing against the walls of arteries is too high. This can damage the heart over time. Nifedipine helps by relaxing the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. This can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers also looked at another blood pressure medicine called amlodipine. Like nifedipine, it is a calcium channel blocker, which means it helps open the blood vessels to improve blood flow.
To learn more, the scientists studied health records from two large groups of people. The first study was in the Netherlands and included over 2,500 people who had a sudden cardiac arrest and more than 10,500 healthy people.
They found that people who took a high dose of nifedipine—about 60 milligrams a day—had a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. This increased risk was not seen in people taking amlodipine.
To check the results, they studied a second group from Denmark. This group had over 8,000 people who had suffered cardiac arrest and around 40,000 healthy people. The findings were similar: high doses of nifedipine seemed to be linked to a higher risk.
This finding was unexpected because both nifedipine and amlodipine have been used safely for many years. Earlier studies did not notice this risk, probably because sudden cardiac arrest happens quickly and is difficult to study.
The scientists say more research is needed to understand this connection. They recommend that doctors and patients be careful, especially when using high doses of nifedipine. Patients who are worried should talk to their doctors and not stop taking their medicine without medical advice.
This study is a good reminder that even trusted medicines can have hidden dangers. It shows why continued research is important to make sure treatments stay safe.
People taking nifedipine should stay informed, talk with their healthcare providers, and never make changes to their treatment without professional guidance. Medicines can be life-saving when used correctly.
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.
