Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most dangerous medical emergencies. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating properly and can no longer pump blood to the brain and other parts of the body.
When this occurs, a person quickly loses consciousness and stops breathing. Without fast medical help, death can happen within minutes.
This condition is not rare. In Europe, sudden cardiac arrest is responsible for about half of all heart-related deaths and around one in five natural deaths. This makes it a major concern for doctors and public health experts.
One of the most worrying things about sudden cardiac arrest is that it often comes without warning. Some people may feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea beforehand, but many people experience no clear signs at all. Because of this, it is very difficult to predict or prevent.
Scientists are always looking for ways to understand why sudden cardiac arrest happens. A recent study from the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network has brought attention to a possible new risk factor. The research suggests that a commonly used drug for high blood pressure may be linked to a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest when taken at high doses.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a very common condition. It means that the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels is too high. Over time, this can damage the heart and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To control this, many people take medications that help lower blood pressure.
One of these medications is nifedipine. It has been used for many years and works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. This reduces pressure in the system, similar to lowering the pressure in a water pipe. Another similar drug is amlodipine, which works in almost the same way and is also widely used.
In this study, researchers wanted to find out if there was any connection between these drugs and sudden cardiac arrest. They looked at a large group of people in the Netherlands. The study included 2,503 patients who had experienced sudden cardiac arrest and compared them with 10,543 healthy individuals.
The results showed something unexpected. People who were taking a high dose of nifedipine, which is about 60 milligrams per day, appeared to have a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest. However, this increased risk was not seen in people who were taking amlodipine.
To make sure the results were reliable, the researchers repeated the study using data from another group in Denmark. This second group included 8,101 patients who had experienced cardiac arrest and 40,505 healthy individuals. The findings were similar. Again, high doses of nifedipine were linked to a higher risk, while amlodipine did not show the same problem.
These findings are surprising because both nifedipine and amlodipine have been used safely for many years. Millions of people around the world take these medications every day. Earlier studies did not find this kind of risk. One reason may be that sudden cardiac arrest happens very quickly and is hard to study in detail.
The researchers explained that their work is only the first step. More studies are needed to confirm the results and to understand why this risk may exist. It is not yet clear how nifedipine might increase the chance of sudden cardiac arrest, or whether certain patients are more at risk than others.
For now, the study suggests that doctors and patients should be careful with high doses of nifedipine. It does not mean that people should stop taking their medication. Instead, patients should talk to their doctors if they have any concerns. Doctors can help decide the safest and most effective treatment based on each person’s condition.
This research highlights an important point. Even medicines that have been used for a long time can still have risks that are not fully understood. Ongoing research is essential to make sure that treatments remain safe and effective.
The study was published by the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network, based on data from Dutch and Danish cardiac arrest registries. As scientists continue to study this issue, their work may lead to safer treatment choices for people with high blood pressure.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
