Millions of people around the world take medicine every day to control high blood pressure. Doctors often prescribe these drugs because high blood pressure can quietly damage the body for many years without causing obvious symptoms.
If it is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and heart failure. Because of this, blood pressure medicines are among the most commonly used drugs in the world, especially among older adults.
At the same time, many older people also experience problems with their digestive system. One common condition is called diverticulosis. This happens when small pouches form in weak spots along the wall of the intestines, especially in the large bowel.
These pouches usually do not cause symptoms at first, and many people may not even know they have them. However, in some cases, the pouches can become inflamed or infected. This can lead to severe stomach pain, fever, bleeding, and dangerous complications that may require hospital treatment or surgery.
Scientists have long studied the causes of diverticulosis. Age is one of the biggest risk factors, but diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking may also play a role. Researchers are also interested in whether common medications could affect the digestive system in ways that people do not fully understand.
Now, a team of researchers from Imperial College London has discovered a possible link between some blood pressure medicines and a higher risk of bowel problems such as diverticulosis. The finding could help doctors better understand how these medications affect the body beyond simply lowering blood pressure.
The researchers focused on three major groups of blood pressure drugs that are widely prescribed around the world. These included ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Although these medications have helped millions of people live longer and healthier lives, scientists still continue to study their possible side effects and long-term effects on different organs.
To investigate this question, the research team used genetic information from around 750,000 people. Instead of running a traditional drug trial, they used a method that looks at natural genetic differences in people. These differences can help scientists estimate how certain drugs may affect health over many years.
The team studied genes linked to the proteins targeted by blood pressure medications. Since these proteins help control blood pressure, looking at the genes connected to them gave the researchers clues about how the drugs may influence other parts of the body as well.
The scientists then examined possible links between these genetic patterns and nearly 900 diseases and medical conditions.
During the study, one result stood out. A specific group of calcium channel blockers, called non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, appeared to be connected to a higher risk of diverticulosis and other bowel problems.
The researchers believe this may happen because these drugs could affect the muscles in the intestines. The digestive system depends on smooth muscle movements to push food through the gut.
If these movements slow down or change, pressure inside the intestines may increase, which could contribute to the formation of the small pouches seen in diverticulosis.
Even though the results are important, the researchers strongly warned people not to stop taking their blood pressure medication because of this study.
High blood pressure itself is very dangerous and can cause life-threatening health problems if left untreated. Patients should always speak with their doctor before making any changes to their medication.
The scientists also explained that more research is needed before doctors can fully understand how large the risk may be and whether some patients are more vulnerable than others.
Future studies may help researchers develop safer treatments or identify ways to reduce bowel risks while still protecting the heart and blood vessels.
The study was led by Dr. Dipender Gill from Imperial College London and was published in the journal Circulation. The research adds to growing evidence that medicines can sometimes affect parts of the body in unexpected ways.
As scientists continue to learn more about common medications, these discoveries may help doctors choose treatments that are both effective and safer for patients over the long term.
For older adults especially, this research is a reminder of how closely different parts of the body are connected. A medicine designed to help the heart and blood pressure may also influence the digestive system. Understanding these hidden effects could improve medical care and help people stay healthier as they age.
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.
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