In a recent study from the Intermountain Medical Center, researchers find that two types of blood pressure drugs — alpha blockers and alpha 2 agonist — show increased variability in blood pressure measurements between doctor visits.
This condition is linked to a higher risk of death.
According to the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80.
Elevated blood pressure is between 120-129/80, and anything over 130/80 is categorized as high blood pressure.
The systolic blood pressure reading (the upper number) indicates how much pressure blood is exerting against the artery walls when the heart beats.
In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to increased stiffness of large arteries, long-term build-up of plaque, and increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease, according to the AHA.
Previous research has found that patients with large variances in blood pressure between doctor visits have an increased risk of death.
In the current study, the team The examined connections between the type of blood pressure medication and the variations in blood pressure readings.
They aimed to see if certain classes of medications could reduce the visit-to-visit blood pressure variability.
More than 10,500 patients with 7+ recorded blood pressure medications between January 2007 and December 2011 were followed for 5 years — through June 2016.
The team tracked the range of variances in blood pressure measurements and the blood pressure drugs each patient was using.
They found that blood pressure drugs include ace inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics could reduce the visit-to-visit blood pressure variability.
However, people who are on other types of blood pressure medications have an increased risk of death.
The researchers suggest doctors should encourage to use blood pressure medications that show a decrease in mortality risk.
In addition, patients should know what their blood pressure is.
If it’s up and down all the time, the patient should talk with their physician to find the best blood pressure medications that will reduce variances.
It is also important to control the environment when measuring blood pressure. This could help reduce additional variables from influencing the measurement.
Sit or lay down for 15 minutes prior to taking your blood pressure. Don’t do things that will cause you stress, since that may raise your blood pressure.
Use a blood pressure cuff that fits. Make sure it’s not too tight or too large.
Brian Clements, DO, an internal medicine physician with the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, is the lead author of the study.
The finding was presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Orlando.
Copyright © 2018 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
Source: Intermountain Medical Center.
