Blood pressure medicines can reduce stroke risk
Friday 9th December 2011
A new study has found that taking blood pressure tablets can seriously reduce the risk of strokes in people with prehypertension.
The condition which affects millions across the world, with 50 million being troubled by it in the US alone, is when blood pressure ranges between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg. Hypertension is 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
In analysis conducted by researchers at the Heart and Vascular Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, the team tested over 70,000 people with an anti-prehypertension drug against a placebo. The results showed that those who took the blood pressure tablets had a 22 per cent lower risk of strokes against those who had taken the placebo.
Whilst the results showed no decrease in risk of heart attacks there was a trend toward lower cardiovascular death in patients. To avoid the risk of strokes 169 people were put on blood pressure pills for an average of 4.3 years.
Ilke Sipahi, M.D., lead author of the study, said: "Our study pertains to people with pre-hypertensive blood pressure levels and shows that the excess risk of stroke associated with these high-normal readings, top number 120-140, can be altered by taking blood pressure pills."
The American Heart Association said that lifestyle changes were better than taking medicine to combat the risk of strokes. The changes included weight loss, regular exercise and rich diet of fruit and vegetables.
Mr Sipahi added: "We do not think that giving blood pressure medicine instead of implementing the lifestyle changes is the way to go. However, the clear-cut reduction in the risk of stroke with blood pressure pills is important and may be complementary to lifestyle changes."
Known as the "silent killer" high blood pressure rarely has obvious symptoms but affects around 30 per cent of people in the UK. Those who do not have their condition treated as soon as possible run the increased risk heart attacks or strokes.
Contact the specialist recruitment company, Mediplacements, to see the latest cardiac physiologists jobs.
written by Angela Newbury
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