As you probably already know, there are several medications for high blood pressure that can helpMedicine treats hypertension. First-line therapy involves prescribing two types of drugs: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). However, the first is used more often than the second. A current study in the journal Hypertension shows that ACE inhibitors are more likely to be responsible for any side effects.
Do the best medications for high blood pressure come with risks?
High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disease. The arterial andtherapy-resistant hypertensionaffects around a third of the adult population. This health condition is also known as a silent killer, which can lead to particularly serious long-term health consequences. To reach their conclusions, the researchers tracked the levels of three million people in the United States, Germany and South Korea. You took an antihypertensive medication for the first time. However, none of the participants had a history of heart disease or stroke. From these 3 million people, the study authors selected the medical records of patients who started treatment for high blood pressure with a single drug between 1996 and 2018. Researchers found that 2,297,881 people who took ACE inhibitors had sequelae associated with heart problems, as well as strokes, compared to 673,938 patients who took angiotensin receptor blockers as therapy. The research team found a total of 51 side effects.
The scientists found no significant difference in the frequency of heart attacks, strokes or other cardiac events. However, they found differences in the occurrence of side effects. Compared to patients taking ARBs, patients treated with ACE inhibitors were 3.3 times more likely to experience fluid retention, swelling of the deep layers of the skin and mucous membranes. These people were also 32% more likely to develop cough or pancreatitis. Finally, they had an 18% higher risk of suffering from bleeding in the digestive tract. The authorsthis studyIf you experience side effects related to medication, we recommend that you consult your doctor immediately.
