Dr. Mercola: Blood Pressure Treatment Linked to More Disease

Blood Pressure Treatment Linked to More Disease

    December 20, 2017 • 1,262 views Disponible en Español

Previous
Next

blood pressure treatment
Story at-a-glance

    Your everyday lifestyle choices affect your blood pressure; making small changes in foods, the way you breathe and how much exercise you get have a compound effect on your health
    Recent data demonstrate those taking hydrochlorothiazide, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, experience an increased risk for lip cancer, squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers
    The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines that triple the number of men and double the number of women under 45 who will be diagnosed with hypertension
    Consider simple lifestyle choices, such as a simple three-minute exercise, eating more vegetables and severely reducing refined sugar and fructose to reduce your blood pressure, before taking drugs that may damage your health further

By Dr. Mercola

What you eat and drink, how much exercise you get and even how you breathe every day has a compound effect on your overall health. Making even small changes to your lifestyle can pay big dividends in the coming months and years. The same is true of the small decisions you make that aren't healthy. One soda in your lifetime doesn't have an effect, whereas several sodas a week have a significantly detrimental effect.

The choices you make also affect your blood pressure measurements, and therefore your potential risk for heart disease and stroke. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 American adults, or 75 million people, have high blood pressure.1 The total cost associated with treatment is over $46 billion in hospitalizations, medications and missed days at work.

A recent announcement by the American Heart Association (AHA) concerning guidelines for diagnosis of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, could mean that nearly half of Americans may be classified with high blood pressure.2 Treatment for hypertension often involves a prescription that may raise your risk of cancer.3
Common Hypertension Medication May Increase Your Risk of Cancer

A recent Danish study, in collaboration with Florida State University, found that one of the most popular drugs used worldwide to treat high blood pressure raises your risk of skin cancer seven times. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology4 by researchers who had previously found a link between the drug hydrochlorothiazide and lip cancer.

In this study, they demonstrated an association between the medication and squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas, forms of less invasive skin cancer.5

The researchers have also looked at other antihypertensive medications but have not found an association between those and skin cancer.6 Anton Pottegard, Ph.D., associate professor from the University of Southern Denmark, initiated the study. He commented on what prompted the analysis of the potential link between hydrochlorothiazide and skin cancer, saying:

    "We knew that hydrochlorothiazide made the skin more vulnerable to damage from the sun's UV rays, but what is new and also surprising is that long-term use of this blood pressure medicine leads to such a significant increase in the risk of skin cancer."

The study was based on data from national databases that followed 80,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and compared it to 1.5 million healthy control subjects. Past research demonstrated the medication increased the vulnerability of the skin to the sun, but the researchers stated they were surprised this vulnerability led to such an increased risk of cancer.

Co-author of the study, Dr. Armand B. Cognetta Jr., from Florida State University, has found similar results in patients he treats in Florida, where "the only risk factor, apart from exposure to the sunlight, seems to be hydrochlorothiazide."7 Squamous cell carcinoma has a low mortality rate, but the treatments carry a risk of impairment and the potential the cancer will spread.8 The researchers are continuing to work on additional studies that may shed more light on these risks, which Pottengard acknowledges, saying:9

    "The risk of skin cancer must, of course, be weighed against the fact that hydrochlorothiazide is an effective and otherwise safe treatment for most patients. Nevertheless, our results should lead to a reconsideration of the use of hydrochlorothiazide. Hopefully, with this study, we can contribute toward ensuring safer treatment of high blood pressure in the future."

How Your Blood Pressure Is Taken May Affect the Measurement

The technique your doctor or nurse uses to measure your blood pressure may have an effect on the reading. The current method of measuring blood pressure was invented in 1881 and refined in 1905.10 Today, the machine that measures blood pressure continues to measure the appearance and disappearance of sounds in the arteries, known as Korotkoff sounds, as the measurement standard.

Measurements taken at your doctor's office use the brachial artery in your upper arm or your femoral artery in your thigh. However, central aortic blood pressure (CBP) is considered a better marker of cardiovascular disease11 and a better indicator of the pressure your internal organs experience.12 Unfortunately, CBP requires an invasive procedure to determine the measurement.

Since a large deviation between CBP and peripheral (arm or leg) measurement can affect the decision to treat hypertension or direct the prescription of medication, researchers undertook a study13 to compare the differences and found that peripheral measurements were reasonably accurate when compared against CBP in those who had blood pressure lower than 120/80 or higher than 160/100.

At these extreme ends the accuracy was up to 80 percent. However, in the mid-range, the accuracy dropped dramatically to between 50 percent and 57 percent.14 Inaccuracies in blood pressure measurement may be associated with several factors you can control at your doctor's office and which I discuss in my previous article, "Blood Pressure Testing Is Mostly Inaccurate."
Assess Your Risk of Hypertension at Home

A noninvasive method of measuring your risk of high blood pressure at home is an evaluation of your waist-to-hip ratio. Research suggests your waist size may effectively assess obesity-related hypertension risk15 and your waist-to-hip ratio may increase your risk of obesity-related hypertension. Your waist-to-hip ratio is the comparison of the amount of weight you carry around your hips compared to your waist.

To calculate this ratio, measure the circumference of your hips at the widest part, across your buttocks, and your waist at the smallest part, just above your belly button. Then divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement to get the ratio. For instance, if your hips measure 42 inches and your waist measures 37 inches, divide 37 by 42, which gives you a ratio of 0.88. The Mayo Clinic uses the following waist-to-hip ratio designations to evaluate your health risk:16
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
New Definition of Hypertension Increases Your Potential Risk

The AHA recently reduced the blood pressure measurement at which someone will be diagnosed with hypertension.17 Based on new criteria, it's estimated that nearly half of American adults may be diagnosed with hypertension. Previously, readings of 140/90 and above were considered hypertensive, but the newest guidelines formulated by the AHA and the American College of Cardiology18 lower those numbers to 130/80.

Under the old definition, 32 percent of the U.S. population suffered from hypertension. Using the newest guidelines, it is estimated the number of men under 45 with hypertension will triple and the number of women under 45 will double.19 According to the authors, these new guidelines are designed to encourage people to take early action to control blood pressure.

Health experts from these organizations believe if Americans act to lower their pressure through diet, exercise and drug therapy, they could drive the rate of heart attack and stroke lower.20 Physicians writing the guidelines stress the importance of accurate blood pressure readings to ascertain the necessity for lifestyle changes or medications. They believe it is important there are at least two elevated readings on two separate occasions.21

Those who may have hypertension should use an approved monitor at home and bring the readings to their physician to differentiate between individuals with hypertension and those who have "white-coat syndrome" — people whose blood pressure rises under stressful or anxious conditions, such as at the doctor's office. The new guidelines state that anyone with at least a 10 percent risk of a heart attack or stroke should aim for a blood pressure of at least 130/80 or lower.

However, using the new criteria, anyone over age 65 has reached a threshold where the anticipated risk of a heart attack is at least 10 percent. This means the guidelines recommend you should shoot for blood pressure readings of 130/80 or lower once you reach 65.

Hundreds of research results were considered while developing these guidelines.22 But it was the data from the federal Sprint study published in 2015 that convinced the team. In what was a called a "landmark" study by the National Institutes of Health, researchers established tight control of blood pressure resulted in lower cardiovascular deaths.23

During the study, researchers assigned more than 9,300 adults over age 50 who were at high risk for heart attack to one of two groups. In one group the target systolic blood pressure (top number) was 120, and in the second it was 140. In the group assigned to the 120-systolic target, the incidence of heart attack, heart failure and stroke fell by one-third.24 However, the participants in this group averaged taking three medications to control their blood pressure instead of two.
Not Everyone Is Convinced the New Guidelines Will Be Successful

Not all physicians are convinced the lower guidelines will lead to better results. In the Sprint trial, more intensive drug treatment led to double the risk of kidney injury in the 120-systolic target group receiving more antihypertensive medications. Dr. Raymond Townsend of Penn Medicine commented to The New York Times, saying,25 "Although the lower goal was better for the heart, it wasn't better for the kidney. So, yeah, I'm worried."

Other physicians expressed concerns about the number of individuals who would be treated with drug therapy. Dr. Harlan Krumholz, cardiologist at Yale University, believes that while lifestyle changes like diet and exercise may help many lower their blood pressure, many who will be diagnosed with hypertension under the new guidelines are likely to use drug therapy, and the current drug treatment strategy has not been as successful as hoped for many patients. He continued:26

    "This is a big change that will end up labeling many more people with hypertension and recommending drug treatment for many more people. How they tolerate drugs, whether they want to pursue lower levels, are all choices and should not be dictated to them. Or we will have the same situation as today — many prescriptions that go unfilled and pills untaken."

The likely result from the changes to the hypertension guidelines is that many more will be prescribed medications that have a long list of their own side effects and dangerous health consequences. In other words, it is not unlikely that with an increasing number of people taking antihypertensive medications, there may be a rising number who experience side effects from these medications, such as:27,28

Diarrhea
   

Constipation
   

Dizziness

Nervousness
   

Fatigue
   

Headache

Nausea
   

Vomiting
   

Skin rash

Erectile dysfunction
   

Gout
   

Dehydration

Shortness of breath
   

Difficulty breathing
   

Kidney damage

Hyperkalemia
   

Heartburn
   

Dry mouth

Sleepiness
   

Nightmares
   

Stuffy nose

Depression
   

Joint pain
   

Difficulty sleeping

Excessive body hair
   

Swelling of the ankles
   

Weight gain or loss without trying

Changes in blood sugar levels
   

Gynecomastia (breast enlargement in males)
   

Heart attack with sudden withdrawal
Relationship of Nitric Oxide to Blood Pressure

In this short video, I demonstrate a simple exercise called the Nitric Oxide Dump. The exercise, named by Dr. Zach Bush, increases your circulating levels of nitric oxide so you may enjoy the benefits to your arterial system. The exercise stimulates the release of nitric oxide stored in the lining of your blood vessels. Nitric oxide is a free radical actually causes your blood vessels to expand and dilate, which helps reduce your blood pressure.

Nitric oxide also improves cardiovascular health by decreasing platelet aggregation, which reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. Nitric oxide is also a powerful stimulant to improve your immune function and an anabolic stimulus that increases lean body mass.

This quick and simple exercise is just one of several lifestyle choices you may consider to reduce your blood pressure without drugs. I describe many of choices to help optimize your blood pressure in my previous article, "Drug-Free Strategies to Lower Your Blood Pressure."
+ Sources and References
Most Popular

    Ketogenic Diet
    Magic Ingredients in Golden Milk
    Natural Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
    Alternatives to Cooking Oil

Post your comment
Click Here and be the first to comment on this article
Previous Article
Next Article
Subscribe to Dr. Mercola's Natural Health Newsletter

Thank you! Your purchases help us support these charities and organizations.

    Inside Mercola.com
    About Dr. Mercola
    Contact Us
    Employment Opportunities
    En Espanol
    Health Articles
    Health Videos
    Media Inquiries
    Mercola Community FAQ
    Mercola Social Responsibility
    Press Room
    Special Reports
    Terms & Conditions
    Updated Privacy Policy

    Special Info Sites
    Aspartame
    Cancer
    Fitness
    Fluoride
    Fructose/Sugar
    GMO
    Mercury
    Nutritional Typing
    Pets
    Vaccines
    Vitamin D

    Shopping
    Autoship Program
    California Residents
    FAQs
    GMO-Free Products
    Healthy Rewards Program
    Low Price Guarantee
    Online Product Guide
    Online Shopping

    
    Our Service Commitment
    Premium Products
    Product Badge Glossary
    Return Policy
    Shipping Policy (Domestic)
    Shipping Policy (International)
    Store Locator
    Wholesale Program

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

If you want to use an article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.

Terms & Conditions | Updated Privacy Policy | Sitemap

© Copyright 1997-2017 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.

    Mercola Health Resources, LLC BBB Business Review
    McAfee SECURE sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
    TRUSTe online privacy certification
    Click to Verify - This site has chosen a GeoTrust SSL Certificate to improve Web site security
    Privacy Policy

Mercola.com

Call Toll Free: 877-985-2695

    0Save
    1
    Email

Read Previous
Read Next