|
Risks May Outweigh Benefits for Blood Pressure Drug Combo
Many older people struggling with high blood pressure are being inappropriately and unnecessarily prescribed a combination blood pressure medications a team of Canadian researchers warns.
Comments: The drug combination of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for treatment of high blood pressure has been in practice for several years without specific evidence proving its benefits. One of the reviews which supported such a combination noted only marginal (2-4 mmHg) decrease in blood pressure readings when each class of drugs was compared to the combination therapy. However, more people are discontinuing the therapy because of side effects such as dizziness, cough, edema, fatigue, worsening kidney functions, and electrolyte imbalance in sodium-potassium ratio. Yet, as the article mentions, those who continued the combination therapy experienced worsening kidney functions and doubled the risk of kidney failure and even death. Unfortunately more than 86% of those who continued the drugs did not even have a justifiable condition for such drug therapy.
ARBs are mainly prescribed as an anti-hypertensive treatment and include drugs like Micardis, Cozaar, Hyzaar, Diovan and Atacand. Although the article stated that these drugs are safe on their own, ARBs are known to increase the risk of lung, breast and prostate cancers. Millions of people worldwide are taking ARBs, either for high blood pressure, heart failure, or for preventing diabetic, hypertensive kidney failure. It is inevitable then from worldwide prescription and use of ARBs that thousands of new cancer patients will be seeking treatment in the near future.
Dr. Rath has discovered and proven that high blood pressure is caused by the deficiency of specific cellular nutrients, and not because of the lack of medications. Our clinical trials also incorporate the principle of nutrient synergy rather than taking any single nutrient in mega doses. Unlike the drug combinations, synergy among nutrients is beneficial and can help achieve better benefits without any adverse side effects.
Recently published studies from Dr. Rath's Research Institute prove that the blood vessel damage caused by high levels of Angiotensin II can be reduced by the administration of a nutrient synergy combination. Health practitioners should consider the benefits of nutrients before implementing widespread increases in doses of dangerous drugs in already frail patients. Read more about Dr. Rath's research in chronic cardiovascular disease and the importance of safe and effective nutrients at www.drrathresearch.org <http://www.drrathresearch.org>. For further information, Dr. Rath's newly edited book ""Why animals don't get heart attacks...but people do!" chronicles his discoveries and groundbreaking research.}
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/650957.html
|
