HOW TO TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Report #7021; 2/3/97
Recent research should change the way that doctors treat high blood pressure.
High blood pressure should be treated because it causes heart attacks, strokes, arteriosclerosis, kidney disease and a shortened lifespan. The most effective treatment is a low-fat diet, weight reduction and avoidance of stimulants in coffee, tea, chocolate, colas and medicinal and recreational drugs. however, some people are not willing to make these lifestyle changes and have to take drugs.
There are five type of drugs commonly used to treat high blood pressure: diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium antagonists and alpha, beta blockers. Many recent papers show that potassium-losing diuretics, such as Lasix and Diuril, may increase the incidence of heart attack deaths and that short and moderate-acting calcium channel blockers, might increase the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Beta blockers, such as Inderal, can make a person very tired, raise blood sugar and cause weight gain. ACE inhibitors, such as Vasotec, can cause a chronic cough in one of every 5 people who take them and alpha, beta blockers, such as Normodyne and Trandate, can make a person dizzy.
If you are overweight, go on a low-fat diet and lose weight. If that doesn't help, your doctor will prescribe drugs that lower blood pressure, but they all have side effects and can harm you.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
J Chalmers. Treatment guidelines in hypertension: Current limitations and future solutions. Journal of Hypertension 14: Suppl. 4 (NOV,1996):S3-S8. 1) lisinopril 10 to 20 mg once a day (ace inhibitor); 2) lisinopril 10 QD plus hydrochlothiazide 12.5 mg (Prinzide) I or II /day; 3) terazosin 1 or 2 mg once a day. (adrenergic blocker) Hytrin; 4) labetalol (Trandate) 100mg BID (not for asthma)
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