High blood pressure is one of the commonest medical conditions in the world. Tablets to lower blood pressure are also one of the most frequently taken medicines, because left unchecked, the condition can trigger heart attacks and strokes. Now, research suggests we may need to take a tougher approach, as reaching lower blood pressure targets seems to give greater protection for the heart.
But some doctors say we are already overtreating blood pressure , meaning people have to take multiple tablets a day, which sometimes leads to dangerous side effects. How do the benefits of intensive treatment stack up against the risks? UK doctors have long been more hands-off about blood pressure than in some other countries, such as the US and parts of Europe. In other words, American doctors tend to intervene in milder cases and are more likely to prescribe multiple kinds of tablets so their patients eventually reach a lower blood pressure target.
You might wonder why British doctors don’t follow their lead, to reduce as many heart attacks and strokes as possible, but all medicines come with risks as well as benefits. In the case of blood pressure tablets, side effects can include having a dry mouth and frequent urination. More serious problems arise when these medicines can arguably be too effective.
That’s because if blood pressure gets too low it can cause people to feel dizzy or faint, which is particularly dangerous for older people, where a broken hip can send them to hospital f.
