Blood pressure medications can increase the risk of having stroke, according to new research.
Researchers from the University of Albama, led by School of Public Health Biostatistics Professor George Howard, conducted a study that aimed to determine the effects of high blood pressure medications to the risk of having cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke, as per Science Daily.
The study involved 26,785 subjects from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) trial, aged 45 years old and above. They were followed by Howard's team for 6.3 years.
Baseline data revealed that 12,327 of the subjects were effectively treated hypertensives, implying that the high blood pressure medications helped control their high blood pressure to less than 140 mmHg. This was the standard goal set by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Meanwhile, 4,090 subjects were not unsuccessfully treated.
Findings also revealed that more than 820 subjects developed a stroke at the end of the follow-up phase.
The research team arrived at a conclusion that the inability to control a person's blood pressure is directly proportional to the risk of having stroke. This is possible even if the treatment is successful.
Howard revealed that the possibility of having stroke increased by 33 percent with each anti-hypertensive utilized to manage high blood pressure. Also, hypertensive people taking three or more anti-hypertensives have 2.5 times higher risk of having stroke.
The study also revealed that while medications for high blood pressure are helpful to the cardiovascular system, they have the same risk as waiting for a cardiovascular disorder to develop.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17.5 million people lost their lives from cardiovascular diseases three years ago. Approximately, 7.4 million of those deaths were due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were secondary to stroke.
Prevention of hypertension is the priority action to prevent stroke and Howard recommended some ways, including engaging in physical activities, maintaining weight in normal ranges, reducing salt intake, and eating healthy food.