Major New Study: Getting Blood Pressure Below 120 Saves Lives – and Increases Risks
High blood pressure is super common in the modern world – about a third of the adult US population have it, and another third have borderline high blood pressure. Only one third of the adult population have “normal” pressure (under 120/80). High blood pressure increases the risk of diseases like heart disease and stroke.
The most common treatment by far – and the only treatment that doctors have time for during a 10-minute consultation – is drugs. It’s not uncommon for people with high blood pressure to get one, two, four or even more drugs to take daily for controlling their blood pressure.
The question has been how aggressively to treat high blood pressure in people at risk of complications from it. Earlier studies has only proved a benefit from lowering blood pressure to below 140 systolic pressure. Studies targeting lower goals have been small and inconclusive.
This new big study – funded by the National Institute of Health and other government organizations (not the pharma industry) – compared a goal of below 120 to a goal of below 140. The results were so clear that the study was stopped in advance after 3.2 years.
- NYT: Data on Benefits of Lower Blood Pressure Brings Clarity for Doctors and Patients
- NEJM: A Randomized Trial of Intensive versus Standard Blood-Pressure Control
The good news
Risk of premature death during the study dropped by about 1.2 percent in absolute numbers in the intensively treated group. In other words participants had a 1.2 percent greater chance of not dying during the study, due to taking more blood pressure lowering drugs. This is actually quite impressive. The risk of cardiovascular problems also dropped significantly.
The bad news
Lowering blood pressure this much required on average 3 drugs to be taken daily. Quite a few patients needed 4 or more drugs. All these drugs come with the risk of side effects.
Unfortunately the risk of serious side effects also increased – like the risk of ending up in the ER due to fainting from low blood pressure (risk up by 1.1 percent in absolute numbers) or having your kidneys damaged or totally give up on you (risk up by 1.3 percent).
The bottom line
Yes, it’s good for cardiovascular health to have a normal blood pressure. But aggressively lowering it with drugs always comes with side effects. These are not just about the serious things that makes you end up in the hospital. The more minor side effects are much more common. Feeling tired, lacking energy, gaining weight from beta-blockers, etc.
The really good news is that you can improve your blood pressure without 3, 4 or more daily drugs. And without any of the side effects. Here’s how:
This sounds like a very dangerous study. The wording is a little confusing. Do you mean a 1.2 percent greater chance of not dying? Or that your chance of dying was reduced by 1.2 percent?
Also, "high" blood pressure is associated with a risk of heart disease and stroke. That does not mean high blood pressure causes heart disease and stroke. Personally, I believe insulin resistance causes high blood pressure and high blood pressure is simply a marker for the underlying condition of insulin resistance, which actually causes heart disease. Guess what causes insulin resistance in my theory? Excessive carbohydrate intake.
Within 4 months of LCHF & ever since: 110/70.
What else does anyone need to know? ;)
Big Pharma hires a bunch of corrupt doctors that, like trained seals, declare everybody should have 120/80 bp and all of a sudden you have billions of sick people in the world and more billions of $ revenues for Big Pharma.
What great business acumen!
Plus in societies not eating tons of refined carbs people do not get hypertension as they age. They stay at a normal level, like young people.
The pressure is high for a reason. Solve the problem and the pressure will normalize itself.
11 months into LCHF and blood pressure is still ca 140/90 on a regular day after work - despite of the medication! In the mornings (before coffee) I average ca 125/75. As I am clearly out of further ideas/options on what to do next (sleep 8 hrs - check! yoga + HIIT - check! Food - check! IF 16:8 five days a week - check! Blood Sugar normal - check!), I think I'll just try not to give a damn and live life to the fullest. Maybe that just is "my" blood pressure.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/exp...
Bjarte - Team Diet Doctor
As said, maybe ist just better to let go :) an try to live worry-free.
is it possible that with our Name you are writing from Germany? If so, could you tell me where to find this LCHF supporting doctor you mentioned? This is quite rare.
My blood pressure went down after 6 months of LCHF from 130/85 to 100/60 which is already on the low side. The funny thing is that my doctor wants to prove that all my fat eating results in higher blood pressure; so it is always the first thing he is doing and he cannot believe it. Unfortunately he does not come to the idea to test LCHF on real high blood pressure patients.
I am at 120/80 after 2 Cups of coffee with cream and coconut oil.
chhers to all
High blood pressure medications are not a panacea. They carry numerous harmful side effects. Naturally is the way you lower bp.
I'm surprised of your defense of Big Pharma, who with statins and other deadly drugs have killed millions.
I know you are very busy running the website and attending your lovely family. For your convenience. Here is a website that has hundreds of studies that show how deadly Big Pharma drugs are:
http://healthydietsandscience.blogspot.com/