Blood Pressure Pills for all over 55
Latest news breaking is that a team of researchers conclude that anyone over 55 would benefit from taking blood pressure pills and drugs to lower their blood pressure. The principle is that by taking drugs to lower blood pressure those who currently have "normal blood pressure" will benefit by this lowering. High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke and it is important that people take medication to combat this. Prof. Maryon-Davis, of the Faculty of Public Health, said: "Mass medication turns us all into patients and I don't think it's the best approach" Some support for the theory that by giving everybody blood pressure lowering drugs people would be far less alarmed than when they are diagnsed with high blood pressure.
Blood pressure medication is one of the safest and most studied medications however they do have side-effects and careful consideration should be given before prescribing them willy nilly.
Lowering blood pressure is undoubtedly a good thing - prevention is better than cure, but there are other proven ways to prevent high blood pressure such as healthy eating and regular exercise, which have other health benefits too.
There is a danger that these important lifestyle factors could be overlooked in favour of 'popping a pill'.
A far healthier way is for us to reduce our risk and increase our health by eating less salt and and taking more regular exercise.
Another way of looking at it is that mass consumption of blood pressure lowering drugsis much like the principle of vaccinating the entire population in the event of a flu pandemic.
