If You Have Blodd Pressure Get Testd For Sleep Apnea

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 8:21 PM

The world’s most popular blood pressure medicine is much less effective than comparable drugs and gives patients a false sense of security, researchers said Monday.

In a review of earlier studies, they found the drug, a diuretic, or “water pill,” called hydrochlorothiazide, lowered blood pressure by only about half as much as common alternatives such as beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.

“What this study says is that it is less effective than other medications such as ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg said blood pressure has to be reevaluated no matter what medication a patient is taking, and if you are taking hydrochlorothiazide, you may just need additional therapy.Goldberg also said it’s important to lower your salt intake, participate in aerobic exercise and increase the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains you eat. If you have high blood pressure and snore, get tested for sleep apnea, she said, as that can raise your blood pressure, and treatment lowers it. [ Read The Complete Post By FoxNews ]