More than 60 million Americans have high blood pressure (high BP), high BP is a major risk factor for a heart attack or stroke. This "disease", which is largely lifestyle in origin, is reaching epidemic proportions.
In past studies, calcium channel blockers have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, they have also been shown to produce an increased risk for heart attacks.
A new study indicates that women that use of calcium-channel blockers for 10 or more years had a significantly higher risks, 2.5 times higher (250%), of both ductal breast cancer and lobular breast cancer. This connection did not vary much by the type of calcium-channel blocker used. In contrast, use of diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors were not associated with risk of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute more than 232,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year.
Cancer risks aside, calcium channel blockers still produce some mild side effects including constipation, allergic reactions, fluid retention, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and impotence (about 20% of users). More serious side effects include disturbances of heart rate or function, heart failure, and angina.
Examples of calcium-channel blockers include:
- amlodipine (Norvasc)
- diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cartia, Dilacor Xr, Diltia Xt, Tiazac)
- felodipine (Plendil)
- lacidipine (Motens)
- lercanidipine (Zanidip)
- nicardipine (Cardene, Carden SR)
- nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL)
- nimodipine (Nimotop)
- nisoldipine (Sular)
- nitrendipine (Cardif, Nitrepin)
- verapamil (Calan, Covera-Hs, Isoptin, Verelan)
The Take Home Message
Although chemical intervention can effectively control blood pressure, the longer term risks associated with these drugs lead to other health concerns and complications.
So, what to do? As I mentioned at the start of this article, high blood pressure is most often a result of lifestyle. High blood pressure can respond nicely to conservative lifestyle changes.
These changes can include:
- Regular exercise/activity
- Weight management
- Nutritional supplementation:
- magnesium
- arginine
- and others
- Avoid NSAID's (over the counter pain relievers)
- Increase intake of antioxidant foods
- Reduce/stop smoking
- Relaxation practices
- Increasing intake of water (if there is no history of kidney disease)
- Chiropractic care to address postural problems that can compress the chest cavity
For your better, long term, health,
Dr. Heller
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