Review Finds No Proven Benefit in Drugs for Mild Hypertension

Not only are medications for hypertension not required to reduce blood pressure, they are hardly necessary for most individuals anyway. The vast majority of Americans taking hypertensive (high blood pressure) medication only have mildly elevated blood pressure. In other words, it’s just a little high. But a new review, which looked at four randomized and controlled trials, found that the drugs have little value and a large likelihood of adverse effects.

Irresponsible Doctors and Mild Hypertension

According to the Cochrane review, people with mildly elevated blood pressure but no prior history of cardiac events derive no benefit from blood pressure medications, and doctors should reconsider their tendency to dole out the pills like candy.

Approximately 9% of patients who are given anti-hypertensive medications quit taking them because  of side effects. These beta-blockers and diuretics lead to side effects like depression, fatigue, headache, upset stomach, trouble sleeping, loss of sex drive, and dizziness, just to name a few.

In this case, the risks definitely seem to outweigh the benefits.

One of the study authors believes their findings should lead to “dramatic changes in the way doctors treat mild hypertension, allowing patients to throw away their blood pressure pills and focus instead on far more effective” treatment options.

This review flies in the face of how the medical establishment has handled slightly elevated blood pressure for decades. It’s called “stage 1 hypertension” and (like even higher blood pressure), it can effectively be treated with nutrition rather than drugs. But, in the Big Pharma-world we live in, that simply isn’t how doctors are told to handle a health “concern.”

If your doctor can find a way to medicate you, they will. This is because the pharmaceutical industry has created the illnesses and then the drugs to “fix” them. They even managed to get the blood pressure rate limits reduced so more people would qualify for drug treatment.

Since this latest report was released several months ago, has there been an mass round-up of blood pressure medications? Have doctors started calling all their patients and telling them, “hey I was wrong”? No. The study has—for all intents and purposes—been buried.

Natural Alternatives to Reduce Blood Pressure

Yes, there are many natural alternatives to reducing blood pressure, many of which include simple dietary adjustments. We are here to offer natural solutions and suggestions. Some proven blood pressure-reducing foods to include in your diet are:

• Hibiscus tea
• Green tea
• Papaya
• Apple cider vinegar
• Vitamin D
• Cayenne pepper

Additionally, here are 6 home remedies for high blood pressure.

Eating a healthful natural diet, and getting regular exercise can do far more when it comes to hypertension prevention than any drug doled out by Big Pharma.

Additional Sources:

BMJ

Cochrane Summaries