Calcium Channel Blockers Can Actually Cause Heart Disease
Dr. Joseph Mercola: www.mercola.com
Postmenopausal women taking a certain class of blood pressure medicines known as calcium channel blockers better proceed with caution. Researchers found that the use of such medications may double the risk of dying from heart disease -- especially when given in certain combinations. Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls. Previous studies have indicated that such drugs can contribute to heart failure, but found they did not increase death rates.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Cardizem
Norvasc
Procardia
According to the most recent study, however, such drugs do indeed put women at twice the risk of dying from heart disease, especially when linked with diuretics (which reduce the amount of fluid in the blood). In addition, researchers discovered that women who took a calcium channel blocker alone had a 55 percent higher risk of death than women who only took a diuretic. The study involved almost 20,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79 who were being treated for high blood pressure. Although the study involved women, researchers said the findings likely apply to men as well. Reference:
Journal of the American Medical Association December 15, 2004;292:2849-2859 Stay Informed and Subscribe to Dr. Grisanti's Free Health Tip of the Week
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