From next month, all over-40s will be offered free blood pressure checks at their chemist, in an attempt to prevent 2,000 deaths over the next five years.
Their suggestion: give blood pressure pills to people with healthy blood pressure levels to prevent problems occurring in the first place.
The expert behind the research, Kazem Rahimi, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Oxford, found that for every five-point reduction in a patient’s blood pressure, the risk of a heart attack dropped by ten per cent, stroke by 13 per cent, heart failure 13 per cent, coronary heart disease eight per cent and death from heart-related problems by five per cent.
The same reduction in risk was seen in patients with healthy blood pressure and no history of cardiovascular trouble.
Prof Rahimi explained: ‘Decisions to prescribe blood pressure pills should not be based simply on a prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, or a patient’s blood pressure level.
That will depend on a patient’s individual risk factors for heart disease.
‘It’s very likely that offering pills to more people with blood pressure lower than the current threshold would prevent heart attacks and strokes.’.
Kazem Rahimi, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Oxford, found that for every five-point reduction in a patient’s blood pressure, the risk of a heart attack dropped by ten per cent, stroke by 13 per cent, heart failure 13 per cent, coronary heart disease eight per cent and death from heart-related problems by five per cent.
‘Thirty years ago it was thought blood pressure was only high and needed treating when a patient had a systolic reading of 180 or more,’ says Professor Naveed Sattar, of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at Glasgow University.
‘I’ve had annual blood pressure readings every year for about ten years because of other medication I take, and it’s always been fine,’ she says.
Perhaps, Jill says, she ought to have been taking them years ago – even when her blood pressure was healthy.
‘I was at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke but had no idea.
‘Especially as my father died from a heart attack aged 58, and both my mother and my brother are on pills for high blood pressure.
‘At the moment, even if you are high risk for cardiovascular disease, a doctor is unlikely to consider giving blood pressure drugs if it’s below the treatment threshold of 140/90,’ Prof Rahimi says.
‘We need to consider a patient’s overall risk of a heart attack or stroke rather than just focusing on blood pressure numbers.’.
Their GP can work out their ten-year risk of heart disease and, if it’s high, then they may benefit from being put on blood pressure tablets – even if their blood pressure is normal.’.
A 2014 study at Yale University in the US found those in their 70s and 80s on blood pressure pills were one-and-a-half times more likely to fall and injure themselves – due to drugs lowering their blood pressure too much – than those the same age but not on tablets.
Professor Gavin Sandercock, from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at Essex University, says there’s no question that reducing blood pressure lowers heart risk.
The journalist prided herself on her blood pressure readings for the best part of a decade until, during a spot check-up before enrolling in medical research, it read 180 over 100.
‘I’ve had annual blood pressure readings every year for about ten years because of other medication I take, and it’s always been fine,’ she says.
Perhaps, Jill says, she ought to have been taking them years ago – even when her blood pressure was healthy
‘I was at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke but had no idea
‘Especially as my father died from a heart attack aged 58, and both my mother and my brother are on pills for high blood pressure
‘I’ve had no side effects at all and my blood pressure is now pretty much healthy
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