Worldwide headlines were released on September 11, 2015, through the general media (newspapers, Internet, radio, and TV), about benefits derived from more aggressively treating high blood pressure (hypertension) with drugs. This news was based on the unpublished SPRINT trial: a randomized clinical trial of over 9,000 Americans, 50 years and older with high blood pressure, and an increased risk for heart and/or kidney disease. Half the participants were given a blood pressure target of 120 mmHg systolic pressure (top number) and the other half were given a target of 140 mmHg. An average of 3 kinds of antihypertensive medications were needed to reach the lower target goal (120 mmHg), whereas, only 2 drugs achieved the higher target (140 mmHg). The new target of 120 mmHg was publicized to reduce the rate of heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke by 30%, and cardiovascular deaths by 25%. (Likely, these figures are relative risk reductions, rather than absolute reductions, which means the perception of benefit is greatly exaggerated.) |
You can soon sign up for the Kauai, Hawaii McDougall Adventure Trip for January 30 to February 6, 2016.
