Popular blood pressure drugs spell disaster for your mood
From the OmniVista Health News Desk
There is already an extensive list of adverse effects associated with blood pressure drugs. But one recent addition may be particular cause for concern this time of year, when cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are at their peak.
A new study appeared in the journal Hypertension this past fall. UK researchers looked at data from nearly 150,000 patients between the ages of 40 and 80. All of the subjects had been taking blood pressure meds — either beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or diuretics — for at least 90 days. Researchers then compared this data with data from nearly 112,000 patients not taking these blood pressure drugs. And their findings over the course of five years were striking.
Patients taking beta blockers and calcium channel blockers were twice as likely to be hospitalized for mood disorders, like major depression or bipolar disorder — even after accounting for other risk factors. (And it’s especially important to note that these patients had no history of previous psychiatric hospitalizations, either.)
A significant and deeply troubling association, to say the least.
High blood pressure is indeed lethal — and no one would argue that it shouldn’t be treated. But if you do opt for a prescription medication, ask your doctor about starting with an angiotensin receptor blocker (or ARB), which this study noted are the safest and best tolerated of the pharmaceutical blood pressure drugs.
In the meantime, for a complete rundown of natural ways to keep your heart healthy, check out Dr. Fred Pescatore’s special report The World’s Easiest Heart Disease Cure. You can learn more about it or order a copy by clicking here.
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