Tight Blood Pressure Control Doesn't Help All Diabetics: Study

In those with coronary disease, it would be better to focus on other heart risk factors, researcher advises

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) -- Lower may not be better when it concerns blood pressure levels in type 2 diabetics who also have heart disease.

New research finds that patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease did not have fewer strokes or heart attacks, and actually were more likely to die when their blood pressure was maintained under 130 mm Hg, compared to patients with "usual blood pressure control," putting them in the 130 to 140 range.

In healthy adults, blood pressure levels of 120/80 are recommended.

"We found that after a mean follow-up of just under three years in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease, lowering systolic blood pressure [the top number] to less than 130 . . . did not have any benefit compared to lowering blood pressure to between 130 and 140," said Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, lead author of the study published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

These findings, along with similar data recently released from the large ACCORD study, would suggest that "lowering blood pressure intensively does not provide any benefit over and above usual blood pressure reduction," said Cooper-DeHoff, who is associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research and division of cardiovascular medicine at the Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Time would be better spent focusing on other modifiable heart disease risk factors, such as cholesterol, she advised.
For more on this article see: Tight Blood Pressure Control Doesn't Help All Diabetics: Study

Diabetics Urged to Confer With Their Doctor About Avandia Use

According to Amanda Gardner HealthDay Reporter, "THURSDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- One day after a U.S. advisory panel recommended that the controversial diabetes drug Avandia stay on the market -- albeit with added restrictions -- several medical organizations are urging patients not to change their medications before consulting a health-care professional. Some experts expect the use of Avandia to drop off markedly, however.

"Why give a drug with restrictions when a similar drug which has studies that did not show the bad outcomes of Avandia could be used instead," said Dr. Jacob Warman, chief of endocrinology at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City. "I don't see anybody willing to take Avandia when they could take Actos."

Actos (pioglitazone) is a drug similar to Avandia, one of the same class of medications known as thiazolidinediones (TZDs)." For more information see: Diabetics Urged to Confer With Their Doctor About Avandia Use

How to Lower Your Odds of Alzheimer's

Many of us know someone that is affected by Alzhiemer’s Disease. Not only is it difficult for the person afflicted with the disease, but it has a dramatic affect on family members as well. According to Ruby Hawk, “Everyone should be interested in how to lower your odds of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is the most dreaded disease of the aging population. Researchers have found there are ways to decrease your odds. But to get the best preventive results you must start taking these steps in your forties. Although it wouldn’t hurt a thing to start earlier and might be even better.” For more on this article see: How to Lower Your Odds of Alzheimer's

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