Common hypertension drugs can raise blood pressure in certain patients

ScienceDaily (Aug. 18, 2010) — Commonly prescribed drugs used to lower blood pressure can actually have the opposite effect -- raising blood pressure in a statistically significant percentage of patients. A new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University suggests that doctors could avoid this problem -- and select drugs most suitable for their patients -- by measuring blood levels of the enzyme renin through a blood test that is becoming more widely available.

The study appears in the online edition of the American Journal of Hypertension.

"Our findings suggest that physicians should use renin levels to predict the most appropriate first drug for treating patients with hypertension," says lead author Michael Alderman, M.D., professor of epidemiology & population health and of medicine at Einstein. "This would increase the likelihood of achieving blood pressure control and reduce the need for patients to take additional antihypertensive medications."

OK, another reason to avoid drugs and just eat right and move more.

Motivation

Motivation: The choice between two possible outcomes.

That seems over-simplified. But is it?

Yummy dessert vs. no yummy dessert

Yummy dessert: short-term win
No yummy dessert: long-term win

What is your motivation?

Free Statins???

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100812083608.htm

"Fast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of charge so that customers can neutralise the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers at Imperial College London suggest in a new study."

Really???? How about just making better choices. Why are we always looking for the easy way out?

This sounds almost as dumb as wearing "toning sneakers." But that is another topic alltogther