A new study has revealed that an investigational drug helps treat hypertension, which is difficult to control with common drugs, the Health website reported.
Why do some people suffer more from high blood pressure than others?
Researchers explained that when high blood pressure is caused by the hormone aldosterone, which is responsible for the amount of salt the body holds, it is difficult to control.
The drug baxdrostat, which blocks an enzyme needed to make aldosterone, succeeded in lowering uncontrolled blood pressure in the study.
In the study, the scientists worked with 274 participants, who were given one of three doses of the drug or a placebo in addition to the existing drug.
Patients in the study had blood pressure of at least 130/80 mm Hg, even though they were taking at least three different blood pressure medications.
High blood pressure is 130/80 or higher, 120/80 is considered normal, and when the number is 120-129, blood pressure is considered high.
The researchers found that patients assigned the higher dose of the new drug saw the higher number drop by as much as 20 points.
The study also found that placebo-treated patients lost 11 points from their highest number, known as systolic blood pressure.
Study co-author Dr Maurice Brown, a professor of hypertension at Queen Mary University of London, told NBC News: “About 20% -30% of American adults have high blood pressure and about 5% -10% have high blood pressure. these have it. This group has uncontrolled high blood pressure and these individuals are more likely to have strokes and heart attacks ”.
The findings were presented Monday at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Chicago and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The new drug offers hope to people struggling to control high blood pressure, even after using the drugs.
