According to research, a single tablet containing a combination of drugs that combat high blood pressure could revolutionize treatment and save thousands of lives each year.
Experts say patients with this common condition, also known as hypertension, often do not take all of their prescribed daily pills, increasing their risk of life-threatening heart attacks and strokes.
However, new tablets containing several crucial hypertension treatments have been shown to be effective in keeping the condition under control.
Australian researchers presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London last week.
The treatments they examined contain three or four different medications in a single pill. An example was telmisartan, amlodipine and indapamide, all used to treat hypertension individually.
Experts say patients with this common disease, also known as hypertension, often do not take all of the prescribed daily pills. (File image)
About 30 percent of adults nationwide suffer from high blood pressure, and it is double that for those over 65. (File image)
High blood pressure also increases the risk of kidney disease. It is often caused by poor lifestyle habits, such as poor diet, excess alcohol, and lack of exercise. (File image)
Studies have shown that this tablet is effective in treating the condition in its early stages. The researchers also found that the triple drug combination was more effective than standard medicine for patients at the start of treatment, and none suffered side effects.
About 30 percent of adults nationwide suffer from high blood pressure, and this number is twice as high among those over 65 years of age.
It is often caused by poor lifestyle habits, such as poor diet, excess alcohol, and lack of exercise.
Symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, and chest pains. However, high blood pressure often goes unnoticed until it triggers a stroke or heart attack.
High blood pressure also increases the risk of kidney disease.
“We are suggesting a completely different concept,” says Dr Anthony Rodgers of the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, who is developing the new treatment.
‘Convenience and compliance will be an added bonus, but there’s more to it than that.
“It’s about combining the different mechanisms of three different classes of medications to obtain a better (result) and being able to do so from the beginning of treatment in patients with mildly elevated blood pressure, as well as in those with higher levels.”