Hypertension or commonly known as high blood pressure is a condition where the blood pressure is above 130/80 mmHg, above the normal rate of 100-129 / 80 mmHg. Blood pressure can change from time to time, depending on the person’s activity and the resistance of the blood vessels. A person with a history of hypertension will usually be advised to take blood pressure-lowering drugs, one of which is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs).
ACEIs are given to help blood vessels dilate and reduce pressure. This drug has been cleared for hypertension patients. However, some studies showed that its long-term use can increase the risk of other chronic diseases, such as cancer. The drug is known to cause peptide buildup, which can stimulate cancer growth and tumour proliferation. Because of this, many patients are worried and even choose to avoid the drug.
However, don’t worry. These claimshave been refuted by the results of a recent study conducted by the University of Oxford. By analysing 31 studies involving 260,000 participants, researchers found no evidence to suggest that the drug can increase the risk of cancer. Not only ACEI drugs, the use of other hypertensive drugs such as diuretics, Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), or Calcium channel blocker (CCB), was found to have no association with cancer risk.
In their study, the researchers explained that the drugs were not associated with an increased risk of cancer, including breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancer. In other words, the drug is safe for consumption for people with hypertension. Researchers hope that the results of this study can ease their worries about the side effects of these drugs. However, maintaining normal blood pressure is more important than relying on the drugs.
Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay
Source:
- Healthline - Large Study FInds No Link Between Blood Pressure Medications and Cancer (2020). https://www.healthline.com/health-news/no-link-between-blood-pressure-medications-and-cancer, 9 September 2020.