Diet for people with high blood pressure

(WXYZ) – The phones have been ringing off the hook in the offices of cardiac consultants at Providence hospital since reports came out linking certain blood pressure medications to cancer.

The drugs in question are known as angiotensin-receptor blockers or ARBs and they are some of the most commonly used medications to control blood pressure, heart failure or kidney disease in diabetics.

The drugs include telmisartan, sold as Micardis, and candesartan or Atacand, valsartan or Diovan, losartan with brand names Cozaar and Hyzaar and olmesartan which is sold as Benicar and included in Azor.

Dr. Shukri David, chief of cardiology at Providence Hospital tells us, “These drugs have been around for many years, they’re used in millions and millions of patients.â€

What researchers found was that people who took ARBs had a one-percent increased risk of cancer.

But Dr. David says this was just an observational study, and further research needs to be done. “It’s inconclusive. The authors of the study are very cautious about this, it may be by chance. But it was large enough, one percent, which they thought patients and doctors should know if they’re prescribing thisâ€

Doctor David says if you’re still concerned, you should talk with your doctor. It could be very dangerous to just stop taking the drug. “Blood pressure can rise, you can have a heart attack or stroke or over a long period of time, if you’re a diabetic on these prescriptions, kidney disease can progress.â€

So for now, he is confident in continuing to prescribe ARBs

“Currently the FDA and other physicians aren’t making any changes.â€

And to put things in perspective – the possible increase in cancer risk is one percent for ARBs. It’s 200% for smoking. And, unlike ARBs, cigarettes provide no health benefits at all.

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