Possible Solutions/Methods –
Anti-Hypertensive drugs are possible solutions to lowering blood pressure. Calcium Channel blockers are good examples of an antihypertensive drug. These drugs block the calcium channels in the muscle cells in the lining of arteries; hence for the muscles to contract, calcium must pass through these channels into the muscle cells. So if these drugs block the calcium channel, the muscle would not be able to contract which would prevent the blood vessels to constrict and hence lowering the blood pressure. These drugs have been tested viably before so this is prescribed to most high blood pressure sufferers. {However there are plenty of side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, swollen ankles due to a build-up of fluid in the legs, abnormal heart rhythms, flushing red in the face and constipation. People with heart failure, taking some types of calcium blockers can make symptoms worse or be fatal, so they may not be prescribed to people who have had a heart attack. [Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology Students Textbook]}
Data
I have found highly reliable data showing that Calcium Channel Blockers do work effectively in reducing the risk of CHD/CVD and through lowering the blood pressure-
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Evidence from a trial, carried out in the year 2005, suggests that calcium-channel blockers may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people with angina and hypertension, although this could be due to their blood pressure lowering effect rather than a specific cardio protective effect. [http://cks.library.nhs.uk/angina/evidence/supporting_evidence/evidence_for_calcium_channel_blockers_in_people_with_angina]
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Among patients, blood pressure was reduced similarly in all treatment groups (34.5/16.2 mm Hg in the ACE-inhibitor group, and 34.5/17.5 mm Hg in the calcium channel blocker group). [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/452278_4]
These data clearly state that Calcium Channel Blockers indeed lower blood pressure by a high amount at 34.5 mm Hg in systolic pressure and 17.5 mm Hg in diastolic pressure, yet more than the ACE-inhibitor which is also an anti-hypertensive drug, lowering blood pressure by reducing the synthesis of angiotensin II, a hormone casing vasoconstriction of blood vessels to help control blood pressure, this thus reduces vasoconstriction and lowers blood pressure. This data collected is pretty valid as they were both trialled around 3-4 years ago, the latest trials I could find. They are also highly reliable as the first data collected is from the NHS website increasing its reliability, as they help people suffering from illnesses hence would not produce false data. They are very appropriate as they show the exact values of the reduction in the blood pressure for hypertensive people and how it could help them decrease the risk of CVD/CHD.
The methods provided above, as using Calcium Channel Blockers have now been proven to be one of the most effective drug in lowering blood pressure and they are very appropriate as the data shows that it leads to decreasing the risk of CVD or CHD by only decreasing the blood pressure and the other set of data shows that it decreases a high amount of pressure which indeed is very good in other words, a very effective drug.
Ethical, Social and Economical issues
There indeed are many implications, social and ethical implications are very likely to occur. Using antihypertensive drugs such as Calcium Channel Blockers may be vigorous for some people, such as people who are active, people who are involved in sports etc. They may not be allowed to play anymore despite the fact that they are having drugs which lowers their blood pressure or their heart beat. This could be illegal if the person prescribed to that particular drug was unaware of this implication. There are high risks of that person being contaminated and as for benefits; you would not need as many pills as other drugs everyday, and there are other factors that can lower the blood pressure allowing you to not get addicted to the drug.
Economically, this particular antihypertensive, Calcium Channel Blocker, are inexpensive which makes it affordable for low class people to buy and treat themselves. Low class people lower the risks of having a CVD/CHD by lowering their blood pressure by the most effective drug and inexpensive drug. This is good for the society. This does not harm the environment in any way so it is risk free and full of benefits.
This graph below shows clearly how much of the population (in certain countries) suffers from High Blood Pressure and it also relates to the increase that may occur in the near 2025:
Alternative methods:
There are many alternative methods which are not only easy to follow but are indeed more effective than medication. Lifestyle is one of the biggest causes of the increase in high blood pressure. Having total control over diet would be the first and easiest alternate towards reducing blood pressure. Food with less salt should be consumed, as if you gain a lot of weight, you would lose the elasticity of the blood vessels as the fats in your body would minimise the contraction and expansion of the blood vessels, thus again increasing the blood pressure while the lumen or the arteries would be very tight. Healthy food would not only reduce the blood pressure, but you would have a healthier life with the right body mass for your body height. This method is totally risk free, and has been very successful in the previous trials carried out.
Exercising is also a very good alternate to reduce blood pressure as it would burn the body fat and as stated previously, blood would be able to flow normally through the body.
Highly developed countries intend to have a greater percentage of population suffering form hypertension as shown in the graph above as well. This is mainly because of stress which increases the heartbeat, making it to work more than normal, increasing the blood pressure thus increasing the risk of CVD/CHD.
So Lifestyle plays a big role in the life expectancy of the human kind, as the world is developing , the Life expectancy in every country in decreasing because of the increasing risk of having a CVD/CHD via blood pressure and many other causes.
Bibliography –
- http://colorsnw.com/colors/2009/03/02/restore-and-renew-a-diet-that-fights-hypertension-and-diabetes/
- Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology Students Textbook
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-563437/High-blood-pressure-accounts-7-6-million-deaths-annually.html
