Lowering Blood Pressure can Reverse Heart Disease

Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reveals that lowering blood pressure may stop the progression of coronary artery disease in some with this condition, and may even reverse it, in others. Coronary artery disease, the leading cause of sudden death, is characterized by the accumulation of plaque along the walls of the arteries that supply oxygen to the heart. This can lead to a heart attack, or sudden death. In the study 274 patients were separated into three groups: those with normal blood pressure, those with prehypertention, and those with hypertension, defined as a blood pressure that was greater than 140/90. The study found that patients in the hypertension group had a significant increase in the amount of plaque in their arteries, while the pre-hypertension group experienced no changes in plaque levels. Those with normal blood pressure, defined as less than 120/80, had the most favorable outcome, with a decrease in plaque accumulation. The findings stress the importance of blood pressure control in patients with coronary disease. The study also suggests that a target blood pressure of 140/90 be revisited. Previous clinical trails have found superior cardiovascular health in people who maintain normal blood pressure.