According to researchers, a fluctuating blood pressure is more dangerous than high average readings as rapid changes causes unstable flow of blood which can damage and stiffen in the arteries.

Professor Peter Rothwell of the Department of Clinical Neurology at the University of Oxford, and the lead author of the study stated, “Raised blood pressure, or hypertension, accounts for over 50% of the risk of stroke and other vascular events in the population.

“We have shown that it is variations in people’s blood pressure, rather than the average level, that predicts stroke most powerfully.

“Occasional high values, and what might be called episodic hypertension, carry a high risk of stroke. Previously, such fluctuations were considered to be benign and uninformative.”

Details of the study
The researchers assessed the risk of stroke in relation to blood pressure variability in four large trials.

The participants were divided into four groups of more than 2,000 patients who had all experienced a so-called “mini-stroke” or transient ischemic attack (TIA) previously.

The researchers also examined the effects of beta blockers or calcium channel blocker medications on the blood pressure levels.

Patients were examined once every four months for a total of seven clinic visits.

A fluctuating blood pressure is more dangerous than high average readings as rapid changes may cause unstable flow of blood which can damage and stiffen in the arteries.

Findings of the study
Researchers found people whose blood pressure fluctuates the most (sometimes high, sometimes low or normal) were at six times the risk of having a stroke compared with those whose blood pressure remained fairly stable.

Additionally, patients who had the highest average blood pressure were found to be 15 times more likely than the others to have a stroke.

These variations in blood pressure were also a warning sign of how vulnerable a person is to angina, cardiac attack and heart failure.

There was also a clear indication that beta blockers taken by thousands of people increased the dangerous variation of blood pressure while calcium channel blockers and non-loop diuretic drugs reduced the variations.

Implications of the study
According to experts, doctors should correctly diagnose blood pressure of patients and not ignore variations in test results.

Moreover it is extremely vital to prescribe those drugs which can stabilize the blood pressure levels.

Researchers advise patients not to switch medication rashly but monitor readings regularly and discuss with the physician before making any changes in their treatment regime.

Joe Korner, director of communications at The Stroke Association, said: “With this new research it is now important that the clinical guidelines about treating high blood pressure are reviewed.

“In the meantime we urge GPs to read this research to help them prescribe the best treatment for people at risk of stroke.”

The study has been published in the Lancet and the Lancet Neurology.

-themoneytimes-