Postmenopausal women taking a certain class of blood pressure medicines known as calcium channel blockers better proceed with caution. Researchers found that the use of such medications may double the risk of dying from heart disease -- especially when given in certain combinations.

Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls. Previous studies have indicated that such drugs can contribute to heart failure, but found they did not increase death rates.

Calcium Channel Blockers

* Cardizem

* Norvasc

* Procardia

According to the most recent study, however, such drugs do indeed put women at twice the risk of dying from heart disease, especially when linked with diuretics (which reduce the amount of fluid in the blood). In addition, researchers discovered that women who took a calcium channel blocker alone had a 55 percent higher risk of death than women who only took a diuretic.

The study involved almost 20,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79 who were being treated for high blood pressure. Although the study involved women, researchers said the findings likely apply to men as well.

USA Today December 15, 2004

Journal of the American Medical Association December 15, 2004;292:2849-2859

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

It is SO very important to understand that high blood pressure can kill or permanently impair you, and it is not something that should be ignored or taken lightly. This condition usually kills people slowly over time, and very high blood pressures can surely cause a stroke.

If a person's systolic, or upper, blood pressure is greater than 180, I normally advise drug therapy to treat it. However, this is done as a temporary measure to keep you alive until your lifestyle adjustments kick in.

You can lower your high blood pressure quite simply by using safe, natural and proven methods.

One such method is eliminating grains and sugars from your diet until your blood pressure and weight normalize. Insulin is a major factor as to why high blood pressure persists, which is why it is vitally important to avoid foods like processed cereals (especially those high in sugar) and crackers, soda, and other sweets and highly processed grains.

Following a healthy nutrition plan will not only reduce the risk of hypertension, but it will also keep you healthy and full of energy. To learn more about eating right, I recommend getting a copy of my book, TOTAL HEALTH Program, as it is an excellent guide to achieving overall physical and mental wellness.

Another useful method you can use to lower high blood pressure is to incorporate an exercise plan into your daily routine. (This is another way to lower your insulin levels.)

When using exercise as a drug to treat hypertension, it is important to set a goal of at least one hour per day ... every day. Obviously, depending on your current condition you may need to slowly work up to this level. Please read my comprehensive exercise recommendations for more informaiton.

My experience is that weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging or running are better than cycling and swimming. If you have access to a health club, my favorite piece of equipment is the elliptical machine. Cycling and swimming take far longer to produce the same benefit and each have negative aspects: If you are cycling outdoors, you run the risk of being killed or injured by a motor vehicle; swimming is usually done in chlorinated pools, which has its own problems.

Lastly, adopt energy psychology tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to help maintain a healthy blood pressure. This is important because emotional factors like stress are one of the major causes of hypertension, so learning how to reduce stress levels would be extremely helpful.

In addition, EFT is one of the most profound healing techniques I know. You can learn the technique through my free online manual; complete with pictures to help you better understand how to use this tool. Or, for a more in-depth knowledge of the EFT technique, you can purchase my EFT series, available on DVD or VHS.

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Dr. Joseph Mercola
Author of Total Health Program
Founder of the renowned Optimal Wellness Center
http://www.Mercola.com - The #1 Natural Health Site on the Internet!