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| Blood pressure pill action urged | Blood pressure pill action urged |
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| Everyone aged 55 and over should be taking drugs to lower their blood pressure, a London-based expert says. | Everyone aged 55 and over should be taking drugs to lower their blood pressure, a London-based expert says. |
| Epidemiology expert Professor Malcolm Law said blood pressure drugs cut the risk of heart attack and stroke even for those with normal blood pressure. | |
| His conclusion, published in the British Medical Journal and backed by other experts, is based on a review of 147 studies, involving 464,000 people. | His conclusion, published in the British Medical Journal and backed by other experts, is based on a review of 147 studies, involving 464,000 people. |
| However, the Stroke Association warned the drugs could have side-effects. | However, the Stroke Association warned the drugs could have side-effects. |
| Beyond a certain age, we're saying everyone would benefit from taking drugs that lower blood pressure. Professor Malcolm LawWolfson Institute | Beyond a certain age, we're saying everyone would benefit from taking drugs that lower blood pressure. Professor Malcolm LawWolfson Institute |
| The research found most types of blood pressure drugs cut the risk of heart attacks and heart failure by around a quarter and the risk of stroke by about a third. | The research found most types of blood pressure drugs cut the risk of heart attacks and heart failure by around a quarter and the risk of stroke by about a third. |
| The studies looked at the effect on two blood pressure measurements; systolic - the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood - and diastolic - the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. | The studies looked at the effect on two blood pressure measurements; systolic - the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood - and diastolic - the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. |
| The lowered risk estimates were based on lowering systolic blood pressure by 10mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure by 5mm Hg. | The lowered risk estimates were based on lowering systolic blood pressure by 10mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure by 5mm Hg. |
| Widespread benefit | Widespread benefit |
| Professor Law, an expert in epidemiology at the Wolfson Institute at Barts and The London School of Medicine, said: "Beyond a certain age, we're saying everyone would benefit from taking drugs that lower blood pressure. | Professor Law, an expert in epidemiology at the Wolfson Institute at Barts and The London School of Medicine, said: "Beyond a certain age, we're saying everyone would benefit from taking drugs that lower blood pressure. |
| "Beyond a certain age, we all have high blood pressure and we would all benefit from lowering it. | "Beyond a certain age, we all have high blood pressure and we would all benefit from lowering it. |
| "What we call 'normal' blood pressure is actually high, and what we call high blood pressure is actually higher." | "What we call 'normal' blood pressure is actually high, and what we call high blood pressure is actually higher." |
| Professor Law said the universal use of blood pressure drugs should be seen as analogous to vaccinating the entire population in the event of a flu pandemic. | Professor Law said the universal use of blood pressure drugs should be seen as analogous to vaccinating the entire population in the event of a flu pandemic. |
| There was no case for trying to assess who was a top priority, he said, when everybody was potentially at risk. | There was no case for trying to assess who was a top priority, he said, when everybody was potentially at risk. |
| In fact, Professor Law said giving everybody blood pressure drugs would minimise the risk that people would be alarmed when told they needed to take the medication. | In fact, Professor Law said giving everybody blood pressure drugs would minimise the risk that people would be alarmed when told they needed to take the medication. |
| Among those aged 65 living in England and Wales, the risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years is about 10% for men and 5% for women, he added. | Among those aged 65 living in England and Wales, the risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years is about 10% for men and 5% for women, he added. |
| In an accompanying editorial, Richard McManus, from the University of Birmingham, and Jonathan Mant, from the University of Cambridge, backed Professor Law's call. | In an accompanying editorial, Richard McManus, from the University of Birmingham, and Jonathan Mant, from the University of Cambridge, backed Professor Law's call. |
| They said the findings supported the idea of giving everyone over a certain age a "polypill" - a drug that would include a statin to lower cholesterol as well as treatment for blood pressure. | They said the findings supported the idea of giving everyone over a certain age a "polypill" - a drug that would include a statin to lower cholesterol as well as treatment for blood pressure. |
| Professor Law is one of the pioneers of the polypill, which he says would be an effective way to cut the number of heart attacks and strokes in the UK. | Professor Law is one of the pioneers of the polypill, which he says would be an effective way to cut the number of heart attacks and strokes in the UK. |
| Caution | Caution |
| Joanne Murphy, of the Stroke Association, said: "High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke and it is important that people take medication to combat this. | Joanne Murphy, of the Stroke Association, said: "High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke and it is important that people take medication to combat this. |
| "Whilst blood pressure medication is one of the safest and most studied medications, they do have side-effects and should only be prescribed to people who are at significant risk of stroke." | "Whilst blood pressure medication is one of the safest and most studied medications, they do have side-effects and should only be prescribed to people who are at significant risk of stroke." |
| Mike Rich, of the Blood Pressure Association, said: "Prevention is better than cure, but there are other proven ways to prevent high blood pressure such as healthy eating and regular exercise, which have other health benefits too. | Mike Rich, of the Blood Pressure Association, said: "Prevention is better than cure, but there are other proven ways to prevent high blood pressure such as healthy eating and regular exercise, which have other health benefits too. |
| "There is a danger that these important lifestyle factors could be overlooked in favour of 'popping a pill'." | "There is a danger that these important lifestyle factors could be overlooked in favour of 'popping a pill'." |