Aggressive Treatment for Chronic Diseases Can Pose a Health Risk
Aggressive treatment for chronic diseases can pose a health risk, according to a new study.
Researchers reviewed medical records of over 400, 000 patients with high blood pressure and diabetes who were treated at Kaiser Permanente in southern California. They found that patients whose blood pressure was reduced beyond optimum levels were at an increased risk for kidney disease and death.
In another study, Yale University researchers found that an increasing number of patients were being admitted to the hospital for complications from too low blood sugar levels resulting from aggressive treatment.
The research points out that while there is agreement on what the high levels of high blood pressure and blood sugar are, there are no guidelines on what the low levels should be. According to current guidelines, patients aged 30 to 59 with hypertension should aim for blood pressure numbers of 140 systolic and 90 diastolic. In cases where the numbers dropped to 110-119 systolic, patients were at an 81% increased risk for kidney failure and death.
Researchers emphasize the need for doctors to change their treatment methods. Tailoring treatment to individual patient’s health risks is the way to go, but this could require a lot of “unlearning.”. More….
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