NEW
STUDY REVEALS HELP FOR DIABETICS WITH HYPERTENSION
Although the incidences of Hypertension and Diabetes persist
in the African American community in alarming numbers - almost
one in three has Hypertension and one in six Diabetes –
medical advances in treatment for patients who have both are
offering much needed help. A recent study reported by
the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks found that
a combination therapy of two powerful Hypertension drugs helped
patients significantly lower their blood pressure in a short
time.
It is common for African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes to also
have Hypertension. This dangerous disease duo can have
devastating effects on health leading to heart disease, stroke
and even death. However, study indicators offer hope by
enabling patients to bring blood pressure levels down to acceptable
norms by taking a daily dose of medicines that had originally
been prescribed for Hypertension patients alone. In order for
the therapy to work effectively, tight control must still be
maintained through diet, exercise and a continued regimen of
ongoing medications used to control Diabetes, like insulin.
Sixty percent of the medical study's 269 participants reached
their goal of reduced blood pressure levels during the 24-week
study period. This is encouraging news for the larger population
of African Americans who suffer from these killer diseases.
Still, the combination therapy may not be right for everyone.
Those with Hypertension and Diabetes are urged to talk to their
doctors about whether this dual medication therapy may be appropriate
for them.
For more information on this study, contact the International
Society of Hypertension in Blacks at www.ishib.org.
Good on-line sources of information can be accessed through
the websites of the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org
and the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org
. Free pamphlets on Hypertension and Diabetes may also
be available at your local health department and the pharmacy
section of your local drug store.
Visit www.blackhealthnow.com
often for more information on your health.
