Scientists Find the Key to Lowering Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health problem affecting over 116 million adults in the United States, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
According to the data, in 2020, high blood pressure played a role in over 670,000 deaths in the U.S. Doctors typically treat high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and medications, such as calcium channel blockers.
Calcium channel blockers work by reducing calcium entry into certain muscle cells in blood vessels, causing the muscles to relax, blood vessels to open, and blood to flow more easily, thus lowering blood pressure.
However, calcium is also crucial for building strong bones, muscle movement, and nerve signal transmission.
Calcium helps these muscles tighten. When there is less calcium, the muscles relax, blood vessels open up, and blood flows more easily—so blood pressure goes down.
Author's summary: Scientists discovered a key to lowering blood pressure using calcium channel blockers.