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- A New Treatment for Blood Pressure
Hello again and happy June!
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In this issue, we look at a revolutionary new therapy in clinical trials for treating high blood pressure. And, because June is Men’s Health Month, we’ll also have focus articles on that topic in each issue this month.
To your health,
Yasmine S. Ali, MD
Weekly Heart-Health News: The Highlights
My Take:
If you take medication for high blood pressure, this new drug, zilebesiran (still in clinical trials), has the potential to be a game-changer.
The article above was written after the American Heart Association meeting over 6 months ago, when zilebesiran showed positive results in reducing blood pressure, and these results have now been confirmed again in a clinical trial presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting this past April.
What’s so special about zilebesiran? It is given as an injection only twice a year. And it appears to bring systolic blood pressure (the top number of your blood pressure) down by at least 10 mm Hg (“10 points”) for at least 6 months.
That could cut back on the number of pills a patient with high blood pressure needs to take, and make it easier to adhere to your recommended medication regimen. All of that would also result in better blood pressure control, lower risk of stroke, and lower risk of heart disease (such as heart attack).
The drug is still in clinical trials, but is looking promising enough to make a splash and create a lot of excitement in the cardiology community. I’ll let you know if/when the drug gets approved for clinical use!
And, if you’re a healthcare professional, here’s a more medical/scientific rundown on the latest trial involving zilebesiran:
My Take:
June is Men’s Health Month, and this study found that very low testosterone levels in men can increase risk of heart disease and early mortality.
What causes low testosterone? There are a number of factors, including obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, sleep apnea, liver issues, drug interactions, and hormonal reasons. So, current expert opinion is to treat/correct the underlying causes rather than simply giving testosterone replacement (unless there is another reason for it), since prior studies have not shown testosterone replacement therapy to be helpful in lowering rates of heart disease.
To learn more about low testosterone:
My Take:
This is a very interesting article about how getting into “flow state,” also described as simply “flow,” “getting into the zone,” or “getting into your groove,” is helpful not just for your mental health, but for your heart health and longevity as well.
When you’re in “flow,” you lose track of time because what you’re doing provides such deep satisfaction of total absorption and effortless momentum. What gets you into “flow” can be different from person to person. It may be gardening, or writing, or woodworking, or arts and crafts. It could be another creative endeavor or a form of physical exercise, like martial arts or even hiking.
Is there an activity like this for you, one that induces a “flow” state? As this article says: “You know you’re there when worry ceases, efficacy peaks, and you feel limitless.”
For me, some of my “flow” activities include: writing (especially creative writing), creating digital art, gardening, cooking/baking special recipes, and martial arts. What about you?
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