A new study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined the link between blood pressure medication, also known as antihypertensives, and breast cancer risk.  The researchers used a population of women in three counties in the Seattle-Puget sound area.  All participants were between the ages of 55 and 74, 880 had invasive ductal breast cancer, 1027 had invasive lobular breast cancer, and 856 did not have cancer at all.  The researchers collected data on how recently they had used antihypertensives and for how long they had been used.

According to Bloomberg, the study showed that use of a type of blood pressure medication called calcium-channel blockers resulted in a risk of developing breast cancer that was 2.5 times higher than women that took another antihypertensive or did not take any blood pressure medication.  The study showed that there was no significant variation between brands of calcium-channel blockers.

Commentary on the study, also published in JAMA Internal Medicine, notes that other studies in the 1990’s indicated that calcium-channel blockers increased the risk of breast cancer.  However, the commentary points out that the previous studies have used relatively small samples.  While the current study may overlook confounding elements that influence the decision, the commentary indicates that these results are persuasive because the researchers used population-based data with a large sample.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 67 million American adults with high blood pressure.  This condition puts individuals at risk for heart disease and stroke.  Of individuals who have had a first heart attack, 69 percent suffer from high blood pressure.  An estimated 348,000 annual deaths in the U.S. included high blood pressure as a primary or a contributing cause.

In order to prevent and control high blood pressure, lifestyle changes are necessary, according to the Mayo Clinic.  Lifestyle changes include decreasing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, increasing physical activity, not using tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, home monitoring of blood pressure, and managing stress levels through lifestyle modification and relaxation practice.

According to Medscape, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics are all acceptable alternatives to treating hypertension, in addition to calcium-channel blockers.  Evidence indicates that each of these medication options is equally effective, but individual patient characteristics may make one option more desirable.  For example, a study published in the journal Drugs, found a potential link between antihypertensives and depression.  Given this and other potential side effects, physicians may need to alter medication prescribed for hypertension.