Reconsidering Blood Pressure Blog

The information regarding Covid-19 is changing rapidly. Today, I came across this study which was published on March 11th. It stated that the Covid-19 uses the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2) that is on the surface of cells in the lung, intestine, kidney, and blood vessels to enter these tissues.

When people take Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors) and Angiotensin II type-I Receptor Blockers (ARBs) for high blood pressure (hypertension), the body compensates by creating more ACE-2 on these cells. This compensation also happens when people take the class of medications called thiazolidinediones for diabetes as well as ibuprofen.

The researchers found that people with high blood pressure and diabetes were more likely to have Covid-19.

With these three pieces of information, they created a hypothesis that people taking these blood pressure medications might be more likely to have Covid-19. A hypothesis is an educated guess. It has not yet been proven.

In response to this article, Hypertension Canada issued a statement. They recommended people stay on their current high medications for high blood pressure.

Lifestyle Medicine approaches are an effective and powerful method to reduce the need of blood pressure medications. If you do, please work with a qualified healthcare professional. I think that my previous comment suggesting that "blood pressure is the least of your concerns" in my previous blog may be incorrect. I have revised my blog accordingly. Please talk to your healthcare professional about your concerns.