Dropping Beta-Blockers, Adding New Drugs to Fight Blood Pressure in UK

Apparently, beta-blockers aren't the one-pill panacea for controlling your blood pressure, at least in the eyes of Britain's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Sounds like good news and, perhaps, an implication of better, safer solutions for Britons, but it isn't...

Now, the health organization endorses a drug combo consisting of calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics as a first-line therapy because beta-blockers don't work as well, especially among the elderly, and carry "an unacceptable risk" of type 2 diabetes.

Sounds a bit like the same old "shell game" the mega-drugmakers play on this side of the pond to hype newer, bluer and more expensive medications that are little, if any, better than older ones. And, because most doctors recommend you take these useless drugs for the rest of your life, it's an annuity you give back to drugmakers at the expense of your health.

Some safer, simpler solutions for taming your blood pressure that have nothing to do with taking a drug:

• Get your vitamin D naturally from sunshine.
• Reduce, with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars from your diet.
• Start an exercise plan.
• Address your stress by learning the Emotional Freedom Technique.

NICE.org.uk June 28, 2006 Free Full Text PDF

The Times Online June 28, 2006

ITV June 28, 2006