Blood pressure medications known as angiotensin-receptor blockers, or ARBs, may be linked to an increased risk of cancer. These drugs are often prescribed to patients with high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetes-related kidney disease.
Researchers reviewed nine studies involving ARBs. They found an increased cancer risk for patients taking these drugs for more than four years.
According to Paging Dr. Gupta:
“... Millions of people in the United States and around the world are taking these drugs ... the current data suggest an ‘overall 10 percent increase in the risk of cancer diagnosis in patients on ARBs compared to placebo.’ The study also concludes that the risk for lung cancer was the highest.”