The title of this research paper is ominous sounding: “Transformation of the Kidney into a Pathological Neuro-Immune-Endocrine Organ.”
To be fair, the high blood pressure hurts all organs in your body, so reducing blood pressure is likely more important, but there are other approaches to do that, including diet and exercise. Soluble fiber, green tea, resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, among other foods, are able to positively affect blood pressure.
Other drugs have their own issues, but would not likely have this same action on the kidneys.
Additionally, there are supplements that can help reverse arterial plaque, including Vitamin K2-MK4 and K1, from one amazing study.
Growing older can be tough.
ACE inhibitors are the one thing that cannot take because I end up with coughing fits.
> RAS inhibitors, which include the generics enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril and others… <
And others? Oh come on, University of Virginia. If you’re going to make an alarming statement (which well might be true), why not take a moment and give us a complete list?
I’m beginning to think there aren’t ANY drugs that aren’t bad for you.....
Sigh.
NOTHING does more damage to kidneys than uncontrolled hypertension(high blood pressure).
Please Freepers continue with your blood pressure medication and talk to your physician before you change anything.
For many years I’ve taken Valsartan (an ARB) and Amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) to control my high blood pressure.
I’d like to instead try rilmenidine (currently used in parts of Europe to treat hypertension, but shown experimentally in animals at young and older ages to increase lifespan and improves health markers, mimicking the effects of caloric restriction). Unfortunately not approved for use in the US.
Many thanks for your analysis, and alternative treatment substitutes , and alternative vitamins,
Very much appreciated as one is getting older, while remaining healthy, seems to be a challenge, now a days.
And Growing older can be can be a challenge."and a bi*ch" !(Emphasis Mine)
What IS “high blood pressure”? Used to be systolic over 150. Then 140. Now they want people of every age to be at 120. Or lower. And will prescribe drugs to get them there.
The US “trial” that lowered the number to 120 was so biased that it could only be by design. The better quality trials seem to indicate no need for medicine if systolic is under 150-160. Europe still uses 140 as the start of high blood pressure.
We take too many drugs.
Another factor: Many elderly patients end up with multiple prescriptions for blood pressure. My wife did home health care and frequently - several times a week - found a patient with 2-4 prescriptions, from different doctors, for the same blood pressure medicine. She would get it corrected but wondered how many falls took place due to artificially LOW blood pressure.
My doctor prescribed statins and another drug that ‘flushed’ the kidneys to prevent this side-effect. Didn’t tell me that it took cholesterol levels way down, causing brain fog. Not worth it at my age to gain maybe a day or two of life after 7 decades of living.
P4L
EVERY medication has side effects (some harmful, some just irritating).
The key is finding the right risk/reward ratio, and discontinuing meds when that ratio changes.
What makes sense when you’re 40 usually doesn’t at 70. I hate to see the elderly on statins, or multi drug therapyfor hypertension. Add anti dementia meds in end stage dementia where they do more harm than good.
People take on faith what they should be suspicious of. Follow the money.
In most cases, RAS inhibitors do not damage the kidneys. Instead, they are protective when used appropriately. However, they can pose risks if certain conditions arise:•Severe volume depletion (e.g., from dehydration or diuretics).
•Bilateral renal artery stenosis (narrowing of both renal arteries).
•Advanced kidney disease with very low GFR.
https://www.google.com/search?q=RAS+inhibitors+kidney+damage
[bottom line: RAS inhibitors are generally protective of kidney function in the face of hypertension, EXCEPT for folks who already have advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD)]:
“While generally considered protective for kidneys in most patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in certain situations, particularly with advanced CKD, Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) inhibitors can potentially worsen kidney function and increase the risk of kidney damage due to potential side effects like hyperkalemia and a sudden decline in renal function, requiring close monitoring when used in such cases; however, for most patients with mild to moderate CKD, RAS inhibitors are considered beneficial for slowing kidney disease progression.
Key points about RAS inhibitors and kidney damage:
Protective effect in most cases:
In individuals with mild to moderate CKD, RAS inhibitors like ACE inhibitors and ARBs are often prescribed to help slow the decline in kidney function by lowering blood pressure and reducing proteinuria (excess protein in urine).
Risks in advanced CKD:
When kidney function is significantly impaired (advanced CKD), using RAS inhibitors can increase the risk of complications like hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) and a sudden drop in kidney function, which is why careful monitoring is crucial.
Considerations for use:
Severity of kidney disease: Doctors often need to adjust dosage or discontinue RAS inhibitors in patients with very advanced CKD.
Monitoring: Regular monitoring of blood potassium levels and kidney function is essential when using RAS inhibitors in patients with CKD.
Mechanism of potential kidney damage:
While the exact mechanism is complex, some research suggests that in advanced CKD, RAS inhibition can disrupt the delicate balance of renal blood flow, potentially leading to further kidney damage in certain individuals.
Kidney Damage Caused by Blood Pressure Drugs Explained
6 days ago — Long-term management of the condition with renin–angiotensin system inhibitors can cause kidney damage for some patients...”
P
Helps explain why people who control their blood pressure to the level demanded by the ‘medical community’ don’t seem to live any longer (or even as long) as people who are somewhat (but not excessively above) those guidelines - as the people who are not controlling BP as tightly take far less meds (usually some meds, but not nearly as much).
Bad news: Eat right. Take the right medications. Get plenty of exercise. YOU WILL STILL DIE OF SOMETHING !
It’s so disappointing to obsess with a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat only healthy foods, and ultimately still find yourself in the hospital, DYING (of nothing).
There must be a tombstone somewhere with the inscription: “Being dead now anyway, I wish I had eaten a lot more french fries and greasy hamburgers.”
MD’s are the snake oil salesmen that they accused others of being in the 1930’s - BP medicine is derived (sometimes synthesized) using the venow of a pit viper, (you know the deadliest venom known) but it does thin the blood!