A recent post on Medline Plus discusses a study published in an October issue of Circulation. The study found that adequate blood pressure control was more likely with patients who made regular trips to the doctor and had medical insurance.
The researchers reviewed data from 1999 to 2012 on the blood pressure check ups of more than 37,000 Americans. They then controlled for factors like diabetes, body fat, and smoking. Even after accounting for these factors, the data indicated that individuals visiting a doctor two or more times each year were 3.2 times more likely than those going to the doctor only once or not at all to keep their blood pressures under control. The data also indicated that individuals seeking treatment for elevated cholesterol and those with health insurance were more likely to have controlled blood pressure.
Although high blood pressure can lead to a stroke or heart attack, blood pressure control comes with its own risks. For example, in 2013 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) warned about a possible link between olmesartan and intestinal problems which can be serious enough to require hospitalization. The blood pressure medication olmesartan is marketed under the brand names Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor and Tribenzor. The intestinal condition presents symptoms similar to celiac disease but is known as drug induced sprue-like enteropathy. The symptoms of sprue-like enteropathy include both chronic diarrhea and unintended weight loss.
An estimated eighty percent of the nearly eighty million Americans with high blood pressure know they have the condition. However, only seventy-five percent of those Americans seek treatment.Treatments for high blood pressure include both medication and lifestyle changes like low sodium diets, regular exercise, healthy eating and limiting alcohol.
The Benicar lawyers of Lopez McHugh may be able to help if you have been diagnosed with sprue-like enteropathy after taking Benicar or another brand of olmesartan. You may be able to recover for your injuries through a Benicar lawsuit depending on the extent and nature of your injuries, among other factors. The types of damages typically awarded in a successful pharmaceutical drug case may include compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, future medical care, and lost compensation. Contact our Benicar lawsuit team today for a consultation.
