Blood pressure drugs may benefit low-risk patients

May 20, 2009 Doctors from Great Britain analyzed more than four decades worth of research on hypertension medications. Results showed that blood pressure drugs reduce the odds of stroke and heart disease for essentially all patients, even those without heart disease or hypertension.

There are five main classes of blood pressure drugs, including diuretics, ACE inhibitors and channel blockers.

Authors of the study in the British Medical Journal suggest that all seniors should be offered blood pressure drugs even if they have normal levels.