Scientists have found a way to reduce the risk of another stroke by 21%, but there is a hidden threat.
Strict control of systolic blood pressure after an ischemic stroke or mini-stroke (TIA) significantly reduces the risk of recurrent vascular accidents. This was the conclusion reached by the authors of a large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Doctors followed 4,368 patients for nearly four years. In the first group, the target systolic pressure was kept below 120 mm Hg. Art, in the second - less than 140 mm Hg. art.
Intensive lowering of blood pressure reduced the relative risk of heart attacks, strokes and serious hospitalizations by 21%. The recurrent stroke rate in the first group was only 4.7% compared to 6.4% in the second group.
However, there is also a "side effect": patients in the intensive care group were more likely to experience worsening kidney function. Scientists emphasize that blood pressure can be lowered to such values only under medical supervision with monitoring of kidney function.