Superior antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of chlorthalidone compared with hydrochlorothiazide.

Diuretics are the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of hypertension, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs. Of all diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and chlorthalidone (CTD) are the most commonly used, with HCTZ being the most widely prescribed diuretic. Recent studies have shown that CTD is a better diuretic with superior antihypertensive effectiveness and cardiovascular protection. Although these diuretics are chemically, pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically different, CTD continues to be called a "thiazide-like" diuretic. The only common features they both share are a sulfhydryl group in their molecules and their common mechanism and site of diuretic action. In order to get a better understanding of the true pharmacologic actions as well as the benefits and risks of these diuretics, a MEDLINE search of the English language literature between 1964 and January 2021 was conducted, using the terms "diuretics", "hydrochlorothiazide", "chlorthalidone", "hypertension", "cardiovascular disease" and "treatment". From this search, 28 pertinent papers were selected and they will be discussed in this review together with collateral literature. The analysis of results revealed that CTD is superior to HCTZ in antihypertensive effectiveness and cardioprotection and should be the preferred diuretic for the treatment of hypertension.

Unintended consequences of the new ACC/AHA blood pressure treatment guidelines.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and stroke. Therefore, its early detection and treatment are very important according to blood pressure (BP) treatment guidelines issued by the various scientific societies. Over the years, BP treatment guidelines have changed from strict control of BP to more relaxed control, and lately to a strict BP control influenced by the results of the SPRINT trial. The recently published BP treatment guidelines by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) recommend a systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP reduction to less than 130 mmHg and less than 80 mmHg, respectively, for all ages, and have also changed the classification of hypertension by changing the term "prehypertension" of the JNC 7 (7th Joint National Committee) guidelines to "stage 1 hypertension". These changes could have significant social and economic consequences for the patients. In order to get a better perspective of the current status of SBP control, we conducted a MEDLINE search of the English language literature from 2014 to 2018 in connection with recent (2014-2018) BP treatment guidelines, using the terms 'hypertension', 'blood pressure control', 'intensive blood pressure control', 'blood pressure treatment guidelines', and 'benefits and risks of intensive blood pressure control', and 26 pertinent papers were retrieved. These papers together with collateral literature, which goes beyond the year 2014, will be discussed in this review.

Cardiovascular complications from consumption of high energy drinks: recent evidence.

The energy drinks (ED) are caffeinated beverages that are popular among teenagers and young adults. They are aggressively marketed as providing alertness, energy and sex prowess. The EDs in addition to caffeine contain several plant stimulants and simple sugars, which increase their caloric content. The caffeine concentration in these drinks is high and their overconsumption could lead to insomnia, agitation, tremors and cardiovascular complications including sudden death. Alcohol is often mixed with EDs (AMEDs) in the wrong perception that the caffeine in the EDs will prevent the drowsiness and sleepiness from alcohol and allow the person to consume more alcohol. This false perception, could lead to alcohol intoxication and the taking of risky decisions, like driving under the influence of alcohol and the risk of serious physical harm to themselves and others. To prevent the problem of consumption of EDs and AMEDs, the caring physician could help by advising the parents and his young patients about the serious health risks from the consumption of these drinks. In order to grasp the extend of the problem of ED and AMED consumption, we did a Medline search of the English language literature from January 2010 to December 2013, using the terms EDs and alcohol-mixed EDs. All the findings from the recent studies regarding the cardiovascular complications from the consumption of EDs and AMEDs together with collateral literature will be discussed in this review.

Current status of ß-blockers for the treatment of hypertension: an update.

ß-Adrenoceptor blockers (ß-blockers) are one of the oldest classes of cardiovascular drugs still in use. Several short- and long-term clinical outcomes studies have demonstrated their effectiveness and safety for the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Due to their safety and efficacy, ß-blockers have been recommended by several national and international committees as first-line therapy of hypertension. However, despite their proven benefits, their use as first-line treatment for hypertension has come under criticism lately. Because of these recent developments, several authors have recommended that ß-blockers no longer be used as first-line therapy for hypertension. In this review, evidence-based information will be presented, which will demonstrate that ß-blockers are an effective and safe class of antihypertensive and cardiovascular drugs for most patients with the exception of black and elderly hypertensive patients in whom the ß-blockers are less effective compared to other classes of drugs. In addition, evidence will be presented from several major meta-analyses that ß-blockers are equally effective in reducing blood pressure and cardiovascular complications. This review will also discuss differences in the mechanism of action of older and newer (third-generation) ß-blockers and provide evidence that newer agents should be preferred over the older ones in the treatment of hypertensive patients with certain comorbidities.

Current status of angiotensin receptor blockers for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: focus on telmisartan.

Poorly controlled hypertension is a major risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, strokes, heart failure and renal failure. Despite these devastating complications, blood pressure control of

Citrobacter diversus endocarditis.

Citrobacter species are motile Gram-negative bacilli that cause disease in humans, such as urinary tract infection, pneumonia, superficial and deep wound infections, gastroenteritis, meningitis, bacteremia, and rarely endocarditis. In those cases of endocarditis, intravenous drug use has been associated with Citrobacter species. Gram-negative organisms are present in less than 10% of cases of endocarditis in intravenous drug users. We present a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in an intravenous drug user caused by Citrobacter diversus alone.

Dietary salt reduction in hypertension--what is the evidence and why is it still controversial?

The link between sodium intake and hypertension remains controversial because of inconsistency between early epidemiologic studies, which showed a strong positive relationship between salt intake and blood pressure/incidence of hypertension, and more recent studies, which showed only modest decreases in blood pressure with sodium reduction, particularly in the normotensive population. In addition, there is clinical evidence that sodium is related to target organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy and renal disease. Although the evidence available linking sodium intake and blood pressure in the general population is weak, sodium reduction has been shown to be useful in hypertensive patients, particularly salt-sensitive patients. Whether dietary sodium reduction should be recommended for the general population remains questionable because of marginal benefit and the suggestion of possible deleterious effects on cardiovascular outcomes independent of blood pressure. This paper will review the definition and methods used in determining salt sensitivity, the evidence linking sodium intake and target organ damage, and modern studies of salt and blood pressure.