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Blood pressure drug can halve the risk of cancer.

 

A common drug for blood pressure taken by thousands of people in Ireland could cut the risk of cancer, say scientists.

A major new study found that taking ACE inhibitors halves the risk of developing throat, pancreatic and colonic cancer. ACE inhibitors were developed in the 1970s to treat high blood pressure and are now widely used to treat this condition. ACE stands for 'angiotensin converting enzyme'. Angiotensin is a chemical which makes blood vessels narrow and so blood pressure rise. Blocking this chemical allows the arteries to relax and blood flows through them more easily. This means that blood pressure falls.

The drugs are also a common treatment, alongside other drugs, for heart failure. Widening the blood vessels means the heart does not have to work so hard and the drugs also control the levels of blood in the body, which makes the heart's job easier. Recent studies have also suggested they may improve survival in patients following a heart attack.

There are six different types of ACE inhibitors in Europe, sold under various brand names including Acepril, Capoten, Coversyl, Tritace, Carace and Zestril. Here, the most commonly prescribed brands are Tritace, Carace and Zestril.