Obstructive sleep apnea is described by periods of upper airway collapse during sleep. Sleep quality is highly disturbed, which results in daytime fatigue and exaggerated risk for high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, abnormal glucose metabolism or sleep-related traffic accidents.
Researchers from the Cardiovascular Department of Harbin Medical University, China used Meditech ABPM-05 ambulatory blood pressure monitors in their latest study to assess the effects of metoprolol versus amlodipine, two popular antihypertensive drugs in patients with hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea.
Patients were randomly divided into two groups and had been receiving either metoprolol or amlodipine treatment for twelve weeks. They also underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring both the time when the treatment started and when it is ended.
Researchers found that the two antihypertensive drugs have the same effect in lowering blood pressure, but neither could decrease heart rate significantly during the nighttime in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Each person is unique, what works for one may not work for another. The most common antihypertensive drugs used to control blood pressure include beta blockers (metoprolol) and calcium-channel blockers (amlodipine).
Both metoprolol and amlodipine have a heart beat reducing effect, just in different ways, therefore both medications are best used in people with chest pain and irregular heartbeat.
Meditech has been developing, manufacturing and marketing ambulatory blood pressure monitors and Holter ECG devices since 1990 for promoting cardiovascular health through better drug treatment.
Meditech ABPM-05 ambulatory blood pressure monitors have been used for several hundreds of studies over the years to assess the effectiveness of antihypertension therapies.
