Long-term Use of Antihypertensive Drugs May Increase the Risk of Kidney Cancer
Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases of modern times. As living standards rise, its incidence keeps increasing; worldwide, the prevalence of hypertension reaches 31.3%. China is a high-burden country, with a prevalence of 23.2%. Hypertension is more common in northern China than in the south, reaching as high as 32%-33% in northern regions.
Hypertension is closely related to environmental factors, genetic factors and dietary habits. People with a family history of early-onset hypertension, irregular routines, frequent late nights, heavy life stress or smoking have a markedly higher incidence of hypertension than others.
At present, routine treatment of hypertension mainly relies on taking antihypertensive drugs. However, long-term use lowers the body's sodium level, which in turn affects kidney function. To maintain sodium balance, the kidneys may increase cell proliferation and the risk of malignant transformation—that is, the risk of kidney cancer. Several large studies show that among hypertensive patients, those taking diuretics (especially thiazide diuretics) and other antihypertensive drugs have a 1.4- to 2-fold increased risk of kidney cancer.
By adjusting one's routine—keeping regular hours, going to bed early and rising early—by changing the diet toward light, low-salt fare rich in fiber and vitamins (vegetables and fruits), by avoiding pickled and fried foods, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, exercising moderately and controlling weight, many early-stage hypertensive patients can shed their hypertension without ever taking antihypertensive medication.
Some families do show a clustering of hypertension, partly due to genetic factors, but a considerable part is due to poor dietary and lifestyle habits that are passed down from generation to generation. For example, in some families every member craves salty food and the home cooking is heavily seasoned; high salt is one of the most important causes of hypertension. Such families must make a firm decision to strictly control salt in their diet.
The medical community recommends no more than 6 g of salt per day, but many people exceed this. Beyond the salt added in cooking, we may also take in sodium through soy sauce, condiments, pickles, dried noodles, bread, commercially prepared steamed rolls and snacks. Hypertensive patients must pay special attention to these easily overlooked indirect sources of salt.
To a large extent, hypertension is a chronic disease caused by dietary and lifestyle habits. Once such habits are formed, they are usually hard to change; only with strong resolve and willpower can one alter them. But to reduce the probability that antihypertensive drugs cause cancer, we still advise hypertensive patients to take their condition seriously, start with lifestyle and dietary habits, and rid themselves of hypertension at the root.
Finally, it should be noted that some kidney diseases themselves can cause hypertension; 5%-10% of adult hypertension is due to kidney disease, medically called renal hypertension. Therefore, after a patient is diagnosed with hypertension, it is best to also screen for kidney disease.