One big problem in the study is that they did not check if the people had diverticlosis before they started taking the pill.
As for lifestyle changes... I agree. But they have a limited effect in severe high blood pressure, and I am old enough to remember when young people died of strokes and heart attacks from high blood pressure (and we still see a lot of this here in the Philippines where I live)
But all drugs have side effects.
Take a thiazide diuretic and ten percent of men become impotent.
Take lisinopril or ace1 blocker, and ten percent of people get a cough.
Take an ace2 blocker which are safe, unless they are manufactured overseas and contain toxic contaminents.
My blood pressure shot up about 4 years ago. My doctor looked at my chart and kept saying”this just shouldn’t be” My blood pressure was consistent and great for the previous 16 years, even throughout my pregnancies. My weight, blood work all are good. My blood pressure just shot up and stayed high for a few months until I admitted defeat and started taking meds.
It was oddly emotional for me as I tried so hard to live a healthier lifestyle than my mother who had a massive heart attack at 51 (she miraculously survived - doc told her she should be 6 feet under). Yet there I was with sky high blood pressure at 41-following right in her footsteps. I keep hoping that my trajectory changes.
Good insights. Thanks for going through those for people.
Enjoy your adopted country!