New Study Criticizes Calcium Blockers

A study of 883 men from nine clinical centers found that those taking a calcium channel blocker to lower blood pressure had more major cardiovascular “events,” including angina and stroke, compared with those taking diuretics.

The study is sure to fuel debate on the use of calcium channel blockers - the most popular hypertension drug - which other studies have linked to an increase in heart disease and cancer.

“This is another twig on the fire,” said Dr. Jeffrey Cutler of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.