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According to a new Cochrane Review, beta blocker drugs (commonly used to initially lower blood pressure) is not as good as reducing death or the severity of the disease as opposed to other classes of drugs: thiazides, calcium channel blockers and renin angiotensin system inhibitors.

Starting with the best therapy is important because even a modest reduction of blood pressure in people with hypertension can significantly reduce their risk of suffering from stroke or cardiovascular disease.

The Cochrane Review, based on data from 13 clinical trials that involved 91,000 total participants, found that beta blockers are not the best first-line treatment of hypertension.

Find more details from the full report.

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