Taking small amounts of a diuretic to reduce high systolic blood pressure cuts the number of heart attacks and strokes by a third in older men and women with diabetes, researchers have found.

Diuretics, drugs that remove excess water from the body, are often recommended for patients with isolated systolic hypertension, in which the first or top blood pressure number is 140 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or greater, and the second or bottom number (diastolic) is below 90 mm Hg.

Along with lifestyle changes, diuretics should be considered the treatment of choice for isolated systolic hypertension in older patients with diabetes who are not taking insulin. Diabetes increases the risk for stroke and heart attack by two to four times in middle-aged and older individuals.

The study was conducted by researchers with or funded by theNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Aging. Both are components of the National Institutes of Health.

For more information on high blood pressure, contact the NHLBI Information Center on (301) 251-1222. For material on diabetes, contact the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases on (301) 654-3810.--an NIH HEALTHWise report, February 1997

Moderate, regular physical activity helps ease symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in persons aged 60 and older, according to a new study. An 18-month program of structured exercise, either aerobic walking or weight training for 1 hour a day, 3 days a week, led to less pain, reduced disability and improved physical performance in these men and women. These findings strongly suggest that both types of these exercises, compared to rest, are effective treatments for older individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee.

The study was supported by NIH's National Institute on Aging(NIA), and the National Center for Research Resources, components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

For more information on osteoarthritis, contact NIH's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases on (301)496-8188. A fact sheet on exercise for older persons, "Don't Take It Easy -- Exercise," is available from the NIA by calling1-800-222-2225.--an NIH HEALTHWise report, February 1997

For more information, reporters can contact:

Jan Ehrman
Public Affairs Specialist, NIH
phone: 301-496-4143
fax: 301-402-1485
email: je48b@nih.gov