The idea that treating high blood pressure can sometimes do more harm than good has gained further support from a study of people over the age of 75 with the condition.

This is because, contrary to expectations, people in this group who had high blood pressure had a lower risk of death than those with lower blood pressure. “Overall, blood pressure treatment is a good thing, but there are likely to be people in whom the risks outweigh the benefit,” says Jane Masoli at the University of …