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It's vital to lower blood pressure after a stroke, so the survivor doesn't suffer another as they recover. And it appears this safety measure can be achieved on the cheap, a new study says.

An inexpensive diuretic drug helped stroke survivors reach their recommended blood pressure nearly twice as often as others receiving usual post-stroke care, researchers reported at a recent meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA) in Chicago.

The drug, spironolactone, costs as little as $6 for a month's supply, according to Drugs.com.

"Lowering blood pressure is the most important step in preventing another stroke, yet many survivors struggle to reach recommended blood pressure targets after a stroke," said co-lead researcher Dr. Jordana Cohen, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania.

"We were surprised to see that blood pressure dropped twice as much as we expected," Cohen said in a news release.

Nearly 1 in 4 stroke survivors will have another stroke, but up to 80% of strokes can be prevented, researchers said in background notes.

Spironolactone lowers blood pressure by blocking aldosterone, a hormone that signals the kidneys to hold on to salt and water, researchers said. As a result, people urinate more often, reducing the amount of fluid in their bodies. A diuretic like this might be referred to as a "water pill."

S. hospitals recruited 160 adults with an average age of 63 who'd survived a stroke.

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