Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News and Research

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Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is a condition where the pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries of the body is higher than it should be. Much like the pressure of the air in a tire, if the pressure of the blood is too high it can damage the arteries and organs of the body. Just like the tire, if the pressure suddenly becomes very high, catastrophic events can happen. Similarly, if the pressure remains somewhat elevated for a long enough period of time, premature wear and failure can occur.

Hypertension has its worst effects on the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, hemorrhages of the retina of the eye, and generalized atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries all over the body).

Dysregulation of CISTR-ACT causes brachydactyly type E

The patients have single short fingers (metacarpals) and toes (metatarsals) and can be restricted in growth due to a shortened skeleton. This hereditary disease is called brachydactyly type E (Greek for short fingers).

6 Nov 2012

Home monitoring may not improve blood pressure control in patients with hypertension and stroke

Home blood pressure monitoring may help patients with hypertension and stroke but did not improve blood pressure control for patients who had normal blood pressure at the start or those with disabilities, according to a randomized controlled trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

6 Nov 2012

Smoke-free laws lead to fewer heart attacks

A recent decline in the incidence of myocardial infarction in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, could be due to the implementation of smoke-free laws, researchers suggest.

5 Nov 2012

Traditional CV risk factors linked to peripheral artery disease

Smoking, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are significantly associated with the risk for clinically significant peripheral artery disease in men, with each additional factor doubling the risk, conclude US and Dutch researchers.

5 Nov 2012

Genetic polymorphisms linked with community-acquired pneumonia

Seven genetic polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with community-acquired pneumonia, research shows.

5 Nov 2012

New information related to kidney transplantation

Three studies presented during the American Society of Nephrology's Annual Kidney Week provide new information related to kidney transplantation—specifically, the post-transplant health of kidney donors and the racial disparities faced by children in need of transplants.

3 Nov 2012

Tolvaptan shows promise in treating autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

A drug therapy shows promise for treating an inherited form of kidney disease called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Mayo Clinic researchers say.

3 Nov 2012

Top-line results from Aerie Pharmaceuticals' AR-13324 Phase 2a study on glaucoma

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for glaucoma, today announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2a study evaluating AR-13324 for the treatment of glaucoma.

3 Nov 2012

Inotek announces final data from trabodenoson Phase 2 trial on PAOG or ocular hypertension

Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp., a leader in the development of innovative drug candidates to address significant diseases of the eye, today announced that final data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of trabodenoson, also known as INO-8875, in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension will be presented at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL.

2 Nov 2012

Cardio exercise OK in high-risk CVD patients

US study results indicate that cardiopulmonary exercise is well tolerated, even when performed by individuals with high-risk cardiovascular disease.

1 Nov 2012

Mobile technology can help people in less-developed countries manage hypertension

Hypertension is one of the greatest epidemics threatening the health of people in low and middle-income countries. For patients struggling with high blood pressure in countries with limited access to health care, the key to improving health may be as simple as a phone call.

1 Nov 2012

Ischemic stroke: an interview with Dr Gregory Ford

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain which deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients. Approximately two millions brain cells die each minute during a stroke. This can lead to brain damage, physical and mental disability and death.

1 Nov 2012

Exosomes alone could protect infants' lungs from dangerous inflammation

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have found that microscopic particles containing proteins and nucleic acids called exosomes could potentially protect the fragile lungs of premature babies from serious lung diseases and chronic lung injury caused by inflammation.

1 Nov 2012

Smoke-free laws lead to fewer heart attacks

A recent decline in the incidence of myocardial infarction in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, could be due to the implementation of smoke-free laws, researchers suggest.

31 Oct 2012

SSRIs should be prescribed with great caution to those attempting to get pregnant

Elevated risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, neonatal health complications and possible longer term neurobehavioral abnormalities, including autism, suggest that a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) should only be prescribed with great caution and with full counseling for women experiencing depression and attempting to get pregnant, say researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center and MetroWest Medical Center.

31 Oct 2012

SSRIs should be prescribed with great caution to those attempting to get pregnant

31 Oct 2012

Preeclampsia risk higher for women with Lupus

New research reports that women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a two-fold increase in risk of preeclampsia—a dangerous condition in which pregnant women develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in their urine (proteinuria) after 20 weeks of gestation

30 Oct 2012

Adolescent overweight and obesity may increase risk of all-cause ESRD

Being overweight and obese during adolescence appears related to an increased risk of all-cause treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during a 25-year period, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

30 Oct 2012

High BP predicts long-term CV mortality in Japanese

A study in a Japanese population has shown that an above-normal blood pressure could increase long-term risk for cardiovascular mortality.

29 Oct 2012

New anti-thrombotic treatments in AF patients can reduce risk of stroke

Atrial fibrillation, whose prevalence continues to rise, was described last year as the "new epidemic" in cardiovascular disease, even though AF can be successfully controlled by the detection and management of risk factors, by rhythm control treatments, and by the use of antithrombotic therapies.

29 Oct 2012