Blood Pressure News and Research

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Blood Pressure is the force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is taken using two measurements: systolic (measured when the heart beats, when blood pressure is at its highest) and diastolic (measured between heart beats, when blood pressure is at its lowest). Blood pressure is written with the systolic blood pressure first, followed by the diastolic blood pressure (for example 120/80).

Late-night eating may amplify the effects of stress on gut health

It's well known that chronic stress can disrupt bowel function, sending people running to the bathroom or making them constipated.

23 Apr 2026

Severe strokes significantly increase the risk of progressive dementia

As stroke severity increases, the risk of progressive cognitive decline and dementia substantially escalates, according to a national study led by Michigan Medicine researchers.

23 Apr 2026

Yoga may improve cardiometabolic health in overweight adults

Practicing yoga could help people with overweight or obesity improve their cardiometabolic health, according to a study published April 22 in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Widya Wasityastuti from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and colleagues.

22 Apr 2026

Triple combination pill reduces recurrent stroke risk

Treatment with GMRx2, a single pill combination of three low-dose blood pressure medicines, significantly reduced the risk of another stroke in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and high blood pressure.

22 Apr 2026

Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide: Study compares cost and health outcomes in obesity

In a US societal-perspective lifetime simulation based on SURMOUNT-5 data, tirzepatide was projected to deliver lower total costs and better health outcomes than semaglutide for adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes.

22 Apr 2026

Researchers identify high rates of untreated hypertension in young veterans

Approximately half a million post-9/11 U.S. veterans who served in the military have had high blood pressure, and among them, about half were undiagnosed and one quarter were untreated, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

22 Apr 2026

Heatwaves above 38 °C significantly spike cardiovascular cases in middle-aged populations

A novel study has revealed a link between extreme weather and the risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older adults in 157 Chinese cities. Based on a city's climate and location, exposure to extreme heat, cold, and precipitation each increases the risk of heart disease. The findings of the study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, provide evidence for policymakers across different regions to develop targeted strategies protecting vulnerable populations during extreme climate events.

21 Apr 2026

Why heart risk is hard to predict in type 1 diabetes

A European study reveals cardiovascular risk patterns in type 1 diabetes, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies to catch complications early.

20 Apr 2026

Blood pressure drug shows promise against antibiotic-resistant MRSA

Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat and are responsible for over 2.8 million infections and more than 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

17 Apr 2026

BMI increases in early childhood may reflect muscle growth, not fat

A new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Nutrition, offers new insights into a decades-old puzzle in childhood obesity. The study found that while body mass index (BMI) starts to rise in early childhood during a stage known as adiposity rebound, when BMI increases after an initial decline, the waist-to-height ratio, a measure that better reflects body fat, continues to drop. This suggests that the BMI increase at this age mainly reflects growth in lean tissues such as muscle and bone, rather than extra body fat.

16 Apr 2026

Matching exercise timing to body clock chronotype improves heart health

Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype-the natural predisposition to morning or evening alertness-may lower cardiovascular disease risk among those who are already vulnerable, suggests research published in the open access journal Open Heart.

15 Apr 2026

Brief intense workouts offer significant health benefits

At this time of year, many people make an extra effort to establish good exercise routines. We know that exercise is good for our health, but it can still be difficult to get started and maintain good habits.

15 Apr 2026

Metabolic syndrome doubles worldwide over two decades

A global study reveals a sharp rise in metabolic syndrome prevalence from 2000 to 2023, highlighting urgent public health challenges and regional disparities.

15 Apr 2026

Waist-to-height ratio outperforms BMI in predicting hypertension risk

New waist-to-height cut-offs to assess fat mass and obesity predicted the risk of hypertension better than body mass index, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University in the US.

14 Apr 2026

Study identifies new genes linked to severe pregnancy sickness

The USC research team that recently identified the hormone-encoding gene GDF15 as a key driver of pregnancy sickness has identified 9 additional genes linked to its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

14 Apr 2026

Feeling lonely impacts memory without accelerating mental decline

Loneliness affects the memory of older adults but does not speed up mental decline over time, suggests data from a major European study tracking more than 10,000 people over seven years.

14 Apr 2026

Obesity health risks differ significantly between men and women

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May), reveals distinct patterns of heart, metabolic, and inflammatory health risks between men and women living with obesity, providing an insight into how clinicians may be able to tailor management approaches.

13 Apr 2026

Weight gain timing affects long-term health outcomes

When in life we gain weight can have a significant impact on our health many years later. In a study involving over 600,000 people, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have investigated how changes in weight between the ages of 17 and 60 are linked to the risk of dying from various diseases

11 Apr 2026

Landmark study establishes shared definition of mental wellbeing

For decades, 'mental wellbeing' has been one of the most used, but least agreed upon, terms in mental health.

10 Apr 2026

Grant supports community-based approach to heart disease prevention

Heart disease and high blood pressure affect millions of Georgians. Yet, for many people, improving heart health has as much to do with finding basic resources - like food, housing and transportation - as it does getting the right medical care.

9 Apr 2026