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).

Children with hypertension more likely to have learning disabilities, ADHD

Children who have hypertension are much more likely to have learning disabilities than children with normal blood pressure, according to a new University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) study published this week in the journal, Pediatrics. In fact, when variables such as socio-economic levels are evened out, children with hypertension were four times more likely to have cognitive problems.

10 Nov 2010

UC Irvine study: Small amount of brain bleeding is common among older individuals

Neurologist Dr. Mark Fisher and neuropathologist Dr. Ronald Kim found that cerebral microbleeds are highly prevalent in the aging brain - and not primarily products of stroke-related injury, hypertension or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, as had been thought.

9 Nov 2010

Colcrys safe for treating gout flares

Patients who experience gout flares can be treated safely with Colcrys (colchicine, USP), even in the presence of co-morbid conditions that often present physicians with treatment challenges, according to a new analysis presented here at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

9 Nov 2010

China Sky third quarter total revenue decreases 16.3% to $36.2 million

China Sky One Medical, Inc., a leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company producing over-the-counter drugs in the People's Republic of China, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

8 Nov 2010

$Beta blockers for high blood pressure also reduce fracture risk: Study$

Beta blockers for high blood pressure also reduce fracture risk: Study

Beta blockers, one of the most commonly used types of cardiovascular drugs, taken by about 20 per cent of the population, have been found to cut a person's incidence of bone fracture by half. This new and welcome side effect was reported by Professor Tuan Nguyen from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and his Australian-based colleagues. “Indeed, we found that men and women who used beta-blockers had a 50 per cent lower risk of fracture than those not using beta blockers… We were very excited about the finding because, as you know, a lot of elderly people use beta blockers ... it’s a very significant public health issue,” he said.

8 Nov 2010

Hyperuricemia associated with increased risk for hypertension

People with hyperuricemia are at an increased risk for high blood pressure, according to research presented at the Nov 2010, American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

8 Nov 2010

TRPM7 protein plays a key role in maintenance of magnesium homeostasis

An international team led by researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has published new findings that demonstrate how a specific protein controls the body's ability to balance magnesium levels. Magnesium is an essential element for good health and is critical to more than 300 biochemical reactions that occur in the body.

8 Nov 2010

Gout and hyperuricemia continue to rise in the U.S.

Gout rates and related cases of hyperuricema have increased over the past two decades, according to research presented at the Nov 2010, American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

8 Nov 2010

Research Roundup: Basing insurance on results, not cost; Americans skeptical of public health efforts; seniors' comprehensive care

Copayment Reductions Generate Greater Medication Adherence In Targeted Patients. As health care costs have increased, some patients have sought to save money by cutting down on their medications.

8 Nov 2010

Walgreens pushes stronger primary care role for pharmacists

Walgreens will step up investments in services to help Americans manage chronic diseases, the drugstore chain's CEO announced, because the company wants to capitalize on what he called the 'retailization' of the nation's health care system.

8 Nov 2010

Americans sicker but live longer than the English: Study

According to a new study in the journal Demographics, and elderly American is not quite as healthy as his English counterpart, but does live just as long, if not longer. The study found that Americans aged 55 to 64 and 70 to 80 had higher rates of chronic diseases than same-aged English people, but they died at about the same rate. Americans aged 65 and older could be sicker than their English peers but lived longer.

5 Nov 2010

Researchers to develop multidisciplinary approach to help kidney disease patients adhere to BP medications

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center have found that about one-third of chronic kidney disease patients who are prescribed therapies for high blood pressure do not often adhere to treatments.

4 Nov 2010

Endocrine Society unveils new guideline on endocrine and nutritional management of post-bariatric surgery patients

The Endocrine Society released a new clinical practice guideline for the nutritional and endocrine management of adults after bariatric surgery, including those with diabetes mellitus. The guideline features a series of evidence-based clinical recommendations developed by an expert task force. The guideline is published in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of The Endocrine Society.

4 Nov 2010

QLT third quarter sales decreases 12.9% to $20.5 million

QLT Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Unless specified otherwise, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

3 Nov 2010

Health Affairs recognizes U-M leadership in implementing Value-Based Insurance Design

Value-Based Insurance Design - a concept created at the University of Michigan and incorporated in the nation's new health care reform law - is the focus of an upcoming national policy journal.

3 Nov 2010

Salty issues for Australian food co’s

At present health authorities are depending on education and a voluntary approach to cut down on dietary salt. From now on they are urging the government to set mandatory salt limits for food. According to a study from the University of Queensland there are more than one ways to tackle the dietary salt problem which is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease in Australia.

2 Nov 2010

ISHIB releases new recommendations to manage hypertension in African Americans

Through the publication of its Consensus Statement on the Management of High Blood Pressure in Blacks in this week's issue of Hypertension, ISHIB today released new recommendations recognizing that high blood pressure among African Americans is a severe health problem. The consensus statement suggests that treatment should start sooner and be more aggressive among African Americans.

2 Nov 2010

Allergan third quarter diluted loss per share increases to $2.21

Allergan, Inc. today announced operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Allergan also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a third quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on December 1, 2010 to stockholders of record on November 10, 2010.

1 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 1, 2010

In today's health policy headlines, how will Tuesday's election impact the health law?

1 Nov 2010

FDA grants Clinical Data's PRX-8066 Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to PRX-8066, the Company's selective serotonin 2B (5-HT2B) receptor antagonist.

1 Nov 2010