Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News and Research

RSS

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).

Alcon second-quarter global sales increase 12.5% to $1.89 billion

Alcon, Inc. reported that global sales rose 12.5 percent to $1.89 billion for the second quarter of 2010, or 11.3 percent excluding the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and acquisitions. Revenue from acquisitions added 40 basis points to sales growth in the quarter, while foreign currency fluctuations added 80 basis points of growth.

27 Jul 2010

New guidelines for care of heart transplant recipients from ISHLT

Since the dawn of heart transplantation in the 1960s, medical care of heart transplant recipients has varied from center to center and been guided by the experience of individual clinicians. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has made an unprecedented commitment by convening experts in all areas of heart transplantation to develop practice guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients.

26 Jul 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim announces European CHMP Positive Opinion for TWYNSTA

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a Positive Opinion for the approval of TWYNSTA®. It will be indicated in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on amlodipine and is also indicated as replacement therapy in adult patients receiving telmisartan and amlodipine from separate tablets can instead receive tablets of TWYNSTA containing the same component doses.

26 Jul 2010

African Americans at increased risk of kidney failure caused by hypertension

Regardless of demographics, African American patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis have a higher rate of developing end stage renal disease than dying prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.Earlier studies showed patients of all races with Chronic Kidney Disease were at greater risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease than reaching ESRD.

23 Jul 2010

Study reveals link between allergies, asthma and old age

Mistaken for illnesses like bronchitis and emphysema, exacerbated by medications like aspirin, and overlooked by patients and doctors alike, asthma is a common and highly treatable condition in older adults. And while allergies tend to decrease with age, they also are frequently disregarded as a potential cause of misery for the elderly.

23 Jul 2010

Researchers block stress responses in cancer surgery patients

Cancer surgery wreaks havoc on a body's immune system and stress hormones exacerbate the problem. As a result, about half of those who undergo surgery for tumor removal experience a recurrence of cancer in the same region or other parts of the body.

22 Jul 2010

UDCA fails to improve overall histology in NASH patients: Study

A study conducted by researchers at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany found that high doses of ursodeoxycholic acid, suggested by some studies to have a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, does not improve overall histology in these patients. Full findings of this study are published in the August issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

21 Jul 2010

Major turning point in antiepileptic drug testing, development

New York University researchers revealed that data from previously completed withdrawal to monotherapy studies for antiepileptic drugs provide a valid control for future studies, obviating the need for placebo/pseudo-placebo trials to demonstrate the efficacy of these drugs as monotherapy. Results of this study are now available online in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy.

21 Jul 2010

Lannett's ANDA for Phentermine Hydrochloride Blue/White Seed Capsules receives FDA approval

Lannett Company, Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Phentermine Hydrochloride Blue/White Seed Capsules USP, 30 mg, the generic equivalent of Sandoz, Inc.'s Reference Listed Drug (RLD) Phentermine Hydrochloride Capsules USP, 30 mg.

21 Jul 2010

Gilead Sciences second-quarter total revenues increase 17% to $1.93 billion

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced today its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Total revenues for the second quarter of 2010 were $1.93 billion, up 17 percent compared to total revenues of $1.65 billion for the second quarter of 2009. Net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $712.1 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, compared to net income for the second quarter of 2009 of $571.4 million, or $0.61 per diluted share.

21 Jul 2010

Forest Laboratories reports first-quarter diluted EPS of $0.39

Forest Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer, announced that diluted earnings per share equaled $0.39 in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the charge related to the United States Department of Justice investigations described below, and a charge of $50.0 million, or $0.17 per share net of tax, for a new product licensing fee, non-GAAP earnings per share for the first fiscal quarter were $0.95 per share.

20 Jul 2010

Diffused ultraviolet radiation penetrates beach umbrellas

A team of researchers from the University of Valencia (UV) has proven that 34% of ultraviolet radiation filters through under beach umbrellas. According to what is published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, umbrellas intercept the full direct flow that comes from the Sun, but not the diffused radiation that penetrates through from the sides.

20 Jul 2010

New technique to measure ATP from arterioles helps understand hypertension in women

Research at the University of Arkansas took a step toward understanding hypertension in women by using a new technique to examine the release of a neurotransmitter in small blood vessels.

20 Jul 2010

Scientists find major shortcomings in assessing CVD risk in HIV patients

At the same time that medical science has nearly eliminated AIDS deaths in patients treated for human immunodeficiency virus, two international meetings of HIV/AIDS scientists and patient advocates find major shortcomings in the design and analysis of studies used to assess cardiovascular disease risk in people with HIV with significant implications for improving medical care.

20 Jul 2010

Researchers discover genetic explanation for non-diabetic kidney disease in African-Americans

Kidney disease is a growing public health problem, with approximately half a million individuals in the United States requiring dialysis treatments to replace the function of their failed kidneys. The problem is particularly acute among African-Americans, whose rates of kidney disease are four times higher than those of European Americans.

20 Jul 2010

Abortion fight again heats up over high-risk pools, other health reform news

Anti-abortion activists have "scored a victory" after a decision last week by the Obama administration to not allow the new high-risk pools in America to cover most abortions, The Associated Press reports.

20 Jul 2010

FDA approves Mylan's ANDA for generic Catapres-TTS

Mylan Inc. today announced that its subsidiary Mylan Technologies Inc. has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Clonidine Transdermal System USP, 0.1 mg/day, 0.2 mg/day and 0.3 mg/day, the generic version of Boehringer Ingelheim's Catapres-TTS®, a treatment for hypertension.

19 Jul 2010

Over-expression of CIB1 protein triggers biochemical processes that lead to cardiac hypertrophy: Study

Scientists have identified a key molecular regulator of cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart) that may provide a therapeutic target for a major risk factor of heart failure and early death.

19 Jul 2010

Aetna awards $75,000 grant to support Judge Glenda Hatchett's ParentPowerNow! anti-obesity program

Aetna announced today it will support Judge Glenda Hatchett's ParentPowerNow! anti-obesity program. "Parent Power Now!" is an online community of people interested in working together and learning more about parenting. Aetna has awarded a $75,000 grant and will provide health content for the ParentPowerNow! website, guest speakers to address healthy living on Judge Hatchett's live website radio program, and support for health events scheduled around the country.

17 Jul 2010

VIVUS disappointed with FDA Advisory Committee's vote on QNEXA for obesity treatment

VIVUS, Inc. today announced that the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted against the following question: "Based on the current available data, do you believe the overall benefit-risk assessment of PHEN/TPM (QNEXA) is favorable to support its approval for the treatment of obesity in individuals with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 or > 27 kg/m2 with weight-related co-morbidities?" The three co-morbidities included hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.

16 Jul 2010