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).

Do cocoa flavanols influence heart and fatty liver risk factors?

A recent Nutrients review examined whether cocoa-rich dark chocolate influences cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease risk factors through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial effects. Evidence suggests modest improvements in biomarkers, but most data come from short-term studies, so definitive clinical benefits remain unproven.

16 Feb 2026

Big breakfast study reveals protein curbs appetite but fiber delivers stronger gut microbiome benefits

A randomized crossover weight loss trial in adults with overweight or obesity found that higher protein big breakfasts improved satiety, while higher fibre breakfasts produced slightly greater weight loss and more favourable gut microbiota markers. Both diets improved metabolic biomarkers, but microbiota changes reflected surrogate gut health indicators rather than direct clinical outcomes.

15 Feb 2026

Ozempic users continue treatment when weight loss works despite side effects

A study on Ozempic for weight loss reveals user satisfaction is driven by efficacy, despite common gastrointestinal side effects impacting treatment adherence.

13 Feb 2026

Lay health workers improve blood pressure control in rural Africa

In rural regions of Africa, high blood pressure often goes untreated because health centers are far away and there is a shortage of health professionals.

12 Feb 2026

Aligning overnight fasting with sleep improves heart health

A new Northwestern Medicine study has personalized overnight fasting by aligning it with individuals' circadian sleep-wake rhythm - an important regulator of cardiovascular and metabolic function - without changing their caloric intake.

12 Feb 2026

Alabama’s ‘pretty cool’ plan for robots in maternity care sparks debate

It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but Alabama officials' plan to use robots to improve care for rural pregnant women and their babies is real.

12 Feb 2026

Alignment-free knitted sleeve for comprehensive cardiovascular monitoring

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading global cause of mortality, claiming nearly 18 million lives each year.

12 Feb 2026

Can hot baths lower high blood pressure?

A review highlights hot water immersion's potential in lowering blood pressure, emphasizing it as an adjunct therapy alongside traditional treatments.

12 Feb 2026

Early heart disease risk factors identified in South Asian adults in the U.S.

South Asian adults in the U. S. were more likely to have risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) by age 45 when compared to white, Black, Chinese or Hispanic adults in the same age group, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Feb 2026

Semaglutide lowers cardiovascular events even without major weight loss, researchers report

Semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease regardless of baseline adiposity. Cardiovascular benefit was largely independent of overall weight loss, with waist circumference reduction explaining only part of the effect.

11 Feb 2026

Routine aspirin therapy associated with lower rate of developing severe preeclampsia

Prescribing daily aspirin at the first prenatal visit to all pregnant patients was associated with an overall reduction in the development of severe preeclampsia, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

11 Feb 2026

South Asian adults in the U.S. have higher prevalence of risk factors for heart disease

South Asian adults in the U.S. report doing many of the right things for heart health, yet they show significantly higher rates of prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension than white and Chinese adults, and higher than or roughly similar rates to Black and Hispanic patients, according to a new study led by Northwestern Medicine.

11 Feb 2026

New Medicaid work rules likely to hit middle-aged adults hard

Lori Kelley's deteriorating vision has made it hard for her to find steady work.

11 Feb 2026

End of enhanced Obamacare subsidies puts tribal health lifeline at risk

Leonard Bighorn said his mother tried for two years to get help for severe stomach pain through the limited health services available near her home on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana.

11 Feb 2026

Review links betel nut addiction to cancer, heart disease, and metabolic risks

This review examines the epidemiology, health risks, neurobiological mechanisms, and emerging treatments related to betel nut addiction worldwide. It highlights strong links with oral cancer, cardiometabolic disease, and addiction pathways while noting limited established therapies and the need for coordinated public health strategies.

11 Feb 2026

Eating fewer foods of concern may protect the heart beyond pills

A prospective cohort study in adults with hypertension and or hypercholesterolemia found that lower intake of ultra processed foods or foods flagged by front of pack nutrition warnings was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. These associations persisted regardless of cardioprotective medication use, suggesting dietary quality contributes independently to cardiovascular prevention.

10 Feb 2026

Type 2 diabetes and hypertension share a genetic link, study shows

Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure share a genetic link, new research from the University of Surrey, UK and the Université de Lille, France shows.

10 Feb 2026

Mindfulness enables unsedated endoscopy with higher patient satisfaction

A new study has shown that mindfulness helps patients to relax during an endoscopy, allowing doctors to carry out detailed examinations without the need for sedation or general anesthesia.

10 Feb 2026

Football finals push devoted fans’ bodies into overdrive

The study examines football fever, highlighting how emotional engagement elevates heart rates and stress levels in devoted fans during matches.

10 Feb 2026

Tirzepatide shows dual benefits in sleep apnea trial improving metabolism and reducing inflammation

Tirzepatide significantly improved cardiometabolic risk markers in adults with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the SURMOUNT-OSA phase 3 trials. Mediation analyses suggest both weight loss and reduced sleep-disordered breathing contributed to improvements in inflammation, insulin resistance, lipids, and blood pressure.

9 Feb 2026