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).

New Orleans residents continue to face increased risk of heart attack post-Katrina

New Orleans residents continue to face a three-fold increased risk of heart attack post-Katrina-a trend that has remained unchanged since the storm hit in 2005, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

7 Mar 2013

Salt can induce and worsen pathogenic immune system responses in mice

For the past few decades, health officials have been reporting increases in the incidence of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Now researchers at Yale School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute have identified a prime suspect in the mystery - dietary salt.

7 Mar 2013

UK’s health performance declining compared with 14 EU countries over past 20 years

Six decades of universal free health care, the introduction of widespread public health initiatives (eg, tobacco control, cancer screening, and immunisation), and substantial increases in health expenditure have failed to improve the UK’s health outcomes or longevity ranking against the average of 14 other original members of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Norway, and the USA (EU15+) over the past 20 years.

6 Mar 2013

Women with pre-pregnancy BMI of 40 have increased risk of C-section

Researchers from Norway found that women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 40 had an increased risk of vacuum extraction delivery or Cesarean section (C-section).

6 Mar 2013

Obesity may alter sleep apnea treatment outcome

Obesity may be a factor in determining the success or failure of treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, report researchers.

5 Mar 2013

Anti-metabolic syndrome efforts needed for young ALL survivors

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at risk for developing the metabolic syndrome during maintenance therapy, suggest study findings.

5 Mar 2013

Mirabegron reduces frequency of incontinence episodes in phase III trial

In a new phase III trial mirabegron, a β3-adrenoceptor agonist, given once daily for 12 weeks, reduced the frequency of incontinence episodes and number of daily urinations, and improved urgency and nocturia in adults with overactive bladder compared to those in a placebo group.

5 Mar 2013

GP consultations: an interview with Associate Professor Helena Britt, University of Sydney

Well it hasn’t varied at all over the last 15 years, which I find pretty amazing because we’ve been through a lot of changes in general practice. Yet, the average length of consultation, as measured from a start to finish time, in a sample of 40,000 consultations in Australia in a year, shows that the average is 15 minutes and the median is 13 minutes.

4 Mar 2013

Registration open for Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting

Online meeting registration is open for the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting April 13 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

1 Mar 2013

Bipolar disorder associated with increased hypertension risk

Taiwanese individuals with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk for hypertension when compared with the general population, research shows.

28 Feb 2013

Heart-healthy habits at young age can help prevent future cardiovascular disease

Adults are not the only ones who should focus on good heart health. One University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) primary care physician said starting heart-healthy habits at a young age can help build a future free from cardiovascular disease.

27 Feb 2013

Research roundup: Patients hesitant to focus on costs; Increase in primary care demand is uneven

One way to contain health care spending is to get patients involved in weighing costs of treatment options with their doctors. Researchers recruited 211 medically insured participants to assess their willingness to consider costs when choosing treatments. The authors found that participants generally "preferred better care, even when the relative benefit it offered was marginal, and even when told that the second-best choice still met the threshold of 'good enough' care from a clinician's perspective.

26 Feb 2013

Henry Ford Hospital scientists to research into hypertension and tissue and organ damage

A senior staff scientist and his team at Henry Ford Hospital have been awarded a five-year, $12.4 million grant by the National Institutes of Health for their research into the damaging effects of high blood pressure on various organs in the body.

26 Feb 2013

CT angiography uncovers cardiovascular disease risk

Computed tomography angiography can warn of the likelihood for major adverse cardiovascular events in patients suspected of having coronary artery disease in the absence of medically modifiable risk factors, research shows.

25 Feb 2013

CHADS scores possibilities extend beyond atrial fibrillation

The CHADS-based risk scores can predict long-term vascular outcomes and mortality in patients with stroke who do not have atrial fibrillation, research suggests.

25 Feb 2013

Heightened stroke risk for patients with sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation may play an intermediary role in the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and stroke, research findings suggest.

25 Feb 2013

States continue mulling Medicaid expansion's costs and benefits

After conducting a review of the two choices California officials are considering for optional Medi-Cal expansion, the state Legislative Analyst's Office yesterday strongly recommended the state-based option, rather than a county-based plan.

21 Feb 2013

Sucampo launches RESCULA Eye Drops in the U.S.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that RESCULA Eye Drops had been launched in the U.S. market.

21 Feb 2013

Heart OMics in AGEing project receives European Commission grant

The HOMAGE (Heart OMics in AGEing) project, coordinated by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), has been awarded a grant by the European Commission for a 6 year period.

20 Feb 2013

Sucampo's RESCULA 0.15% now available by prescription across the U.S.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that RESCULA (unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution) 0.15% is now available by prescription across the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a sNDA for RESCULA for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on December 7, 2012.

19 Feb 2013