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).

Single-incision laparoscopy reduces postoperative complications

Surgeons at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report what is believed to be the nation's first single-incision laparoscopy to perform a combined colectomy and kidney-preserving therapy.

26 Mar 2010

AVASTIN receives Health Canada approval for patients with GBM

Roche Canada announced today that Health Canada has approved AVASTIN(R) (bevacizumab), as a single agent, for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumour, after relapse or disease progression, following prior therapy.

26 Mar 2010

Medicare Roundup: Changes from health reform, payments for HIV patients

USA Today: "Perhaps the biggest factor in whether your Medicare costs will rise or fall depends on your Medicare plan. There are two: a traditional Medicare plan run by the federal government and Medicare Advantage, which is run by private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage costs more than the traditional plan, but provides more generous benefits.

26 Mar 2010

Animal study shows chymase inhibitors could advance treatments for high BP and heart failure

Millions of patients with high blood pressure and heart failure take a class of drugs known as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors. These drugs prevent the body from processing angiotensin II, a hormone that constricts blood vessels.

26 Mar 2010

Children with severe food allergic reactions need two doses of epinephrine

In a large six-year review of emergency department (ED) data, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, found that many children with severe food-related allergic reactions need a second dose of epinephrine, suggesting that patients carrying EpiPens should carry two doses instead of one.

25 Mar 2010

American Association of Poison Control Centers: K2 herbal marijuana substitute spurred poison calls

K2, an herbal marijuana substitute also known as "spice," is a blend of herbs sprayed with a synthetic marijuana-like drug, and has spurred at least 112 calls to U.S. poison centers since 2009, including 59 calls since March 1, 2010.

25 Mar 2010

NHS needs to gear up in terms of productivity, say statisticians

In an alarming new revelation, the productivity of National Health Service NHS, has dropped steadily from 2001 by 0.4% each year and a total of 3%. 2008 has seen the largest fall, 0.7% according to the Office for National Statistics, ONS.

25 Mar 2010

Canadian Diabetes Association launches new tools to help optimize diabetes care

Today the Canadian Diabetes Association launched new tools for people living with diabetes and healthcare practitioners to help optimize diabetes care across the country.

25 Mar 2010

Expert testimony in trial of Dr Patel

Dr Jayant Patel’s manslaughter trial in the supreme court of Brisbane saw Dr Nigel Chikolwa give testimony about the deteriorating condition of Mr Morris after surgery. Dr Chikolwa was the principal house officer at Bundaberg hospital, where Dr Patel had performed the surgery in 2003.

25 Mar 2010

Research finds inverse association between supine systolic BP and acute chest pain

New research finds that there is an inverse association between the level of supine (lying face up) systolic blood pressure measured on admission to an intensive care unit for acute chest pain and risk of death at one year, with those patients having high systolic blood pressure having a better prognosis after a year, according to a study in the March 24/31 issue of JAMA.

24 Mar 2010

High blood pressure lowers heart patients' death risk

Patients admitted to intensive heart care with chest pains have a better chance of surviving if they have high blood pressure. This is shown in a study by scientists at Linköping University in Sweden published in the world's largest medical journal JAMA.

24 Mar 2010

Majority of Pennsylvania women do not seek treatments for chronic pain

Results of a statewide pain survey revealed that chronic pain is widespread among Pennsylvania women but often left untreated.

24 Mar 2010

Protein deficiency in Down syndrome patients could contribute to cognitive impairment and congenital heart defects

Conventional wisdom among scientists for years has suggested that because individuals with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome, the disorder most likely results from the presence of too many genes or proteins contained in that additional structure.

24 Mar 2010

Children with neurofibromatosis more likely to have cardiovascular problems

Researchers have discovered how a genetic disease known mainly for its life-threatening tumors also can cause sudden death from cardiovascular disease in children, and are mounting a clinical trial to develop treatments for the problem.

24 Mar 2010

Age and gender play a major role in how people respond to stress

Age and gender play a major role in how people respond to stress, according to a new study on 20-to-64-year-olds. Published in the journal Psychophysiology, the investigation was led by scientists from the Universit- de Montr-al and the Montreal Heart Institute in collaboration with colleagues from the Universit- du Qu-bec - Montr-al and McGill University.

23 Mar 2010

Itamar Medical's EndoPAT systems in use around the world to diagnose cardiovascular disease

At the 2010 ACC conference held in Atlanta, GA, six new studies based on the PAT™ (Peripheral Arterial Tone) signal focused on assessing cardiovascular risk by measuring and improving endothelial health. Of those, two studies from Japan focused on assessing cardiovascular risk in both high and low risk patient populations.

23 Mar 2010

Researchers investigate link between consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and obesity

A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

23 Mar 2010

Treating RNA segment in wounds may increase protein levels for growth of skin cells

Scientists have determined that chronic wounds might have trouble healing because of the actions of a tiny piece of a molecular structure in cells known as RNA.

23 Mar 2010

Adrenal fatigue: Vitamins, supplements may do more harm than good

Taking vitamins or supplements to treat “adrenal fatigue” may do more harm than good, says Todd Nippoldt, M.D., a Mayo Clinic expert in hormone disorders affecting the adrenal glands.

23 Mar 2010

Study: Four risk factors estimated to reduce life expectancy in the U.S.

A study published this week in PLoS Medicine finds that four risk factors - smoking, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity - explain a substantial amount of the disparity in life expectancy amongst the "Eight Americas", which are groups of the US population that can be defined by race, and location and socioeconomic features of counties they live in.

23 Mar 2010