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).

Combined, heart disease and stroke account for over 50% of all deaths among Los Angeles County women

The Los Angeles County Office of Women’s Health and the American Heart Association have launched a joint heart-health education and stroke prevention program targeting low-income women. Combined, heart disease and stroke account for over 50% of all deaths among Los Angeles County women.

23 Jul 2004

New remote home care monitoring system

People who suffer from chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and heart problems should benefit from a new remote, home care monitoring system that could also bring an end to overcrowded waiting rooms.

22 Jul 2004

Call for measures to counter under-diagnosis of angina

There is a glaring need for better objective guidance for GPs in the diagnosis and management of chest pain, according to a multi-disciplinary working group of the Angina Forum. The group agreed that a worrying over-dependence on subjective judgment by GPs in identifying suspected angina patients means that many cases may go undiagnosed.

22 Jul 2004

Trial sparks debate over treatment of diabetic hypertensives

A major new international study published in the Journal of Hypertension has challenged traditional thinking by revealing that the thiazide-like diuretic indapamide SR (Natrilix SR) has equivalent efficacy to enalapril in reducing microalbuminuria (MA) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

22 Jul 2004

Teen birth rate hits record low and prevalence of overweight among children has increased

The well-being of America's children has shown strong gains in some areas but has declined in others, according to a yearly report by federal agencies compiling statistics on children.

16 Jul 2004

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

A new evidence-based guideline for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) cautions the use of calcium channel blockers, a commonly used treatment for high blood pressure, in unstable patients due to the potentially fatal side effects associated with the medication.

13 Jul 2004

First successful gene therapy that mimics the action of calcium channel blockers

Their findings - published in the latest edition of Circulation Research, online July 8 - may lead to a gene therapy alternative to calcium channel blockers and their sometimes severe side effects, but also further interest in the development of gene therapies unique - as in this case - to one particular organ.

10 Jul 2004

Heavy drinking during teenage years begins taking a serious health toll by the time people are 24 years old

A University of Washington study has found that people who began binge drinking at age 13 and continued throughout adolescence were nearly four times as likely to be overweight or obese and almost 3½ times as likely to have high blood pressure when they were 24 years old

9 Jul 2004

Mediterranean diet lowers levels of markers for inflammation and coagulation which have been linked to heart disease

“The benefits of this diet are very well known, but the mechanism is not well understood. We believe this is the first time it has been reported that the potential mechanism goes through the inflammation process,” said Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, MSc, PhD with Harokopio University in Athens, Greece.

7 Jul 2004

Pfizer focuses on enabling America's 43 million uninsured to obtain medicines at significant savings

Pfizer Inc said today it will launch the pharmaceutical industry's most comprehensive initiative to significantly expand access to prescription medicines across the United States, with a specific focus on enabling America's 43 million uninsured to obtain Pfizer medicines at significant savings.

7 Jul 2004

Rabies infections in organ donor and transplant recipients

On June 30, 2004, CDC confirmed diagnoses of rabies in three recipients of transplanted organs and in their common donor, who was found subsequently to have serologic evidence of rabies infection.

2 Jul 2004

Red and processed meats, sweets and desserts may increase risk of stroke

“Western” diets consisting of red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets and desserts may be associated with a greater risk of stroke

2 Jul 2004

Exercise found to be equally effective as diuretics in preventing high blood pressure and an enlarged heart

Only recently was a type of diuretic known as thiazides been found to be superior to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists (calcium channel blockers) in preventing one or more major types of cardiovascular disease.

30 Jun 2004

Geneticists have closed in on the genetic basis for risk factors of metabolic diseases

Oxford geneticists have closed in on the genetic basis for risk factors of metabolic diseases such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

30 Jun 2004

Chemotherapy agents as well as the newest biologic and targeted cancer therapy drugs, can harm a patient’s heart

Cancer treatments, including the most commonly used chemotherapy agents as well as the newest biologic and targeted therapy drugs, can harm a patient’s heart, sometimes fatally

29 Jun 2004

Nearly 50 million U.S. adults have hypertension, more than two-thirds of them also have high cholesterol

People who have high blood pressure are highly likely to also have untreated or insufficiently treated cholesterol problems that significantly increase their risk for heart attack and stroke

29 Jun 2004

Blood hormone may be key to appetite suppression and obesity control

How the body naturally regulates appetite through the presence of a blood hormone may offer the prospect of a safer and more effective method of weight control, according to Dr. Leonard Firestone of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals.

28 Jun 2004

50,000 people in the U.S. with cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or hepatitis C will be eligible for a Medicare drug lottery

50,000 people or 10% of the 500,000 people in the U.S with cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or hepatitis C will be eligible for a Medicare drug lottery for coverage of life saving drugs.

26 Jun 2004

Tommy G. Thompson has announced a new Medicare program that will save seniors and the disabled substantial money

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced a new Medicare demonstration program that will save seniors and persons with disabilities substantial money

24 Jun 2004

Genes account for approximately 30 percent of longevity in humans

Current research indicates that genes account for approximately 30 percent of longevity in humans which means that healthy habits play a large role in determining lifespan but good genes do help and the question now is how

23 Jun 2004

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News and Research

Further Reading

Combined, heart disease and stroke account for over 50% of all deaths among Los Angeles County women

New remote home care monitoring system

Call for measures to counter under-diagnosis of angina

Trial sparks debate over treatment of diabetic hypertensives

Teen birth rate hits record low and prevalence of overweight among children has increased

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

First successful gene therapy that mimics the action of calcium channel blockers

Heavy drinking during teenage years begins taking a serious health toll by the time people are 24 years old

Mediterranean diet lowers levels of markers for inflammation and coagulation which have been linked to heart disease

Pfizer focuses on enabling America's 43 million uninsured to obtain medicines at significant savings

Rabies infections in organ donor and transplant recipients

Red and processed meats, sweets and desserts may increase risk of stroke

Exercise found to be equally effective as diuretics in preventing high blood pressure and an enlarged heart

Geneticists have closed in on the genetic basis for risk factors of metabolic diseases

Chemotherapy agents as well as the newest biologic and targeted cancer therapy drugs, can harm a patient’s heart

Nearly 50 million U.S. adults have hypertension, more than two-thirds of them also have high cholesterol

Blood hormone may be key to appetite suppression and obesity control

50,000 people in the U.S. with cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or hepatitis C will be eligible for a Medicare drug lottery

Tommy G. Thompson has announced a new Medicare program that will save seniors and the disabled substantial money

Genes account for approximately 30 percent of longevity in humans

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News