Blood pressure Archives

High blood pressure linked to cognitive functioning

High blood pressure may make it difficult for the elderly to think clearly – Adding another reason for people to watch their blood pressure, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that increased blood pressure in older adults is directly related to decreased cognitive functioning, particularly among seniors with already high blood pressure. This means that stressful situations may make it more difficult for some seniors to think clearly.

High blood pressure in doctor’s clinic may not predict heart risks

High blood pressure in the doctor’s clinic may not predict heart risks. Round-the-clock blood pressure measurements, especially those during the night, are better predictors of major cardiovascular problems. – Continuously measuring blood pressure may help predict heart disease and related deaths among individuals with treatment-resistant hypertension, while blood pressure readings taken in a medical clinic do not appear to predict future heart risks, according to a report in November 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Children of centenarians live longer with no heart disease, stroke, diabetes

Centenarian offspring retain important cardiovascular advantages from their parents compared to a similarly-aged. – A recent study appearing in the November issue of Journal of American Geriatrics Society revealed that centenarian offspring (children of parents who lived to be at least 97 years old) retain important cardiovascular advantages from their parents compared to a similarly-aged cohort.

Obese women may have safe pregnancy after weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery – bariatric surgery – may help obese women avoid pregnancy related health complications. – Obese women who have weight loss surgery before becoming pregnant have a lower risk of pregnancy-related health problems and their children are less likely to be born with complications, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Genetic screening for diabetes not helpful

Genetic screening no better than traditional risk factors for predicting type 2 diabetes, Value of screening may improve as more risk genes identified. – Screening for a panel of gene variants associated with the risk for type 2 diabetes can identify adults at risk for the disorder but is not significantly better than assessment based on traditional risk factors such as weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Single PILL may prevent heart disease

Auckland participants wanted for polypill trial – A new clinical trial looking at a single pill to prevent cardiovascular disease is starting in Auckland, New Zealand.

Heart may help power pacemakers, defibrillators in heart patients

Heart’s surplus energy may help power pacemakers and defibrillators implanted in cardiac patients. – Surplus energy generated by the heart may one day help power pacemakers and defibrillators implanted in cardiac patients, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2008.

Hydrogen sulfide regulates blood pressure

Researchers discover hydrogen sulfide – a gas generated by bacteria living in the human colon – is a major regulator of blood pressure. – Anyone with a nose knows the rotten-egg odor of hydrogen sulfide, a gas generated by bacteria living in the human colon. Now an international team of scientists has discovered that cells inside the blood vessels of mice – as well as in people, no doubt – naturally make the gassy stuff, and that it controls blood pressure.

Decade of change in general practice in Australia

Australia’S GPs are older, more likely to be female and write fewer prescriptions than they did a decade ago. – It’s not only the patients in GP surgeries who are getting older, according to two new reports released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian General Practice Statistics and Classification Centre, an AIHW collaborating unit located at the University of Sydney.

Audio relaxation program may help lower blood pressure

Study highlights an audio-guided relaxation CD with background sounds of ocean waves and a calming voice may lower blood pressure in elderly people. – An audio relaxation program lowered blood pressure more than a Mozart sonata in a group of elderly people with high blood pressure, researchers reported at the American Heart Association’s 62nd Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Avoid grapefruit juices when taking certain drugs

Drinking grapefruit juice, orange and apple juices with certain drugs could lower their effectiveness by decreasing the absorption of drugs, potentially wiping out their beneficial effects. – Grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, decrease the absorption of drugs, potentially wiping out their beneficial effects.

Some obese individuals appear healthy without heart risk

Some obese individuals do not appear to have an increased risk for heart disease, while some normal-weight individuals experience a cluster of heart risks. – Some obese individuals do not appear to have an increased risk for heart disease, while some normal-weight individuals experience a cluster of heart risks, according to two reports in the August 11/25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.