Hypertension – Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Hypertension may have no known cause (essential or idiopathic hypertension) or be associated with other primary diseases (secondary hypertension). This condition is considered a risk factor for the development of heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and kidney disease.
UF researcher urges caution in reducing blood pressure in patients with diabetes, coronary disease – New study revealed that there is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for patients having blood pressure either too high or too low. Systolic blood pressure above 120 in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease is safer. Levels between 130 and 140 appear to be the most healthful.
IOM report declares high blood pressure a neglected disease — Calls for strategies to change Americans’ lifestyles and diets to curb hypertension – Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans’ increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition.
Low-carb diet effective at lowering blood pressure – In a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat.
Noisy roads increase risk of high blood pressure – People exposed to high levels of noise from nearby roads are more likely to report suffering from hypertension, revealed by researchers in BioMed Central’s journal Environmental Health.
High blood pressure linked to memory problems in middle age – High blood pressure is linked to memory problems in people over 45, according to research published in the August 25, 2009, print issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Researchers uncover genetic variants linked to blood pressure in African-Americans — Findings may point to new avenues for treatment, prevention. – Five genetic variants related to blood pressure — hypertension — in African-Americans, revealed by a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health, USA.
Component of vegetable protein glutamic acid may be linked to lower blood pressure in hypertension. – Consuming glutamic acid – an amino acid commonly found in vegetable protein – may be associated with lower blood pressure, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Reduced sleep duration and consolidation predicted higher BP levels and adverse changes in BP, suggesting the need for studies to investigate whether interventions to optimize sleep may reduce BP. – Middle-aged adults who sleep fewer hours appear more likely to have high blood pressure and to experience adverse changes in blood pressure over time, according to a report in the June 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
High blood pressure patients with related and non-related co-existing medical conditions were more likely to receive overall good quality care . – Contrary to some previous indications, sicker high blood pressure patients are more likely to receive high-quality care than those with fewer medical needs, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Study indicates that a common virus could cause high blood pressure – Cytomegalovirus affects majority of adults worldwide. – A new study suggests for the first time that cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common viral infection affecting between 60 and 99 percent of adults worldwide, is a cause of high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
An automated system that regularly contacts hypertension patients helps them to reduce their high blood pressure. – A simple, automated feedback system made hypertension patients more aware of their potentially fatal or disabling disease and helped them significantly lower their high blood pressure, according to a report published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Chronic insomnia with short sleep duration is a significant risk factor for hypertension. Findings suggest that chronic insomnia is a major public health concern, and its diagnosis and appropriate treatment should become the target of public health policy. – Chronic insomnia with objectively measured short sleep time is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension.
