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).

Is too much physical activity bad for the heart?

Scientists are beginning to recognize that an excess of intense physical activity may bring its own health risks.

4 Nov 2019

Higher number of live births associated with poorer cardiovascular health

Using medical record and survey data collected from more than 3,400 women, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have added to evidence that women who have given birth five or more times were more likely than those who had fewer births to have more risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, high blood pressure and inadequate physical activity.

4 Nov 2019

Study explores whether physical activity is always beneficial for the heart

Physical activity is thought to be our greatest ally in the fight against cardiovascular disease. But there may be significant variations in its protective effects across a range of different situations, such as regularly playing a sport, carrying heavy loads at work, or going for a walk with friends.

4 Nov 2019

New prenatal care approach offers the benefit of shared experience among women

A month before her baby was due, Mirian Zempualteca decided to start maternity leave early. Her belly was getting in the way of her job at a Brooklyn department store.

2 Nov 2019

New study may help better understand mechanisms that control blood pressure

Many questions remain about the mechanisms that control blood pressure, particularly in relation to hypertension.

1 Nov 2019

Physical activity can reduce risk of death among older adults

For older adults, being physically active is an important part of overall good health. In fact, experts say that nine percent of all premature deaths are caused by not getting enough physical activity. Physical activity is known to reduce deaths from heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and mental illness.

1 Nov 2019

Common early sign of cardiovascular disease associated with cancer risk

A Mayo Clinic-led study involving 488 cardiac patients whose cases were followed for up to 12 years finds that microvascular endothelial dysfunction, a common early sign of cardiovascular disease, is associated with a greater than twofold risk of cancer.

31 Oct 2019

Adults in least walkable neighborhoods more likely to have high predicted cardiovascular risk

A study led by researchers from St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto and ICES found that people living in neighborhoods considered to be the least walkable were up to 33 per cent more likely to have a high predicted 10-year cardiovascular risk compared to individuals living in the most walkable neighborhoods.

31 Oct 2019

Living through Hurricane Katrina linked to higher mortality rate among breast cancer patients

Breast cancer patients who endured Hurricane Katrina in 2005 have a 15% higher mortality rate than those patients not exposed to the storm, according to a University of Michigan researcher.

29 Oct 2019

Scientists solve first structure of human cotransporter protein KCC1

In work that could someday improve treatments for epilepsy, UT Southwestern scientists have published the first three-dimensional structure of a member of a large family of human proteins that carry charged particles – ions – across the cell membrane.

29 Oct 2019

Borderline personality disorder may contribute to heart attack among middle-aged adults

Middle-aged adults who show symptoms of borderline personality disorder may be at greater risk for a heart attack, as they show physical signs of worsening cardiovascular health more than other adults, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

28 Oct 2019

Large gap between norms and actual quality of primary care in Canadian kidney patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition commonly encountered in primary health care the world over. However, a new study published in JAMA Network on September 4, 2019, shows that the standard of primary care is quite variable.

26 Oct 2019

Bariatric surgery is safe and beneficial for teenagers with morbid obesity

Bariatric surgery is safe and, in many cases, beneficial for teenagers with morbid obesity who would otherwise face a heightened risk of developing severe health problems, including heart disease and stroke, according to a new study from Penn Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

25 Oct 2019

Parental depression may increase kids' risk for later physical health problems

When parents suffer from depression, kids may be at risk for physical health problems in young adulthood, according to a study from researchers including the University of Georgia's Katherine Ehrlich.

25 Oct 2019

Study compares safety and effectiveness of first-line antihypertensive drug classes

For those with extremely high blood pressure, or hypertension, there are many initial medication options -- so many that it can be hard to know which one to use.

25 Oct 2019

New algorithm flags cancer patients in need of advance care planning conversations

Many cancer patients do not get the opportunity to discuss their wishes for treatment until their illness has progressed too far, when it may be too late to have those discussions with loved ones or physicians.

25 Oct 2019

First-line antihypertensives may not be most effective, study shows

Thiazide diuretics demonstrate better effectiveness and cause fewer side effects than ACE inhibitors as first-line antihypertensive drugs, according to a report published Oct. 24 in The Lancet.

25 Oct 2019

New study finds gaps in treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease

Millions of Canadians living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be going without critical testing from their primary care practitioners that would give them a good idea of the severity of the disease so they could intervene earlier with more appropriate care, according to a new study.

24 Oct 2019

Study aims to learn more about silent infarction, cognitive decline linked to silent stroke

Can you have a stroke and not know it? Unfortunately, yes. It is a phenomenon called a silent stroke or, more formally, a silent cerebral infarction. Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Stanford University want to learn more about silent strokes and their role in brain health, including dementia.

24 Oct 2019

Taking blood pressure pills at bedtime best for heart

Chronopharmacology or chronotherapy deals with the effects of a drug when taken at specific time of the day. This variable response to medication is due to the 24 hour biological clock or circadian rhythm of the body say experts.

23 Oct 2019