Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News and Research

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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).

New blood test could help predict severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that rising blood levels of a protein called hematoma derived growth factor (HDGF) are linked to the increasing severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of damaging high blood pressure in the lungs.

20 Jun 2016

Cerebral microbleeds linked to increased risk of physical, cognitive disability in MS patients

Leaky blood vessels in the brain called cerebral microbleeds are associated with an increased risk of physical and cognitive disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study by researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

17 Jun 2016

Potential non-invasive screening biomarker for SSc-PAH

Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine may be an effective non-invasive screening biomarker for systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension, study findings indicate.

16 Jun 2016

Long-term dasatinib findings support first-line use in CML

Final DASISION study findings confirm dasatinib to be an effective, long-term treatment for patients with a new diagnosis of chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukaemia.

15 Jun 2016

FDA approves novel stomach-draining device to treat obesity

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new obesity treatment device that uses a surgically-placed tube to drain a portion of the stomach contents after every meal.

15 Jun 2016

Portal vein hypertension diminishes after hepatitis C recovery

This inflammatory viral infection of the liver causes inflexible scar tissue to form. This in turn impedes blood flow through the organ, with resulting hypertension in the portal vein.

15 Jun 2016

CHD rates decrease significantly in the U.S.

Significant improvements seen across multiple sociodemographic groups, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine

15 Jun 2016

Blood pressure medications can lower stroke, heart attack risk in patients with end-stage renal disease

Two classes of blood pressure medications, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), are associated with a 16% lower risk of strokes, heart attacks and death in patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis, a new study in the journal, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, reports.

15 Jun 2016

Many Brazilians not taking advantage of health benefits of exercise

As Brazilians make final preparations to host the world's premier showcase of athleticism, the Olympics, a new paper in the Journal of the American Heart Association reports that many citizens of the host country are not taking enough advantage of the health benefits of exercise.

15 Jun 2016

Right ventricular echocardiography predicts targeted therapy outcome in PAH

Echocardiography re-assessment of right ventricular function after targeted therapy is sufficient to predict subsequent prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, say researchers.

15 Jun 2016

AASM releases recommendations to reduce sleep-related health problems in children, teenagers

For the first time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has released official consensus recommendations for the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health in children and teenagers to avoid the health risks of insufficient sleep.

14 Jun 2016

AASM release pediatric sleep recommendations

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), an organisation that supports and promotes better sleep health, has released guidelines on the number of hours of sleep that children and teenagers need to minimise sleep related health problems.

14 Jun 2016

'Hypertensive urgency' may cause unnecessary alarm

Patients with a very high blood pressure reading in the absence of other symptoms are highly unlikely to have a major adverse cardiovascular event within the next 6 months, researchers report.

14 Jun 2016

Natural tendency to self-restrict time in bed can protect against chronic insomnia

Twenty to 50 percent of Americans suffer from acute insomnia each year, defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, three or more nights per week, for between two weeks and three months.

13 Jun 2016

Consensus paper on atrial cardiomyopathies could be important step forward for research, treatment

The first consensus paper on atrial cardiomyopathies is set to be published simultaneously in EP-Europace, HeartRhythm, and the Journal of Arrhythmia. The key contents are launched today at CARDIOSTIM - EHRA EUROPACE 2016.

13 Jun 2016

Scientists identify gene linked to severe glaucoma in children

Northwestern Medicine and University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have identified a gene that causes severe glaucoma in children.

13 Jun 2016

Heart rhythm disorder may increase death risk in motor vehicle accident victims

A study in nearly three million motor vehicle accident victims has found that atrial fibrillation is associated with a higher risk of death.

13 Jun 2016

Diabetes-heart disease combination can increase death risk

The combination of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease can be deadly. New research from a global study led by a physician from UConn Health has found that patients with Type 2 diabetes admitted into the hospital for congestive heart failure face a one in four chance of dying over the next 18 months.

13 Jun 2016

New PsA-comorbidity index may help identify patients at risk of hospitalisation and premature death

The results of a study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress showed that a newly developed method of evaluating the impact of different comorbidities in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) can be used to prospectively identify those PsA patients at greater risk of hospitalisation and premature death.

10 Jun 2016

Women more likely to be hospitalised for acute ischaemic stroke than men, say researchers

A 15 year study in 1.1 million patients with atrial fibrillation has found that women are 23% more likely to be hospitalised for acute ischaemic stroke than men. The research was presented today at CARDIOSTIM - EHRA EUROPACE 2016 by Dr Ghanshyam Shantha, a cardiovascular disease fellow at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, US.

10 Jun 2016