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).

Study explores accuracy of body weight perception and obesity in Chinese Americans

Worldwide, obesity is becoming more prevalent. According to The World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, and in 2008 25% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight, and another 11% were obese. Obesity has been identified as a major source of unsustainable health costs and numerous adverse outcomes, including morbidity and mortality due to hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.

28 May 2015

Carbon monoxide may actually protect the brain from damage after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Carbon monoxide is known by many as a poisonous gas that causes brain injury and other neurological symptoms, including memory loss and confusion. But a new study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests the opposite may be true: When administered in small, carefully controlled amounts, carbon monoxide may actually protect the brain from damage following subarachnoid hemorrhage, a devastating stroke that results from bleeding in the brain.

27 May 2015

GSC introduces Change4Life health portal for Canadians

Canadians will now be rewarded for good health behaviour through Green Shield Canada's Change4Life health portal, a first in the country. The online health management site not only supports and encourages healthy behaviours, it will reward them. This marks the first time a Canadian health benefits provider will attempt to positively influence Canadian employees' health behaviour through incentives and rewards.

26 May 2015

Depression increases risk of mortality in patients with heart failure

Moderate to severe depression is associated with a 5-fold increased risk of all cause mortality in patients with heart failure, according to research presented today at Heart Failure 2015. The results from OPERA-HF show that risk was independent of comorbidities and severity of heart failure. Patients who were not depressed had an 80% lower mortality risk.

24 May 2015

RCC benefit independent of sorafenib, sunitinib sequence order

Sequential treatment with sorafenib followed by sunitinib is not superior to sunitinib followed by sorafenib in patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, suggests research published in European Urology.

21 May 2015

First-line axitinib ‘feasible’ in advanced, metastatic RCC

A Japanese single-institution study suggests that axitinib may be a feasible first-line option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

21 May 2015

Researchers use American College of Cardiology registry to improve cardiovascular care delivery in India

Despite challenges, it is feasible to collect and study the quality of outpatient cardiovascular care in a resource-limited environment like India, according to a pilot study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

20 May 2015

Zona Plus isometric handgrip device now available in Canada for patients with high blood pressure

The Zona Plus isometric handgrip device ("Zona Plus") which combines personalized technology and an easy-to-follow 12 minutes per day, five days per week routine for patients with high blood pressure is now available in Canada.

20 May 2015

Welch Allyn launches third generation Connex Spot Monitor to improve patient safety

Welch Allyn has launched its third generation Connex Spot Monitor (CSM) which marks a major advance in enhancing patient safety through technology.

20 May 2015

Study finds that nearly 35% of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome

Nearly 35 percent of all U.S. adults and 50 percent of those 60 years of age or older were estimated to have the metabolic syndrome in 2011-2012, according to a study in the May 19 issue of JAMA.

19 May 2015

CWRU's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing receives grant to study multiple chronic conditions

Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing will begin training predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers to study people with multiple chronic illnesses in hopes of discovering better methods for managing such a complex combination of illnesses.

19 May 2015

Pre-pregnancy maternal weight has significant impact on baby's immune system

Almost 60 percent of women of childbearing age in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity is a major public health issue, and has been linked to health problems like heart disease, cancer and hypertension. It can complicate pregnancy by increasing the mother's risk of having gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth or a baby with birth defects. Maternal obesity is also linked to several adverse health outcomes for the infant that can persist into adulthood, such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and mortality.

19 May 2015