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).

JNC 8 blood pressure target for elderly queried

The systolic blood pressure of elderly people should be kept below 140 mmHg, say researchers who dispute the eighth Joint National Committee guidelines.

28 May 2014

Study suggests healthcare professionals must be alert to rarer, severe causes of headaches during pregnancy

Most headaches in pregnancy and the postnatal period are benign, but healthcare professionals must be alert to the rarer and more severe causes of headaches, suggests a new review published today (23 May) in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG).

23 May 2014

Despite worsening economic conditions, infant health improves among poor Americans

Despite worsening economic conditions for those at the bottom, infant health has steadily improved among the most disadvantaged Americans, according to a review published in Science by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

23 May 2014

St. Jude Medical's EnligHTN renal denervation system safe, effective for treating drug-resistant hypertension

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced preliminary results from the EnligHTN III study, which found the company's second-generation EnligHTN™ renal denervation system provided safe and effective therapy for patients with drug-resistant, uncontrolled hypertension six months post-procedure. The results were presented during a hot line late-breaking clinical trial session at EuroPCR 2014.

22 May 2014

Professor receives grant to study stress-induced hypertension, its effects on neuroimmune system

Paul Marvar, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and physiology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, was awarded a $721,435 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study stress-induced hypertension and its effects on the neuroimmune system.

22 May 2014

Online educational game among medical professionals can improve health measures of patients

Primary care providers who engaged in an online game to solve clinical cases about hypertension management improved blood pressure control of their patients in a shorter amount of time compared to non-gamers, according to a new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System.

21 May 2014

Physical activity may be able to prevent overweight women from developing heart disease

For otherwise healthy middle-aged women who are overweight or obese, physical activity may be their best option for avoiding heart disease, according to a study that followed nearly 900 women for seven years.

21 May 2014

Novel drug for patients with inoperable CTEPH shows improvement in international trial

After a year of being treated with a novel drug, patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and those with persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension after an operation for the disease showed sustained improvement in a multicenter, international trial presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

20 May 2014

Highlights: Nurse practitioners fight for autonomy in Texas; Ohio physician assistant prescriptions; drug options in Colo.

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Connecticut and Kansas.

20 May 2014

Biovision provides list of businesses, projects selected for Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions

Biovision, the annual forum on future-oriented research in life sciences, today announces the list of biotech and medtech companies and projects selected for the Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions. Awards will be presented during the closing ceremony.

20 May 2014

Higher BMI linked with reduced mortality risk in patients with pulmonary hypertension

In patients with congestive heart failure, obesity and a larger waist size have paradoxically been associated with a better prognosis in the prior investigations. This effect, known as the obesity paradox phenomenon, is now being demonstrated in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

20 May 2014

Metabolic syndrome linked to BP variability

Blood pressure variability is increased in patients with the metabolic syndrome, shows an analysis of NHANES III data.

19 May 2014

Renal dysfunction affects NT-proBNP predictive thresholds in pulmonary hypertension

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide remains a valid predictor in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who have concomitant renal dysfunction, say researchers.

19 May 2014

New global project aims to improve treatment and control of hypertension worldwide

It's estimated that more than 970 million people have hypertension and, globally, the disease is responsible for more than nine million deaths every year, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

19 May 2014

Patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease may benefit from PTE

Patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease may benefit from pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), even if the patients don't have severe pulmonary hypertension, according to University of California, San Diego, researchers.

19 May 2014

First Edition: May 16, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Indiana governor's alternative plan to expand Medicaid. Kaiser Health News staff writer Sarah Varney, working in collaboration with PBS Newshour, reports: "Men and women involved in the criminal justice system are more likely to be sicker than the general population, with higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, depression, mood disorders and alcohol and drug addiction.

16 May 2014

Sleep-breathing disorder diminishes activity among neurons responsible for keeping heart rate low

Sufferers of a common sleep-breathing disorder have diminished activity among neurons responsible for keeping heart rate low, reveals a new study published today [16 May] in The Journal of Physiology.

16 May 2014

Researchers recommend greater emphasis on cardiology in HIV treatment and research

Even if treated, hypertension and high cholesterol are increasingly common for people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to a new study from researchers at Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt hospitals in New York and the University of California, Davis.

15 May 2014

Free access to fitness center is not well utilized by low income community

Eliminating financial barriers to a fitness center as well as providing physician support, a pleasant environment and trained fitness staff did not result in widespread membership activation or consistent attendance among low income, multi-ethnic women with chronic disease risk factors or diagnoses according to a new study from Boston University School of Medicine.

15 May 2014

Global scientists to discuss latest findings on diagnosis, causes and treatments of ASD

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), a scientific and professional organization devoted to advancing knowledge about autism spectrum disorders, convened more than 1700 researchers, delegates, autism specialists and students from 40 countries for the 13th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), the world's largest scientific gathering on autism research, from May 15 through May 17 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.

15 May 2014

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) News and Research

Further Reading

JNC 8 blood pressure target for elderly queried

Study suggests healthcare professionals must be alert to rarer, severe causes of headaches during pregnancy

Despite worsening economic conditions, infant health improves among poor Americans

St. Jude Medical's EnligHTN renal denervation system safe, effective for treating drug-resistant hypertension

Professor receives grant to study stress-induced hypertension, its effects on neuroimmune system

Online educational game among medical professionals can improve health measures of patients

Physical activity may be able to prevent overweight women from developing heart disease

Novel drug for patients with inoperable CTEPH shows improvement in international trial

Highlights: Nurse practitioners fight for autonomy in Texas; Ohio physician assistant prescriptions; drug options in Colo.

Biovision provides list of businesses, projects selected for Investor Conference and Catalyzer sessions

Higher BMI linked with reduced mortality risk in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Metabolic syndrome linked to BP variability

Renal dysfunction affects NT-proBNP predictive thresholds in pulmonary hypertension

New global project aims to improve treatment and control of hypertension worldwide

Patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolic disease may benefit from PTE

First Edition: May 16, 2014

Sleep-breathing disorder diminishes activity among neurons responsible for keeping heart rate low

Researchers recommend greater emphasis on cardiology in HIV treatment and research

Free access to fitness center is not well utilized by low income community

Global scientists to discuss latest findings on diagnosis, causes and treatments of ASD

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

Exploring the G:Box and for high-quality imaging

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