No evidence that vitamin D protects against high blood pressure in pregnancy

BMJ: There is no strong evidence that vitamin D protects against pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (hypertension) or pre-eclampsia, conclude researchers in The BMJ  today. The findings support current World Health Organization guidance that evidence recommending vitamin D supplements for women during pregnancy to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes is insufficient. However, in many countries, including the UK and the US, pregnant women are advised to take a daily dose of vitamin D.

Changing how blood pressure is measured will save lives

London: Traditional methods of testing for high-blood pressure are no longer adequate and risk missing vital health signs, which can lead to premature death, a study co-led by UCL has found. The research, the largest ever cohort study of its kind, published in the New England Journal for Medicine, assessed 63,000 doctors’ patients, who had their blood pressure tested using traditional ‘in clinic’ methods, such as an automated or hand operated devices. Separately, the same patients, were also measured using a pocket-sized ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device, which records blood pressure regularly across a 24 hour period. This device is worn at home and takes measurements every 20 to 30 mins.  

Elevated blood pressure before pregnancy may increase chance of pregnancy loss

NIH: Elevated blood pressure before conception may increase the chances for pregnancy loss, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The authors conclude that lifestyle changes to keep blood pressure under control could potentially reduce the risk of loss. The study appears in Hypertension. The analysis found that for every 10 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart is resting between beats), there was an 18-percent-higher risk for pregnancy loss among the study population. Millimeter of mercury, or mmHg, is the unit of measure used for blood pressure. The researchers also found a 17 percent increase in pregnancy loss for every 10 mmHg increase in mean arterial pressure, a measure of the average pressure in the arteries during full heart beat cycles. The study was conducted by researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Hypertension: the silent killer

Maastricht: Many patients can have long-term high blood pressure without realising it, which can cause irreparable damage to blood vessels and organs. That's what makes early detection and targeted and effective treatment so important. In his inaugural lecture in acceptance of the chair in Vascular Damage in Hypertension, professor and vascular medicine specialist Bram Kroon of Maastricht University Medical Centre+ refers to the many aspects of diagnosing, treating, and evaluating high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood against the walls of blood vessels and arteries. When that pressure is too high, it is referred to as hypertension. And when hypertension persists for long periods of time, it can damage vascular walls, which can in turn reduce blood flow to organs and ultimately lead to organ failure.

Heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes may combine to worsen thinking skills

Glasgow: Research from the University of Glasgow shows that people who have a cardiometabolic disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or coronary heart disease (CHD), perform worse on mental tests of reasoning, memory and reaction time, and having more than one of these conditions has an even greater effect.The study, published today in the European Heart Journal, and led by researchers from the University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, suggests that preventing or delaying cardiovascular disease or diabetes may delay cognitive decline and possible dementia.

Global high blood pressure rates double in 40 years

Scimex: In the past 40 years, there has been a large increase in the number of people living with high blood pressure worldwide because of population growth and ageing—rising from 594 million in 1975 to over 1.1 billion in 2015. The largest rise in the prevalence of adults with high blood pressure has been in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in south Asia (eg, Bangladesh and Nepal) and sub-Saharan Africa (eg, Ethiopia and Malawi). But high-income countries (eg, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Japan) have made impressive reductions in the prevalence of adults with high blood pressure, according to the most comprehensive analysis of worldwide trends in blood pressure to date, published in The Lancet.

Treating hypertension in pregnancy: What’s the best way?

GroupHealth: A study by Dr. Sascha Dublin uses data from pregnant women’s experiences to find out the risks and benefits of taking high blood pressure medicine. Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects approximately 300,000 pregnant women in the United States each year, but doctors have little clinical evidence to guide treatment decisions—including whether to prescribe medications and if so, which ones. Group Health Research Institute associate investigator and Group Health physician Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD, is working to change that. With colleagues from the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente, she is leading one of the largest studies ever of the impact of hypertension medications on maternal and fetal health, including looking at differences by race/ethnicity and obesity status.

study finds acupuncture lowers hypertension by activating opioids

UCI: Researchers with UCI’s Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine have found that regular electroacupunture treatments can lower hypertension by increasing the release of a kind of opioid in the brainstem region that controls blood pressure. In tests on rats, UCI cardiology researcher Zhi-Ling Guo and colleagues noted that reduced blood pressure lasted for at least three days after electroacupuncture boosted the gene expression of enkephalins, one of the three major opioid peptides produced by the body.

Soon a therapeutic vaccine for hypertension?

Osaka: A research team from Osaka University, with the aim of developing a therapeutic vaccine for hypertension, have successfully developed a DNA vaccine which targets Angiotensin II, a molecule which has been shown to increase blood pressure. Recently, there has been clinical testing overseas to treat hypertension through the use of vaccines targeting Angiotensin II, but the effects only lasted for a few weeks. However, the vaccine developed from this research, when given to mice with high blood pressure, maintained a lowered blood pressure for at least half of a year. As a result, the life-span of the rats in the administered group was also significantly lengthened. The creation of a long-lasting vaccine like the one found in these medical results may bring us closer to realizing a permanent cure for hypertension.

‘High-Normal’ Blood Pressure in Young Adults Spells Risk of Heart Failure in Later Life

Johns Hopkins: Mild elevations in blood pressure considered to be in the upper range of normal during young adulthood can lead to subclinical heart damage by middle age — a condition that sets the stage for full-blown heart failure, according to findings of a federally funded study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins.  A report on the findings of the multicenter study that followed 2,500 men and women over a period of 25 years is published online June 22 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

CT Angiography Links Arterial Plaque with Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol

RSNA: Non-calcified arterial plaque is associated with diabetes, high systolic blood pressure and elevated "bad" cholesterol levels in asymptomatic individuals, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in men and women worldwide, accounting for 17 million deaths annually. Current treatment strategies focus on cardiovascular risk and serum cholesterol levels rather than direct assessment of extent of disease in the coronary arteries.

New treatment hope for pregnant women with high blood pressure

UWA: Exciting research from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has found new answers for pregnant women with high blood pressure, which is also a characteristic of the serious condition, pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a problem in 5 to 10 per cent of all pregnancies in Australia and can threaten the lives of the mother and unborn child.There is currently no cure except delivering the baby, which can cause health problems for the child if the birth is pre-term. Most traditional medications for high blood pressure, or hypertension, are harmful for the foetus.

Future vaccine may help lower blood pressure long-term

American Heart Association: A vaccine may one day help lower blood pressure for up to six months, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension. The study in rats may eventually provide a novel alternative to treat high blood pressure in people, who would not need to take a pill everyday. “The potential of a vaccine for hypertension offers an innovative treatment that could be very effective for the control of non-compliance which is one of the major problems in the management of hypertensive patients,” said Hironori Nakagami M.D., Ph.D., study co-author and professor at Osaka University in Japan. Researchers have designed a DNA vaccine that targets angiotensin II ― a hormone that raises blood pressure by causing blood vessels to constrict. This narrowing can increase your blood pressure and force your heart to work harder.

Drug developed in 1950 for the treatment of Lupus to treat heart rhythm disease

British Heart Foundation: Scientists at the University of Oxford, part funded by us, are using a drug developed in 1950 for the treatment of Lupus to lower an abnormally high heart rate in those with heart failure and high blood pressure. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was created to combat malaria, and was later found to be useful in the treatment of Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Now, a team at the University of Oxford has found that the drug can also reduce heart rate. Published today in the journal Heart Rhythm,  the treatment has the potential to benefit people with heart failure, high blood pressure, angina and other heart conditions.

Reminders Can Increase Adherence To Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

MedicalResearch: Dr. Linnea A. Polgreen, Ph.D. Many patients with hypertension are unaware that they have hypertension. Furthermore, a substantial number of patients diagnosed with hypertension are poorly controlled. Unfortunately there is no point-of-care test to diagnose hypertension. For most patients with multiple to moderate hypertension, multiple measurements are needed over time to confirm the diagnosis. This need to obtain multiple measurement often delays the diagnosis of hypertension, and delays potential for changes in therapy for those who are diagnosed but poorly controlled. Patients are routinely reminded to check their blood pressure measurements at home. However, these measurements often do not occur or are not collected in a timely fashion. Recently electronic medical records (EMRs) have built portals for patients to enter data such as blood pressure measurements, but it is unclear how effective these portals will be for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure.

Eating Out = High Blood Pressure?

Singapore: A recent study on university-going young adults, is the first ever to show an association between meals eaten away from home and high blood pressure. These findings highlight lifestyle factors that can affect hypertension and emphasise the importance of being aware of the salt and calorie content in food, to facilitate better meal choices when eating out.

No proof that bad relationships raise blood pressure

NHS: "If you have ever blamed your partner for making your blood boil, a new study could be the evidence you need to prove it's true," Mail Online reports. But the association between stress and blood pressure is much less clear-cut than the Mail suggests.

Night owls more likely to develop diabetes

Scimex: Night owls are more likely to develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and decrease of muscle mass than early risers, even when they get the same amount of sleep, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Hypertension: you can be a hero!

UWS: Study finds people power can lower blood pressure. The world's largest study of diabetes peer support, where one person with diabetes helps guide others, has shown it can significantly lower blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes and potentially reduce their risk of serious complications.
The study of 1,299 people, led by Professor David Simmons, from the University of Western Sydney School of Medicine.

Global hypertension treatment will save millions of lives

CDC. US: In just 10 years, 10 million heart attacks and strokes could be averted worldwide by treating just half the people with uncontrolled hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, suggests CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., and colleagues in a Lancet commentary published today.