Take Steps Now to Prevent High Blood Pressure

Newswise — Normal blood pressure now doesn’t mean you won’t have a problem later.

In fact, even a healthy person with a normal blood pressure at age 55 has a 90 percent lifetime risk of developing hypertension. So anything you can do to control blood pressure and prevent hypertension is to your advantage.

The goal is to keep your blood pressure in the normal range, a systolic pressure of less than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 mm Hg.

Simple lifestyle changes -- such as what you eat, how active you are, and weight reduction -- can influence your blood pressure and long-term health. The December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers how lifestyle choices can help bring blood pressure numbers down.

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December 27, 2005
Source:
NewsWise

New Genetic Link to High Blood Pressure Found

A new genetic discovery made by a University of Michigan team may help explain why some people develop high blood pressure and others don’t — and why some people’s blood pressure increases as they age.

It also gives new insight into how the kidneys govern the balance of salt in the body, a crucial task for regulating blood pressure. And, it reveals how a gene already linked to behavior and mental health can play a role in the body, as well as the brain.

In a paper published in the American Journal of Hypertension, U-M researchers report that blood pressure was higher, and more likely to rise with age, among people who had an extra-long form of a gene called DRD4.

They made the discovery by studying the genes of 864 people from 286 families taking part in a long-term blood pressure genetics study called GenNet. The families all live in or near the town of Tecumseh, Mich., which since 1958 has been home to a U-M clinical research initiative called the Tecumseh Community Health Study.

The finding of a link between DRD4 and blood pressure came as a surprise to researchers who tested this gene initially to look at genetics and behavior.

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October 17, 2005
Source:
Newswise.com

How to Prevent High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure (BP), also called Hypertension, is a risk factor for heart and kidney disorders and strokes. Lowering high BP, or keeping it normal, can help avoid heart problems. Here's how you can do this.

Here's How:

• Maintain a healthy weight. There are many statistical tables that calculate your ideal body weight based upon your height, build and age.
• If you are overweight, lose some. Being overweight increases your risk of high blood pressure by six to eight times.
• It also matters where you are overweight. People with a pot-belly - weight around their waist - are at higher risk for hypertension.
• To lose weight, eat fewer calories than you burn off. For instance, you could cut down from 3500 calories a day in the first week to 3000 calories a day for the second week, and then to 2500 calories a day for the third week and so on.

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October 9, 2005
Source:
About.com

Reduce salt intake to 6 grams to cut blood pressure

People should cut their daily salt intake to 6 grams a day -- one heaped teaspoon -- to reduce their blood pressure levels and the risk of heart disease and stroke, health experts said on Monday.

A new report by Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC), which summarises scientific evidence on the links between salt and health, said cutting salt consumption from the average 9.5 to 6 grams a day could result in a 13 percent reduction in stroke and a 10 percent decrease in heart disease.

"It was felt to be a level that brings significant health benefits," Dr Susan Jebb, head of nutrition and health research at the MRC, told a news conference. "It is achievable."

October 3, 2005
Source:
Reuters AlertNet

Hope for high blood pressure victims

SCOTTISH scientists have developed a therapy that could save thousands of lives a year by lowering patients' blood pressure with a simple injection.

Researchers at the British Heart Foundation's cardiovascular centre at Glasgow University used a harmless virus to target blood vessels throughout the body.

Once injected, the virus releases a gene into the cells that line blood vessels. This makes the vessels dilate and helps prevent blood clots that can cause strokes.

Professor Anna Dominiczak, who led the team at Glasgow University, found the blood pressure of rats could be lowered for six weeks before they needed a fresh injection.

October 2, 2005
Source: ScotlandonSunday

Study Confirms High Blood Pressure and Obesity Increase the Risk of Fatal Heart Attacks and Strokes

A study conducted by researchers at the Medical School of Nancy in France concluded that overweight and obese men and women with high blood pressure have a significantly elevated risk of both fatal heart attack and stroke.

The results in this major longitudinal study were based on an analysis of the health of more than 240,000 individuals over an average period of 14 years.

Although overweight or obese people have many health risks as a result of their weight, the study found that only those with hypertension were subject to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and death.

October 1, 2005
Source: Newsinferno.com

Beta Blockers Less Effective Against High Blood Pressure

Beta blocker drugs are not as effective against high blood pressure as other medications, but they are better than nothing at all, a Swedish review of research reports.

Data from 13 trials that included more than 105,000 people showed the incidence of stroke was 16 percent higher and the overall death rate was 3 percent higher for those who took beta blockers compared to other drugs, according to a report by doctors at Umea University Hospital that appears in the Oct. 18 online issue of The Lancet.

But there was no increased risk of heart problems associated with beta blockers in those 13 trials. And seven other studies that compared beta blocker treatment of high blood pressure with no drug treatment at all found a 19 percent lower risk of stroke for those who took beta blockers.

"Switching hypertension treatment from beta blockers to other low-cost antihypertensive drugs in patients without heart disease should have a major health effect without increasing the cost," study author Dr. Lars Hjalmar Lindholm said in a statement. "Such a change, however, should be carried out slowly and under a doctor's supervision."

October 18, 2005
Source:
Forbes.com

Speedel Starts Phase I Safety and Tolerability Testing of SPP635 in Healthy Volunteers

Speedel announced today the start of its Phase I safety and tolerability testing of SPP635, one of a new series of renin inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension and for protecting end-organs such as the heart, kidneys and blood vessels. The Phase I trial, which tests the safety and tolerability of single and multiple oral doses in healthy volunteers, is expected to finish in the second half of 2006. This compound is one of several new proprietary renin inhibitors invented by Speedel Experimenta, the company's late-stage research unit, which was established in 2002.

Dr. Alice Huxley, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "This milestone is of major strategic importance for Speedel as SPP635 is the first drug which we have progressed into Phase I from our own research laboratory and reinforces Speedel's position as a leader in renin inhibition. Our strategy is to develop and bring to market a Speedel family of renin inhibitors and we believe that renin inhibition may be the new gold standard for the treatment of hypertension and related disorders in the next decade."

October 13, 2005
Source:
Yahoo, PRnewswire

Blood Pressure Drugs Prevent Headaches

1/3 Fewer Headaches in Patients Taking Blood Pressure-Lowering Drugs

The key to better headache treatment may lurk in common blood pressure-lowering drugs.

A provocative new study shows four completely different classes of these drugs prevent headaches. That suggests an obvious conclusion to researcher Malcolm Law, FRCP, professor of epidemiology at the University of London.

"My best guess is that higher blood pressure does cause headache -- but that is a guess," Law tells WebMD. "We can't exactly shout from the rooftops that high blood pressure causes headache, although we think it probably does."

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October 10, 2005
Source:
WebMD.com

New drugs aim to improve the treatment of high blood pressure

Of all the people being treated for high blood pressure in the U.S., it's estimated that only about one-third of them have it under control.

That alarming statistic is one reason doctors and researchers are scrambling to improve the treatment of high blood pressure, or hypertension, a potentially life-threatening condition that puts sufferers at risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney problems and other serious diseases.

While numerous drugs are available to treat high blood pressure, none of them is perfect. Some can be slow to work, while others disappear from the body too quickly. For most patients, no one of these drugs on its own brings blood pressure down to target levels.

As a result, more and more doctors are treating hypertension patients with a combination of drugs, trying to find the most effective mix for each individual. And researchers are developing drugs that attack hypertension in new ways. Two promising new drugs under development, Novartis AG's SPP100 and Myogen Inc.'s Darusentan, are still 18 months or more away from regulatory approval, but researchers say the drugs have the potential to improve hypertension care.

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October 10, 2005
Source:
Wall Street journal

Low-cost alternative drugs can help patients with problems controlling blood pressure

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two inexpensive but widely overlooked drugs may help many patients who continue to have high blood pressure despite taking standard blood pressure medications, according to research by Indiana University School of Medicine scientists.

Howard Pratt, M.D., and his colleagues studied two compounds -- amiloride and spironolactone -- in a group of African-American patients with high blood pressure. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, and tend to retain more sodium in their bodies, which is linked to high blood pressure. Amiloride and spironolactone are diuretics, or "water pills," that have been available for many years but no longer get much attention from prescribing physicians.

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October 4, 2005
Source:
Eurekalert.org

Get an accurate blood pressure reading

Do you suffer from "white coat" hypertension?

That's when your blood pressure is normal when taken at home but rises when you go to a medical office and have it taken by someone wearing a white coat. If your blood pressure is moderately high, and that disparity is not detected, your doctor might put you on medicine unnecessarily.

Or, you may end up with a home blood pressure monitor to keep closer tabs.

Even from home, getting an accurate blood pressure reading can be tricky. A&D Medical, the manufacturer of LifeSource home blood pressure monitors, offers these suggestions:

Take measurements at or near the same time each day, to give the best comparison.

Don't eat, smoke, exercise or ingest caffeine for at least 30 minutes before taking a reading. Instead, rest for at least 15 minutes and empty your bladder at least five minutes before the measurement.

Sit in a quiet place with your back supported and feet on the floor.

November 29, 2005
Source:
Syracuse Post Standard

Studies Show Canadians Can Be Assured Of LifeSource Blood Pressure Monitors Accuracy

The Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) and the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control have both issued statements on the need for home blood pressure measuring devices to be shown to meet certain standards, in order that pharmacists and other health care professionals can be assured that Canadians use devices that are known to be accurate.

Positive validation studies on the popular UA-631V, UA-705, UA-767, UA-767 Plus AC (PAC), UA-774, UA-787EJ, UA-787W and UA-853 models have been published and all satisfy the accuracy requirements of these organisations. A "validated" blood pressure monitor is one whose accuracy is endorsed by the caption "Recommended by the Canadian Hypertension Society", which appears on the Canadian retail package, inside the yellow triangle along with the heart-check logo. All of our most popular models have earned that validation, which is what keeps LifeSource® as Canada's #1 selling brand of BP monitors (source ACNielsen).

Source:
Auto Control Medical

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Frequent monitoring of blood pressure (BP) at home can help you achieve and maintain your BP target. Good BP control will reduce your risks for stroke, heart disease, blood vessel disease, kidney disease, and progression of kidney disease.

Understanding blood pressure

Your heart pumps blood into blood vessels. As blood flows through these vessels, it exerts a pressure on their walls. This pressure is your BP and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

A BP reading consists of 2 numbers (example: 122/64 mmHg). The top number is systolic (pronounced sis-tah-lick) BP. The bottom number is diastolic (pronounced die-as-tah-lick) BP. Systolic BP is the (highest) pressure generated when your heart is pumping. Diastolic BP is the (lowest) pressure present when your heart is resting. Both numbers are important.

Measuring blood pressure

Sit quietly with feet flat on the floor and back rested against back of chair or a firm surface for at least 5 minutes before measurement and during measurement.

Use the same arm each time.

Remove bulky or tight clothing from arm completely.

Source:
Canadian Hypertension Society

What Exactly Does "Validation" of Home (Self-Measurement) Blood Pressure Devices Mean?

The Canadian Hypertension Society recommends that self-measurement blood pressure devices be independently validated according to known international protocols.  Self-measurement blood pressure machines are more and more accepted as serious medical devices, but proof of actual accuracy is an obvious requirement in order for these devices to be taken seriously.

There is a common misconception that the organizations which provide protocols for testing the accuracy of these devices actually test and either pass or fail them.  For instance, it is not uncommon to hear statements like, "The British Hypertension Society has passed this model."  There are three organizations which provide protocols for testing these devices. Probably the best known is The British Hypertension Society (BHS) but the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) also have protocols.

Source:
Auto Control Medical

Patients need refresher on home blood pressure monitors

More Canadians are keeping an eye on their blood pressure by monitoring their hypertension at home, but a new study suggests they may be making some common errors.

It's estimated up to one-third of people diagnosed with hypertension in Canada's urban areas have a blood pressure monitor at home, but there is a problem with the measurements.

"The monitors are generally quite accurate, the people who use them generally are not," said Dr. Thomas Wilson, a professor of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.

Wilson and his colleagues studied 80 patients with high blood pressure who bought their own automated digital blood pressure monitor.

October 25, 2004
Source:
CBC News