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Eating out = high blood pressure?

A recent study by Duke-NUS Medical School researchers found an association between meals eaten away from home and high blood pressure in university-going young adults. The study, which surveyed over 500 participants, showed that pre-hypertension was prevalent in 27.4% of the population, with men more likely to be affected than women.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalAmerican Journal of Hypertension·DateApr 10, 2015

Women and men have different exclusion criteria for rtPA

Researchers found that women were excluded from rtPA treatment for reasons unrelated to their sex, including advanced age and large strokes. High blood pressure was a common reason for exclusion in women, highlighting the importance of treating this condition to improve stroke treatment outcomes.

Expanding blood pressure screenings beyond primary care can improve hypertension detection

A Kaiser Permanente study found that expanding blood pressure screenings to non-primary care settings can help identify more patients with high blood pressure and improve management. The study reported that patients identified with hypertension in non-primary care settings were more likely to be older, male, and non-Hispanic white.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJournal of Clinical Hypertension·DateMar 13, 2015

Licorice manufacturers encouraged to state daily limit of consumption

A 10-year-old boy developed seizures and hypertension after consuming excessive licorice sweets. The case study highlights the dangers of overconsumption of glycyrrhizic acid in licorice, a risk particularly high for children with low body weight. Manufacturers are urged to state recommended daily limits as a safety measure.

SourceElsevier·JournalPediatric Neurology·DateMar 2, 2015

Researchers ID genetic cues for a big heart

Duke researchers discovered a gene called Raf that acts as a switch to turn on Yorkie, making fly hearts grow bigger. The study sheds light on the genetic circuitry of signals governing growth and may help understand how human hearts respond to disease.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Signaling·DateFeb 3, 2015

Unlocking the kidney riddle in newborns

Researchers discovered that babies born with smaller kidneys are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure as adults. The study found enhanced nerve activity and an inability to respond to nitric oxide promote kidney injury.

SourceMonash University·JournalCirculation·DateJan 26, 2015

Blame it on your brain: Salt and hypertension

A study by McGill University scientists found that high salt intake affects brain circuits, preventing the inhibition of neurons that release vasopressin and leading to increased blood pressure. The research suggests that limiting dietary salt may help mitigate hypertension.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuron·DateJan 22, 2015

Daily consumption of blueberries may lower blood pressure

Researchers found daily blueberry consumption resulted in significant reductions of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in postmenopausal women with pre- and stage 1-HTN. The study suggests that blueberries may prevent the progression to full-blown hypertension, potentially through enhanced nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJan 8, 2015

Mom's exercise habits good for blood pressure in kids

A Michigan State University study found that exercising regularly during pregnancy can reduce a child's chances of developing high blood pressure later in life. The research suggests that physical activity during critical developmental periods may have a direct impact on the baby's cardiovascular health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalThe Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness·DateJan 5, 2015

Older kidney donors with hypertension may have good kidney health following donation

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that older kidney donors with hypertension had good kidney health after donation. After 6 months, hypertensive and non-hypertensive donors both maintained excellent blood pressure control and robust compensatory kidney responses.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 18, 2014

Obesity and hypertension

A groundbreaking study by Australian researchers has discovered that leptin hormone secreted by fat cells elevates blood pressure in obesity. The hormone acts in the brain to increase blood pressure, making it a promising target for treating obesity-induced hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

SourceTania Ewing and Associates·JournalCell·DateDec 4, 2014

New theory may help demystify pregnancy-related condition

A new theory proposes that preeclampsia is caused by the body's response to insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply to the growing fetus, leading to high blood pressure and organ damage. The condition can have fatal complications for pregnant women and their babies if left untreated.

SourceWiley·JournalAnaesthesia·DateNov 13, 2014

Hypertension risk rises closer to major roadways

A new study by Brown University found that women who lived close to highways had a significantly higher risk of high blood pressure, with risks rising with proximity to the roadways. The study controlled for various confounding factors and found that living within 100m of a highway increased hypertension risk by 22%.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateOct 1, 2014

An autoimmune response may contribute to hypertension

A new study suggests that an autoimmune response may contribute to the development of high blood pressure. Using mouse models, researchers found that compounds stimulating hypertension led to the faulty production of modified proteins in dendritic cells, triggering an immune response.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 17, 2014

Cardiorespiratory fitness can delay male, age-associated blood pressure hikes

A study published by the American College of Cardiology found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels can delay the natural increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure with age. Men with high fitness levels experience a later onset of prehypertension, with systolic blood pressure increasing around age 54 and diastolic blood ...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateSep 15, 2014