Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Extensive study on telemedicine for diabetes and coronary heart disease – Senior author concludes: "The hype around medical apps needs to be put into perspective"

A large study found that telemedicine and training apps had minimal positive effects on patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. The study suggests that direct care from medical professionals remains crucial for improving health outcomes in this population.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 12, 2025

Taking blood pressure in a public or noisy settings does not affect reading

Researchers found that taking blood pressure in public or noisy settings does not affect reading. The study supports the implementation of mass hypertension-screening programs in public settings. Bariatric surgery with sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass both substantially lower healthcare expenses for patients with diabetes, with to...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJan 27, 2025

Survey: While most Americans use a device to monitor their heart, few share that data with their doctor

A national survey of 1,008 Americans found that nearly two-thirds use a device to monitor their heart health, but only one in four shares the data with their doctor. This lack of sharing can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of proactive communication between patients and healthcare providers.

Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function

A new study found that exposure to high aircraft noise levels can lead to stiffer and thicker heart muscles, increasing the risk of poor heart function and major cardiac events. People exposed to night-time aircraft noise were particularly at risk, with increased risks of heart attacks, life-threatening rhythms, and strokes.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 8, 2025

Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people exposed to high aircraft noise levels had stiffer and thicker heart muscles, which contracted and expanded less easily. This was especially true for those exposed to higher noise at night, potentially due to impaired sleep and stress responses.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 8, 2025

Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood linked to higher blood pressure and lower cognition

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine found a strong association between living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and higher blood pressure and lower cognitive scores. The study analyzed data from over 500 adults aged 55+ and used the Area Deprivation Index to measure neighborhood disadvantage.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·DateDec 6, 2024

Standing at work can be detrimental to blood pressure

A Finnish study found that prolonged standing at work had a negative impact on 24-hour blood pressure, while sedentary work was not necessarily harmful. The study suggests that engaging in recreational physical activity during leisure time can help maintain fitness and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateNov 22, 2024

Why substitute sugar with maple syrup?

The study found that substituting pure maple syrup for refined sugars reduced several cardiometabolic risk factors in humans, including improved blood sugar levels and lowered blood pressure. Visceral fat mass also decreased significantly in the maple syrup group. The study's findings suggest that incorporating maple syrup into daily d...

SourceEllen LaNicca Fearless PR·JournalJournal of Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 18, 2024

Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure

A new study suggests that adding physical activity into daily life can help lower blood pressure. Replacing sedentary behaviors with 20-27 minutes of exercise per day was estimated to lead to a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure, while just five minutes of activity a day was also associated with reduced levels.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalCirculation·TypeObservational study·DateNov 6, 2024

A new app to “uncuff” blood pressure monitoring

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed an innovative smartphone application that can measure pulse pressure, a critical metric for detecting hypertension. The app uses motion-sensing accelerometers and front cameras to calculate pulse pressure, which is closely correlated with hypertension, according to the study.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2024

Throat problems could impair autonomic nervous system's ability to regulate blood pressure

Researchers found that patients with throat symptoms had reduced baroreflex sensitivity and higher resting heart rates compared to those without symptoms. The study suggests that throat problems can have a significant impact on autonomic nervous system function, potentially leading to long-term survival risks.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalJAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery·DateSep 11, 2024

Can wearable activity trackers detect disease?

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies with 1.2 million participants found that wearable technology can accurately detect conditions such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, oxygen levels, sleep quality, skin temperature, hydration, and stress levels. The study suggests that wearable activity trackers could r...

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalJMIR mhealth and uhealth·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 2, 2024

CalTech team develops first noninvasive method to continually measure true blood pressure

A CalTech research team has developed a noninvasive device that uses sound waves and ultrasound to measure true blood pressure continuously, providing full waveform data without the need for invasive procedures. The device holds promise for improved vital-sign monitoring at home, in hospitals, and in remote locations.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 7, 2024

Method enables fast, accurate estimates of cardiovascular state to inform blood pressure management

A new mathematical method, validated with experimental animal data, provides fast, reliable, and minimally invasive way of determining how to treat critical blood pressure changes. The method accurately tracks cardiac output and systemic resistance, mirroring estimates from more invasive catheters in some cases.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 25, 2024

Lifesaving star

A novel, star-shaped polymer has been developed as a low-volume resuscitant for prehospital treatment of severe hemorrhagic shock. The solution can refill blood vessels without disrupting coagulation, offering an improvement over existing colloidal resuscitants.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2024

Study finds innovative cuffless blood pressure device streamlines and enhances hypertension management

A study found that a cuffless wrist monitor provides hundreds of readings in days, enabling clinicians to determine cardiovascular risk and improve hypertension care. The device's continuous readings help confirm diagnosis and guide medication titration, potentially revolutionizing hypertension management.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalFrontiers in Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 26, 2024

Very early blood pressure control confers both benefits and harms in acute stroke

A new study found that very early blood pressure lowering treatment can improve outcomes for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, but worsen outcomes for those with ischemic stroke. Rapid diagnosis of the type of stroke is crucial in harnessing the benefits of this treatment.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 16, 2024

The number of people experiencing poor health and early death caused by metabolism-related risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high BMI has increased by 50% since 2000, reveals new global study

The Global Burden of Diseases study reveals a 49.4% increase in global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to metabolism-related risk factors between 2000 and 2021. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high BMI are key contributors to poor health and early death.

Blood pressure drugs more than double bone-fracture risk in nursing home patients

A study of nearly 30,000 nursing home residents found that blood pressure medications increase the risk of life-threatening bone fractures, particularly in patients with dementia and low baseline balance. The medication's tendency to impair balance, especially when patients first stand up, contributes to this increased risk.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 15, 2024

Brief anger may impair blood vessel function

A new study found that brief anger episodes can negatively impact blood vessel function, leading to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The researchers investigated the effects of anger, sadness, and anxiety on blood vessel function and found that evoking an angered state led to blood vessel dysfunction.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMay 1, 2024

Clear shift in arterial diseases in diabetes

Studies at the University of Gothenburg found a clear shift in arterial disease risks in diabetes, with decreases in central organ diseases like heart attack and stroke, but increases in peripheral vessel complications. Closer monitoring of long-term blood sugar levels can reduce peripheral arterial disease risk by 30-50%.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeObservational study·DateMar 28, 2024

Study suggests an ‘odor sensor’ may explain male and female differences in blood pressure

A Johns Hopkins Medicine research team found a cell surface protein that senses odors and chemicals may be responsible for the long-known difference in blood pressure between females and males. The study, published in Science Advances, used data from mice and humans to investigate the link between an odor sensor and blood pressure.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 20, 2024

Sleep apnea solution could be right under your nose

Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a bedtime nasal spray that can reduce the severity of sleep apnea in people and lower their blood pressure. The study found that the spray, which blocks potassium channels, improved oxygen levels and reduced markers of OSA severity in 7 out of 10 participants.

SourceFlinders University·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 15, 2024

Small amounts of licorice raise blood pressure

A study by Linköping University found that a daily intake of liquorice containing 100mg glycyrrhizic acid raised blood pressure by an average of 3.1mmHg in young healthy people. This effect was seen in all participants, but the most sensitive individuals showed increased fluid volume and heart workload.

SourceLinköping University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 14, 2024