t’s a standard part of any medical visit. Someone, typically a nurse, wraps a cuff around your arm and asks you to sit quietly while the cuff squeezes to the point of discomfort, then slowly eases its grip. Some numbers get jotted down in your chart. “136 over 79.” What does that even mean? “The… Continue reading Blood pressure: What do the numbers mean and why do they matter?
Category: High blood pressure / hypertension
Who is At Risk for Hypertension, the Medical Term for High Blood Pressure?
Sometimes national statistics are so shocking that people have to stop and take notice. This is certainly the case for high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of all adults in the United States—only a quarter of whom have the condition under control, according to cardiologist Dr. Robert Segal, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical… Continue reading Who is At Risk for Hypertension, the Medical Term for High Blood Pressure?
Coffee and hypertension
Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease among people with severe high blood pressure (160/100 mm Hg or higher) but not people with high blood pressure not considered severe, according to research published in December 22 in the Journal of the American Heart Association,… Continue reading Coffee and hypertension
Experts Concerned about Rise in Hypertension Cases
Although access to medicine for controlling blood pressure has broadened, the number of Americans with uncontrolled hypertension is alarming, especially in communities of color, health officials said. “The latest research published in JAMA [the Journal of the American Medical Association] showing that a greater proportion of Americans, particularly communities of color, were living with uncontrolled… Continue reading Experts Concerned about Rise in Hypertension Cases
Study: Telehealth Could Be Lifesaver for Hypertension Patients
People enrolled in a pharmacist-led telemonitoring program to control high blood pressure were about half as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to those who received routine primary care, according to new research published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association (AHA) journal. Researchers, led by study author Karen L. Margolis, M.D., M.P.H.,… Continue reading Study: Telehealth Could Be Lifesaver for Hypertension Patients
High Blood Pressure Awareness and Treatment Declining
Nearly half of adults in the U.S. live with high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It is currently defined as having a blood pressure reading of at least 130/80 mm Hg or taking blood pressure medications for the condition. High blood pressure is the main risk factor for stroke. It can also contribute to other… Continue reading High Blood Pressure Awareness and Treatment Declining
How Accurate Are Home Blood Pressure Monitors?
Most blood pressure devices sold for home monitoring in Australia – and possibly worldwide – may not have been validated for accuracy and could lead to misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatment, according to new research published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association (AHA). In this study, the researchers looked at the online blood pressure device marketplace… Continue reading How Accurate Are Home Blood Pressure Monitors?
Hypertension and Cognitive Decline
High blood pressure appears to accelerate cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults, but treating high blood pressure may slow down the process, according to new research. The findings, presented as preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension 2019 Scientific Sessions, are important because high blood pressure and cognitive decline are two of… Continue reading Hypertension and Cognitive Decline
The Income Factor in Blood Pressure Treatment
People enrolled in a large clinical hypertension management trial were half as likely to control their blood pressure if they received care at clinics and practices in low-income areas, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association. Participants in a low-income area had a 25% higher chance of dying from any cause… Continue reading The Income Factor in Blood Pressure Treatment
Poor Oral Health Linked to Higher Blood Pressure and Worse Blood Pressure Control
People with high blood pressure taking medication for their condition are more likely to benefit from the therapy if they have good oral health, according to new research published in October 2018 in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension. The findings of the analysis, based on a review of medical and dental exam records of… Continue reading Poor Oral Health Linked to Higher Blood Pressure and Worse Blood Pressure Control
Diagnosing and Treating Resistant Hypertension
Resistant hypertension affects 12 percent to15 percent of patients treated for high blood pressure according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). The statement, published in the Association’s journal Hypertension, provides a comprehensive overview of how to diagnose and treat the condition based on a review of available scientific information. A… Continue reading Diagnosing and Treating Resistant Hypertension
How Low Is Too Low? Experts Debate Blood Pressure Targets in the Post-SPRINT Era
Following the landmark SPRINT trial, there is a growing body of evidence for reducing systolic blood pressure targets, resulting in the development of new US guidelines. However, this has led to many questions about the impact of such fundamental changes in blood pressure management, and whether they should be implemented in other constituencies. Two studies… Continue reading How Low Is Too Low? Experts Debate Blood Pressure Targets in the Post-SPRINT Era
Music Intensifies the Effects of Anti-Hypertensive Medication
In addition to remembering to take the medication prescribed by their cardiologists at the right times and going to the trouble of making healthy lifestyle changes, patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) can include a pleasing beneficial activity in routine treatment of the disease thanks to the discovery that listening to music significantly enhances the… Continue reading Music Intensifies the Effects of Anti-Hypertensive Medication
Relaxation Response May Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure — or hypertension — is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke that affects as many as 100 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide. Decades of research have demonstrated that the relaxation response that can be achieved through relaxation techniques such as yoga or mediation can reduce blood pressure… Continue reading Relaxation Response May Lower Blood Pressure
New Blood Pressure App and Hardware Rivals Arm Cuff Accuracy
Cuff devices for blood pressure measurement are inconvenient, and mobile device apps for blood pressure measurement that are now being introduced may lack accuracy. To solve this problem, a team of Michigan State University scientists has created a new app and hardware for smartphones to measure blood pressure with accuracy that may rival arm-cuff devices.… Continue reading New Blood Pressure App and Hardware Rivals Arm Cuff Accuracy
Dietary Sodium’s Impact May Not Be Offset by Other Aspects of A Diet
An international study suggests other aspects of the diet may not offset the harmful effect of sodium on blood pressure. The study, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, also reaffirms the need for widespread sodium reduction in the food supply. Researchers reviewed data on sodium intake and intake of 80 nutrients, such as… Continue reading Dietary Sodium’s Impact May Not Be Offset by Other Aspects of A Diet
Hypertension and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Guidelines used to evaluate peak blood pressure during cardiopulmonary exercise testing were last updated in 1996 and may need to be revised to take into account age and gender, according to new data from the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This is the first systemic effort to establish maximum exercise blood pressure norms in more… Continue reading Hypertension and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Controlling Hypertension: A Multi-Level Approach Gets Best Results
Patients with high blood pressure can best achieve control of the condition via both physician and non-physician treatment approaches, according to a review published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Despite strong evidence that antihypertensive medications and lifestyle modifications reduce blood… Continue reading Controlling Hypertension: A Multi-Level Approach Gets Best Results