Having sex frequently – and enjoying it – puts older men at higher risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. For older women, however, good sex may actually lower the risk of hypertension. That’s according to the first large-scale study of how sex affects heart health in later life. The federally funded research, led… Continue reading Sex in Later Years: Healthier for Women than Men?
Tag: Hypertension
What You Should Know About Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is probably less well known than cardiovascular disease, but it can be just as deadly. Experts from SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health, share what you should know about the illness and how you can help prevent it: Peripheral arterial disease is a disease in which plaque builds… Continue reading What You Should Know About Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Diet Soda and Hypertension
Does drinking diet soda raise blood pressure? Despite what you might have heard, the answer is no, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Irvin Cohen, a nephrologist at Mayo in Scottsdale, Arizona, says that there have been several studies on a possible connection between diet soda and hypertension but that none of them… Continue reading Diet Soda and Hypertension
10 Ways to Cut Back on Salt
Although the dangers of fat might get more media attention, salt is also something to watch out for. It has been linked to hypertension and heart disease. But controlling it in the food supply isn’t simple. That’s because, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the majority of sodium consumed comes from processed… Continue reading 10 Ways to Cut Back on Salt
Rage and “Stonewalling” Linked to Different Health Problems
Conflict can cause health problems – but exactly what kind of problem depends on whether you let your rage out or shut down emotionally. New research from UC Berkeley and Northwestern University, based on how couples behave during conflicts, suggests outbursts of anger predict cardiovascular problems later in life. Conversely, shutting down emotionally or “stonewalling”… Continue reading Rage and “Stonewalling” Linked to Different Health Problems
Blood Pressure Goals Good for Those 75 and Older
NIH-supported researchers are reporting additional details about a widely-publicized study that linked a systolic blood pressure target under 120 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) with reduced cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of death. A new analysis by NIH researchers found that a systolic blood pressure target of 120 helps reduce the risk of heart… Continue reading Blood Pressure Goals Good for Those 75 and Older
Older Adults Need Better Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Control
The leading cause of death in the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the population, is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prevention of cardiovascular events in elderly patients presents a therapeutic challenge because this age group is generally underrepresented in clinical trials, and doctors often assume that it is too late to initiate preventive therapy in the… Continue reading Older Adults Need Better Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Control
Hypertension and Dementia: A Frightening Connection
According to the National Institutes of Health, a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that uncontrolled high blood pressure is not only the leading cause of stroke but may also be linked to cognitive decline and dementia. As a result, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), one of the institutes of NIH,… Continue reading Hypertension and Dementia: A Frightening Connection
New Drug Could Improve Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
An oral medication for pulmonary arterial hypertension led to a substantial reduction in patients’ hospitalization and worsening symptoms, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The drug, Selexipag, gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in December. It is now available for patients. The data, from the largest study ever… Continue reading New Drug Could Improve Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
More Medicine May Not Be Better Medicine for Older Patients
Seniors being treated with medicine for levels of blood sugar and hypertension may be able to take less medicine without losing any benefits, new research shows. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests doctors and patients should work together to backpedal such treatment more often. The reason: In people in their 70s and… Continue reading More Medicine May Not Be Better Medicine for Older Patients
Landmark NIH Study Finds Intensive BP Management May Save Lives
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure and you’re controlling it by keeping your systolic pressure under 140, you may need to get that number down to 120. That’s the finding of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) released September 11th 2015 by the National Institutes of Health. A release from the American… Continue reading Landmark NIH Study Finds Intensive BP Management May Save Lives
Hypertension Patients Benefit from Pharmacist Care
Patients with high blood pressure fare better when a pharmacist is part of their health-care team, according to new research from the University of Iowa. The investigators, who published their findings in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, showed that teams that included pharmacists gave more hands-on and tailored medication regimens to patients.… Continue reading Hypertension Patients Benefit from Pharmacist Care
Resuming BP Meds Right After Surgery Reduces Risk of Death
It may be better for patients to resume taking their blood pressure medication sooner after surgery than previously thought. A new study published in June 2015 in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists® (ASA), found resuming angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), common medications used to treat… Continue reading Resuming BP Meds Right After Surgery Reduces Risk of Death
Designing Better Blood Pressure Drugs
An experiment at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory led by Vadim Cherezov, a chemistry professor at the University of Southern California, has revealed in atomic detail how a hypertension drug binds to a cellular receptor that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. The results could help scientists design new drugs… Continue reading Designing Better Blood Pressure Drugs
BP Screenings Beyond Your PCP’s Office Improve Hypertension Detection
Expanding blood pressure screenings to non-primary care settings can help identify more patients with high blood pressure, commonly called hypertension, and could contribute to better hypertension control and management, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published March 13th 2015 in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. A release from Kaiser explains that the researchers examined the… Continue reading BP Screenings Beyond Your PCP’s Office Improve Hypertension Detection
New Blood Pressure Guidelines Could Save Lives and Money
Adhering to new hypertension guidelines could prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths each year – without increasing health care costs, according to researchers. The investigators, from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Our findings clearly show that it would be worthwhile to significantly increase spending… Continue reading New Blood Pressure Guidelines Could Save Lives and Money
Salt May Have A Bad Effect on The Brain
Researchers have found that consuming large amounts of salt can cause changes in key brain circuits. The scientists, from McGill University in Montreal, discovered that high salt intake disables a natural safety mechanism and allows blood pressure to rise because of a high, long-term consumption of salt. A team led by Prof. Charles Bourque of… Continue reading Salt May Have A Bad Effect on The Brain
Calcium Channel Blockers Don’t Up Breast Cancer Risk
Women who take calcium channel blockers, a common type of medication to control high blood pressure, are not at increased risk of developing breast cancer due to the drug, according to study done in November 2014 by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah. A release from the medical center explains… Continue reading Calcium Channel Blockers Don’t Up Breast Cancer Risk