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Yoga May Help Ease High Blood Pressure, Study Finds

Posted 2 days 19 hours ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 15 – People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure – also known as hypertension. "This study confirms many people's feelings that exercise may be useful in the control of hypertension," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Weintraub was not connected to the new study. Based on the new findings, "yoga would be a useful adjunct in the lowering of blood pressure in certain populations," he said. In the study, researchers led by Dr. Debbie Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania tracked 58 women and men, aged 38 to 62, for six months. Although the study couldn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, doing yoga two to three times a week was associated with an average drop in blood ... Read more

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People With High Blood Pressure May Crave Salt

Posted 2 days 19 hours ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 15 – High-salt diets have long been linked to high blood pressure, but new research finds that those with the condition may have a far greater preference for salty foods than those with normal blood pressure. In a small study of older adults, researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil found that participants with high blood pressure, or hypertension, favored bread dusted with the highest concentration of salt more than twice as much as those with normal blood pressure. Adding other seasonings to the salted bread, however, diminished the preference for salt across both groups. The question remains: Are people with high blood pressure naturally drawn to salty foods, making them more prone to the condition? "This is difficult to answer, but I believe that the genetic factor to salt appetite can be the beginning of the process," said study author Patricia ... Read more

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Cellphone Calls During Blood Pressure Readings May Skew Results

Posted 2 days 19 hours ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 15 – New Italian research offers some cautionary advice for patients with high blood pressure: The next time you take a blood pressure reading, turn off your cellphone. The reason: Answering a cellphone call during a reading may cause a temporary but significant spike in blood pressure, rendering the results inaccurate and misleading. "The cellular phone has burst into our everyday life, and is often an indispensable communication tool for business and social relations," said study author Dr. Giuseppe Crippa, head of the hypertension unit at Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital in Piacenza, Italy. "[Now] we know that the radio-frequency field generated by mobile phones does not affect blood pressure, and should not increase blood pressure in subjects suffering from hypertension. "But what is the effect of the noise generated by the phone ringing and of the intrusion into our ... Read more

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Nearly 30 Percent of Americans Have High Blood Pressure: CDC

Posted 4 Apr 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, April 4 – The proportion of Americans reporting they have high blood pressure rose nearly 10 percent from 2005 to 2009, federal health officials said Thursday. High blood pressure – or hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke – affects nearly one-third of Americans, said Fleetwood Loustalot, a researcher at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 26 percent of Americans said they had high blood pressure in 2005, and more than 28 percent reported high blood pressure in 2009 – a nearly 10 percent increase. "Many factors contribute to hypertension," Loustalot said, including obesity, eating too much salt, not exercising regularly, drinking too much alcohol and smoking. "What we are really concerned about as well is that people who have high blood pressure ... Read more

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Excess Salt a Factor in 2.3 Million Deaths Annually Worldwide

Posted 23 Mar 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, March 21 – Overabundant salt intake was a factor in nearly 2.3 million deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related causes that occurred worldwide in 2010, according to a new study. That number represents 15 percent of all heart-related deaths that year, the researchers said. Nearly 1 million deaths (40 percent) caused by eating too much salt were considered premature, occurring in people aged 69 and younger, the study found. Sixty percent of the deaths were in men. The United States ranked 19th out of the 30 largest countries, with 429 deaths per million adults caused by eating too much salt. That works out to one in 10 of all heart-related deaths in the United States, the study authors noted. Heart attacks caused 42 percent of the deaths worldwide, while strokes caused 41 percent. The rest of the deaths were caused by other types of cardiovascular disease. ... Read more

Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Heart Attack, Myocardial Infarction

Experts Question Use of Ankle Blood Pressure to Gauge Heart Risks

Posted 18 Mar 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, March 18 – Does a common test of blood pressure in the ankle help gauge heart disease risk for adults without any symptoms? A new government-appointed panel says there's just not enough evidence to say yes or no on the issue at this time. In a statement issued Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel that regularly advises the government on the effectiveness of various medical interventions, said it's still unclear whether using the "ankle brachial index" to screen for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and assess the risk of heart disease is beneficial in adults with no PAD symptoms. PAD causes decreased blood flow in the legs and can be a sign of overall cardiovascular disease, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The ankle test, which compares blood pressure at the ankle with blood pressure in the arm, is used to diagnosed ... Read more

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High Blood Pressure May Add to Alzheimer's Risk, Study Finds

Posted 18 Mar 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, March 18 – High blood pressure in people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease may spur development of brain plaque, a hallmark of the age-related brain disorder, a new study suggests. The findings suggest yet another reason for keeping blood pressure, also known as hypertension, under control, the researchers said. "Maintaining good vascular health by avoiding or controlling diseases like hypertension has important benefits beyond keeping your heart healthy. It may promote good brain health as we age," said lead researcher Karen Rodrigue, an assistant professor of behavioral and brain sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. This is especially so for people who are genetically at risk for Alzheimers disease, the study suggested. "Keeping good vascular health may limit or delay the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and other aging-related ... Read more

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Blacks With Kidney Disease Should Watch for Blood Pressure Shifts: Study

Posted 14 Mar 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, March 14 – Large day-to-day blood pressure changes in blacks with kidney disease are associated with an increased risk of premature death, a new study suggests. The findings emphasize the importance of routine blood pressure checks in kidney disease patients and also suggest that treatments for large blood pressure fluctuations may improve patients' health, according to Dr. Ciaran McMullan of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and colleagues. Blacks are more likely than whites to develop kidney disease. It's difficult for doctors to predict which black patients with kidney disease have the highest risk of premature death. But it is known that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in kidney disease patients and that there is a strong link between blood pressure and kidney disease progression. This study included 908 black adults who had kidney disease ... Read more

Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease

Experts Dispute Value of Checking Kids' Blood Pressure

Posted 25 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 25 – Despite a worrisome increase in obese and hypertensive children and teens, not enough evidence exists to justify routinely screening young people for high blood pressure, a new report says. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reviewed existing research and concluded that it's unclear whether treating high blood pressure in children and adolescents controls hypertension long-term or leads to better heart health in adulthood. Given the lack of convincing evidence either for or against screening, the panel has decided not to make any recommendation. However, it is calling for more research on the benefits and risks of screening. The task force report, published online Feb. 25 in the journal Pediatrics, said doctors considering whether to screen or not should take into account "current scientific research, expert opinion, their own knowledge and experience, as well ... Read more

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New Soccer Goal: Lowering Blood Pressure

Posted 22 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Feb. 22 – Playing soccer can help reduce high blood pressure in adults, according to a small study. British researchers looked at 22 men, aged 31 to 54, with mild to moderate hypertension who began playing two one-hour sessions of recreational soccer a week. After six months, the participants showed significant drops in blood pressure, and three-quarters achieved normal readings. The men also had improved lung function, lower resting heart rates and less body fat. The study appears in the March issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. "The results of this study show that being physically active through soccer is not only a fun group activity, but can also promote health. Aerobic fitness achieved through soccer training can help improve several aspects of daily life," primary investigator Peter Krustrup, of the University of Exeter in England, said in a ... Read more

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First-Born May Be at Greater Risk for Diabetes, Hypertension

Posted 12 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Feb. 12 – First-born children may be at greater risk for diabetes or high blood pressure, a new, small study contends. Researchers from New Zealand report that these children have reduced insulin sensitivity and higher daytime blood pressure than kids with older siblings. The study authors noted their findings could have serious public health implications for countries like China, where a one-child policy means first-born children comprise a large portion of the overall population. The study will be published in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. "Although birth order alone is not a predictor of metabolic or cardiovascular disease, being the first-born child in a family can contribute to a person's overall risk," study author Wayne Cutfield, of the University of Auckland, said in a news release from the Endocrine Society. The study involved ... Read more

Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Type 2, Hypertension

Boomers' Health Fails to Measure Up to Parents'

Posted 4 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 4 – The baby boom is turning out to be a health bust. Despite growing up at a time of great innovation in health care, the 78 million people born in the United States between 1946 and 1964 aren't looking all that healthy today, according to a new study. Medical advances have led to the longest life expectancy ever, but U.S. baby boomers have higher rates of chronic disease, more disability and lower self-rated health than did their parents at a comparable age. The research may surprise many baby boomers, who have embraced activities such as running, fitness classes and backpacking in unprecedented numbers. "There seems to be somewhat of a disconnect between the reputation of baby boomers for being healthy and what we see in increasing rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity," said study author Dr. Dana King, a professor of family medicine at West Virginia ... Read more

Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Obesity, Diabetes, Type 2, Hypertension

High Blood Pressure in Kids May Be Less Common Than Thought

Posted 29 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 29 – The number of U.S. kids with full-blown high blood pressure could be lower than previously thought, if new research findings are on the mark. In a study of nearly 200,000 children aged 3 to 17 years, researchers found that only 0.3 percent met the standard for high blood pressure – elevated readings at three consecutive doctor visits. That stands in contrast to past studies, which have suggested that anywhere from 0.8 to 4.5 percent of American kids have high blood pressure. But experts say the "correct" rate among U.S. kids is still unknown. And even if blood pressure is lower than earlier estimates, children should still have their blood pressure measured at routine checkups, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, an expert in pediatric high blood pressure who was not involved in the new study. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood ... Read more

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Popularity of 'Walk-In' Retail Health Clinics Growing: Poll

Posted 8 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 8 – The popularity of "walk-in" medical clinics located in pharmacies, superstores and workplaces nationwide is increasing rapidly, according to a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll. Twenty-seven percent of all adults surveyed said they have used either walk-in retail clinics (19 percent) or work-based clinics (11 percent) to obtain medical care in the past two years. That's up from just 7 percent in 2008. "This survey shows a very large increase in the numbers of people using retail clinics over the last few years since earlier surveys, which used slightly different questions," said Harris Poll chairman Humphrey Taylor. Younger adults were more likely to have used such a facility compared with older adults. Among the respondents, 40 percent of adults aged 25 to 29 had used a retail or work-based clinic, versus only 15 percent of adults aged 65 and older. This is not ... Read more

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Low Wages Linked to Raised Risk for High Blood Pressure

Posted 7 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Jan. 7 – The lowest paid workers are at greater risk for high blood pressure than those taking home bigger paychecks, a new study suggests. This is particularly true for women and those between 25 and 44 years old, noted the researchers from University of California, Davis (UC Davis). The findings could help reduce the personal and financial costs of high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is a major health problem, the study authors pointed out in a university news release. "We were surprised that low wages were such a strong risk factor for two populations not typically associated with hypertension, which is more often linked with being older and male," study senior author J. Paul Leigh, a professor of public health sciences at UC Davis, said in the news release. "Our outcome shows that women and younger employees working at the lowest pay scales should be screened ... Read more

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