High Blood Pressure

In seriously ill kids, obesity may be tied to higher death risk: study

(HealthDay News) —Obese children hospitalized for certain serious illnesses may have a higher risk of dying than thinner patients, a new research review suggests.

Pediatrics created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Screenings, targeted care reduce heart failure in at-risk patients

For at-risk patients, a simple screening and management program can be effective in preventing heart failure, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session.

Cardiology created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

No benefit found from BP drug in treatment of recently hospitalized heart failure patients

Despite high hopes that a blood pressure-lowering medication called aliskiren would help people following hospitalization for heart failure, no beneficial effects were found, according to research presented today at the American ...

Cardiology created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Erectile dysfunction drug fails for diastolic heart failure patients

Despite high expectations for a commonly used erectile dysfunction drug to treat patients with diastolic heart failure, no beneficial effects were found in a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd ...

Cardiology created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients

Heart attack patients given a combination of high-dose oral vitamins and minerals do not exhibit a significant reduction in recurrent cardiac events, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's ...

Cardiology created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sleep survey reveals that 78 percent of people suffering from sleep apnea are unaware of it

Philips Electronics today announced the results of an extensive new scientific study into sleep apnea, conducted over the last two years by Philips in collaboration with University of Twente (Enschede, the Netherlands), Medisch ...

Sleep apnea created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Literature review shows inflammation links obesity and gum disease

Blood on your toothbrush can be a warning sign of gum disease. And, if you are overweight, it can indicate other serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Dentistry created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Prenatal exposure to pesticide DDT linked to adult high blood pressure

Infant girls exposed to high levels of the pesticide DDT while still inside the womb are three times more likely to develop hypertension when they become adults, according to a new study led by the University of California, ...

Health created Mar 12, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Drug may ease angina in people with type 2 diabetes

(HealthDay)—The drug Ranexa (ranolazine) may help reduce chest pain in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study finds.

Diabetes created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

New drugs might give heart patients an edge

(HealthDay)—In the search for better medicines to safely help heart patients, clinical trials testing three new drugs appear to offer some promise.

Cardiology created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Breathtaking: New treatments for a fatal lung disease

Research paves the way for new approaches in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a progressive lung disease that can lead to heart failure within three years.

Medical research created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How much sodium are you eating? New online salt calculator sums it up

Canadians can track how much salt they're eating and identify the main sources of sodium in their diet using a new online Salt Calculator.

Health created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Women live longer, but have a lower quality of life

To mark International Women's Day on 8th March 2013, the Institute of Gender Medicine at the MedUni Vienna has presented an alarming result obtained from gender-specific research. According to recent studies, ...

Health created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study explains why fainting can result from blood pressure drug used in conjunction with other disorders

A new study led by a Canadian research team has identified the reason why prazosin, a drug commonly used to reduce high blood pressure, may cause lightheadedness and possible fainting upon standing in patients with normal ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Weight loss linked to higher risk with implanted defibrillators

Even minor weight loss is associated with worse health outcomes among patients implanted with a certain type of defibrillator known as cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D), according to research being ...

Cardiology created Mar 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure, sometimes arterial hypertension, is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. This requires the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the blood vessels. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and diastolic, which depend on whether the heart muscle is contracting (systole) or relaxed (diastole) between beats. Normal blood pressure is at or below 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is said to be present if it is persistently at or above 140/90 mmHg.

Hypertension is classified as either primary (essential) hypertension or secondary hypertension; about 90–95% of cases are categorized as "primary hypertension" which means high blood pressure with no obvious underlying medical cause. The remaining 5–10% of cases (secondary hypertension) are caused by other conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure, aneurysms of the arteries (e.g. aortic aneurysm), peripheral arterial disease and is a cause of chronic kidney disease. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure is associated with a shortened life expectancy. Dietary and lifestyle changes can improve blood pressure control and decrease the risk of associated health complications, although drug treatment is often necessary in patients for whom lifestyle changes prove ineffective or insufficient.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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