Not all high blood pressure is hypertension: Blood Pressure Digest #4
Not all high blood pressure is hypertension
Not all high blood pressure is hypertension, according to Kelly Evans-Hullinger, M.D. She published an interesting read about on this difference in the Great Bend Tribune . While it's common for people to experience temporary spikes in blood pressure during stressful situations, this doesn't necessarily mean they have hypertension. "White coat hypertension," where blood pressure is elevated in a medical setting but not elsewhere, is another factor that can contribute to misdiagnosis. The diagnosis of hypertension and treatment decisions should only be made based on an average of resting blood pressure readings, rather than a single reading. Lifestyle interventions and medication may be recommended for those with hypertension.
Dr Evans-Hullinger writes: “If a hypothetical adult patient, who is feeling well and has never before had hypertension, comes to their annual physical and has a blood pressure of 155/90, the first step is to repeat it after a period of 5-10 minutes of quiet rest”.
Common blood pressure drug rilmenidine could help delay aging
Rilmenidine, a drug commonly used to treat hypertension, has been found to slow the aging process and increase longevity, according to researchers from 美国哈佛大学 , the 英国利物浦大学 and 瑞士苏黎世联邦理工学院 . The team's findings show that the repurposed drug has the potential to extend health span and lifespan, offering immense benefits to an aging population, New York Post reports. While low calorie diets have previously been identified as the best anti-aging method, rilmenidine has been touted for its ability to streamline the process without side effects. The researchers hope their findings can advance translational geroscience.
“For the first time, we have been able to show in animals that rilmenidine can increase lifespan,” lead researcher Joao Pedro de Magalhaes said. “We are now keen to explore if rilmenidine may have other clinical applications.”
Commonly Used Blood Pressure Drug Could Help Treat PTSD
Researchers have discovered that a blood pressure medication, clonidine, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and ADHD, could be a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), SciTechDaily reports. Clonidine works by acting on the adrenergic receptors in the brain that play a significant role in the “fight or flight” response. These receptors are thought to have a role in consolidating traumatic memories and are activated in PTSD. Although clinical trials of Clonidine's sister drug Guanfacine showed conflicting results, Clonidine has shown promise in treating PTSD. This new discovery offers hope for treating the increasing prevalence of PTSD.
“Large-scale clinical trials of clonidine in PTSD are warranted”, write the Dr Qin Wang and Dr Hasib Rehman, the study’s authors.
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NUTRITION
The small change to diet that lowers blood pressure
Plant-based diets that include small amounts of animal products can also reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a review by researchers from Warwick Medical School . The study compared seven plant-based diets, some of which included meat and dairy, and found that even less strict plant-based diets exert a similar effect on blood pressure as strict vegetarian diets, PsyBlog.nl reports. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, making the findings significant for public health. The researchers suggest that eating more plant-based foods could prevent approximately 5 million deaths per year.
Professor Francesco Cappuccio, study senior author, said: “We ought to formulate strategies to influence beliefs about plant-based diets, plant food availability and costs, multisectoral actions to foster policy changes focusing on environmental sustainability of food production, science gathering and health consequences.”
LIFESTYLE
Shortened Nightly Sleep Linked to Increased Incidence of Coronary Heart Disease in 6-Year Study
A new 6-year study published by Nature, has found that chronic shortened sleep can significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The study, which monitored 9704 healthy participants, found that individuals with very short nightly sleep were at a significantly higher risk of CHD, and were more susceptible to unstable angina. These findings highlight the importance of healthy sleep patterns in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Dr Fatemeh Sadabadi (International UNESCO Center for Health Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition): “Subjects with very short sleep had an increased relative risk for unstable angina after adjusting for several CHD risk factors”.
Warm water may lower blood pressure
A new study conducted in Beppu, Japan, has suggested that a hot bath at night could help in keeping high blood pressure at bay, Bel Marra Health reports. The study analyzed data from a decades-old survey that examined the risk of high blood pressure among older adults in the city. Results showed that older adults, aged 65 and over, who routinely soaked in a hot spring after 7 p.m. had a 15 percent lower risk for high blood pressure. The survey featured approximately 11,000 adults, and almost 4 out of 40 had high blood pressure. The warm water in the bath is believed to help lower stress levels, which could affect blood pressure. Additionally, it can help promote better sleep, which can keep blood pressure low. The study suggests that a warm bath or shower before bed could produce similar results. However, it is important to note that the results are observational, and a warm bath or shower is not a substitute for treating high blood pressure.
Dr Satoshi Yamasaki of Kyushu University Beppu Hospital: “We found that habitual nighttime hot spring bathing was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension in older adults”.