Archive for the ‘Environmental Factors that may Effect Blood Pressure’ Category

Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Sleep apnea is a disorder where a person experiences a sequence of shallow breaths or pauses in breathing while sleeping. The duration of the pauses varies from a few seconds to minutes and they usually occur repeatedly throughout the night, often leaving the individual feeling sleep deprived the next morning.

About half of the people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (the most common type) also have hypertension and there is mounting evidence indicating that treatment of sleep apnea via CPAP machines can significantly reduce blood pressure.

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Both severe and minor Symptomatic Obstructive Sleep Apnea have been tied to endothelial dysfunction, a situation in which the cells that line blood vessels, arteries and veins throughout the body do not expand as needed often leading to increased blood pressure. When the body goes though periods of not receiving enough oxygen, as it does with sleep apnea, there is a decrease in nitric oxide production. Sufficient nitric oxide is essential for proper endothelial function and not enough prohibits the endothelium from behaving properly. There is also evidence to suggest that sleep apnea results in increased sympathetic activity, a known contributor to hypertension.

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Fructose May Raise High Blood Pressure Risk

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Fructose consumption by American adults has increased by 30% over the past 20 years and has been tied to the rise in obesity, but its effect on blood pressure has been largely unknown.

From 2003-2006, over 4,500 adults who did not have a history of high blood pressure participated in a study which researched the possible link between fructose consumption and the development of high blood pressure. After examining participant’s diets, researchers determined that the median fructose intake for participants was 74 grams per day, which is the equivalent of about 2.5 sugary soft drinks. Fructose from fruit was not included, whereas fruit juices, regular soft drinks, bakery goods and candy were included in the calculation.

The data collected led researchers to conclude that fructose intake of more than 74 grams a day was tied to a 36% higher risk of blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, and this was after taking into account age, physical activity, calorie intake and salt intake.

Researchers hypothesize that possible mechanisms by which fructose could influence blood pressure include lowering nitric oxide production and/or raising uric acid in the blood.

Researchers wrote, “These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the U.S. adult population with no previous history of hypertension”.
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Nice Smile = Healthy Heart?

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Patients undergoing treatment for kidney failure (hemodialysis) appear to have a five times greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease if they have periodontal disease.

Kidney failure and high blood pressure have a dynamic relationship; kidney failure can cause high blood pressure and high blood pressure can cause kidney failure.

The study included 168 patients of which 68 had moderate to severe periodontal disease. There were 14 total cardiovascular disease related deaths in the whole group within 18 months and 11 of them had moderate to severe periodontal disease. The authors recognized their study has its limitations, such as a small sample size as well as incomplete socioeconomic and nutritional information. They conclude, “Our findings suggest a need for larger studies to confirm this connection, along with intervention trials to determine if treating periodontitis reduces cardiovascular disease mortality in dialysis patients.”

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Alarming News about Beta Blockers

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

In 2007, twelve studies which included almost 95,000 patents were analyzed to determine if beta blockers as a first-line therapy for hypertension played a role in new-onset diabetes mellitus (often referred to as simply diabetes).

The study’s findings were staggering. Not only did they find that beta blocker therapy increased risk the risk for new-onset diabetes by 22% compared with nondiuretic antihypertensive agents, but the researchers also concluded that beta blockers are associated with a 15% increased risk for stroke and that there was no benefit for the end point of death or myocardial infarction!

The researchers also pointed out that the risk for new-onset diabetes mellitus increased with a higher body mass index, Atenolol (trade name Tenormin), in the elderly and when the beta blockers were not as effective in reducing blood pressure. The risk also “increased exponentially with increased duration on beta blockers”.
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Not Enough Sleep May Harden Arteries

Monday, December 29th, 2008

A recent study suggests that getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night increases the risk of calcification in arteries, with calcified arteries found in one third of participants who slept less than 5 hours per night. » More: Not Enough Sleep May Harden Arteries

Regular Church Attendance tied to Longevity and Lower Blood Pressure

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Psychology professor Susan Lutgendorf of the University of Iowa led a study of 550 adults and the results revealed that attending church at least once a week increases your chances of living longer by 35%. » More: Regular Church Attendance tied to Longevity and Lower Blood Pressure

Noise Tied to Rise in Blood Pressure

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Living near an airport or busy street may not just be unpleasant, but unhealthy as well. Hypertension and a rise in blood pressure may be tied to noise, according to studies published in the European Heart Journal as well as the Environmental Health Perspectives journal. » More: Noise Tied to Rise in Blood Pressure

Is a Happy Marriage the Key to Low Blood Pressure?

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

If you are looking for a way to have naturally lower blood pressure, then being “married happily ever after” may be the answer! New research by Brigham Young University indicates that happily married couples have lower blood pressure than single adults. » More: Is a Happy Marriage the Key to Low Blood Pressure?