High Blood Pressure

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A study conducted by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has identified another risk - cognitive impairment.

However, their study has revealed that intensive blood pressure management can significantly reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk, with benefits persisting long after the treatment has ended. The findings, published in Neurology, underscore the long-term cognitive benefits of aggressive blood pressure control.

The study, part of the National Institutes of Health-supported Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT MIND), involved 9,361 participants aged 50 and older across more than 100 clinic sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive treatment group with a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 120 mm Hg or a standard treatment group with a goal of less than 140 mm Hg.

Over a median follow-up period of seven years, cognitive assessments were conducted both in-person and via telephone, classifying participants into categories of no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or probable dementia. The results showed that those in the intensive treatment group had a sustained lower incidence of cognitive impairment compared to the standard treatment group.

Bolstered by previous research

The study builds on previous findings from the landmark SPRINT trial, which in 2015 demonstrated that intensive blood pressure management reduced cardiovascular disease and lowered the risk of death by 30-40% in individuals with hypertension. 

The trial was stopped early due to its success, leaving questions about the long-term effects on dementia. However, initial results from SPRINT MIND in 2019 indicated a significantly reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment for up to five years following the initial 3.3 years of intensive treatment.

Researchers say the latest findings extend these benefits over a longer period, showing a continued reduction in cognitive impairment rates for at least seven years. 

Running a marathon or deadlifting 350 pounds is great but may not be necessary. New research suggests that adding even small amounts of physical activity, like walking uphill or climbing stairs, can help lower blood pressure.

The study, published in Circulation and conducted by the ProPASS Consortium, found that just five minutes of daily exercise could reduce blood pressure. Replacing sitting time with 20-27 minutes of activity, such as walking, running, or cycling, could lead to a significant drop in blood pressure.

Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis from the ProPASS Consortium said that just a few minutes of extra activity can have a powerful impact on managing blood pressure, making it an accessible option for many people.

“The finding that doing as little as five extra minutes of exercise per day could be associated with measurably lower blood pressure readings emphasises how powerful short bouts of higher intensity movement could be for blood pressure management,” Stamatakis said in a news release. 

High blood pressure, a major cause of serious health issues worldwide, affects over a billion people and often goes unnoticed. Researchers analyzed data from over 14,000 people, using activity monitors to study the effects of different types of movement on blood pressure.

They found that switching from sitting to exercise could reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 28% across populations.

Dr. Jo Blodgett, a co-author of the study, emphasized that exercise, even in small amounts, can be very effective for lowering blood pressure and can easily be part of daily routines.

“The good news is that whatever your physical ability, it doesn’t take long to have a positive effect on blood pressure. What’s unique about our exercise variable is that it includes all exercise-like activities, from running for a bus or a short cycling errand, many of which can be integrated into daily routines," Blodgett said.

“For those who don’t do a lot of exercise, walking did still have some positive benefits for blood pressure. But if you want to change your blood pressure, putting more demand on the cardiovascular system through exercise will have the greatest effect.” 

While many consumers may enjoy an afternoon nap, the results from a recent American Heart Association study shows that they might be bad for your health. The study showed that taking frequent naps during the day may increase the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. 

“This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps do so because of poor sleep at night,” said researcher Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D.

“Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that. This study echoes other findings that generally show that taking more naps seems to reflect increased risk for problems with heart health and other issues.” 

Heart health risks

The researchers analyzed data from more than 500,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69 who were enrolled in the U.K. Biobank. The participants were surveyed four times between 2006 and 2019 about their napping habits. They also gave saliva, blood, and urine samples over the course of the study. 

The team learned that regular daytime nappers were nearly 25% more likely to have a stroke and 12% more likely to have high blood pressure. Younger participants who napped frequently had a 20% higher risk of high blood pressure compared to those under 60 who never napped. 

The researchers found that napping more often could worsen heart health. Those who increased their napping in any way – even jumping from rarely napping to sometimes napping – were 40% more likely to have high blood pressure. The team hopes these findings highlight some of the heart health risks associated with regularly napping. 

“These results are especially interesting since millions of people might enjoy a regular, or even daily nap,” said researcher Dr. E. Wang. 

A new study conducted by the American Heart Association explored how women’s exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact their heart health. According to their findings, women with the highest traces of the chemicals in their blood may be more than 70% as likely to develop high blood pressure. 

“PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they never degrade in the environment and contaminate drinking water, soil, air, food, and numerous products we consume or encounter routinely,” said researcher Ning Ding, Ph.D. “One study estimated that two of the most common ‘forever chemicals’ are found in most household drinking water and are consumed by more than two-thirds of Americans. 

“Women seem to be particularly vulnerable when exposed to these chemicals. Our study is the first to examine the association between ‘forever chemicals’ and hypertension in middle-aged women. Exposure may be an underappreciated risk factor for women’s cardiovascular disease risk.” 

Blood pressure risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 women between the ages of 45 and 56 who were enrolled in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation-Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS). All of the women had healthy blood pressure levels at the start of the study, and the researchers followed up with them on a yearly basis from 1999 through 2017 to measure their blood pressure and take blood samples.

The researchers learned that women who had the highest concentrations of PFAS in their blood were at a higher risk of high blood pressure. The study looked at several different types of PFAS, and the researchers learned that some of them posed a bigger risk than others to the women’s blood pressure. Three of the chemicals stood out as having a more than 40% higher risk of high blood pressure: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid.

“It’s important to note that we examined individual PFAS as well as several PFAS together, and we found that the combined exposure to multiple PFAS had a stronger effect on blood pressure,” said researcher Kyun Park. “Some states are beginning to ban the use of PFAS in food packaging and cosmetic and personal care products. Our findings make it clear that strategies to limit the widespread use of PFAS in products need to be developed. Switching to alternative options may help reduce the incidence of high blood pressure risk in midlife women.”  

Overall, women with the highest levels of all seven PFAS had a more than 70% higher risk of developing high blood pressure. 

“We have known for some time that PFAS disrupts metabolism in the body, yet we didn’t expect the strength of the association we found,” said Park. “We hope that these findings alert clinicians about the importance of PFAS and that they need to understand and recognize PFAS as an important potential risk factor for blood pressure control.” 

While recent studies have found that blood pressure readings may vary depending on where they’re taken, a new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association focused on the risks associated with higher blood pressure when consumers stand up. 

According to their findings, consumers who experience a spike in blood pressure when they go from sitting to standing may have a higher risk of having a heart attack. 

“This finding may warrant starting blood pressure-lowering treatment including medicines earlier in patients with exaggerated blood pressure response to standing,” said researcher Dr. Paolo Palatini. 

Long-term heart attack risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 1,200 people enrolled in the HARVEST study. This Italy-based dataset started in 1990, and collected information on adults between 18 and 45 who were diagnosed with – but not being treated for – stage 1 hypertension. All of the participants had their blood pressure taken in six positions lying down and six positions standing up. The team then followed their health outcomes over the course of nearly 20 years. 

The researchers found an interesting relationship between blood pressure upon standing and the risk of a heart attack. The study identified a group of participants who experienced a significant increase in systolic blood pressure upon standing; on average, blood pressure shot up 11.4 mm Hg. Participants in this group were nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack despite showing no other cardiovascular-related health concerns at the start of the study. 

“The results of the study confirmed our initial hypothesis – a pronounced increase in blood pressure from lying to standing could be prognostically important in young people with high blood pressure,” Dr. Palatini said. “We were rather surprised that even a relatively small increase in standing blood pressure (6-7 mm Hg) was predictive of major cardiac events in the long run.” 

Aside from this pattern with standing blood pressure, the researchers found that participants in this group showed favorable health outcomes. They had better cholesterol levels than other study participants, exhibited comparable physical activity levels, had no family history of cardiovascular issues, and had healthy BMIs. 

However, the study showed that these participants were more likely to be smokers than those without this sharp uptick in blood pressure upon standing. This group also had higher overall blood pressure readings over the course of 24 hours. 

The researchers hope these findings identify patients who may have a higher risk of serious heart health issues – particularly those who are younger and may not present with any other major cardiovascular risks. 

“The findings suggest that blood pressure upon standing should be measured in order to tailor treatment for patients with high blood pressure, and potentially, a more aggressive approach to lifestyle changes and blood-pressure-lowering therapy may be considered for people with an elevated [hyperreactor] blood pressure response to standing,” Dr. Palatini said. 

As recent studies have highlighted the ways that consumers’ food choices may impact their blood pressure, a new study conducted by the American Heart Association looked closely at how protein may affect health outcomes. 

According to the findings, eating a variety of different protein sources may help lower the risk of developing high blood pressure. 

“The heart health message is that consuming a balanced diet with proteins from various different sources, rather than focusing on a single source of dietary protein, may help to prevent the development of high blood pressure,” said researcher Dr. Xianhui Qin. 

Protein variety improves blood pressure

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 12,200 adults enrolled in the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1997 through 2015. Participants took the survey every two to four years and reported on everything they ate in three 24-hour periods for each survey. The group also reported on their health outcomes related to blood pressure, including being diagnosed with high blood pressure or being prescribed medication for high blood pressure throughout the survey. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the variety of proteins the participants consumed played a role in their blood pressure outcomes. Those who regularly ate four or more different kinds of proteins were 66% less likely to develop high blood pressure when compared to those who regularly ate less than two different kinds of protein. 

While protein variety was beneficial for blood pressure readings, the quantity of protein consumed played a cautionary role for the participants. Those who ate the largest quantities of protein and those who ate the smallest quantities of protein were at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. 

The researchers hope these findings encourage consumers to consider their diets and what changes they can make to improve their health outcomes. 

“Nutrition may be an easily accessible and effective measure to fight against hypertension,” said Dr. Qi. “Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is one of the three basic macronutrients.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center revealed that hospital visits related to high blood pressure have been increasing over the last decade. According to their findings, more consumers are going to the hospital for hypertensive crises, which increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke. 

“Although more people have been able to manage their blood pressure over the last few years, we’re not seeing this improvement translate into fewer hospitalizations for hypertensive care,” said researcher Dr. Joseph E. Ebinger. “We need more research to understand why this is happening and how clinicians can help patients stay out of the hospital.” 

Gender plays a role in blood pressure health

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample between 2002 and 2014. They tracked hospitalizations across the country and evaluated the frequency with which consumers were seeking emergency care due to blood pressure concerns. 

Over the course of the study, there were nearly 920,000 people admitted into hospitals for hypertension concerns. However, the researchers found that the number of hospitalizations for blood pressure issues more than doubled between 2002 and 2014. 

The team explained that several factors could come into play here. For instance, lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, and exercise can all negatively impact consumers’ heart health and blood pressure levels. Additionally, though many consumers take medication to maintain healthy blood pressure levels, if they aren’t taking the proper dosage or if their finances have prevented them from obtaining the drugs, they may have a higher risk for complications. 

The researchers found that men were more likely to be hospitalized for blood pressure concerns than women. However, the researchers learned that the mortality rate of these cases was similar for both groups. This means hypertension may pose a greater risk for women’s long-term health.

“These findings raise the question: Are there sex-specific biologic mechanisms that place women at a greater risk for dying during a hypertensive crisis?” said researcher Dr. Susan Cheng. “By understanding these processes, we could prevent more deaths among women.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University explored one of the biggest factors impacting the maternal death rate. According to their findings, chronic hypertension was responsible for the rise in maternal death. 

“Overall hypertension-associated deaths declined in the U.S. over the last 40 years, but this decline is restricted to women who have preeclampsia/eclampsia as the cause,” said researcher Cande V. Ananth. 

“If you isolate the data on women who have chronic hypertension, which is defined as a preexisting hypertensive condition or hypertension diagnosed within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, as a cause, mortality rates have increased quite substantially – on average, by about 9.2% per year over the last 40 years. So it is the chronic hypertension that has really driven the maternal mortality trends in the U.S. over the last 40 years.” 

Racial and age-related disparities in heart health 

For the study, the researchers analyzed the health outcomes of women who gave birth in the United States between 1979 and 2018. They looked at factors such as race, age, and history with hypertension before, during, and after pregnancy. 

Over the course of the study, the maternal mortality rate was 2.1 per 1,000,000 births. However, the researchers learned that the same figure was nearly four times higher for Black women than white women. Experts say risk factors related to high blood pressure, as well as limited access to health care, may be the reason behind this racial disparity. 

“Black women were anywhere from three- to four-fold increased risk of dying from a hypertension-related cause compared to White women in the United States, and this disparity has persisted for the last 40 years,” Ananth said. 

The study also showed that age may play a role in the maternal death rate. When older women gave birth and were also in poor health, the risk of death related to high blood pressure was higher. 

Finding better treatments for women

The goal moving forward is to better identify, monitor, and treat women who may be at a higher risk of developing chronic hypertension. The team says lifestyle interventions – such as following healthier diets, consuming less alcohol, and eliminating smoking – and the use of blood pressure medications may be necessary to see results. 

“We have gotten much better at treating women with preeclampsia/eclampsia during pregnancy, which has undoubtedly contributed to the decline in maternal death rates, but we haven’t done as good a job in treating women with chronic hypertension,” said Ananth. “Part of that is because many of these women come in undiagnosed, and it’s often problematic to treat women with drugs to reduce their blood pressure, particularly early in pregnancy, so there’s a conflict of what’s the right approach.

“Women who have any obstetrical complications, particularly hypertension-related complications, should be monitored very closely during the course of pregnancy and delivery, as well as in the postpartum period,” he added. “Following these women after pregnancy is crucial.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association explored the safety of blood pressure treatments for pregnant women. According to their findings, these treatments not only help maintain healthy blood pressure levels, but they can also improve pregnancy and delivery outcomes.

“For decades, the benefits of blood pressure treatment for pregnant women were unclear,” said researcher Dr. Vesna D. Garovic. “And there were concerns about fetal well-being from exposure to antihypertensive medications. 

“Through our comprehensive review of the existing literature, it is reassuring to see emerging evidence that treating high blood pressure during pregnancy is safe and effective and may be beneficial at lower thresholds than previously thought. Now, we have the current statement focused on hypertension during pregnancy to help inform optimal treatment and future research.” 

Keeping mothers and babies healthy

The researchers analyzed several earlier studies that evaluated the safety of different blood pressure treatments for pregnant women. Previous findings suggested that some treatments could compromise fetuses’ health, but the researchers noted that addressing hypertension is also important for mothers’ long-term health.

Ultimately, their work showed that blood pressure treatments – such as prescription medications and lifestyle habits like consistent exercise and healthy diets – are important for the health of mothers beyond their pregnancies. The team found that engaging in these habits both before and during pregnancy is key to keeping blood pressure in a healthy range. Pregnant women who exercised were 30% less likely to develop high blood pressure and 40% less likely to develop preeclampsia. 

Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the likelihood of health risks for both mothers and infants, including low infant birth weight and preterm delivery. The researchers said when women have high blood pressure at the time of delivery, they have a higher risk of heart health complications down the road.

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done to better understand women’s heart health before, during, and after pregnancy. 

“Future clinical trials are needed to address questions about when to begin treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy,” said Dr. Garovic. “Also, close collaboration between the American Heart Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will be instrumental in optimizing diagnosis and treatment of hypertension during pregnancy and in improving immediate and long-term outcomes for many women who develop hypertension during pregnancy.”