Young adults who complete a program of training in transcendental meditation, and who are at risk of hypertension, are able to use the relaxation method to lower their blood pressure and levels of psychological distress, according to a study published online Oct. 1 and in the December issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.
Sanford I. Nidich, Ph.D., of the Maharishi University of Management Research Institute, Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, and colleagues conducted a study of 298 university students who were randomized to either a waiting list or a program of transcendental meditation training. The subjects' blood pressure levels, psychological distress and coping ability were assessed at baseline and after three months.
The researchers found that, in the intervention group, there was a reduction in systolic blood pressure of −2.0 mm Hg, and a −1.2 mm Hg reduction in diastolic blood pressure, compared to an increase of 0.4 mm Hg and 0.5 mm Hg, for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, in the control group.
"This is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate that a selected mind-body intervention, the transcendental meditation program, decreased blood pressure in association with decreased psychological distress and increased coping in young adults at risk for hypertension," the authors write. "This mind-body program may reduce the risk for future development of hypertension in young adults."
One of the study's authors is a consultant to Maharishi Health Technologies L.L.C.
Source: HealthDay News
Friday, 20 November 2009
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Study claims grapes reduce blood pressure in rats
Grapes can help lower blood pressure and improve heart function, new research has revealed.
Scientists examined the effects of red, green and purple grapes on rats that develop high blood pressure when fed a salty diet.
After 18 weeks, the rats that ate the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation throughout their bodies, and fewer signs of heart muscle damage than rats that ate a salty diet but no grapes.
Researcher Mitchell Seymour of Michigan State University says the findings support the theory that grapes themselves have a direct impact on heart disease risk, "beyond the simple blood pressure lowering impact already known to come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables."
"The inevitable downhill sequence to hypertension and heart failure was changed by the addition of grapes to a high-salt diet," says research leader Dr Steven Bolling. The grapes comprised about 3% of the rats’ diet. For humans, that would be about nine servings, or 135 grapes, a day.
Source:NBR staff Thursday November 19 2009 - 12:25pm
Scientists examined the effects of red, green and purple grapes on rats that develop high blood pressure when fed a salty diet.
After 18 weeks, the rats that ate the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation throughout their bodies, and fewer signs of heart muscle damage than rats that ate a salty diet but no grapes.
Researcher Mitchell Seymour of Michigan State University says the findings support the theory that grapes themselves have a direct impact on heart disease risk, "beyond the simple blood pressure lowering impact already known to come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables."
"The inevitable downhill sequence to hypertension and heart failure was changed by the addition of grapes to a high-salt diet," says research leader Dr Steven Bolling. The grapes comprised about 3% of the rats’ diet. For humans, that would be about nine servings, or 135 grapes, a day.
Source:NBR staff Thursday November 19 2009 - 12:25pm
Migraine increases likelihood of stroke
People who suffer migraines have more than double the risk of ischemic stroke, and the risk is especially high in women, a new study has found.
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, occurs when blood supply to the brain is cut off by plaque accumulation or a blood clot.
In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed the findings of 21 studies that included a total of 622,381 men and women, aged 18 to 70, in Europe and North America. Those with migraines were 2.3 times more likely than people without migraines to suffer ischemic stroke. The risk was 2.5 times higher for migraine sufferers who experienced aura (visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zigzag lines and blurred vision), and for women experiencing aura, 2.9 times higher.
The study was to be presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The findings reinforce the link between migraine and stroke and also correct some discrepancies in previous analyses that yielded mixed results, according to Hopkins cardiologist and senior study investigator Dr. Saman Nazarian.
Nazarian said nearly 1,800 articles have been written about the relationship between migraine and stroke, but the Hopkins review is believed to be the largest of its kind and was more selective, including only studies that used similar designs and groups of people.
"Identifying people at highest risk is crucial to preventing disabling strokes. Based on this data, physicians should consider addressing stroke risk factors in patients with a history or signs of light flashes and blurry vision associated with severe headaches," Nazarian said in a Hopkins news release.
There are a number of migraine prevention and treatment options, including smoking cessation, taking medications to lower blood pressure or taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin, Nazarian added. For women with migraines, additional options include discontinuing use of birth control pills or stopping hormone replacement therapy.
Source:HealthDay News
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, occurs when blood supply to the brain is cut off by plaque accumulation or a blood clot.
In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed the findings of 21 studies that included a total of 622,381 men and women, aged 18 to 70, in Europe and North America. Those with migraines were 2.3 times more likely than people without migraines to suffer ischemic stroke. The risk was 2.5 times higher for migraine sufferers who experienced aura (visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zigzag lines and blurred vision), and for women experiencing aura, 2.9 times higher.
The study was to be presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The findings reinforce the link between migraine and stroke and also correct some discrepancies in previous analyses that yielded mixed results, according to Hopkins cardiologist and senior study investigator Dr. Saman Nazarian.
Nazarian said nearly 1,800 articles have been written about the relationship between migraine and stroke, but the Hopkins review is believed to be the largest of its kind and was more selective, including only studies that used similar designs and groups of people.
"Identifying people at highest risk is crucial to preventing disabling strokes. Based on this data, physicians should consider addressing stroke risk factors in patients with a history or signs of light flashes and blurry vision associated with severe headaches," Nazarian said in a Hopkins news release.
There are a number of migraine prevention and treatment options, including smoking cessation, taking medications to lower blood pressure or taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin, Nazarian added. For women with migraines, additional options include discontinuing use of birth control pills or stopping hormone replacement therapy.
Source:HealthDay News
Sunday, 25 October 2009
History of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy may increase risk of cardiac, metabolic disorders
Women with a history of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, particularly if the hypertension is recurrent, according to a Norwegian study in the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Elisabeth B. Magnussen, M.D., of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and colleagues examined the association between hypertensive pregnancy disorders (preeclampsia or gestational hypertension) and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases among 15,065 women with a first singleton birth from 1967 to 1995.
The researchers showed that women with a history of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy had a higher body mass index and blood pressure, as well as unfavorable levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. The risk of diabetes was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia. Hypertensive disorders occurring in more than one pregnancy or late in pregnancy strengthened the association between cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, two episodes of preeclampsia were associated with a greater likelihood of using blood pressure medication, while three episodes of gestational hypertension were associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, adjusting for body mass index partially attenuated these associations.
"Women with a history of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and particularly women with recurrent pregnancy disorders, should be candidates for intervention intended to prevent premature cardiovascular disease," the authors conclude.
Source: HealthDayNews
Obesity may hinder optimal control of blood pressure
Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research presented at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Dr. Vineet Bhan, a resident at the
"In
He says that other studies have looked at obese individuals in the general population and found they were more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. "This, to our knowledge, is the first study looking at patients with established cardiovascular disease who are on treatment to see how obesity relates to the control of these risk factors," he says.
The study recruited 7,357 high risk patients who had a history of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes plus additional cardiovascular risk factors from nine Canadian provinces. This observational study, based on two outpatient registries, took place from 2001 to 2004, recruiting 95 per cent of the patients from family physician offices. The registries were led by senior co-author, Dr. Shaun Goodman, and coordinated by the Canadian Heart Research Centre.
"Although a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be proven, our data would suggest that pharmacologic treatment alone without achieving optimal weight may not be adequate," says senior author, Dr. Andrew Yan. "This is a potentially important message to get across to clinicians, especially primary care physicians who are on the front line managing these high risk patients in the long term."
Patients were classified into three groups according to their
normal weight (
overweight (
obese (
Researchers measured their rates of attaining guideline targets of blood pressure and cholesterol. The majority of patients (3,261) were obese; 2,791 were overweight, and 1,305 were normal weight. After controlling for age, sex, diabetes, use of pharmacologic therapies and other confounders, the investigators found that obese patients were less likely to attain blood pressure and
Overall, 42 per cent of patients attained guideline recommended blood pressure targets, and 21 per cent achieved both blood pressure and
Among normal weight patients, 52 per cent reached blood pressure targets; among overweight patients, 47 per cent reached blood pressure targets; and among obese patients, 34 per cent reached blood pressure targets.
Dr. Charles Kerr, president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society added that the firm linkage of obesity with a failure to achieve known targets for risk prevention in coronary artery disease is important. "It is very clear that there is an interaction here that is critical," says Dr. Kerr. "You can't as effectively lower your cholesterol or your blood pressure without losing the weight."
Obesity is associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes -- three well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (
Source: ScienceDaily.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
You are never too old to keep your blood pressure in check
Treating hypertension in adults 60 years old and older can help them live longer, healthier lives, according to an updated review. The effects might be more obvious in those who already have cardiovascular disease, but anti-hypertensive therapy also benefits other seniors and can help reduce deaths due to stroke as well as myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death.
The review of 15 studies comprised more than 24,000 participants in which the oldest person was 105 years old and the average age was 74. Studies took place between 1970 and 2008.
“Before the first definitive clinical-trial evidence supporting blood–pressure-lowering treatment was produced in the mid-1980s, systolic hypertension was regarded as a natural feature of aging and some feared excessive harm from blood-pressure lowering in this age group,” said lead review author Dr. Vijaya Musini.
Musini is an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology, pharmacology and therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
Blood pressure measurements for the study patients averaged 172/81. Systolic hypertension — in which the “upper” blood pressure measurement is 140 or higher — is more likely to occur in older people and experts now consider it a better predictor of heart attack and strokes than diastolic blood pressure.
Most of the early studies on hypertension took place with lower-risk individuals, in their 50’s or younger, which does not reflect the growing numbers of Americans who are 60 or older or the increasing numbers of people receiving hypertension diagnoses.
“There are data on people under 60 that treatment of hypertension is effective and when properly utilized reduces the rate of stroke, heart attack and death,” said Dr. Scott Wright, a professor of medicine with the Mayo Clinic. “The majority of cases of hypertension and especially new cases are probably being diagnosed in those over 60.”
Lifestyle factors associated with aging might play a part in this group’s increased risk. “Older people also accumulate higher rates of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease including obesity, a sedentary life style and diabetes,” Musini said.
The review concluded that treatment for hypertension reduced the overall number of fatalities whether or not they were associated with cardiovascular disease. Treating hypertension can also reduce the risk of stroke and disability, risk factors that are independent of those for heart disease.
“It is important to update reviews to integrate new studies that have been published, to review new classes of medication which might not have been approved or widely utilized 10 years ago, and to remind clinicians of the importance of treating hypertension,” Wright said. “Hypertension is easier to treat today than five or 10 years ago because there are better agents, there’s more information about how to use them and what side effects they might cause.”
The review also found that slightly different treatment works best for the “oldest old,” people over 80.
“The new conclusions in the updated review are that most benefit is due to first-line thiazide diuretic therapy for a mean duration of 4.5 years; that the decrease in all-cause mortality was limited to persons 60 to 80 years of age; and, that the best approach in patients 80 years and over is two drugs in low doses in an effort to reduce the incidence of stroke,” Musini said.
# # #
Source: By Joan Vos MacDonald, Contributing Writer, Health Behavior News Service
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Reach the Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health, at hbns-editor@cfah.org or (202) 387-2829.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information.
Musini VM, et al. Pharmacotherapy for hypertension in the elderly. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
The review of 15 studies comprised more than 24,000 participants in which the oldest person was 105 years old and the average age was 74. Studies took place between 1970 and 2008.
“Before the first definitive clinical-trial evidence supporting blood–pressure-lowering treatment was produced in the mid-1980s, systolic hypertension was regarded as a natural feature of aging and some feared excessive harm from blood-pressure lowering in this age group,” said lead review author Dr. Vijaya Musini.
Musini is an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology, pharmacology and therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
Blood pressure measurements for the study patients averaged 172/81. Systolic hypertension — in which the “upper” blood pressure measurement is 140 or higher — is more likely to occur in older people and experts now consider it a better predictor of heart attack and strokes than diastolic blood pressure.
Most of the early studies on hypertension took place with lower-risk individuals, in their 50’s or younger, which does not reflect the growing numbers of Americans who are 60 or older or the increasing numbers of people receiving hypertension diagnoses.
“There are data on people under 60 that treatment of hypertension is effective and when properly utilized reduces the rate of stroke, heart attack and death,” said Dr. Scott Wright, a professor of medicine with the Mayo Clinic. “The majority of cases of hypertension and especially new cases are probably being diagnosed in those over 60.”
Lifestyle factors associated with aging might play a part in this group’s increased risk. “Older people also accumulate higher rates of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease including obesity, a sedentary life style and diabetes,” Musini said.
The review concluded that treatment for hypertension reduced the overall number of fatalities whether or not they were associated with cardiovascular disease. Treating hypertension can also reduce the risk of stroke and disability, risk factors that are independent of those for heart disease.
“It is important to update reviews to integrate new studies that have been published, to review new classes of medication which might not have been approved or widely utilized 10 years ago, and to remind clinicians of the importance of treating hypertension,” Wright said. “Hypertension is easier to treat today than five or 10 years ago because there are better agents, there’s more information about how to use them and what side effects they might cause.”
The review also found that slightly different treatment works best for the “oldest old,” people over 80.
“The new conclusions in the updated review are that most benefit is due to first-line thiazide diuretic therapy for a mean duration of 4.5 years; that the decrease in all-cause mortality was limited to persons 60 to 80 years of age; and, that the best approach in patients 80 years and over is two drugs in low doses in an effort to reduce the incidence of stroke,” Musini said.
# # #
Source: By Joan Vos MacDonald, Contributing Writer, Health Behavior News Service
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Reach the Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health, at hbns-editor@cfah.org or (202) 387-2829.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information.
Musini VM, et al. Pharmacotherapy for hypertension in the elderly. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
Monday, 12 October 2009
At-home blood-pressure checks might help, but you need advice too
Most people with high blood pressure don't have the condition under control, increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. So researchers at Duke University explored whether some low-key, at-home measures can make a difference.
The study, published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, is summed up in this way:
"In this trial, 636 patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to receive usual care; a telephone-delivered, nurse-administered behavioral self-management intervention; home blood pressure self-monitoring; or both of the latter two interventions. Compared with usual care, the adjusted improvement in the proportion of patients with blood pressure control at 24 months was 4.3% for the behavioral intervention group, 7.6% for the blood pressure monitoring group, and 11.0% for the combined intervention group."
In short, the combined approach of at-home checks and regular chats with a nurse was moderately effective; the single-tactic approaches weren't especially.
The researchers quite fairly point out that it's difficult to draw broad generalizations from the study, saying many participants did, in fact, have their blood pressure under control at the beginning of the study. And, too, the work was done through an academic health center, which couldn't be the case for everyone.
Nevertheless, the results back up earlier research suggesting that home interventions have some promise -- and that the costs are minimal. These days, that's no small thing.
Source: LATimes
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