Blood Pressure Archive

Chronic pain is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, which may be driven in part by depression, according to a 2026 study. Mind-body therapies and medications may help.

An analysis shows less than 7% of adults in the US meet the criteria for optimal cardiometabolic health. Taking small steps to help control and improve key risk factors can reduce the odds of a heart attack or stroke.

For people with high blood pressure, practicing slow, deep breathing for 15 minutes a day can potentially lower blood pressure. Helpful techniques include 4-7-8 breathing, box breathing, and belly breathing. Devices to guide breathing exercises may also be useful.

Elevated levels of aldosterone (a hormone that regulates water, sodium, and potassium in the body) is an underrecognized and undertreated contributor to high blood pressure.

A 2025 study finds that among people with high blood pressure, waking up from sleep to urinate is closely linked to elevated blood pressure during sleep.

A 2025 study suggests that polyphenols, found in a wide range of plant foods, may have long-term benefits for the heart. Over an average of 11 years, people whose diets contained the most polyphenol-rich foods ranked lowest on scores of heart disease risk.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, is a serious warning sign for future stroke, especially in the first 48 hours. Medications plus lifestyle changes-healthy eating, regular exercise, and blood pressure control-can significantly lower that risk.

Beta blockers have long been standard treatment for people after a heart attack. New evidence suggests they may not help those whose hearts still pump normally, though the drugs remain important for heart attack survivors with reduced ejection fraction.

Reclining and lying down may be linked to worse cardiovascular health while short bouts of sitting or standing may reduce cardiovascular risk, according to a 2025 study.