Controlling Your Blood Pressure Archive

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Research we're watching

Drinking as little as one sugar-sweetened beverage a day is linked to a slightly greater risk of high blood pressure, a new analysis suggests.

Researchers pooled findings from six studies that included a total of more than 240,000 people. They found a 12% higher risk of high blood pressure among people who drank one or more sugary drinks daily compared with those who drank none. Serving sizes of the beverages varied from 7 to 12 ounces among the different studies.

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Initial results of a large national clinical trial suggest that being more aggressive in treating high blood pressure may save lives. Results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) aren't yet published, so we don't know all of the details. But from information released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in September, it appears that aiming for a systolic (top) blood pressure reading of less than 120 mm Hg may reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure by almost a third, and reduce the overall death rate by 25%. Researchers came to this conclusion after following more than 9,000 middle-aged and older adults with high blood pressure for several years. Half of the participants took an average of two medications and set a target systolic blood pressure of less than 140 mm Hg, the current recommended number. The other half took an average of three medications and aimed for a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg. The results in the lower-target group were so impressive that NIH stopped the study early to share the news. Does this mean you should add more pills to your blood pressure treatment? "Not necessarily, because there may be more drug side effects. But if you're aiming for a lower number, I think it will be critical to rely on lifestyle modification, such as stress reduction, diet, salt restriction, and exercise, in addition to medication to lower blood pressure," says Dr. Randall Zusman, a cardiologist and Harvard Medical School associate professor.

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If you're concerned about heart disease, discuss your blood pressure target with your doctor.

Earlier this fall, federal officials stopped a major blood pressure study a full year earlier than planned, based on what they called "potentially lifesaving benefits" from the findings. The preliminary results suggest that in people with high blood pressure, achieving a systolic blood pressure (the first number in a reading) of 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) in-stead of 140 mm Hg can substantially lower a person's risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and death.

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Research we're watching

People who sleep too much or too little may be more likely to have early signs of heart disease, according to a study of more than 47,000 apparently healthy young and middle-aged adults.

The study volunteers filled out sleep questionnaires and underwent tests to assess the arteries in their hearts and legs. Researchers found that people who slept for nine or more hours per night had more calcium buildup in their heart artery walls and stiffer leg arteries than those who slept seven hours per night. These early signs of heart disease were also more prevalent in people who logged five or fewer hours of sleep per night and in people who reported poor sleep quality.

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A landmark study indicates that lowering the top number to 120 mm Hg can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems and death.

Medical practice usually evolves fairly slowly. Experts meet every five to 10 years to review study findings and make recommendations. But occasionally the results of a single study are so decisive that it is brought to a halt early, the results are announced, and doctors change their advice to patients based on the findings. For example, in 2002 the Women's Health Initiative was stopped three years early when postmenopausal women taking estrogen and progestin were found to be at higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer than those who weren't on the hormones. The use of postmenopausal hormone therapy fell 70% in the next few years.

Do you ever feel dizzy or faint when you stand up? Here's one common reason—and what to do about it.

The medications your doctor prescribes may depend on your underlying health issues.

Changing lifelong habits is hard, but these practical tips can help.

When blood pressure persists above healthy limits, men are faced with a decision: take a medication now, or try to lower it with nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Many men are reluctant to start taking a new pill every day—possibly for life. Although changing deeply ingrained habits can be hard, it really works.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) not only saves lives, it may also help survivors of cardiac arrest recover well enough to return to work, according to a study in the May 12, 2015, issue of Circulation.

Researchers studied more than 4,300 people in Denmark who were employed before they suffered a cardiac arrest. In cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops working. More than 75% of survivors who had a cardiac arrest outside a hospital were able to return to work in a median time of four months. Those who received CPR from a bystander were nearly 40% more likely go back to work compared with those who didn't get CPR. The chest compressions given during CPR keep blood circulating to the brain, minimizing brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.

Now we have a better tool to calculate your chance of a brain attack if you've been diagnosed with afib.

Atrial fibrillation (afib) is among the most common heart rhythm irregularities. During a bout of afib, the usually rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle's upper chambers (the atria) are replaced by an ineffectual quiver that does not completely move blood out of the heart chamber. As a result, blood can stagnate and form clots. These clots can then travel to the brain and cause an ischemic stroke.