High Blood Pressure is Dangerous Yet There are Simple Solutions

Most of us dread to have high blood pressure or what is generally known as hypertension. This is because it is a common knowledge that hypertension is a killer disease. Apart from the fact that hypertension on its own can kill, it may also lead to kidney failure, heart disease and other problems.

High blood pressure, defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Thus, solutions are earnestly sought to manage such condition. Among the recent studies that show possible solutions are as follows:

1) Low-Fat Dairy Reduces High Blood Pressure Risk
(from PR Newswire)

"High blood pressure is known as a 'silent killer' that affects one in three adults, and while this study offers promise for reducing those numbers, less than one-quarter of adults eat enough low-fat dairy products to benefit," said Andrea Garen, M.A., R.D., project manager at Dairy Council of California. "Making small, simple changes over time, such as eating low-fat yogurt for breakfast or drinking milk with meals, can increase calcium and vitamin D intake in a sustainable way."

2) Potato Proteins Have Blood Pressure Benefits
(from nutraingeredients.com)

Proteins isolated from the humble potato may be biologically active and capable of reducing blood pressure, as well as having antioxidant activity, Finnish researchers report.

Isolated proteins, obtained as processing waste from the potato industry, could form hydrolysates which possessed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity, report the researchers in the journal Food Chemistry.

"The results of this study suggest that potato is a promising source for the production of bioactive compounds as ingredients for developing functional foods with a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health," wrote lead author Anne Pihlanto from MTT Agrifood Research Finland.

3) Use of Blood Pressure Vaccine
(from Canada.com)

High blood pressure could be treated by vaccinations one day rather than by drugs, a trial has shown.

A vaccine developed by the Swiss company Cytos produced significant reductions in blood pressure that lasted for four months. There were no serious side-effects, but the trial involved only 48 patients receiving a single course of injections.

The blood pressure reductions were worthwhile, at least in 24 patients given a higher dose. This was a fall of 5.5 millimetres of mercury in systolic blood pressure (the higher of the two figures) and 2.9 in diastolic. That meant this group shifted from about 146/95 to a slightly healthier 141/92. Those receiving a lower dose did not show an improvement. The target for people with raised blood pressures is 140/85, so the vaccine fell short.

We couldn't agree any less as we continue to monitor developments in breakthroughs to prevent and cure high blood pressure..