New Medical Studies Show Genetic Link Plays a Role in High Blood Pressure

Dr. Yen-Pei Christy Chang of the University of Maryland Medical Center and some of her colleagues have done an in-depth study among more than 500 Amish and about 7000 non-Amish Americans and Europeans. The studies has shown one specific gene impacting the likelihood of a person developing hypertension. Dr. Chang states, "This discovery has great potential for enhancing our ability to tailor treatments to the individual . . . and to more effectively manage patients with hypertension." Dr. Chang also states that the gene is only one important piece of the puzzle. According to US News, this gene variant is carried by about 1 in 5 white Americans and is consistent with an increase in blood pressure.

The Impact of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most common disease conditions in this country and is known to have a direct impact on other conditions such as heart attacks, stroke and kidney problems.

Scale to Determine Normal to High Blood Pressure

According to Web MD the following scale categorizes normal to high blood pressure:

Normal: Less than 120/80

Pre-hypertension: 120-139/80-89

Stage 1 High Blood Pressure: 140-159/90-99

Stage 2 High Blood Pressure: 160 and above over 100 and above

Causes of Hypertension

The exact cause of hypertension still is not known but there are several factors that play a role in increased blood pressure:

Overweight

Smoking

Lack of physical activity

Too much salt in the diet

Stress

Older age

Chronic kidney disease

Adrenal and thyroid disorders

Too much alcohol consumption

Family history of hypertension

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association, one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure and does not even know it. Hypertension is aptly named the "silent killer". There are typically no symptoms with high blood pressure and it is discovered on routine physical examination. Anyone with a family history of hypertension should be checked by their physician. According to Web MD, the only time hypertension has symptoms is when it is extremely high. This can cause severe headaches, fatigue, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat and blood in the urine due to the effect on the kidneys.

Controlling High Blood Pressure

There are a number of things that can be done to help reduce blood pressure. Smokers should stop smoking. Anyone with hypertension should watch their diet, maintain a normal weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise and avoid excess amounts of stress. Exercise does not need to be strenuous in order to be effective; just a little exercise done on a regular basis will improve blood pressure.

Of course, there are also a number of medications that are prescribed to help keep high blood pressure in check. Staying in close contact with your family physician is the best way to handle the problem and prevent any other health issues caused by hypertension.

According to Web MD, it has also been shown that owning a pet can help reduce blood pressure, boost immunity and ward off depression. It seems that man's best friend truly is man's best friend, but that applies to cats as well as dogs.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/blood-pressure-basics

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/12/30/health-buzz-a-high-blood-pressure-gene-and-other-health-news.html