Hypertension

Increasing numbers of people are on kidney transplant waiting lists. However, the number of potential living donors may shrink as more Americans qualify as pre-diabetic, making them less than ideal donor candidates.

Experts at Kidney Week 2012 discuss several treatment options for hyponatremia, including fluid restriction, loop diuretics, and the use of selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonists.

A diet rich in highly alkaline fruits and vegetables helps reduce a marker of kidney injury and preserve kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Researchers have found that inserting intra-aortic balloon pumps before angioplasty in patients with AMI does not reduce heart muscle damage.

Patients in a happy marriage were three times more likely to be alive15 years following coronary bypass surgery than patients who were single.

A common virus may be the root of the most frequently occurring type of hypertension.

With its patent protection is looming, the WSJ reported that, according to unnamed sources, Pfizer is considering whether to pursue an OTC version of Lipitor.

One-fifth of all patients suffering from PAH go undiagnosed and thus untreated for over two years before their disease is correctly identified.

A researcher has proven that magnetic fields have the potential to act as a blood thinner, and possibly reduce the risk of heart attack.

Video explores current options for managing hypertension and atherosclerosis.

The American Heart Association recently revealed its annual list of the most important cardiovascular and stroke research findings from the past year.

As more angiotensin receptor blockers come off patent, it will be interesting to see how manufacturers, payers, and physicians react.

Treating high blood pressure in African-Americans needs to start sooner and be more aggressive, according to a statement by the ISHIB.

Following the DASH diet can reduce blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, and decrease 10-year-risk of heart attack.

I thought I lost a patient a few weeks ago. No, he didn't die, but after his office visit, I had the distinct impression that he might not come back. My job is to take care of my patients' health. But sometimes I'm just the messenger.

Online medical records aren't very useful if no one can access them.

As baby boomers enter their golden years, they are facing a catch-22: while they can expect to live longer due to advances in medicine, they will also be facing situations where they will be unable to care for themselves.

I am convinced that we essentially sabotage both our guests and ourselves when we offer only these high calorie and often totally unhealthy options time and time again.

The article by Rehman and colleagues (page 27) offers two important observations about the control of hypertension in African American men.

For 50 years, hypertension has been recognized as the most significant risk factor for the development of symptomatic cardiovascular disease in Western society.

More important than the choice of pharmaceutical agent in the treatment of elderly hypertensive patients is the achievement of goal blood pressure. Low-dose diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers are equally effective in reducing cardiovascular end points. Most patients will require 2 or more drugs to achieve target blood pressure, and physicians should feel comfortable prescribing 3 to 4 agents to a significant proportion of patients.

We assessed whether C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations predicted future risk of hypertension in a cohort of young adults. Results showed that CRP levels do not independently predict risk of incident hypertension after accounting for body mass index. Further research is needed in the area of inflammation and hypertension, with a special focus on the effect of obesity and age-related changes on this process.

Is hypertension an inflammatory disease?

This study evaluated whether exogenous insulin use to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes was associated with the development of hypertension by analyzing data obtained from a large national sample in Taiwan. Exogenous insulin use was shown to be a significant risk factor for hypertension development.