In the quiet, studious halls of the University of Gothenburg, a team of researchers led by Johan-Emil Bager has been piecing together a puzzle that could change the way we think about high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Their studies suggest a call to action: many with this condition might need more help than they’re getting to dodge serious health threats like heart attacks, strokes, and early death.
Hypertension isn’t just a health issue; it’s the number one treatable cause of illness and untimely passing across the globe. In Sweden, it’s a particularly pressing concern, with over a quarter of adults grappling with it.
This condition silently paves the way for life-threatening problems like heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and strokes.
In one of their studies, the researchers turned their focus to older adults who had hypertension but no history of heart attacks or strokes.
They were curious about how different blood pressure levels might relate to the risk of these major health events.
The findings were clear: those with systolic blood pressure (SBP) under 130 mmHg were 40% less likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those whose SBP lingered between 130 and 139 mmHg.
But they didn’t stop there. Another study zoomed in on people with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm problem, who were also on blood-thinning medication.
Here, they discovered that an SBP between 140 and 179 mmHg doubled the risk of hemorrhagic stroke compared to an SBP of 130-139 mmHg.
The third study expanded the scope, including a whopping 259,753 patients. This broader look revealed a concerning trend: nine out of ten patients were falling short in managing their hypertension, either due to insufficient blood pressure control, high blood cholesterol, or smoking habits.
The takeaway from these studies is stark. A significant number of people in Sweden, and possibly elsewhere, are facing heart attacks, strokes, or dying prematurely because their high blood pressure isn’t being managed well enough.
The research team believes that better control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, along with lifestyle tweaks, could turn the tide for most hypertension patients.
Their message is one of urgency and hope: prioritize and improve the treatment and management of high blood pressure.
Doing so could be a key to unlocking a healthier, longer life for millions struggling with this silent but potentially deadly condition.
Published in Brain and Behavior and other journals, these studies by Johan-Emil Bager and colleagues are more than just academic achievements; they’re a clarion call for action in the ongoing battle against hypertension.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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