Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have discovered that a hormone called aldosterone may be responsible for many more cases of high blood pressure than doctors used to think.
This new study shows that high levels of aldosterone might be causing high blood pressure in lots of people—but current medical tests often miss it.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects over 1.5 billion people around the world. It is one of the top causes of heart disease and stroke. One known reason for high blood pressure is a condition called primary aldosteronism.
This happens when the adrenal glands—small organs that sit above the kidneys—make too much of the hormone aldosterone.
Aldosterone helps the body control its balance of salt and water. When there’s too much aldosterone, the body keeps more salt and water than it should. This extra fluid raises blood pressure. Over time, if it isn’t treated, it can cause serious heart problems.
Until now, doctors thought that primary aldosteronism was rare. But the new study shows it might be much more common than anyone believed.
Researchers studied people with different levels of blood pressure. Some had normal pressure, while others had mild, moderate, or severe high blood pressure. They found that the worse a person’s blood pressure was, the higher their aldosterone levels tended to be.
Even more surprising, most people with high aldosterone in the study wouldn’t be diagnosed using the standard tests doctors currently use. This means a lot of people might have this hormone problem without even knowing it—and they may not be getting the right treatment.
The researchers say we should stop thinking of primary aldosteronism as a rare disease. Instead, it should be considered a common reason for high blood pressure. If doctors start testing for aldosterone more often, they could help many patients find out what’s really causing their condition—and treat it properly.
The good news is that there are already medicines that can block aldosterone. These are called aldosterone blockers. They are low-cost and easy to get. The new research suggests that many more people with high blood pressure could feel better and lower their risk of heart disease or stroke if they take these medicines.
This important research was led by Dr. Jenifer M. Brown and was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It could change the way doctors treat high blood pressure and help millions of people live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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