High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the world. It affects more than 1.5 billion people and is a major cause of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, and premature death.
Because high blood pressure often develops without noticeable symptoms, many people do not realize they have it until serious health problems appear.
For years, doctors have known that a variety of factors can contribute to high blood pressure, including genetics, age, diet, obesity, and lifestyle habits. However, new research suggests that an often-overlooked hormone may be responsible for far more cases than previously believed.
Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have discovered evidence that a hormone called aldosterone may play a much larger role in high blood pressure than doctors once thought.
Their findings could change how hypertension is diagnosed and treated, potentially helping millions of people better control their blood pressure and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are small organs located on top of the kidneys. The hormone has an important job in the body. It helps regulate the balance of salt, water, and potassium.
By controlling these substances, aldosterone also helps regulate blood pressure. Under normal circumstances, this process is essential for maintaining healthy circulation and proper organ function.
Problems arise when the body produces too much aldosterone. Excess levels of the hormone cause the body to retain more salt and water, which increases blood volume and raises blood pressure.
This condition is known as primary aldosteronism. For many years, primary aldosteronism was considered relatively rare, and doctors typically looked for it only in patients with very severe or difficult-to-control hypertension.
The new study challenges that long-held belief.
The research team, led by Dr. Jenifer M. Brown, examined people with a wide range of blood pressure levels, including individuals with normal blood pressure, mild hypertension, and severe hypertension. The goal was to better understand the relationship between aldosterone and blood pressure.
The results revealed a clear pattern. As blood pressure increased, aldosterone levels also tended to rise. This finding suggests that excess aldosterone may be contributing to high blood pressure much more frequently than previously recognized.
One of the most surprising discoveries was that many participants with elevated aldosterone levels would not have met current medical criteria for a diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.
In other words, a large number of people may be living with hormone-related high blood pressure without knowing it. As a result, they may be receiving treatments that lower blood pressure but do not address the underlying cause.
The researchers argue that primary aldosteronism should no longer be viewed as a rare condition. Instead, they believe it may represent a common and underdiagnosed cause of hypertension. If doctors routinely tested more patients for excess aldosterone, many people could potentially receive more targeted and effective treatment.
This is especially important because untreated primary aldosteronism may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular complications beyond the effects of high blood pressure alone. Studies have shown that people with excess aldosterone may face a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms, and kidney problems.
Fortunately, treatments already exist. Medications known as aldosterone blockers can reduce or prevent the harmful effects of excess aldosterone. These medicines have been used safely for many years and are generally affordable and widely available. In some cases, if excess aldosterone is caused by a problem in one adrenal gland, surgery may also be an option.
The findings suggest that identifying more patients with elevated aldosterone levels could allow doctors to use these treatments earlier and more effectively. This could lead to better blood pressure control and improved long-term health outcomes.
The study also highlights an important lesson in medicine: sometimes common diseases have hidden causes that go unnoticed for years. By looking more closely at the biological mechanisms behind hypertension, researchers can uncover new opportunities to improve diagnosis and treatment.
For patients, the research offers hope that some cases of high blood pressure may be more treatable than previously believed. Rather than simply adding more medications, doctors may be able to target a specific hormonal cause and achieve better results.
The research was led by Dr. Jenifer M. Brown and published in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The findings add to growing evidence that excess aldosterone may be a major contributor to hypertension and suggest that broader screening could help many patients receive the treatment they truly need.
As scientists continue to learn more about the causes of high blood pressure, discoveries like this may help transform the way doctors approach one of the world’s most widespread and dangerous health conditions.
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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