High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the world, affecting more than 1.5 billion people.
It greatly increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and other serious conditions.
Now, researchers believe a hidden hormone problem may be responsible for many more cases than doctors once thought.
A team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that a hormone called aldosterone may play a much bigger role in high blood pressure than current medical practice recognizes.
Their findings suggest that many people have high aldosterone levels that are not detected by the tests doctors commonly use. The research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Aldosterone is a hormone made by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. Its main job is to help the body control the balance of salt, water, and potassium. When too much aldosterone is produced, the body holds on to extra salt and water, causing blood pressure to rise.
This condition is called primary aldosteronism. For many years, doctors believed it was an uncommon cause of high blood pressure. Because of that, only certain patients are usually tested for it.
In the new study, researchers examined people with normal blood pressure as well as those with mild, moderate, and severe hypertension. They found a clear pattern: as blood pressure increased, aldosterone levels also tended to increase. This suggests the hormone may be involved in many more cases of hypertension than previously believed.
The researchers also discovered that most people with high aldosterone levels would not be diagnosed under current medical guidelines. In other words, many patients may have a treatable hormone disorder without knowing it. As a result, they may miss the treatment that best targets the cause of their high blood pressure.
The findings suggest that primary aldosteronism should no longer be viewed as a rare disease. Instead, it may be a common reason why blood pressure remains high in many people. The researchers believe more routine testing for aldosterone could help doctors identify these patients earlier.
There is encouraging news because medicines that block the effects of aldosterone are already available. These drugs are widely used, relatively affordable, and can lower blood pressure by stopping the hormone from acting on the body. More people may benefit from these medicines if the condition is diagnosed more often.
The study was led by Dr. Jenifer M. Brown. The researchers hope their work will encourage doctors to rethink how they investigate high blood pressure and improve treatment for millions of people worldwide by identifying hidden hormone problems earlier.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how diets could help lower high blood pressure, and 3 grams of omega-3s a day keep high blood pressure at bay.
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