Home · Health · Nov 9 archive
Health Apps and Medications Advance Blood Pressure Management
Confirmed
In Short: New research and medications are advancing blood pressure management, with studies showing that certain foods and supplements can help lower blood pressure.
A 2022 randomized control trial found that eating a daily serving of kiwi can reduce systolic blood pressure, while a 2023 meta-analysis suggests watermelon can also lower blood pressure.
The American Heart Association notes that potassium can reduce the effects of sodium and alleviate tension in blood vessel walls, aiding in blood pressure management.
Kaiser Permanente’s PHASE program has shown success in improving blood pressure control among diabetes patients, with a 20 percentage point higher rate of good blood pressure control compared to the national average.
However, challenges remain in managing blood pressure, especially after a stroke or with diabetes, with limited local studies exploring treatment intensification and therapeutic inertia.
A new drug, baxdrostat, has shown unexpected benefits that last up to two years after patients stop taking it, potentially helping millions of people with high blood pressure.
Despite these advancements, many Americans are unaware of healthy blood pressure levels, highlighting the need for continued education and awareness.
The FDA has issued recalls for certain blood pressure medications due to failed dissolution specifications, affecting products distributed nationwide.
These updates and studies underscore the ongoing efforts to improve blood pressure management through both technological and medical advancements.
What this adds
The updates to the Health app and new research on dietary and medicinal approaches to blood pressure management highlight the multifaceted strategies being employed to address hypertension.
While the PHASE program shows promise, the challenges in managing blood pressure post-stroke or with diabetes indicate the need for further research and coordinated care across specialties.
The unexpected long-term benefits of baxdrostat and the recalls of certain blood pressure medications illustrate the ongoing developments and safety considerations in pharmaceutical treatments for hypertension.
What's confirmed
- High blood pressure increases a person’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
What's still developing
- A 2019 review suggests consistent findings to support the theory that anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich berries can lower blood pressure.
- According to a 2022 systematic review, research shows that nitrate from beetroot juice lowers systolic blood pressure in people with arterial hypertension but does not affect diastolic blood pressure.
- Medications, dietary changes, and other lifestyle modifications can reduce high blood pressure, or hypertension, while lowering the likelihood of developing associated conditions.
- Certain foods and overall diet can help people manage blood pressure.
- Oats contain a type of fiber called beta-glucan, which may benefit heart health, including blood pressure.
- Three studies presented Saturday at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions reported on recent attempts to lower blood pressure in people with these challenging medical histories, and how medical care should reach across specialties to treat them.
- Daily pill could achieve the same effects as a major surgery for a common cause of hypertension, new study finds A new drug for high blood pressure has been found to be an unexpected permanent cure for a common cause of the condition – a breakthrough that could help over a million Brits.
- They may also be slowing biological aging, recent research suggests.
- The Pro version comes with FDA-cleared ECG functionality, blood-pressure monitoring features, and a larger battery.
- The study reviewed annual blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid levels in approximately 100,000 PHASE patients with diabetes in Northern California, and compared them with data on commercial enrollees from the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (or HEDIS).
- Yet research shows that most people in the US don’t know the cutoff numbers for healthy blood.
- The FDA listed the reason for the recall as "failed dissolution specifications." (iStock) The agency classified the action as a Class II recall, meaning use of the affected medication "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" but the likelihood of serious health consequences is considered remote.