Researchers studying the human genome have discovered over 100 new regions that appear to influence a person’s blood pressure.
The study, which was published in Nature Genetics, looked at data from over one million people, making it one of the largest that’s ever been carried out on its research.
Results of the study also point to several specific genomic loci that may be relevant to iron metabolism and a type of cellular receptor known as adrenergic receptors.
It’s now hoped that the results will help drug developers find new treatments for treating high blood pressure, dubbed “the silent killer” as it often comes with no side effects.
“Our study helps explain a much larger proportion of the differences between two people’s blood pressure than was previously known,” said Jacob Keaton, Ph.D., staff scientist in the Precision Health Informatics Section within the National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI) Intramural Research Program and first author of the study.
“Our study found additional genomic locations that together explain a much larger part of the genetic differences in people’s blood pressure. Knowing a person’s risk for developing hypertension could lead to tailored treatments, which are more likely to be effective.”
Hypotension And Hypertension
So why does understanding what causes high and low blood pressure matter so much? Well, these two conditions, known as hypertension (high bp) and hypotension (low bp), can be an indication of serious health concerns.
So let’s take a look at both of these conditions, as well as the health issues associated with each.
Hypertension occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. It can indicate an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular issues.
At the opposite end of the bp spectrum, hypotension is when the force of blood is too low, potentially causing dizziness, fainting and inadequate blood flow to organs. While hypertension can signify underlying health problems like obesity or stress, hypotension may be linked to dehydration, anaemia or certain medications.
As you can see, both of these conditions are linked to some serious health concerns, which is why researchers are trying to get a better understanding of how the human genome is connected to variations in blood pressure.
What Are The Signs Of High Blood Pressure?
Although low bp can indicate some underlying issues, high bp is the more serious of the two conditions. In many cases, it has no symptoms, which makes diagnosing the condition problematic as most people usually have no idea their bp is high.
Having said that, there are some signs that your bp is higher than it should be. These include the following:
Headaches
Have you been getting a lot of headaches of late? If so, this can be an indication of a wide range of conditions, and one of them is high blood pressure.
In most cases, these aren’t the sharp, instant pains you get if you’re suffering from a migraine. Instead, headaches from high blood pressure tend to be dull, continuous aches that seem to stay around for longer than usual.
These headaches may occur at any time, but they may be particularly common after exercise. So if you’ve been getting more headaches than usual, particularly after working out, then this may be an indication you need to get your blood pressure tested.
Shortness Of Breath
High bp can hinder your ability to breathe properly, leading to bouts of shortness of breath. This symptom can be particularly noticeable during physical activities or moments of stress when the heart has to work harder to pump blood.
Shortness of breath is a harsh reminder that high bp can put a lot of strain on the heart and cardiovascular system, meaning it can quite easily impact your ability to complete even everyday tasks with ease.
So if you find yourself getting short of breath more so than usual, or your workouts seem to be taking it out of you more so than usual, this is usually a telltale sign there’s something wrong.
Dizziness
Are you experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness? Then you should be aware that this is another symptom of high blood pressure.
This occurs when the blood supply to the brain is irregular, signalling the body’s circulatory system is struggling.
So if you’re having frequent bouts of dizziness, it’s crucial to seek medical advice. While high blood pressure might not be necessarily to blame, you’ll still want to get to the bottom of the issue.
Nosebleeds
The last symptom and the one that’s arguably the least common is nosebleeds.
If you’re experiencing unexpected and recurrent nosebleeds, especially ones that seem to come out of nowhere or become a regular occurrence, high blood pressure could be the cause.
These nosebleeds are caused by an increase in blood pressure that causes the delicate blood vessels in the nose to burst. So if nosebleeds are frequent and cannot be put down to other causes such as dry air or nasal injury, get your blood pressure checked by a professional.
Getting Blood Pressure Checked
If you’re under 40 and you have no underlying health issues or risk factors, you probably won’t need your blood pressure taken. On the other hand, if you display any of the symptoms mentioned above then you should absolutely get yourself checked out just in case.
For anyone over 40, the NHS recommends getting your blood pressure taken at least once every five years, regardless of how healthy you are. Anyone with risk factors or high blood pressure is advised to get checked out more often, ideally once a year.
If you identify with any of the above then you can get a blood pressure check in a pharmacy. You can pop into one of our branches and a trained professional will take your blood pressure in a painless procedure that takes just a few short minutes.