'Selfies' Might Someday Track Your Blood Pressure

TUESDAY, Aug. 6, 2019 -- Taking your blood pressure may become as easy as taking a video selfie if a new smartphone app proves itself.

High blood pressure can be a warning sign of a heart attack or stroke, but half of those with hypertension don't know it. Developing an easy at-home blood pressure screen could potentially save lives.

More Than Half of Younger Patients Skip or Quit Blood Pressure Meds

THURSDAY, Aug. 15, 2019 -- High blood pressure can be a killer. But a new study finds that more than half of younger patients -- those under 65 -- who are prescribed high blood pressure meds either stop taking them within a few months or don't take them as prescribed.

But stopping treatment can prove dangerous, even for the relatively young, the study's lead author warned.

Upping Seniors' Blood Pressure Meds After Hospital Can Sometimes Bring Danger

MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2019 -- For seniors who've been hospitalized for non-cardiac conditions, any hike in blood pressure medications as they leave the hospital can prove dangerous, new research shows.

That's because the prescription change may not help and could do harm -- putting them at higher risk for falls and other health issues, investigators said.

High Blood Pressure, 'Bad' Cholesterol Risky for Young, Too

MONDAY, July 15, 2019 -- Act sooner rather than later to prevent heart disease, a new study suggests. This means young adults should not put off treating high blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels.

The study involved more than 36,000 Americans. It came to some sobering conclusions about young adults with high blood pressure or elevated LDL cholesterol (the "bad" kind): They may face increased risks of heart disease years later -- even if they manage to get those numbers down in middle-age.

The 'Bottom' Blood Pressure Number Matters, Too

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 -- When it comes to blood pressure readings, the "top" number seems to grab all the attention.

But a large, new study confirms that both numbers are, in fact, critical in determining the risk of heart attack and stroke.

High Blood Pressure Much More Deadly for the Poor

WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2019 -- High blood pressure exacts a far greater toll on poor people than it does on affluent Americans, a new, national study finds.

The data from the clinical trial, which was designed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), showed that poor people were half as likely to have their blood pressure controlled over the course of six years. They were also more likely to die, and to die of heart disease during the study period.