Can infection elevate blood pressure

Led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center BIDMC and published in the May 15, issue of PLoS Pathogens , the findings further demonstrate that, when coupled with other risk factors for heart disease, the virus can lead to the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. A member of the herpes virus family, CMV affects all age groups and is the source of congenital infection, mononucleosis, and severe infection in transplant patients.

By the age of 40, most adults will have contracted the virus, though many will never exhibit symptoms. Once it has entered the body, CMV is usually there to stay, remaining latent until the immune system is compromised, when it then reemerges. Previous epidemiological studies had determined that the CMV virus was linked to restenosis in cardiac transplant patients, a situation in which the heart's arteries "reblock. But, in both cases, the mechanism behind these developments remained a mystery.

This new study brought together a team of researchers from a variety of disciplines — infectious diseases, cardiology, allergy and pathology — to look more closely at the issue.

In the first portion of the study, the scientists examined four groups of laboratory mice. Two groups of animals were fed a standard diet and two groups were fed a high cholesterol diet. After a period of four weeks, one standard diet mouse group and one high-cholesterol diet mouse group were infected with the CMV virus.

Six weeks later, the animals' blood pressures were measured by the cardiology team using a small catheter inserted in the mouse carotid artery. Sixty per cent of people aged 60 or more have high blood pressure. But age doesn't have to be a factor. Experts point to traditional populations, such as indigenous people in Brazil, where there is no significant rise in blood pressure with age. This suggests our Western lifestyle, particularly salt intake, is the major factor.

Family history contributes anywhere between 2 and 10 per cent of your risk of developing high blood pressure in the next four years, depending on your age and whether one or both parents had a blood pressure problem. It seems many genes are involved, each exerting a small influence.

Smoking markedly increases the risk of heart disease or stroke for a given level of high blood pressure compared to a non-smoker. It seems to have an especially marked effect on the blood pressure of older women who smoke.

For them, 20g alcohol a day, ie two standard drinks, can elevate blood pressure by 9. Hg is the chemical symbol for mercury. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury. For more about how blood pressure is measured, see the hypertension fact file. Page last reviewed: 23 October Next review due: 23 October Things that can increase your risk of getting high blood pressure You might be more at risk if you: are overweight eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables do not do enough exercise drink too much alcohol or coffee or other caffeine-based drinks smoke do not get much sleep or have disturbed sleep are over 65 have a relative with high blood pressure are of black African or black Caribbean descent live in a deprived area Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high.

Find out more about how to prevent high blood pressure Known causes of high blood pressure In about 1 in 20 cases, high blood pressure happens as the result of an underlying health condition or taking a certain medicine.