View clinical trials related to Elevated Blood Pressure.
Filter by:This study evaluates the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on sympathetic nerve activity and arterial stiffness. The investigator's central hypothesis is that MBSR will reduce sympathetic activity and arterial stiffness.
Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) largely due to accelerated aging-related modifications to vascular health following menopause. The vascular endothelium is responsible for producing chemicals that are essential for proper vasodilation and blood flow and therefore is involved in maintaining normal blood pressure. A major modification that occurs during aging and is accelerated during menopause is termed vascular endothelial dysfunction which is characterized by impaired endothelium-dependent dilation. This can lead to increased blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and increased risk of CVD and death. Nitric oxide (NO) is a chemical produced by the endothelium and is essential for normal endothelial function and cardiovascular health. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is primarily caused by reduced NO bioavailability secondary to excessive oxidative stress. Approximately 3/4 of postmenopausal women have elevated blood pressure or hypertension which further worsens endothelial function and increases CVD risk through increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Blueberries are rich in phytochemicals including anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and pterostilbene. These phytochemicals and their metabolites are known to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation. The overall goal of the current study is to assess the efficacy of blueberries to improve vascular endothelial dysfunction in this high-risk population and to gain insight into underlying mechanisms. 58 postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure and stage 1-HTN will be asked to consume 22 grams freeze-dried blueberry powder or placebo powder per day for 12 weeks. Vascular endothelial function will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Measurements indicative of vascular nitric oxide production, oxidative stress, inflammation, cardiometabolic health, cognitive function, and blueberry phytochemical metabolism will be measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Blood pressure will be assessed at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
Measure pulse wave velocity stability in relation to time of day, day of the week, physical activity, sleep quality, stress levels and blood pressure.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether an 8-week intervention with grape seed extract is effective in reducing daytime ambulatory blood pressure in male and postmenopausal female with elevated daytime blood pressure values.