Scientists identify genes that cause high blood pressure
‘Scientists have pinpointed a clutch of common genes that can
lead to high blood pressure,’ the Daily Mail reported. Brought
to you by NHS Choices It said that up to half the population
carries the genes, each of which has only a small effect, but
which together could raise the risk of heart attack by more than
a fifth and stroke by more than a third. The finding paves the
way for new treatments. This study compared 2.5 million genetic
variants from 34,000 people of European ancestry and found eight
that had a statistically significant association with blood
pressure. The researchers then checked these genetic regions in
a further 90,000 white European people and 12,000 people of
South Asian descent, and also cross-referenced the findings with
data from another study. Overall, this study clarifies the
strength of the link between eight gene variants and blood
pressure. More studies that show exactly how these variants
influence blood pressure and whethe