The condition of resistant hypertension can certainly increase the risk of various cardiovascular problems including heart disease and stroke. Not long ago, a team of researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health managed to find new risk factors for resistant hypertension that had never been suspected before. As revealed in the Journal of the American Heart Association, these risk factors are accumulation of lead in the body.
"Our research shows that cumulative lead load, as measured by cortical bone (the outermost layer of bone) in the tibia, may be a risk factor for resistant hypertension that was previously unknown," said Chief Researcher Dr Sung Kyun Park as reported by Medical News Today.
This finding is known through a study involving 475 veterans with high blood pressure or hypertension. Of all participants, 97 of them had criteria for resistant hypertension.
During the study, the research team collected various data from participants. The data collected included blood pressure, hypertension medication to lead levels in the blood, patella and tibia (shin bone) of the participants. Tibia is another term for dry bones.
