Baptist Hospital seeking hypertension study participants

Baptist Clinical Research is seeking participants for a study of hypertension and medications to lower blood pressure. The research team at Baptist Hospital will observe the effectiveness of combinations of medications currently on the market and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Men and women between ages 18 and 86 who have been diagnosed with moderate to high blood pressure may be eligible for the study sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Those who meet the criteria for the eight-week study will receive physical examinations, laboratory services and medications. Participants will be seen by a physician once a week in the hospital's research clinic. They also will have the opportunity to meet with clinical staff and learn how to better manage high blood pressure. Those who complete the program will be reimbursed for time and travel.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called the silent killer because it can wreak havoc before symptoms are noticed. Family history and lifestyle habits are main contributors to high blood pressure.

To understand how high blood pressure affects the body, imagine the inside of a water pipe that over time accumulates particles causing a passageway to narrow. Turn on the water and the pressure exerted increases with the narrowing of the pipe.

Now imagine arteries and blood vessels functioning in the same way. The heart pumps the blood, pushing or circulating it through the entire body. When the arteries clog or narrow, the heart has to work harder to pump the blood. As a result, the blood exerts more force or pressure against the artery walls, similar to the water pressure in the clogged pipe. The continual stress can cause damage to the arteries and vessels.

Hypertension is a chronic condition, but it can be managed with medication. Untreated it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

To learn if you qualify for the study, call Baptist Hospital Clinical Research at (850) 469- 2491.