shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Lifestyle News > Health And Fitness News > Article > Toxic gas new frontier for regulating hypertension

Toxic gas new frontier for regulating hypertension

Updated on: 20 February,2015 02:25 PM IST  | 
Agencies |

Widely considered simply a malodourous toxic gas, hydrogen sulfide may help treat high blood pressure, a new study suggests

Toxic gas new frontier for regulating hypertension

New York: Widely considered simply a malodourous toxic gas, hydrogen sulfide may help treat high blood pressure, a new study suggests.


"We had to start with what happens in healthy subjects before we can turn our attention to what happens with disease," said Lacy Alexander, associate professor of kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University.


Hypertension
Representational picture


During the study, researchers infused a solution containing precursor chemicals that donate hydrogen sulfide into the forearm skin of participants in order to measure how blood vessels react to hydrogen sulfide.

"The solutions were directly administered to a very small area of skin about the size of a dime using a technique called microdialysis," Alexander explained.

"This technique allows us to give tiny quantities of these solutions directly to the skin where they can interact with the vessels directly. It is a very powerful technique because the solutions do not affect the entire body, and we can essentially perform many different experiments at the same time in one forearm," Alexander added.

The findings suggest that in the skin circulation, hydrogen sulfide widens blood vessels in healthy, young adults.

When blood vessels widen, the flow of blood can increase without significant increases in vascular resistance.

Thus vascular resistance is effectively increased due to dilation, which could lead to decreased blood pressure if used in a systemic intervention, the researchers noted.

The researchers reported their findings in The Journal of Physiology.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK