High Blood Pressure Ages Arteries
Pierre Moreau's research reveals enzyme can dissolve calcium deposits in major arteries
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Mr. Moreau and his team (from left to right): Simon Moreau, Master's student; Louise Ida Grondin, lab technician; Mr. Moreau; PhD students Rachida Essaliha and Liz-Ann Gilbert. |
Worldwide, one billion people suffer from high blood pressure. And that number is expected to rise, due to the aging of the population and the trend to sedentary lifestyles that make obesity a growing problem – to more than 1.5 billion by 2025, say some specialists.
“Currently, more than one in five Canadians has high blood pressure – 4.1 million Canadians over the age of 18,” says Pierre Moreau, a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and a specialist in hypertension. He notes that by the age of 65, about half of all adults will be affected. And what’s most cause for concern, says Moreau, is the fact that 43% of people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have the problem, and barely 16% receive the necessary treatment and learn to control their blood pressure.
“People with high blood pressure often have no symptoms, but the disease can really sneak up on you, with serious consequences.” High blood pressure causes vasoconstriction – the narrowing of blood vessels. When blood vessels constrict, the flow of blood to critical organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys is restricted or slowed.
In an article in the September 6, 2005, edition of the journal Circulation, Moreau and his research team presented data on an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase that can help dissolve calcium deposits in the arteries. This is a major breakthrough, because rigid, calcified blood vessels can cause changes in blood pressure and even organ damage in the elderly.
