The development of high blood pressure could be caused by cytomegalovirus

A study carried out by Chinese scientists has proved that high blood pressure could be caused by cytomegalovirus.

The team of scientists from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital says it has found the first evidence of a link between the human cytomegalovirus and the most commonly occurring form of hypertension, or high blood pressure. 

The virus infects most people at some time during their lives, but frequently causes no symptoms, so goes undetected.

One of the report's authors, Yang Xinchung, told that the findings could eventually lead to the development of a vaccine to control or prevent high blood pressure.

However, it is too early to talk about it. First it is necessary to conduct more tests with a wider scope of patients.

If everything is proved, Chinese may receive the Nobel Prize, as according to the World Health Organization, around a billion people worldwide suffer from high blood pressure, including more than 200 million Chinese. High blood pressure plays either direct or indirect role in 2.3 million cardiovascular deaths in the Celestial Empire each year. Of these 1.3 million were so called premature deaths, meaning they occurred before the age of 72 in men and 75 in women (which is the average life expectancy in China in 2005).

At the same time, the reason of hypertension is still (was?) a mystery. It is conventionally associated with genetic factors and unhealthy life style.

Adopted from: Eurolab.