Friday, July 11, 2025
spot_img

Know how skin plays a role in controlling your BP

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

London:  Skin, the largest organ, typically covering two square metres in humans, plays a surprising role in regulating blood pressure and heart rate, scientists have found in a study on mice.
The findings revealed that skin helps regulate hypertension and heart rate in response to changes in the amount of oxygen available in the environment.
High blood pressure, the risk factor for heart attack and stroke, is often caused as a result of reduced flow of blood through small blood vessels in the skin and other parts of the body to the heart.
“Given that skin is the largest organ in our body, it perhaps shouldn’t be too surprising that it plays a role in regulation such a fundamental mechanism as blood pressure,” said Randall Johnson, professor at the University of Cambridge.
When the heart tissue is starved of oxygen — as can happen in areas of high altitude, or in response to pollution, smoking or obesity — blood flow to that tissue will increase. In such situations, the increase in blood flow is controlled in part by the ‘HIF’ family of proteins.
For the study, published in the journal eLife, the team exposed genetically modified mice to such low-oxygen conditions.
The mice which lacked in one of two proteins in the skin (HIF-1a or HIF-2a), showed an effect on the heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and general levels of activity.
“These findings suggest that our skin’s response to low levels of oxygen may have substantial effects on the how the heart pumps blood around the body,” said Andrew Cowburn, senior research associate at the varsity.
Prior studies have revealed that blood pressure is regulated by the brain, by blood vessels, or by the kidney.
However, the study “suggests that we may need to take a look at other organs and tissues in the body and see how they, too, are implicated”, in controlling blood pressure.(IANS

 

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

BJP looting land, forest, water: Rahul Gandhi at ‘save Constitution’ rally in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the BJP, alleging that the ruling party has...

Centre plans Rs 1,345 crore subsidy scheme to boost production of Rare Earth magnets

New Delhi, July 11: The Indian government has drawn up a scheme to offer subsidies to the tune...

We missed no targets in Pak, not even a glass pane broken in India: NSA Doval on Op Sindoor

New Delhi, July 11: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday addressed the convocation ceremony at IIT...

NSA Doval debunks distorted foreign reportage on ‘Operation Sindoor’

New Delhi, July 11: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday delivered a sharp rebuke at the...