SP-4: FUTURE BLOOD PRESSURE RESEARCH

Abstract

How is our body's blood pressure regulated? What exactly is the specific mechanism by which hypertension develops? To date, there is no evidence to answer these questions. Therefore, there is no fundamental cure for hypertension, and we must continue to take blood pressure-lowering drugs for the rest of our lives. So, why do we need blood pressure in the first place? It is because the heart needs to pump blood throughout the body to systemically supply necessary oxygen, nutrients, and hormones. We land animals have acquired high blood pressure during the course of evolution, enabling us to perform at a high level even in harsh environments. Humans, in particular, are able to maintain high blood pressure levels even when walking on two legs, allowing to defy gravity and deliver sufficient blood to the brain. This made humans the only high-performance creature capable of using both hands and the only one capable of running marathon distances. However, in the age of plenty, high blood pressure has become increasingly damaging to our bodies. Furthermore, in the future, when we have to live in space, underwater, or other spaces with little gravity, too high blood pressure will have an even more detrimental effect on our bodies. Thus, the development of blood pressure research is essential for the further evolution of humankind, since humans need to constantly optimize their blood pressure to adapt to changes in the environment.