In recognition of World Heart Day on 29 September, we're pleased to bring together relevant content from our journal Clinical Science.

Professor Francine Marques, National Heart Foundation Future Fellow and Head of the Hypertension Research Group at Monash University, and Associate Editor of Clinical Science has highlighted the significance of work in this area and the importance of raising awareness of associated conditions:

“High blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for death globally, as it is the underlying cause of about half of the cases of heart disease and stroke. This is a significant issue as hypertension is common, affecting 1 in 3 adults globally, and is still highly underdiagnosed and untreated. We still don't understand many pathophysiological mechanisms behind blood pressure increase. This includes essential questions such as what triggers blood pressure to increase in the first place, why are women usually protected until they reach menopause but then catch up, and how we reverse tissue damage from those who have had hypertension for a long time. The good news is that hypertension is, in most cases, preventable and treatable. During World Heart Day, we encourage everyone to have their blood pressure measured and reduce their intake of processed foods - this will reduce salt and increase fibre intake, some of the critical dietary risk factors for hypertension and heart disease.”

Further reading 

• Endothelin XVIII Conference Collection

• Differential changes in end organ immune cells and inflammation in salt-sensitive hypertension: effects of lowering blood pressure

• Differential changes in end organ immune cells and inflammation in salt-sensitive hypertension: effects of increasing M2 macrophages

• NaHCO3 loading causes increased arterial pressure and kidney damage in rats with chronic kidney disease

• Leptin antagonism attenuates hypertension and renal injury in an experimental model of autoimmune disease