DNA pointers to high blood pressure will be a life-saver

♦ Hundreds of new gene regions which are linked to high blood pressure have been found by scientists, leading to hopes that in future those most at risk could be screened.

The British-led global study, which used DNA samples from more than a million people, increases the number of known genetic factors linked to hypertension to more than 1,000. Understanding these genetic causes could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes in the UK each year, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

As many as seven million people in Britain are believed to be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, unaware of their condition.

Prof Jeremy Pearson, the associate medical director at the BHF, said: “Knowing which genes cause high blood pressure may help us to spot those at risk before the damage is done.”

The study was published in Nature Genetics.