Hypertension or high blood pressure have been categorized as non-communicable diseases triggered by lifestyle and unhealthy eating patterns. But recently, scientists revealed under certain viruses can trigger hypertension.
The virus called Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which could infect anyone without causing symptoms or specific complaints. Almost anyone who has ever infected with this virus, but said only partially develop into hypertension.

Although there is a relationship between HCMV with hypertension, scientists from the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital’s Cardiology Centre, said that not all hypertension caused by these viruses. Type of hypertension induced by HCMV infection only essential hypertension.

One of the scientists involved in the study, Yang Xinchun explained that essential hypertension is a type of hypertension that causes can not be proven with certainty.But certainly, essential hypertension is not caused by genetic and lifestyle factors.

This means that if someone had hypertension despite the lifestyle and healthy diet, then one might expect the trigger is HCMV. Likewise, if a person has hypertension, but no one in his family tree that has a history of the disease.

The findings are expected to give a great impact in the treatment of hypertension, the number of cases is increasing. According to data from the World Health Organization or WHO, the number of hypertension sufferers worldwide reach billions of people.

“If we can have conclusive evidence relevant hupertensi relationship with the virus, then later the disease can be prevented with vaccines,” said Yang Xinchun as quoted from ChannelNewsAsia.

Even so, Yang Xinchun said it was too early to say that a vaccine for hypertension will be available in the near future. However this research is still in its early stages and still must be developed to obtain a stronger conclusion.