New blood pressure control found

UK scientists say they have discovered a new way to regulate blood pressure, offering hopes of new drugs to combat strokes and heart attacks. One in four adults have high blood pressure and although powerful drugs are already available, few manage to achieve target blood pressure levels, BBC reported.
The pathway found in a study by King's College London involves a process called oxidation. Until now, oxidation has largely been linked with harm rather than good.
Indeed, free radicals and oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, can cause cell damage. But they also play crucial roles in normal cell function. Protein kinase G (PKG) is an important protein in all tissues, but in the cardiovascular system it plays a fundamental role in blood pressure regulation. Nitric oxide produced within blood vessels is known to be crucial in this process.