London - Though most of us may find it quite embarrassing in case we were caught breaking wind, a new study has in fact suggested flatulence could help patients with high blood pressure.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, US, have found that hydrogen sulphide in flatus - informally known as a fart - is also produced by an enzyme in blood vessels where it relaxes them and lowers blood pressure, The Sun reported.
Hydrogen sulphide -- a toxic gas generated by bacteria living in the human gut -- has been shown to control blood pressure in mice. Those with higher levels of the gas had lower blood pressure than rodents with less.
Researchers at a Chinese university in Nanjing are trying to work out whether this could be used to create a treatment for people suffering from high blood pressure.
Yao Yuyu from the university's Zhongda Hospital said: "Despite the treatment's potential, using gas to treat high blood pressure has yet to be tested on humans.
"The effective dosage could prove difficult to establish due to the difference in size between humans and mice."
| Other Articles: |
 |
NASA to study solar magnetic field (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
Nieto claims Mexico presidency win (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
It's not business as usual with Pakistan: NATO (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
Cuban president embarks on China, Vietnam trip (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
British parliament to conduct banking inquiry (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
Hope for mouth cancer treatment (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
German birth rate hits all-time low (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
Eliasson sworn in as deputy UN chief (3rd Jul, 2012) |
|
Millions of Americans battle blistering heat without power (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Children's performance linked to sound sleep (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Setting sail with gas from wasted food (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Mexico's old rulers claim presidential election victory (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Talking about weight might give kids eating disorder (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Apple pays $60 mn for iPad trademark in China (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Afghanistan to move UN if cross-border attacks by Pak-Taliban not resolved diplomatically (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
New UK immigrant tests for foreign nationals to focus on 'Britishness' (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Mexico's ex-ruling party poised to win elections, suggest exit polls (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Brit-Pak man may face life sentence for asking wife to punish crying baby by dunking in water (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Clinton hopes Pak-US relations will improve during PM Ashraf's tenure (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Bristol Palin’s reality show loses prime-time slot after ratings sink (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Asian women face more barriers than Westerners in getting top jobs: Survey (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Pak secretly allowing transport of lethal NATO supplies to Afghanistan via air (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Pak Taliban spokesman killed in clashes with security forces in Upper Dir (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Pak-US close to resolving resumption of NATO supply routes dispute (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
'Disappearance' of UK backpacker in Nepal sparks fear 'trekkers being targeted by locals' (2nd Jul, 2012) |
|
Jobs |
Blog |
Yellow Pages |
Games |
Jokes |
Chat |
e-Cards |
Astrology |
Articles |
Recipes |
Send Gifts
Today : Friday - May 24, 2013, 09:56am (GMT+5.5)
