Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have discovered an enzyme in blood vessels which produces small amounts of hydrogen sulphide, the gas responsible for the smell of rotten eggs and flatulence. The discovery is notable for the fact that the gas signals blood vessels to relax, dilate, and thereby lower blood pressure. Another gas that functions in a similar manner is nitric oxide, which is often used in the treatment of heart disease. Scientists are hoping to base future blood pressure medications on the discovery of this gas.
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Tags: blood pressure, blood vessel, fart, flatulence, gas, heart disease
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:22 am
well i’ve heard it all now . I’ve always wondered why dogs didn’t have high blood pressure now i know. I guess i need to get my wife to come home from work early so we con get started on the cure.Now where did I put that can of beenie weenies? oh yeah it’s in my tackle box.Any way i hope i suppplied yall with a chuckle on this rainy day in georgia.Good luck with your research. Sincerely lewis burnette
October 24th, 2008 at 8:35 am
what a gas.
its the volume not the elements in the gas that relieve blood pressure.
do men who fart live longer?
anyone know how I can get a medical research grant?
thanks
Kevin
October 24th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Am I getting the right picture?
Is there somebody suggesting that eating food, that induces your sistem to have flatulence will somehow keep your blood pressure lower?
Uncomfortable but easy; right?
October 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Point of clarification: the act of having flatulence will NOT reduce your blood pressure!!! (unless maybe you get so anxious from trying to hold it in
The article is referring to the actual molecules of gas being produced at the molecular level. Similar to nitric oxide gas, which can also relax blood vessels, the molecules of the hydrogen sulphide gas are produced by cells and subsequently diffuse into the cells of blood vessels and cause a molecular reaction that relaxes and dilates them.
October 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
So it’s my understanding since the penis needs nitric oxide for an erection and the person who farts the most will have more intense orgasms, right!
November 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am
If flatulence helps reduce blood pressore,would it be nice to tell
my hypertensive patients to eat more potatoes,cabbages,pompkin,cucumbers mostly at nicht so to cause more flatulence for bringing their BP down?
December 21st, 2008 at 2:55 am
Thanks for the great tips.
March 4th, 2009 at 2:55 am
Just as well that im into fart porn.
good job guys!
Zep