Sympathetic Transduction in Obesity-associated Hypertension (OB-HTN)
Sympathetic Transduction in Obesity-associated Hypertension (OB-HTN)
The purpose of this study is to understand how the nervous system communicates to blood
 vessels to increase blood pressure during stress. The study will also investigate how
 hypertension and obesity influence the nervous system and vascular function. The study will
 involve measuring sympathetic nervous system activity and blood flow during common laboratory
 physiological stress protocols (e.g. hypoxia, exercise), and in response to infusion of drugs
 that cause vasodilation or vasoconstriction.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Control - BMI<30, age 18-70

 -  Hypertensive - BMI<30, age 18-70, diagnosis of hypertension by 24-hour ambulatory
 blood pressure monitoring Obese- BMI>30, age 18-70 Obese-hypertensive- BMI>30, age
 18-70, diagnosis of hypertension by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

 Exclusion Criteria:

 All groups - presence of other significant cardiovascular disease, renal disease, history
 of smoking, diabetes,