How coffee and blowing your nose can be harmful

Researchers from Netherland have found 8 factors that may raise the risk of burst aneurysms in the brains of certain people. 

University Medical Center in Utrecht conducted the research on some 250 patients for three years to find risk factors that increase blood pressure over short periods which can lead to burst blood vessels.

Aneurysms are swollen arteries. They usually do not cause a serious problem, but when they grow and burst, they may lead to a stroke.

The study tried to identify the causes of the short-term increases of blood pressure that burst the vessels.

Published in the medical journal “Stroke,” the paper reported that the biggest contributing cause of bursts was coffee, which was named responsible for 10 percent of cases. Other factors were vigorous exercise (7.9 percent), nose blowing (5.4 percent), sex (4.3 percent) straining to defecate (3.6 percent), drinking cola (3.5 percent), being startled (2.7 percent), and being angry (1.3 percent).

It has been found that coffee increased the risk of a burst aneurysm by 70 percent, while being startled led to a 23-times higher risk.

Dr. Monique Vlak, who was in charge of the study, told BBC “all of the triggers induce a sudden and short increase in blood pressure, which seems a possible common cause for aneurismal rupture.”

However, more research is needed before conclusions can be made.

Stanley Barnwell, a neurosurgeon and stroke specialist at Oregon Health and Science University told CNN “there was a relatively small number of patients involved to make a strong conclusion.”

By Kang Yoon-seung (koreacolin@gmail.com)
Intern reporter