Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
06:39
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
Published on: June 13, 2025
509
Orexins, Sleep, and Blood Pressure
Mariusz Sieminski1, Jacek Szypenbejl2, Eemil Partinen3,4
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Smoluchowskiego 17, 80-235, Gdansk, Poland. msiem@wp.pl.
Current Hypertension Reports
|July 12, 2018
Summary
Orexin neurons regulate sleep, blood pressure, and appetite. While orexin system modulation shows promise for insomnia and hypertension, clinical evidence for cardiovascular disease treatment is still needed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides discovered 20 years ago.
- Hypothalamic orexin neurons influence feeding, energy balance, sleep-wake cycles, cognition, and cardiovascular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize data on the role of orexins and orexin neurons in regulating sleep and blood pressure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on orexin system function.
- Analysis of physiological and pharmacological data.
Main Results:
- Orexin system activation increases blood pressure and heart rate.
- Orexin neuron activity is elevated in animal models of hypertension.
- Orexin antagonism can attenuate orexinergic effects on blood pressure.
- Pharmacological targeting of the orexin system is a potential treatment for insomnia.
Conclusions:
- The orexin system plays a significant role in cardiovascular regulation.
- While promising for insomnia and hypertension, further clinical research is required to establish orexin-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Blood Pressure
10.2K
The movement of blood in a human body, commonly referred to as blood flow, is determined by the volume of blood that traverses a certain section of the bodily system per unit time. It is the rhythmic contraction of the heart's ventricles that primarily instigates this movement. As the ventricles contract, blood is forced into the prominent arteries, which then flow from areas of greater pressure to lower pressure areas. This movement continues into smaller arteries and arterioles and...
10.2K
01:30Blood Pressure
4.8K
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure or force of blood exerted on the artery's walls as it circulates through the body. It is essential for maintaining blood flow throughout the body.
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the...
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the...
4.8K
01:17Measurement of Blood Pressure
3.2K
Assessing blood pressure is a standard procedure executed in virtually all medical environments. The method utilized today was established over a hundred years ago by an innovative Russian doctor, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff. The soft ticking noise, known as Korotkoff sounds, heard while taking blood pressure readings results from turbulent blood flow within the vessels. The apparatus required for this procedure includes a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff attached to a gauge, and a...
3.2K
01:28Factors affecting Blood pressure
7.2K
Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
Physiological Factors:
7.2K
01:30Alterations in Blood Pressure
2.2K
Alterations in blood pressure, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and hypotension (low blood pressure), significantly affect human health. Understanding these conditions' classifications, causes, and symptoms is essential for effective management and treatment.
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart...
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart...
2.2K
01:18Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
4.4K
Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
4.4K