Brain region that controls breathing linked to high BP

The lateral parafacial (pFL) region of the brain, responsible for controlling breathing, may also connect to nerves that tighten blood vessels, leading to a rise in blood pressure, according to a study.

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The pFL region -- located in brainstem, which connects the cerebrum to spinal cord -- controls automatic functions, including digestion, breathing, and heart rate. Forced exhalations while laughing, exercising or coughing are driven by powerful abdominal muscles, which are not required during a normal exhalation, lead researcher Julian Paton, director of the centre for heart research at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, said.