The greatest risk is when several different types of the drugs, known as antihypertensives, are taken in combination, and, in particular, the drugs that regulate the hormone, renin, which affects blood pressure levels.

People who are taking an ACE inhibitor or an ARB drug for heart problems should stay at home and not meet up with people, say researchers from Louisiana State University.

Dr Malcolm Kendrick, a UK GP, estimates that people taking one of the drugs are four times more likely to die from the virus.

Calcium-channel blockers are antihypertensives—they keep high blood pressure under control—that also raise the risk of diverticulosis, a bowel problem that causes small bulges or pouches in the intestine. Left untreated, it can lead to diverticulitis, when the pouches become inflamed.

Diuretics, or 'water pills', make skin cancer seven times more likely, especially in patients who have been taking the drugs for a long time.

The drugs contain a chemical called hydrochlorothiazide, which seems to change the skin, and makes it more sensitive to the sun's UV rays, say researchers at the University of Southern Denmark.

Fasting for 24 hours intermittently—either every other day or for three days straight—can reverse the condition and eliminate the need for drug treatment.

Diabetics who had been taking insulin and medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol levels were drug-free after 10 months of intermittent fasting, researchers from the University of Toronto have discovered.

So do sleeping pills cause high blood pressure (hypertension), or is it all part of an unhealthy lifestyle pattern where poor sleep and high blood pressure go together?

Nobody is sure, but researchers suspect sleeping pills could be playing a significant part because people already taking an antihypertensive are more likely to increase the dose, or take a second drug, if they are also taking a pill for their insomnia.

Not smoking (of course) and being socially active help, as does living in communities that have good walking trails and a wide age range. Oh yes, and being a woman.

Zinc deficiency has already been linked to type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, but it can also cause hypertension, say researchers from the Wright State University in the US.

It's something every obstetrician needs to see and every mother-to-be wants to have: an image of the unborn child that shows in clear detail the baby's tiny hands, fingers and toes. For the doctor, it's much more than a happy photo opportunity; it is a chance to ensure the overall health of the fetus, including the proper functioning of internal organs and tissues.

The nuts are a healthy saturated fat that should be part of the daily diet of anyone who is already more likely to suffer from heart disease, such as an obese person.