According to my husband, blood pressure is a simple thing.  If you want to raise your blood pressure, have children; if you want to lower you blood pressure, go on a holiday.  If only it was really that simple. 

Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the vessel walls.  There are several components that determine this pressure.  There is the actual pressure exerted by the heart in pumping the blood; the amount of resistance encountered in the blood vessels either by blockages that are being formed or by the muscular constriction of the vessels; and the actual amount of blood in the body.  It is easy to see that a heart that is pumping too intensely, combined with atherosclerosis (fatty deposits accumulating in the vessels), and fluid retention resulting in an increased blood volume can push blood pressure readings right off the chart. 

Conversely, however, hypotension (low blood pressure) is just as much of a problem for some people as hypertension (high blood pressure) is for others.  Hypotension is generally less common, but it can be an indicator of malnutrition, Addison’s disease (inadequate adrenal cortex function – the adrenal glands will be very important as we look at blood pressure), hyperthyroidism, and severe wasting diseases.  The risk for an otherwise healthy person is that sudden changes in posture can lead to dizziness.  (Hypotension is also a very important indicator of circulatory shock which is not what we are dealing with here.) 

Normal blood pressure readings are between 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic).  In people under 50 years of age, blood pressure is considered to be borderline high if it is over 140/90.  Anything over 160/95 is high.  A persistent diastolic reading of more than 158 increases the risk of death by cardiovascular accident by two times.  What, exactly do these numbers mean?  The first number, the systolic reading, indicates the amount of pressure being exerted by the heart when it pumps and shows if the heart is working too hard to get the job done.  The second number, or diastolic, is the amount of pressure that is residual in the heart when the heart is as rest.  If this number is too high it shows the heart is not resting adequately between beats. 

Hypertension is a common phenomenon that we all experience from time to time.  It is one of the ways our bodies adapt to stress, fever, physical exertion, pain, emotional upset, and fear.  It is also one of the body’s ways of coping with obesity and moving the blood through a very large circulatory system. 

Hypertension is a more common problem than hypotension.  In fact, nearly 30% of all people over the age of 50 are hypertensive regardless of their weight.  By age 65, over one-half of the population is hypertensive. 

There are two categories of hypertension.  Primary hypertension has no underlying disease as its base.  It is typically associated with smoking, stress, obesity, excessive use of stimulants (coffee and tea), drug abuse, high sodium diet, and use of the birth control pill. 

Secondary hypertension originates from other disease processes - most commonly abnormal inherited narrowing of arteries, hormonal abnormality, atherosclerosis, and poor kidney function that results in sodium retention which leads to fluid retention. It is most commonly caused by arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). 

So, why is this such a common problem?  Well, this could be because of your gender (more men than women are hypertensive), or your race (more blacks than whites are hypertensive), or your parentage (if one parent was hypertensive you are two times more likely to be also).  Being pregnant or on the Birth Control pill will also increase your risk.  Your diet could be unbalanced and/or your body weight and stress levels could be too high. 

There are some warning signs sometimes, but remember that hypertension is also called ‘the silent killer’.  In a lucky few those warning signs could include nervousness, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nosebleeds, and flushed cheeks.  Of course the risks include heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and retinal damage. 

There are several drugs that can be prescribed to control hypertension.  Included in the list are diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and beta adrenergic blockers.  Diuretics function with the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the blood stream.  This, in turn, usually causes some depletion of some important electrolyte minerals, namely potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. 

Beta adrenergic blockers, also known simply as beta-blockers, interfere with action of the adrenal hormone epinephrine on the heart.  Epinephrine stimulates the heart to pump more rapidly and more strongly, as is needed during emergencies.  By controlling this effect, there is less wear and tear on the heart. 

Calcium channel blockers prevent vasoconstriction by blocking the transport of calcium into coronary arteries.  (Calcium is necessary for smooth muscle contraction, and arteries are simply smooth muscle.) 

Let’s look at some specifics.  The heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and adrenals all must work together.  If any one of the links becomes weak, hypertension is a possible result.  Together, these four sets of organs control the stroking pressure of the heart, the dilation of the blood vessels, and the blood volume.  It is a somewhat delicate balance with many variables.  Probably the most important, controllable, variables are the release of rennin from the kidneys that results in the production of angiotensin (a vasoconstrictor) that stimulates the adrenal cortex release of aldosterone.  The adrenal glands produce two other hormones that play key roles in the regulation of blood pressure also: epinephrine and norepinephrine.  Aldosterone stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb sodium, and thus allows the body to hold onto more fluid in the blood stream.  This increases both blood volume and pressure.  Norepinephrine is a vasoconstrictor and epinephrine is also a vasoconstrictor that enhances cardiac output.  Clearly, the high-paced stresses of living in a developed nation, with the resulting constant output of these adrenal hormones can seriously increase blood pressure and its attendant risks.  It has been well documented that people who live in simpler areas of the world do not suffer from these problems, and even taking a person who has these problems from a developed nation and transplanting them to a less developed nation will see his/her blood pressure self-correct.  It would seem our modern life is doing us no favors.

 We do have a lot of control over the very important diet and lifestyle factors.  Our risks increase with diets that are high in sodium as compared to potassium, and with the use of monosodium glutamate.  Other dietary and lifestyle factors include a low fibre, high sugar diet, a high saturated fat, low essential fatty acid diet, low intake of calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and intake of the artificial sweetener aspartame.  Certainly smoking with the effects of nicotine on the adrenal glands, using stimulants such as caffeine with its effects on the adrenal glands, and obesity with the increased pressure it takes to move the blood through extra miles of blood vessels, can play a critical role in elevating blood pressure.  It has also been noted that people with high blood pressure often have cadmium toxicity, carrying three to four times the normal amount of this mineral in their bodies. 

The life-improving changes that need to be made to impact blood pressure are not difficult, and they are readily accessible by everyone. 

Start with increasing the intake of vegetables.  Vegetables supply the potassium that is needed to balance sodium and control its water conserving efforts.  Vegetables will also provide complex carbohydrates that do not tax the pancreas and adrenal glands, essential fatty acids to help with keeping arteries clean and supple, calcium and magnesium that work with the nerves to regulate muscular contractions and prevent vascular spasms, and vitamin C to build and maintain vascular strength and flexibility. 

Sugar intake needs to be reduced.  Sugars increase adrenaline production. 

Many foods can be used to aid in achieving the goal of cardiovascular health and blood pressure regulation.  Be sure to include garlic, onions, nuts & seeds (for essential fatty acids), green leafy vegetables  (for calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C), and whole grains and legumes (for fiber). 

Avoid caffeine in all forms, alcohol, and tobacco.   

If hypertension is a problem, other therapies may be helpful.  They include biofeedback, meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and aerobic exercise. 

Certainly there are many herbs and supplements that can be beneficial.  CoQ10 improves oxygen saturation for cell renewal and strength.  Try 200 mg per day.  Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is needed to improve blood vessel stability.  Two doses of 500 mg have been recommended.  Calcium (up to 1500 mg per day) with half as much magnesium can help balance the nervous system.  Some studies have indicated that a vast number of hypertensives are calcium deficient.  Essential fatty acids can be provided by Super Oil or Evening Primrose oil.

 Hawthorn is the grand-daddy of heart/circulation herbs.  It dilates larger blood vessels, strengthens the heart, and is slightly diuretic, not to mention that it strengthens and supports the adrenal glands.  Olive leaf contains oleuropein and dilates coronary blood vessels while regulating the heartbeat.  Capsicum has a longstanding reputation of be a circulation normalizer.  Ginkgo Biloba also dilates arteries and is well known for improving circulation. 

Parsley is an important source of potassium and an excellent diuretic. 

Because of the adrenal glands’ production of blood pressure regulating hormones, it is usually prudent to support those small glands.   Adrenal gland support is found with Siberian ginseng.  This herb enhances one’s ability to cope with stress and Adrenal Support is also a superb formula to support the adrenal glands.

Nature's Sunshine Products literature states that Blood Pressurex is for the maintenance of already normal blood pressure…but I have used it along with Stress Formula, Adrenal Support, and CalMag Plus D to get people off their blood pressure prescriptions!

Butcher’s broom prevents blood clots which are much more common in blocked arteries.  Garlic also thins blood and has been used effectively to reduce elevated blood pressure. Vari-Gone provides the butcher’s broom along with bioflavonoids for blood vessel integrity. 

With diet, supplements, and the all important lifestyle changes the body can correct elevated blood pressure.  So, maybe, just maybe, my husband was right.  Make all the right changes and go on a vacation to lower your blood pressure!

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