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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  Blood pressure refers to: High Blood Pressure (HBP) itself is not a health problem, but it is a major risk of heart attack or stroke. The latest count from Statistics Canada in 2005, indicated that some 4,525,525 people over 55 years of age have high blood pressure. These numbers are expected to increase as the baby boomers reach their senior years. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Hypertension can be classified as either “essential” or “secondary”. Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical causes can be found to explain the patient's condition. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of another condition, such as kidney disease or tumors. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, the leading cause of chronic renal failure. Without treatment or measures to bring the pressure down and, if severe high blood pressures persists, a person can be expected to live only a few years. Medical treatment is with ACE inhibiting drugs which can cause a potassium buildup and kidney problems. ACE inhibitors also appear to be capable of producing severe allergic reactions that can be life threatening. Each time the heart pumps, blood courses through the arteries, creating pressure. The beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of another heartbeat is called a cardiac cycle. There are two measurable pressures during a cardiac cycle, systolic and diastolic. Systolic arterial pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle. Between beats, when the heart relaxes (the resting phase of the cardiac cycle), blood pressure drops. This is called the diastolic arterial pressure, which is the lowest pressure. When a person’s systolic blood pressure is consistently 140mmHg or greater and their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90mmHg or greater, it is referred to as a hypertensive condition or simply Hypertension. A hypertensive condition is diagnosed when a patient’s readings are between 120/80 to 139\89. The Mayo Clinic website states that blood pressure is considered normal if it is below 120\80. In allopathic medicine, the cause of hypertension is unknown in about 95% of patients. Genetics may play a role in the cause of high blood pressure but it is more closely related to lifestyle and dietary factors. Some factors that may cause high blood pressure are: coffee consumption, alcohol intake, lack of exercise, stress, and smoking. Some dietary factors include obesity, high sodium/potassium ratio, low fibre, high sugar diet, high saturated fat, and low essential fatty acid intake, and a diet low in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C. Salt sensitivity and sodium are factors in approximately 60% of the essential hypertension cases. The effects of excess sodium in the body are directly related to the amount of salt one consumes and also how well one’s kidneys are functioning. Sodium balance in the body is regulated by the kidneys. When the kidneys do not work well, fluid builds up around the cells and in the bloodstream. Sodium is contained in the fluid around every cell (the interstitial fluid) in the body. When salt intake is increased, the body pulls water from around the cells of the muscles and organs and moves it into the bloodstream in order to dilute the sodium content. If the sodium content is too high around the cells, the body draws water from the bloodstream and relocates it around the cells, causing swelling. Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, is used to level blood sugars. It also contributes to vasodilatation (widening of blood vessels) of blood vessels. Insulin resistance, as in diabetes and Syndrome X, has been suggested as being responsible for increased arterial pressure. To better understand the veins and arteries and their relationship to blood pressure, lets compare them to a garden hose. Initiating certain actions on a garden hose will increase the pressure inside the hose, a result you can see when you put your finger over the end of the hose while the water is running -- the increased pressure makes the water squirt out faster. This action is similar to internal circumstances that can increase blood pressure. We will look at certain conditions in the body that can create pressure in veins and arteries and compare it with the garden hose. THE HEART Think of the heart like the tap of the garden hose. The comparison then is to turning on the tap. The higher the tap is turned on, the more pressure is inside the hose. The heart pumps blood through the arteries to be circulated throughout the body. The blood carries life sustaining oxygen and nutrients to nourish cells. The condition and strength of the heart determines the pressure in the arteries. The heart’s condition determines the timing and consequently the amount of blood being pushed into the arteries, and therefore the pressure on the arterial walls. For a more detailed explanation of heart conditions and suggestions, CLICK HERE to refer to the article entitled “Heart Health." THE ARTERIES When we have a new rubber garden hose it is soft and supple. Sometimes you can even stretch its width, and certainly it has flexibility. If you were to put a small marble in the hose and turn the water on high, you could probably see the marble move along the hose as it stretched to accommodate the passing marble. But the older it becomes, the less stretch ability the sides of the hose have and the marble may not be able to move along it. Pressure of the water would build-up behind the obstruction. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. The flexibility of the arteries and the diameter of them determine the high pressure or systolic measure. This is the higher number in a blood pressure test. If the walls of the artery are inflexible they are incapable of accommodating the increased volume of blood. This creates more pressure when the blood forces its way through. This is known as arteriosclerosis. Also, if there is a build-up of plaque on the arterial walls, less space is available for the blood to move through the artery causing increased pressure. Plaque build-up on the arterial walls is called atherosclerosis. Myocardial infraction (heart attack) or strokes may be the direct result of the arterial system dysfunction that has been progressively compromised by age. Both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis increase pressure in arteries. There are many contributing factors to both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. There are suggestions relating to diet, lifestyle and supplements in the article called “Heart Health” on this website. I invite you to read it for more important details. CLICK HERE to review this article. “Bad” Fats and Saturated Fats A diet low in saturated fat can reduce cholesterol, yet the effect on blood pressure is not well established. Foods that contain saturated fats are butter, suet, tallow, lard, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil, dairy products-especially cream and cheese, meat, chocolate, and some prepared foods. Small amounts of these saturated fats are necessary in our diet but high amounts are dangerous. Another type of saturated fat is trans fat. These are mostly made by hydrogenating fat to make it shelf stable. Margarine or many cooking oils are hydrogenated. These increase ones risk of coronary heart disease. Heart healthy fats such as omega-3 are found in fish like mackerel, salmon, or oils such as canola or flax seed, and in some nuts. Large amounts of these fatty acids may help reduce high blood pressure, but their role in preventing hypertension is unclear. What is apparent is their effect on heart disease. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) One suggestion that stands out for both of these arterial conditions is Essential Fatty Acids (EFA). They help with flexibility of the arterial walls and also are helpful in preventing plaque build-up. They are called essential because our body does not make them. We need to get them from our food source, just like vitamins. Omega 3 is essential and we get very little from our diet in North America. Omega 6 has a role in lowering HBP. Omega 9 is not essential but again most people get little from their diet, and it to helps lower HBP. Fish oil contains EPA and DHA, which our body can make from Omega 3 and 6, however, our body is not always able to make them. Udo’s Oil or OilSMART are two combination oils that contain Omega 3and 6. About 2-3 tablespoons per day is suggested. Capsules only supply minimal requirements. Fish oil in capsules can supply the needed EPA and DHA. O3mega+ by Genuine Health is enteric coated so there is no fishy taste. Coenzyme Q10 by Natural Factors, 200mg Science has found that CoQ10 is an antioxidant unsurpassed for its ability in preventing or treating age related diseases, namely heart disease which incorporates arteries. In a study of 109 people, 225 milligrams daily reduced the blood pressure in 85% of the patients. CoQ10 can be used in conjunction with cardiovascular drugs. QH QH is the new kid on the block but it really shines in terms of its scientifically proven results. QH is Ubiquinol one of the major components of CoQ10, that has shown the potential of lowering HBP. QH has the potential to provide even more benefits than conventional CoQ10 because it seems to be more bioavailable. In a study from the University of Texas it has been shown to have the capacity to lower both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures by a 51% average in only 4.4 months. Myocardial function was improved. This was shown by improvements in the left ventricle wall thickness, valve inflow slope, as well as the fractional shortening. Udo’s QH plus by Flora is a high quality form of QH. Cardioflex Q10 This gives the body all the important nutrients that restore the body’s optimal production of the primary repair tissue collagen. This will also stop the chronic laying down of cholesterol plaque. This can lower HBP. THE VEINS Veins are the part of the cardiovascular system that carries blood back to the heart to be oxygenated. In comparing it to a garden hose think of it this way: It takes a great deal of pressure to push the water to the top end of a hose that is lying on a steep grade. The heart needs to pump hard enough to circulate the blood through the body and back to itself. The body is designed to assist in that process. Movement of blood through the veins relies on a skeletal-muscle pump. What this means is that we need to exercise to assist our veins in moving blood back to the heart. Failure to do so allows blood to backup affecting the pressure in the vascular system. This can create a high diastalsis reading. Fainting can be caused by failure of the skeletal-muscle pump. Consider also long periods of standing can result in blood pooling in the legs. The strength and flexibility of the veins rely on many of the same factors as the integrity of the arteries. Again, EFAs are at the forefront of suggestions for healthy tissue. EXERCISE Being sedentary greatly impairs the body’s ability to move blood back to the heart. Therefore the benefits of exercise are apparent. A daily practice is best, particularly if movement through the day is minimal such as in office work. Increased muscle tone assists the movement of blood at all times even when sleeping. There are many other health benefits to exercise that operate indirectly to HBP, such as stress reduction and to strengthen the heart muscle. A word of caution - If you have HBP, take care when exercising not to over exert yourself, especially in hot or humid weather. Consult your physician before beginning an exercise program. PERIPHERAL RESISTANCE - Stress If you were to park your car with the tires on the garden hose it is easy to imagine how the pressure builds up inside the hose. Stress can be compared to this. We often do not notice how tense our muscles are when we are under stress. Perhaps the comparison of a 3500 pound car on a hose and the tension of stress on our muscles is a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea. Stress, besides affecting the whole body’s physiology, creates pressure on the cardiovascular system. Stress is a fact of life for most people, yet there are many ways to deal with stress, one of which is supplements that can help the body cope. There is an article on stress on this website that offers information and several herbal options that may help with stress. CLICK HERE to view this article. BLOOD VISCOSITY Viscosity of the blood refers to the thickness or density of the blood. To relate this to the garden hose, imagine if Junior took the oil sludge flushed from Dad’s car and put it in the garden hose. Blood is the bodily fluid composed of blood cells suspended in a liquid called blood plasma. Plasma comprises 55% of the blood fluid, which is mostly water by volume and contains dissolved proteins called ions, carbon dioxide platelets and blood cells. Plasma contains about 92% water, 8% blood plasma proteins and trace amounts of materials. A diet high in bad fats, particularly trans fats, leaves the blood thick and sticky. As blood circulates it dissolves nutrients such as glucose amino acids and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood bound to plasma proteins), and removes waste products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. Kidneys play a significant role in HBP as they regulate homeostasis balance of bodily fluid. They sense ion concentrations in plasma and are instrumental in making changes to blood volume. KIDNEYS ~ Please Note ~ Since kidneys are foundational in regulating blood volumes, supporting the kidneys is important before taking any supplements that may increase their workload. This could be a detoxification regime, particularly detoxification of the liver. Increased toxic elimination from the liver increases demand on the kidneys. Impaired kidney function may increase blood volumes at such a time. Kidney support prior to and during detoxification is recommended to ease the process. Kidney support is an important concern when dealing with HBP, both before any other process and during. KB Herb KB Herb from Nature’s Way contains juniper berry, parsley, ginger root, uva ursi, marshmallow, cramp bark, and goldenseal root. The herbs in this kidney-bladder formula are known for support of both organs and their functions. Dandelion Dandelion has diuretic properties that keep fluid moving through the urinary tract, inhibiting fluid stagnation and bacterial growth while reducing pain and inflammation. AGE We all have an old garden hose that has been in the family for years. Age affects the organs and systems involved in HBP. This category may be a bit redundant as most of the factors relating to HBP for age have been discussed in other sections such as arteriosclerosis. Efficiency of the heart, kidneys and circulatory system, can have accumulative effects that increase blood pressure. We need to take care of our body all thorough life through a healthy lifestyle. NATURE’S WAY CAYENNE and GARLIC This combination is used for hypertension. It has many other health benefits and can be taken everyday for prevention or if you have mild hypertension. PeptACE PEPTIDES BY NATURAL FACTORS PeptACE Peptides work to lower HBP by inhibiting specific enzymes that increase fluid volumes and the degree of constriction of blood vessels by relaxing the arterial walls and reducing the fluid volume. They have shown to reduce systolic by at least 10 mmHg and diastolic by 7 mmHg. REISHI, MAITAKE, or SHIITAKE MUSHROOM These are adaptogens which means they can have benefits for many health problems. They are known to reduce HBP and prevent heart disease. DIET Cardiovascular health and HBP are interrelated. Diet for heart health is discussed in the article on this website by the name Heart Health. CLICK HERE to read it. A FEW OTHER NOTEWORTHY TIPS ON DIET Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables such as apples, asparagus, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, eggplant, garlic, grapefruit, green leafy vegetables, melons, peas, prunes, raisins, squash, and sweet potatoes. Or drink live juices such as beet, carrot and celery, currant, cranberry, citrus fruits, parsley, spinach, and watermelon. Eat grains such as brown rice, buckwheat, and millet. Avoid animal fats such as bacon, beef, bouillons, chicken, liver, corned beef, dairy products, gravy, pork, sausage, and smoked or processed meats. Better animal foods are broiled whitefish and skinless turkey or chicken. Get protein from vegetable sources, grains, or protein supplements. Avoid foods such as aged cheeses, aged meats, anchovies, avocados, chocolate, beans, pickled herring, sour cream, sherry, wine, and yogurt. Avoid all alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. If you take MAO inhibitor (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) drugs, either prescription or over-the-counter, for depression, lowering blood pressure, to treat infections and for cancer, avoid the chemical tyramine or its precursor, tyrosine. The combination of these causes blood pressure to soar and could cause a stroke. If you are on MAO inhibitor drugs, avoid these tyramine-containing foods: almonds, avocados, bananas, beef or chicken liver, beer, cheese, chocolate, coffee, fava beans, herring, meat tenderizers, peanuts, pickles, pineapples, pumpkin seeds, raisins, sausage, sesame seeds, sour cream, soy sauce, wine, yeast extracts, and yogurt. Do not take supplements containing the amino acids phenylalanine or tyrosine. Also avoid artificial sweeteners, which contain phenylalanine. Do not take antihistamines except under your doctor's care. Consuming too little potassium can raise your blood pressure and your risk of stroke. Increasing dietary potassium may allow some people to reduce the dose of their blood pressure medication. In a study in Italy 27 people with hypertension increased their potassium intake, while another 27 followed usual diets. After one year, 81% of the people on the high potassium diet were able to cut the medication by more than half, while only 29% of the people who followed the usual diet could cut back theirs. Some research suggests a low calcium intake can contribute to high blood pressure, but the calcium link to hypertension is unknown. One theory is that the lack of calcium in the diet predisposes the body to retain sodium, which raises blood pressure. It is especially important for people with hypertension to get enough calcium. Obese adults are at an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. In Canada in 2004, 23% of the population over 18 was obese. These people tend to spend leisure time in sedentary pursuits and to eat less fruits and vegetables. Drink a GREENS product to make up any deficiency that your diet may have. One serving is equal to about six servings of fruits and vegetables. Protein supplements are a good, clean, easily digestible source of protein which will help you maintain the needed protein requirements and reduce animal protein. Fibre supplements such as FibreSMART by Renew life, RECLEANSE FIBRE CHEWABLES OR FIBRE POWDER by Prairie Naturals, Satisfibre by Genuine Health or ground flax seed are good choices of fibre. Drink approximately 8 glasses of spring water. CLICK HERE to check out our Optimal Wellness Daily Checklist for healthy lifestyle suggestions. High Blood Pressure is a red alert for us that our body is out of balance and headed for a serious ailment. It is not to be regarded lightly. There are many things we can do to ease the results of HBP. Diligence is warranted. Monitor you blood pressure and seek to find the cause or causes for the increased pressure so you can enjoy the gifts a healthy body brings. References available upon request. Darlene Stricker is a Master Herbalist with 12 years of experience in the health food and supplement industry. She has a profound passion for teaching about living a natural healthy lifestyle as well as using preventative and healing supplements. Nutter’s continues to evolve with Wellness Ideas and Preventative Solutions. As Educational Director, Darlene serves as a resource for both customers and staff. Suggestions made by Nutter’s Bulk & Natural Foods, and the contents of this article, |
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