High Blood Pressure- Background Information
Optimal blood pressure is approximately 126/75, with some variations between individuals. Blood pressure exceeding this optimal value may indicate that you have an issue with high blood pressure. While conventional doctors would not typically define a high reading until reaching or exceeding 140/90, even moderate elevations above optimal blood pressure have been shown to damage endothelial lining and smooth muscle cells, factors which can lead to or progress cardiovascular disease.
Causes: -Sodium Intake -High Cholesterol -Smoking -Obesity -High Blood Sugar -Anxiety -Inflammation -Elevated Homocysteine
Symptoms: -Elevated Heart Rate/ Arrhythmia's -Nosebleeds -Ringing of the Ears -Headache/Dizziness -Blurred Vision
Suggestions: -Natural BP Management -Olive Leaf Vascular Support-Magnesium -High Potency Fish oil -COQ10 -Pomegranate -Arginine -Garlic
Causes: High Blood pressure can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors. It is important when thinking of high blood pressure to note that our veins and cardiovascular system are highly susceptible to damage, and need to be protected accordingly.
Our veins are lined with cells called endothelial cells. These cells are the basic building block of our veins which allows for materials (like oxygen and other gases) to pass through when needed, and to keep other harmful substances (like toxins) out of our bodies.
Several things can damage this very delicate endothelial lining, for example, inflammation, smoking and high cholesterol all put an elevated amount of strain on this lining. As time progresses, this lining is damaged. Due to this damage, blood vessels are not as effective as they once were, and high blood pressure results.
A variety of other conditions have been linked to high blood pressure including diabetes, congestive heart disease, renal disease and atherosclerosis. To find out more information on how these conditions are related to high blood pressure, click here.
As the body seeks to repair this damage, it is important to determine what the causative factor was that led to the initial damage. Ask yourself, due to your lifestyle choices, are any of the following probable causes of your high blood pressure?
Sodium Intake: As you may know, our kidneys are responsible for regulating our fluid balance, and therefore have a large impact on our blood pressure. One of the main functions of the kidney is to filter salts out of our urine. As you may also know, salt attracts water. As we consume more salt than our kidneys are able to filter, more water is also directed into the bloodstream. This increase in blood volume directly causes an increase in blood pressure. (So watch that salt intake!)
High Cholesterol: Having high cholesterol (specifically high LDL, the "bad" cholesterol) can lead to further damage of the endothelial lining. Cholesterol can accumulate on the endothelial lining, leading to narrowing of the vein, limited blood flow and subsequent damage.
Smoking: Smoking is extremely detrimental to our vasculature. By smoking, we release chemicals into our body which oxidize and directly damage the endothelial lining.
Obesity: Obesity can be another causative factor as it places increased stress on the vasculature as well as is often correlated with elevations in cholesterol. Obesity places stress on our veins leading to inflammation, which is one of the 3 major ways our bodies are damaged and degraded.
High Blood Sugar: High blood sugar is another of our 3 main mechanisms which damage our bodies. By having high blood sugar, we leave our bodies susceptible to glycation, (the cross linking of sugar molecules to tissues where they shouldn't be, ultimately rendering them dysfunctional) which can greatly damage our endothelial lining and lead to higher blood pressure.
Anxiety: Anxiety stimulates a group of agents known as the beta-1 adrenergic agents. These agents are released as a way to prepare the body for acute emergencies, and one of the direct consequences of this release is elevated blood pressure. It is for this reason that "beta blockers" are a particularly useful medication for those afflicted with high blood pressure and anxiety.
Inflammation: As we briefly highlighted earlier, inflammation is one of the 3 most detrimental killers of the body. By controlling our inflammation through frequent testing and high antioxidant intake, we can limit the amount of damage directly done on our veins, allowing for better blood flow and healthier blood pressure.
Elevated Homocysteine: Homocysteine is a non-protein amino acid that can be readily measured in the bloodstream. Elevations in homocysteine have been linked to elevated blood pressure and increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
About the Author
All articles written and intended for use on http://www.vitaminhealthrx.com --Articles written with the purpose of supplying health advice and information to the average American looking for alternative ways to support their health. All articles are written by educated health advisors or health advocates who share a passion for health information and teaching others.
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