Hypertension: A Silent Threat with Loud Consequences: Effectively your Blood Pressure
The heart, our body's vital organ, pumps blood throughout the body by contracting and relaxing. When the heart contracts, it pumps oxygen-rich blood into our arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart and towards the rest of the body. This contraction creates a surge of pressure in the arteries, called systolic pressure. In contrast, when the heart relaxes, the used blood flows back into the heart and fills up the chambers again, creating lower pressure in the arteries, known as diastolic pressure. These two numbers give us a measure of blood pressure.
When the force of blood against the walls of the arteries becomes too high, it results in hypertension or high blood pressure. This condition damages the blood vessels and organs over time due to the increased pressure on the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure can cause irregular or disrupted blood flow through a vessel, known as turbulent flow, when blood is forced through a narrowed or partially blocked vessel. This can lead to the formation of plaques and blood clots, further increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Hypertension can cause the walls of the arteries to become thicker and less flexible, reducing blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys, leading to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and vision loss. It is often referred to as a "silent killer" because it may not have any symptoms until it reaches a very high level. Therefore, it is essential to check blood pressure regularly to detect and manage hypertension.
The heart rate and strength of contraction adjust to regulate blood pressure. For instance, if the blood pressure is too low, the heart may increase its rate and strength of contraction to pump more blood and increase the pressure. On the other hand, if the blood pressure is too high, the heart may slow down its rate and decrease its strength of contraction to lower the pressure.
Blood pressure is affected by several individual factors like the diameter of the blood vessels, the amount of blood in the body, hormones, and overall cardiovascular system health. These factors are further influenced by diet, physical activity, stress, genetics, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea.
Hormones play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and are a key target for the design of hypertension drugs. Renin, an enzyme released by the kidneys in response to low blood pressure or volume, acts on angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I, which is converted to angiotensin II by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Aldosterone, produced by the adrenal glands, helps regulate the balance of sodium and potassium in the body, affecting blood pressure. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), produced by the hypothalamus, acts on the kidneys to decrease urine output, increasing blood volume and pressure. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), produced by the heart in response to increased blood volume and pressure, acts on the kidneys to increase urine output and decrease sodium reabsorption, lowering blood volume and pressure.
Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to various health complications over time, such as heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart failure. Damage to the blood vessels in the brain can lead to a stroke, while the kidneys' blood vessels' damage can lead to kidney disease and failure, requiring dialysis. It can also cause vision loss, sexual dysfunction, cognitive decline, and aneurysms. Therefore, managing blood pressure is crucial for overall health and well-being.
There are various types of antihypertensive drugs available to manage hypertension, including diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and vasodilators. However, these medications can cause side effects, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, coughing, kidney damage, and a drop in blood pressure.
Integrative medicine is based on the idea that the body requires optimal levels of nutrients to function properly and prevent disease. This approach focuses on appropriate vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to support the body's natural healing processes
My approach to treating hypertension considers the whole person instead of just treating their symptoms or condition. I find that one of the most effective ways to manage hypertension is through dietary and lifestyle changes. I strongly encourage a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats and discourage processed foods, synthetic sugar, and dairy. Additionally, stress reduction techniques, regular exercise, breath work, and smoking cessation has a significant impact.
In my clinical practice, I routinely recommend supplements and herbs to help treat hypertension. Some supplements that are effective include magnesium, potassium, Vitamin C, CoQ10, Resveratrol, and omega-3 fatty acids. Certain herbs, such as rauwolfia, hawthorn, and garlic, in appropriate and safe dosages, can also be beneficial for managing hypertension.
Although prescription medications can be effective in managing hypertension, they also have untenable side effects. By making dietary and lifestyle changes and incorporating supplements and herbs, patients with hypertension can achieve optimal health and reduce their risk of complications. If you are interested in exploring these time-tested therapies, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We also offer telemedicine as a convenient option.