Hypertension
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure – defined as the measurement of the force against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body – is elevated.
Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. Dietary and lifestyle changes can improve blood pressure control and decrease the risk of associated health complications.
Who is Affected?
Hypertension affects approximately one in three adults, or 73 million Americans. About 90 –95% of cases are categorized as primary hypertension, which means high blood pressure with no obvious medical cause. The remaining five to ten percent of cases are typically caused by other conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system.
While there is no known cause of hypertension, the condition has been linked to a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, stress, obesity, potassium deficiency, salt (sodium) sensitivity, alcohol intake and Vitamin D deficiency. Risk also increases with age, and a family history of hypertension is also a factor. Insulin resistance is also thought to contribute to hypertension, and recent studies suggest that low birth weight may be linked to the development of the condition as an adult. Recent evidence also indicates that high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium can elevate blood pressure.
What are Options for Treatment?
At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, before embarking on any treatment plan, we speak to each patient about his or her lifestyle, and run tests to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity and insulin resistance, which have all been associated with hypertension.
When necessary, we help our patients achieve their ideal body weight by making dietary modifications and committing to an exercise routine. Across our practice, but especially with patients who suffer from hypertension, we recommend a “clean” diet – one that is low in sugar and salt, features non-processed foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and incorporates fish (provided the patient is not vegetarian or vegan) and healthy oils. In cases where there is a lot of weight to be lost, we offer more aggressive strategies – such as medically-based diets that utilize naturally-occurring hormones that stimulate metabolism, suppress appetite and mobilize fat – to help patients achieve marked weight loss, quickly.
If testing confirms that there is an excess body burden of mercury, lead and cadmium (either of all three or of any one), we utilize chelation therapy and other detoxification techniques to cleanse the body, as these metals have been linked to hypertension.
We utilize supplements – including herbals (like Hawthorne), minerals (including magnesium, as a shortage of this mineral may cause hypertension), Omega 3 fatty acids (useful in treating the disorder) and argInine (an amino acid that helps dilate blood vessels).
Lastly, we encourage our patients to seek out – and stick with – stress reduction techniques ranging from prayer and meditation to yoga and Tai Chi to help manage, and in most cases, drastically reduce, their hypertension and related symptoms.