About Hypertension

Paul Kanute asked:


Hypertension is persistent high blood pressure. It affects nearly one quarter of American adults and more than half of people over 65. Most cases are essential hypertension, in which the cause is unknown.

Left untreated, the excessive pressure of blood on the arteries eventually scars and narrows them, reducing their elasticity. This is increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis, because fatty plaque accumulates where arteries are damaged. The heart force to work much harder pumping blood through the narrowed arteries, becomes enlarged and inefficient. Eventually the heart is unable to supply enough nutrients and oxygen to organ and tissues. The kidneys, the brain, and the heart are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects of high blood pressure.

There is a genetic predisposition to essential hypertension. For example, African Americans are more likely to develop hypertension and at an earlier age than Caucasians. If both parents have high blood pressure, then the probability their children also will have it rises dramatically.

But does diet also play a role? Could changing our diets prevent or delay high blood pressure? And for people who have hypertension, can changing their diet help control their blood pressure?

Excessive sodium can hold excessive fluid in body, at least temporarily. These excesses can be burdensome on the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. The consensus among heart disease expert is that too much sodium, ingested routinely over the years, plays a role in the underlying causes of hypertension in genetically predisposed or “salt-sensitive” people. The more salt they eat, the higher their blood pressure.

Hypertension is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and stroke. Excess sodium intake raises blood pressure in those who are salt-sensitive. Inadequate levels of potassium, calcium, and possibly magnesium may also contribute to hypertension. Limiting sodium intake, along with eating lots of low-sodium vegetables, fruits, and low-fat daily products, will probably help reduce hypertension and its side effects.



Tonya

Marco asked:


I am a bit over weight and I am trying to get a regime to cut down my intake of food but my BP has been consistently been hovering on 120/100 or 115/95. Doc’s prescribed medication but the thought that it’s life long is depressing..Any suggestions

Ellen

saied asked:


Calcium channel blockers are used to lower Blood pressure. It may lower the serum ionized calcium and may increase cytosolic calcium.Is it true?

Tammy

fizzydoo asked:


My mom has a very bad cough & hasn’t slept in days. She does not have medical insurance so will not go to the doctor. Any suggestions?

Frank

leann_hp28 asked:


I am doing my nursing care plan and I can’t get the relation of hypertension and risk for cardiac output.

Benjamin

José asked:


I have hypertension, and I’m not taking medicine, but I want to control high blood pressure with food and natural resources

Megan

Martin Eisen asked:


High blood pressure is frequently difficult to treat in a short time by acupuncture or herbs. Patients become discouraged and turn to western medicine. Some forms of Qigong can help lower blood pressure. However, most of these forms must be taught to the patient and are not simple to learn.

Most of these Qigong methods have a common factor. The rate of respiration is slowed down. This may be the chief parameter which accounts for their lowering of blood pressure.

Recent research shows that 3 or 4 15-minute sessions of slow breathing (less than or equal to 10 breaths per minute) can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, usually within 8 weeks (1) – (19). In one clinical trial, some diabetics were not able to sufficiently lower their respiration rate. However, with a longer training period a lower rate of respiration might be achieved.

The breathing exercise should be performed using normal, Buddhist or diaphragmatic breathing, like opera singers. The Daoists thought that normal breathing was one of the secrets of longevity. If you look at a baby in its crib you will only notice its stomach move up and down as it breathes. By contrast, when most seniors breathe their upper chest heaves up and down and there is no visible movement of their abdomen, a consequence of shallow breathing. A Chinese doctor looks at the abdomen of a critically ill patient. If it moves up and down as the patient breathes, the patient has a better chance of surviving than a patient with no visible abdominal movement on breathing. Thus, you may have to instruct patients so that normal or diaphragmatic breathing is done automatically.

Normal or diaphragmatic breathing can be practiced lying down or sitting in a chair. The practice methods are similar. The method of practice while sitting in a chair will be described. Inhale and exhale gently, smoothly and continuously through your nose. Sit comfortably, with your knees bent and your shoulders, head and neck relaxed. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe. As you inhale, the hand on your chest must move as little as possible, while the hand on your abdomen must move outwards. When you exhale, the hand on your abdomen moves inward, which you can help by slightly and gently pulling your abdominal muscle inward. Once again, the hand on your chest moves as little as possible. At first, you’ll probably get tired while doing this exercise because an increased effort will be needed to use the diaphragm correctly. Keep at it, because with continued practice, diaphragmatic breathing will become easy and automatic. Practice this exercise 5-10 minutes a few times a day.

Slow breathing has the physiological effect of relaxing the muscles surrounding the small blood vessels, which allows the blood to flow more easily. Alpha blockers block receptors in arteries and smooth muscle. This action relaxes the blood vessels and leads to an increase in blood flow and a lower pressure for the control of hypertension. The action in the urinary tract enhances urinary flow for an enlarged prostate. Slow breathing seems to have the same effect as alpha blockers. Thus, it may also reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. This conjecture has not been subjected to clinical trials, but has worked on two subjects.

There is another simple breathing technique purported to help eliminate and prevent heart attacks due to abnormal electrical events to the heart, and to generally enhance performance of the central nervous system (CNS) and to help eliminate the effects of traumatic shock and stress to the CNS. Most patients would prefer to try this approach rather than the risks of ablation or a cardiac pacemaker.

The method requires 1 breath per minute (BPM) respiratory exercise with slow inspiration for 20 seconds, breath retention for 20 seconds, and slow expiration for 20 seconds, for 31 consecutive minutes. Do not attempt to use the required time intervals to start. Use a time interval - say, 5 seconds, or even less, so that no straining is involved. Try to practice every day.

This technique produced favourable shifts in all hemodynamic variables measured for 4 subjects during the 1 BPM exercise and in the post-exercise resting period (20). The authors conclude that the long-term effects of this technique appear to reset a cardio-respiratory brain-stem pacemaker. This effect may be the basis for the purported health claim of this yogic breathing exercise. Large scale clinical trials seem warranted.

References

1. Device-Guided Breathing to Lower Blood Pressure: Case Report and Clinical Overview. W Elliott, J Izzo. Medscape General Medicine, 2006; 8(3).

2. Graded Blood Pressure Reduction in Hypertensive Outpatients Associated with Use of a Device to Assist with Slow Breathing. W Elliott, J Izzo, Jr., WB White, D Rosing, CS Snyder, A Alter, B Gavish, HR Black, J Clin Hypertens, 2004 6(10): 553-559.

3. Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Hypertension by Respiratory Exercise in the Home Setting. E Meles, C Giannattasio, M Failla, G Gentile, A Capra, G Mancia, American Journal of Hypertension 2004, 17:370–374.

4. Respiration and Blood Pressure. G Parati, JL Izzo Jr, B Gavish, in Hypertension Primer, Third Edition. JL Izzo and HR Black, Eds. Baltimore, Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, 2003; Ch. A40, p117-120.

5. Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Resistant Hypertensives by Device-Guided Slow Breathing Exercises. R Viskoper , I Shapira, R Priluck, R Mindlin, L Chornia, A Laszt, D Dicker, B Gavish, A Alter, American Journal of Hypertension 2003; Vol 16:484-487.

6. Device-Guided Breathing Exercises Reduce Blood Pressure - Ambulatory and Home Measurements. T Rosenthal, A Alter, E Peleg, B Gavish, American Journal of Hypertension 2001; 14:74-76.

7. Breathing-control lowers blood pressure.E Grossman, A Grossman , MH Schein, R Zimlichman, B Gavish. Journal of Human Hypertension 2001; 15:263-269.

8. Treating hypertension with a device that slows and regularizes breathing: A randomised, double-blind controlled study. M Schein, B Gavish, M Herz , D Rosner-Kahana, P Naveh, B Knishkowy, E Zlotnikov, N Ben-Zvi, RN Melmed , Journal of Human Hypertension 2001; 15:271-278.

9. The Changes of Noninvasive Hemodynamic Parameters after Device-Guided Slow Breathing Exercise in Hypertensive Patients. J Y Kim, M S Han, H H Yoo, H M Choe, B S Yoo, S H Lee, J Yoon, and K H Choe. Journal of Clinical Hypertension,2006, Vol 8, Issue 5, Suppl A.

10. Does Baseline Systolic Blood Pressure Affect Antihypertensive Efficacy with Device-Guided Breathing Exercise?Kim JY, Han MS, Yoo HH, Choe HM, Yoo BS, Lee SH, Yoon J, and Choe KH. Journal of Clinical Hypertension,2006, Volume 8, Issue 5, Suppl A.

11. Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension in diabetics by device-guided paced breathing: A randomized controlled study. M H Schein, A Alter and B Gavish. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2006, Vol 8, Issue 5, Supl A,. P- 79.

12. Blood pressure change following 8-week, 15-minute daily treatment with paced breathing guided by a device: A korean multi-center study. J H Bae, J H Kim, K H Choe, S P Hong, K S Kim, C H Kim and W H Kim. Journal of Clinical Hypertension,2006, Vol 8, Issue 5, Suppl A,. P-86

13. Treating hypertension in diabetics with device-guided breathing: A randomized controlled study. MH Schein, A Alter and B Gavish. EGPRN 2005.

14. Treating high blood pressure by device-guided paced breathing in the home setting: Evidence-based approach. M Schein, E Grossman, T Rosenthal, C Giannattasio, W Elliott, R Viskoper, A Alter, B Gavish British Hypertension Society Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK. Sept 2005

15. Reduction of home blood pressures and white coat effect after 8 weeks of device-guided paced breathing. W Elliott, B Gavish, A Alter, J L. Izzo, and H R. Black, American Journal of Hypertension, 2005, 18(5): 211A

16. Blood pressure reduction with device-guided breathing: Pooled data from 7 controlled studies. Elliott, HR Black, A Alter, B Gavish. Journal of Hypertension,

2004; 22(2): S116

17. Acute effects of device guided-breathing on cardiovascular parameters and baroreflex sensitivity in normal subjects. G Parati, F Glavina, G Ongaro, A Maronati, B Gavish, P Castiglioni, M Di Rienzo, G Mancia. American Journal of Hypertension

2002; 15(4,2)182A.

18. The pressure dependence of arterial compliance: A model interpretation. B Gavish, American Journal of Hypertension, 2001; 14:121A. 2004; 17(5):54A

19. Are breathing exercises an active component in reducing high blood pressure? A retrospective view. B Gavish. Journal of Hypertension 2001, Supplement 2, S79-S80.

Repeated blood pressure measurements may probe directly an arterial property. Gavish B., American Journal of Hypertension 2000; 13:190A.

20.. Hemodynamic Observations on a Yogic Breathing Technique Claimed to Help Eliminate and Prevent Heart Attacks: A Pilot Study. David S. Shannahoff, Khalsa, B., Bo Sramek, Matthew B. Kennel, Stuart W. Jamieson, J. of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 10, Number 5, 2004, pp.757 -766.



Chris

lola asked:


or group of people and what year? i keep trying to find the information but it doesn’t show up?

Lynn

Jan Oliver asked:


Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can be an extremely dangerous condition. It is often called the “silent killer” due to the fact that people who are suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure are often unaware of it until they are struck with a sudden heart attack or stroke. In many cases high blood pressure is not identified until a checkup at the doctor’s, often for some unrelated problem. So it’s important not to take any unnecessary risks and to pay attention to the following hypertension symptoms that you could suffer from.

It’s true that it’s easy to ignore high blood pressure early due to its lack of obvious symptoms but there’s no real excuse for it. Inexpensive digital blood pressure monitors are now widely available and many pharmacies offer blood pressure machines for their customers.

But if you do happen to be out of touch with your blood pressure there are a number of disturbing symptoms of advanced and dangerous levels of hypertension that you must pay attention to before your high blood pressure can get totally out of hand and put you in a critical health situation.

Three telltale symptoms of advanced high blood pressure can be:

- Blurred vision, other sight problems or sensitivity of the eyeballs to touch or light pressure

- Breathing difficulties upon any exertion

- Prolonged and/or acute mental or physical stress

There are plenty of other signs and symptoms that could indicate you are suffering hypertension. These include:

- Unexpected nosebleeds for no obvious reason

- Experiencing exhaustion despite having sufficient rest

- Experiencing confusion

- Buzzing in the ears

- Feeling of pain or tightening in the chest area

- The presence of blood in urine

- Chronic or severe headaches

- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat

These are just some of the possible symptoms and signs of a dangerous level of hypertension. It’s important to note that these symptoms can have numerous possible causes but must never be ignored, especially when a blood pressure check is so easy to do.

If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms you should head immediately to the doctor for a checkup or even to the emergency room if the symptoms are severe. High blood pressure is very treatable, either pharmaceutically or through natural methods and lifestyle changes.

You diet plays a significant role in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Rather than focusing on specific foods you simply cannot go wrong with a varied diet of whole, natural foods high in fruits, vegetables, and grains and low in fat and sugar.

Salt intake can also play an important role in determining your blood pressure. The problem starts when your balance of sodium, magnesium and potassium goes out whack due to a diet of processed foods that are high in salt and low in the other minerals. Under these circumstances, consumption of a large amount of salt makes your blood pressure shoot sky high and even has the potential to kill you in extreme cases. The easiest approach to maintaining healthy sodium levels is to avoid salty foods and to never add extra salt to your food. There is plenty of sodium that exists naturally in many foods. Again, you won’t go wrong with a natural diet free of most processed foods.

To help prevent or reverse high blood pressure you need to learn to maintain a balanced diet. Cholesterol and saturated fats will clog the arteries and your heart will have to put in an immense amount of work to pump blood through your system, thereby creating high blood pressure. At the same time, if you are overweight, losing a little bit of weight will help to ease your current blood pressure level. Start an exercise regimen - even simply walking 30 minutes a day will help - and adhere to it. In addition to strengthening your heart, exercising will help to burn away cholesterol and saturated fats, easing the potential for blockages of the arteries.

Another important way to benefit your blood pressure is to learn some of the simple ways to relieve stress. Chronic stress is recognized as one of the major factors leading to hypertension and is often connected with heart disease. You don’t necessarily need complex solutions like yoga or meditation. Simple pleasures like listening to music or relaxing in a hot tub are equally beneficial and increase both your mental and physical well-being.

Hypertension is implicated in many other deadly diseases and health conditions. So if you can learn to maintain healthy blood pressure you can avoid many future health problems and suffering.



Jeanette