What Is Hypertension



             


Friday, May 22, 2009

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension research and information including symptoms and treatments. This article provides a summary of the condition and mentions the problem drug Fen-phen.

What is primary pulmonary hypertension? The best place to start is the pulmonary arteries. These arteries move the blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygen.. When people have high blood pressure specifically in the pulmonary arteries, they have pulmonary hypertension.

This could be an extremely rare side-effect of Pondimin and Redux. The connection, however, has not been proven and more studies are needed to discover if this is in fact the case.

Primary pulmonary hypertension can lead to a failure of the right side of the heart as well as an inhibited ability to exercise.

Symptons include some basic signs such as shortness of breath, fainting or syncope, fatigue, and angina pectoris. If arterial pressure becomes higher than 25 mmHg, pulmonary hypertension almost certainly exists. Normal pressure of someone living at sea level is only 12-16 mmHg. A Swan-Ganz catheter can measure this accurately.

Primary pulmonary hypertension occurs without an obvious cause. Secondary pulmonary hypertension comes because of another disease. If the case is pph, it is considered to be a genetic disorder. It can be associated with appetite suppressants like Fen-phen. There was even a lawsuit about Fen-phen (Abenhaim et al, 1996). There could be a genetic weakness to problem drugs, the basic cause of the disease is not known. You can find more about this at my site at pulmonary-research.comPPH can often be fatal and people who have it usually do not show symptoms until they are in their late twenties or early thirties. Fortunately, it's still a rare problem, however women are almost twice as susceptible to it as men.

Treatment can vary depending on the cause of primary pulmonary hypertension. Oxygen therapy can be useful if patients have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An inferior vena caval filter insertion or a pulmonary endarterectonmy can be done if the PPH is caused by chronic thromboembolism.

Lifestyle changes are key to lessening the effects of PPH. Digoxin, diuretics, oral anticoagulands and vasodilators are also beneficial. Sildenafil can also be used to treat primary pulmonary hypertension.


Jake maintains both health research as well as pulmonary research websites.

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Could Hypertension Simply Be "

Rita Lambros-Segur, M.H.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Well, that's what many renowned natural health practitioners refer high blood pressure to.

What causes hypertension or high blood pressure? Some people think it's being overweight, stress, salt and a host of other factors.

Here's another idea. Your blood becomes dirty. Normally, the dirt is filtered out by the liver. But eventually your liver gets dirty too. So your blood can't flow easily through the liver, and it gets blocked. Often medical doctors put patients on blood thinners to thin it out to work it through the liver.

But the problem is, that filter still has to filter. And if it's dirty, it can't do the job. So the course of wisdom would be to detox and strengthen the liver.

Conventional allopathic medicine assures us that there is no cure for hypertension--only control which must be continued for life. Often this control consists of daily medication which is in the form of strong chemical diuretics. These chemicals leach potassium out of the body at an astounding rate. The leached potassium is then replaced by the administration of inorganic caustic chemical potassium which does more harm than good. The kidneys can become overworked by the processing of these drugs.

Why not go to the cause of hypertension instead of merely treating symptoms? Naturally, we have been provided with herbs and foods that will totally provide for the proper chemical balance of potassium and sodium in the body, as well as stimulate sluggish livers.

In nature, the ratio of sodium to potassium is about 1 to 5. Man has altered this state by the ingestion of massive amounts of salt in the diet. We are able to assimilate about 20 grains (the small salt particles) a day into our human system. The average American man ingests about one teaspoon of salt a day. This comes in processed foods, such as cheese, processed meats, breads, snacks, etc., as well as additional salt from the old salt shaker.

Excess sodium can force its way into the spaces between the tissues constricting capillaries that are so small only one red blood cell may pass through them at a time. This phenomena shuts down blood and nutrient (including oxygen) supplies to various areas of the body. Unchelated sodium also has the ability to hold water in the tissues causing edema. Salt is also very hard on the small tubules in the kidneys and has an affinity for cholesterol--another substance which plugs up arterial plumbing.

Dr. John Christopher, N.D. would often recommend foods high in potassium to help in blood pressure regulation. Grape juice, potatoes, tomatoes, citrus fruits and green vegetables are only a few of such foods.

In other words, by combining lifestyle modifications with whole-food supplements designed to bring the body into homeostasis, you'll have a winning combination to balance the body's electrical construction.

Many monitor their hypertension with a sphygmomanometer and a stethescope. Today, that market produces easier monitoring devices. In any case, once you are in harmony with nature's cures and the electrical construct of both the universe and your body, you will not need external instruments to measure your health, which I'm sure you'll agree is a gift.

Editor of the semi-monthly e-zine named, "Your Electrical Body", Rita has studied with master herbalists and naturopaths alike. Endeavoring to follow the precepts of Dr. John Christopher, she has aided numerous folks to enhance their health. Check out her FREE E-zine, FREE Catalog and gift along with an informative ebook offer. http://www.electricalbody.com/ebook.htm

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Friday, April 3, 2009

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Natural Treatment

The unpleasant truth is that there is no cure for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. The Treatments administered help relieve the symptoms and retard progress of the disease. The objective of Treatments is keeping the complications involved with the condition at bay.

The administration of oxygen helps relieve difficulty in breathing in some cases. Furthermore, this relaxes the muscles in the arteries of the lungs. This lowers the pressures built up in the pulmonary arteries.

The use of diuretics helps get rid of excess fluid accumulated. Lasix is an example. However, it must be remembered that these drugs must be used with caution, so that the patient does not get too dehydrated. If the patient gets too dehydrated then the poorly functioning right ventricle will be unable to pump even a little blood to the lungs, leading to the patient having serious problems with oxygenation.

The use of calcium channel blockers like nifedipine may relax the muscles in the blood vessel walls. This can prove helpful in the functioning of the right side of the heart. However, they may decrease the blood pressure induced in the entire cardiovascular system, which is not quite easily tolerated.

Other treatments include:

Using prostacycline, an investigational drug, is effective in dilating blood vessels of the lungs and decreasing resistance to blood flow.

Inhaling nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels in the lungs but has no effect on the blood vessels of the rest of the body. Sildrafil is another investigational drug used alongside nitric oxide inhalation treatment.

Usage of Bosentan, a new investigational drug, especially in cases related to congenital heart disease.

Alongside treatments there must be regular checkups by a doctor, with careful attention towards monitoring changes in overall health and scrutinizing and monitoring reports thereof.

The patient ought to refrain from sports and heavy work and activity, and should get adequate rest. It must be ensured that the therapy undergone by the patient is on a regular, routine basis.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension provides detailed information on primary pulmonary hypertension, cause of primary pulmonary hypertension , primary pulmonary hypertension attorney, primary pulmonary hypertension complication and more. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is affliated with Pediatric Cardiology.

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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

High Cholesterol Often Results In Hypertension

Excess cholesterol deposition often results in consequences that are more complicated. And one such complication that develops due to excess of bad cholesterol in blood is hypertension or high blood pressure.

You can notice occurrence of high cholesterol and high blood pressure in diabetics. Both these complications often join hands to worsen the condition of a diabetic person. Even if you are not diabetic, high level of cholesterol would still reflect it's repercussion on your blood pressure.

Liaison between cholesterol and high blood pressure is often underestimated by people and later on they end up repenting their underestimation. That's why it is always advisable to undergo a cholesterol examination if you happen to have a high level of blood pressure.

By hypertension we mean a condition in which heart is exerting additional force in pumping out the blood in order to continue its function of blood circulation. This excess force exerted by heart results in high pressure on the blood that is known as high blood pressure or hypertension.

When blood cholesterol level or specifically LDL cholesterol level rises in blood, there exist greater chances of plaque formation thus resulting in narrowed arteries. These narrowed arteries perturb smooth flow of blood causing heart to exert more pressure to pump blood, giving way to hypertension.

Diastolic blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol are one of the common causes of stroke. Obese folks with high plasma cholesterol are very much prone to develop high BP. Later on, this situation may give way to cardiovascular diseases. In fact high level of bad cholesterol in consonance with high BP is a deadly combination that may even result in a host of maladies.

If you possess constant high BP with high cholesterol in old age you are likely to develop Alzheimer. Almost forty percent of Americans suffer from cholesterol created high blood pressure. Seeing this close nexus between cholesterol and high BP you are needed to be extra cautious in case you happen to develop one. This twin problem could be effectively curbed if you are determined to maintain a strict diet and workout routine. You must not let yourself become obese at any cost.

Dietary measures include consumption of cholesterol free food. So you are needed to stop consumption of fatty foods-- the ones that are having high lipid content. Fat free food or low fat food should be consumed. Exercise aimed at burning fat and reducing LDL should be carried out. This is the way you can keep check over cholesterol as well as high blood pressure.

To read more articles on how to lower cholesterol, food and cholesterol and cholestrol exercises visit http://www.urcholesterol.com/

The auther writes articles on different topics. To get more cholesterol articles visit http://www.urcholesterol.com.

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Hypertension - Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire

When you play with fire, you get burned. When you smoke, you run the risk of getting burned inside and out. Whether tobacco is smoked or chewed or taken in by any other means, the nicotine in the tobacco raises the blood pressure. The more you smoke, the higher the nicotine level is in your blood, and the higher your blood pressure. This accounts to a large extent for the great increase in brain attacks , heart attacks and pain in the legs due to poor circulation in smokers, sometimes leading to amputation.

Nicotine raises your blood pressure by constricting your blood vessels. This occurs because the oxygen in your blood decreases and because nicotine directly stimulates the production of a hormone, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), in the adrenal gland. Epinephrine raises blood pressure. After tobacco use raises blood pressure, you're at risk of all the medical consequences of high blood pressure, not to mention diseases associated with smoking, such as mouth and lung cancer.

Numerous studies have shown that smoking or chewing tobacco raises blood pressure and that when you stop using tobacco products, your blood pressure falls. The latest such study from France. Out of 12,417 men who were current smokers, pre?vious smokers, and never smokers, current smokers had the highest preva?lence of high blood pressure. Previous smokers had a lower prevalence with the highest rate of high blood pressure in those who had recently stopped and had smoked for the longest time. Those who had never started smoking had the lowest prevalence of high blood pressure. Do you need more evi?dence than that?

Cigarettes (and smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco) deserve their own book, but I give you enough evidence of the dangers of tobacco and enough helpful advice to quit using tobacco that you would have to be a real dummy not to stop immediately, if not sooner. Drugs that have caused a small frac?tion of the illness and death that tobacco can be blamed for have been taken off the market. So why are cigarettes still sold legally and advertised in many of our most prestigious magazines? The answer to that question lies squarely at the feet of government and the millions of dollars spent on cigarettes that are turned around and used to influence that government. Some day you'll look back on these times and ask yourself, "Could 1 really have been that stupid?"

Author Info ...

Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included. Hypertension Prevention in Six Simple Steps. http://www.hypertensionprevention.com

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Friday, March 13, 2009

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complication

The Complications associated with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can lead to fatal consequences in patients afflicted by this progressive lung disorder. However, there is no reason for despair. The situation may be grave but a variety of treatments are now available, aiming at prevention or even curing of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension-related Complications.

A serious Complication may be blood clots. Blood clot formation where there is no need for it can turn fatal. If there are clots in the small arteries of the lungs then this can pose a threat by disturbing the already narrowed or blocked blood vessels, thereby terminating normal blood circulation to the lungs. This undesirable clotting or coagulation of blood can be remedied by the use of anti-coagulants. However, it must be remembered that anti-coagulants have their own risks and benefits, which need to be carefully considered by a doctor prior to administration.

Fluid build-up in the body may be another complication. Two kinds of edemas- pedal edema (fluid accumulation in legs) and ascites (fluid accumulation in abdomen) are among such Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications. Pulmonary edema may also develop as a complication, whereby the lungs fill with accumulated fluid. This may even prove to be fatal, as the accumulated fluid can hamper the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. As medication for such edema, diuretics are helpful. A less-fluid, low-sodium diet may also manage the risks of such complications.

The enlargement of the heart?s right ventricle, leading to its functional failure, is among the most serious of the Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications. This might even lead to a complete failure of the heart.

Several drug treatments come in aid of these complications- digoxin therapy, vasodilators, calcium channel blockers; endothelin receptor antagonists and oxygen therapies are carried out as treatment. It may be that a lung transplant proves a workable solution for the prevention or treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complications.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension provides detailed information on primary pulmonary hypertension, cause of primary pulmonary hypertension , primary pulmonary hypertension attorney, primary pulmonary hypertension complication and more. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is affliated with Pediatric Cardiology

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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Effective Natural Treatments For Hypertension

You?ve just gotten home from the doctor?s office where they told you the news: you have hypertension (a big word for high blood pressure). You spent the entire drive back worrying about your increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other illnesses. Your doctor may have recommended taking medication, but you?re apprehensive. Before you get yourself all worried (which only makes the problem worse) you should consider trying to lower your blood pressure naturally. Hypertension can be cause by a lot of factors, including: lifestyle, genetics, vitamin deficiency, or even food allergies. It can be usually be cured without medication simply by altering these factors. Here are some natural methods that can help fix your problem without prescription medications.

The most important, but often most difficult way to treat your hypertension is to start living a more health lifestyle, including eating right. While your doctor probably told you it?s important to change the food you eat, it?s also important how that food is prepared. You should eat fresh, unprocessed, whole food. This means, stay in the fresh fruit and nut section and out of the canned or frozen food aisles. You should stick to whole grains and stay away from processed or refined foods. As most people know, you should also try to eat foods that are lower in fat salt, but stay away from ?low fat? versions of food. They?re usually overly processed with lots of additives. You should also stay away from salt, sugar, and caffeine. Always remember when going on any diet that if you make tons of drastic changes quickly, you?re less likely to stick with them. If you?ve had problems staying on diets in the past, try slowly cutting certain foods out and adding healthier ones in their place. You should also take some other steps to life healthier, including: drinking lots of water, quitting smoking, reducing the amount of alcohol, you drink, and cutting stress (have you tried yoga yet?). If your hypertension isn?t that severe, you may find that this is the only step you need to take in getting it to a good level.

While you?re on your way to getting healthy, there are also some supplements you can take to help get a jump start. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, and flaxseed meal have all been known to help lower blood pressure. You should also take a good idea to take a good multivitamin everyday. Just be sure to double check the label so you?re not doubling up on anything. Remember to ask your doctor how much of each medicine you should take (and yes, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing).

If a healthy diet and vitamins aren?t getting the job done, but you still want something to try before you take prescription medication, you should look into taking herbal medication. Rauwolfia is considered the best herbal remedy for reducing blood pressure, but is very potent and should be taken in very small doses. Other herbs that can help are garlic, coleus forskohlii, hawthorne, and mistletoe. These substances are natural, so they?re less likely to have side effects, but you should still talk to your doctor before taking any of them. It is important not to take too much of any of these remedies because they can be harmful at high doses.

If you?re really serious about treating your hypertension, or any other ailment, naturally; you may want to consider finding someone who practices homeopathic medicine. The goal of this type of medicine is to figure out why the body is functioning improperly and restore the balance so the body treats itself. With a little bit of searching, you can generally find someone in your area, and many of the treatments they will give you are similar to what you find in this article. It is simply more specific to your individual needs.

Hopefully the treatments in this article will get you on your way to being healthier and having lower blood pressure. Just remember that any treatment should be monitored by a health care professional. Good luck!

Gray Rollins writes for GotHypertension.com. To learn about natural hypertension treatments and hypertension remedies, visit his site.


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