What Is Hypertension

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

2009-05-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

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.

Could Hypertension Simply Be "

2009-05-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

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

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Natural Treatment

2009-04-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

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.

High Cholesterol Often Results In Hypertension

2009-03-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Hypertension - Playing with Fire

2009-03-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

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

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Complication

2009-03-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

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

Effective Natural Treatments For Hypertension

2009-03-05T03:06:00.000-08:00

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.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Attorney

2009-02-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

Patients suffering from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension may have developed it from prescribed drugs. A legal professional representing such ailing persons is the Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Attorney. Such a professional is well aware of the laws applicable to each individual case relating to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Thus, he is able to look after the legal interests of the suffering individuals. The legal interests concerned involves redress, adequate compensation for medical expenses borne, other expenditures incurred, emotional trauma, suffering, income loss and harassment.

A qualified and experienced attorney?s help is a must for getting the right compensation. The attorney can rightly determine upon evaluation how to go about with providing protection and maximization of legal interest of the patient.

Two prescribed drugs which increased patients? risk of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension was Pondimin and Redux--popularly referred to as Fen Phen. The victims of Fen Phen sought help from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Attorneys to carry out the necessary legal proceedings and render facilitation of proper consumer legal protection. Such attorneys represented thousands of victims developing Primary Pulmonary Hypertension or related vascular injuries due to Fen Phen use. The attorneys have helped many a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension victim beget adequate relief for medical check ups, medical tests, treatment and other losses of wealth and income resulting from this progressive and debilitating malady.

It may be noted that the cost of treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension patients can go even higher than $500,000. The patients have a life expectancy of around 30 months after diagnosis and establishment of the disease. In order to bring a little relief to the lives of these unfortunate patients, the Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Attorneys can be of immense help.

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.

Natural Treatment For Hypertension

2009-02-19T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hypertension is a condition of increased blood pressure on blood vessels. It is considered as one of the most common lifestyle diseases and has affected around 50 million people in the United States. Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is categorized into two types - essential hypertension and secondary hypertension - on the basis of the underlying causes for its occurrence. The reason for essential hypertension is not easily identifiable and treated, while secondary hypertension is the complication of any other existing chronic disease such as alcohol abuse, kidney failure, and hormonal imbalance. It is a highly risky disease, which essentially needs treatment, since it can lead to arteriosclerosis that results degenerative diseases, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

Now, natural treatment is preferred to reduce hypertension, as people are more aware of the possible side effects of conventional medication. Natural treatment methodology also has a unique advantage to cure the underlying causes, which the conventional medicines usually lack. Natural methods focus to cure the risk factors for hypertension such as cholesterol, hormonal imbalance, diabetes and obesity to restore the equilibrium and perfect functioning of the body.

Natural treatment primarily starts with life style modification since bad habits have contributed much to the cause of the disease. Balanced diet and diet modification is an essential part of natural treatment, which helps to reduce obesity, a major risk factor for hypertension. In addition to other nutrients, potassium, calcium and magnesium have to be additionally included in the diet since they play vital role in blood control. The increased tendency to partake in common salt must be avoided, to maintain the balance of electrolytes. A recommended mineral rich diet must include milk and milk products, fishes, oysters, nuts, green vegetables, and fruits such as bananas, potatoes, and molasses. Supplements of minerals and vitamins are to be used, if a proper diet is not feasible.

Natural treatment requires hypertension patients to implement certain lifestyle modifications. Exercise and relaxation therapies are an inevitable part of natural treatment. The excess calories have to be burnt off through regular exercises and it helps to induce oxygenation of blood. Relaxation therapies and meditation techniques such as yoga, breathing exercises, tai chi, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy help to avoid stress and other related psychiatric problems. Avoid alkaloid rich drinks such as coffee and fatty foods. Smoking has to be essentially quitted and dependency on alcohol has to be avoided.

Natural treatment also suggests certain herbal remedies such as Withania somnifera, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Passiflora, and Ginkgo biloba. Garlic is also recommended as a routine ingredient of diet since it has the power of being a blood thinner. However, be cautious when taking herbal supplements, only using according to the advice of a physician since herbal alkaloids may interfere the balance of the body functions.

Hypertension is a silent killer, which exhibit its symptoms only in advanced conditions. Hence, modify your lifestyle to practice good habits and a balanced diet and you can reduce the risk of hypertension naturally.

Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles.

What Hypertension Means To You

2009-02-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

The trouble with high blood pressure today is it is so common and talked about so often that many people don't seem to treat it with the respect it merits. High blood pressure or hypertension is a killer and should be dealt with as a killer.

Numerous scientists and doctors have spent a large amount of time, money and effort seeking to define what is a honest definition of Hypertension.

There have been large amounts of human population studies done on this subject which have generated to the doctors and scientists a broad range of blood pressure rates. Nevertheless the findings are usually skewed and the results differ from nation to nation and even from region to region within a specific country. Hence it's been resolved that the definition of hypertension can only be arrived at through perpetual observation and experimentation.

Normal blood pressure is distinguished in a similar way to a normal body weight. This is the point at which the heart and other important procedures of the body such as the circulatory system are able to keep going under the best conditions without running the chance of heart disease and other associated disorders.

There are other circumstances to be taken into account when defining high blood pressure or hypertension and some have to be omitted. For example if a healthy individual was to be shook up, their systolic blood pressure can be anticipated to climb by as much as fifty percent. This is due to their blood flow increased in reply to their extreme worked up excitement or any type of lively exercise.

All the same it doesn't stay high for long, since once the level of excitement has declined, the blood pressure also comes down to its normal level.

One way of recognizing this as a normal response is to look at the diastolic reading of the blood pressure. If it doesn't climb but stays steady throughout, it can be safely said this blood pressure is inside normal limits.

As the diastolic pressure is the more significant of the two readings, it is a superior guide to determining whether a high reading is a false positive or not. The reason the diastolic pressure is the most significant is because it reflects the state of the person's arterioles. If an individual has a high reading, this signifies their arterioles are narrowed with the channels less free flowing than they should be.

An individual with a blood pressure reading of 170/110 or above will in all likelihood experience serious headaches, fatigue or dizzy spells. If somebody suffers with a blood pressure which reads 230/130, then they are highly likely to get life-threatening medical problems such as heart disease or stroke.

Hypertension is not a disease in itself, but an important standard by which doctors can name or foretell other illnesses. High blood pressure cannot be healed as such, but it can be well controlled.
Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of hypertension or high blood pressure by visiting: http://www.greathighbloodpressuretips.com

What You Should Eat If You Have Hypertension

2009-01-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a common ailment in adults. Stress, improper diet and lack of exercise are some of the causes of hypertension. Dietetic management plays an integral role in helping people with hypertension stay as healthy as they can. What you eat is basically who you are and good food contains nutrients that your body needs to function normally.

Hypertension is also associated to people who are overweight. In this case, intake of high-calorie food should be minimized. For people with average weight, it is best the check a daily-recommended calorie diet that is best suitable for your age, gender and lifestyle.

Eating protein-rich foods like meat and chicken should also be restricted. People with hypertension should have 20 grams per day at a maximum. It can also be calculated as 1 gram per 1 kilogram of one?s body weight. To give a more concrete example, if for instance your weight is 70 kilograms then 70 grams of protein would be enough for one day.

Animal fats are also a no-no. Eat fatty foods pose a greater risk for people with hypertension. An increase intake of fatty foods can even lead to arteriosclerosis but not all fats are bad. You may be allowed to eat foods containing vegetable oils but not oily foods like liver or egg yolk.

One way to lower down blood pressure is to have a low fat and low sodium diet. Two to three grams of sodium would be enough per day. Keeping your potassium level high would also improve your condition. Good sources of potassium include celery, watermelon, tomatoes, bananas and other leafy vegetables. Get enough fluids everyday. If you have hypertension and oedema at the same time, then that?s the only time you need to limit your water intake.

Remember that you should always have a healthy lifestyle to combat hypertension. Manage your hypertension diet by quickly writing down your meal plan on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Smoking and drinking alcohol should never be in the list of the things you should do. With enough vigilance with the food you eat, in no time you can ease away from hypertension and live a better and healthier life.

Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles.

The Causes And Effects Of Hypertension

2009-01-15T22:28:00.000-08:00

The state of having high blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension. You are a possible candidate for hypertension if your blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mmHg.

Hypertension can originate from a lot of things. For one thing, improper diet with increased intake of fatty and high-cholesterol food can cause hypertension. Emotional disturbances can also heighten the risk of hypertension. Sometimes, doctors cannot point out the root cause of hypertension but for those which reasons are determined the solution is more apparent.

If you have some problems with your kidney's blood vessels then the chances of acquiring hypertension is higher. Renal parenchymal and renal vascular diseases are the two most common kidney ailments that can cause hypertension.

A pregnant person is also susceptible to hypertension as during pregnancy, major changes happen in a woman?s body. When a body adapts to the baby growing inside her, even though these changes are all regarded as normal, some of these activities can eventually lead to hypertension. Expectant moms that have a record or a lineage of heart problems are advised to be extra careful during the entire pregnancy stage.

Using birth control pills can also be a factor as these pills are known to have some side effects. The change in the body?s blood pressure is the primary side effect of taking pills.

If you any heart problems, chances are, your blood pressure becomes erratic. Your blood pressure can either be low or high, depending upon the reaction of your heart and your body.

If hypertension persists, there are different problems that could arise out of it. People with hypertension can contract a stroke at anytime. The chances of stroke are very high.

Hypertension can also cause faulty vision. When the fine blood vessels of the eyes break because of high blood pressure you could have blurry vision, which can even lead to blindness. Hypertension can also damage the kidneys as the kidney?s blood vessels can thicken with high blood pressure.

A way to be free of hypertension is to regularly check your blood pressure. Doing that is very essential for a fuller, healthier life!

Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles.

Malignant Hypertension Symptoms Treatment

2008-10-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

Malignant Hypertension and accelerated high blood pressure are two emergency conditions which should be treated promptly. Both conditions have same outcome and therapy. However Malignant hypertension is a complication of high blood pressure characterized by very elevated high blood pressure, and organ damage in the eyes, brain, lung and/or kidneys. It differs from other complications of hypertension in that it is accompanied by papilledema. (Edema of optic disc of eye) Systolic and diastolic blood pressures are usually greater than 240 and 120, respectively. While Accelerated high blood pressure is condition with high blood pressure, target organ damage, on fundoscopy we have flame shaped hemorrhages, or soft exudates, but without papilledema.

There are two things. Hypertensive Urgency and Hypertensive emergency. In hypertensive urgency we don?t see any target organ damage while in emergency we see target organ damage along with high blood pressure greater than systolic >220. Now depending upon target organ damage you will decide whether you have hypertensive emergency or urgency. It is essential to bring down high blood pressure in hypertensive emergency immediately, while in urgency, bring down blood pressure very rapidly is not required.

Pathogenesis of malignant hypertension is fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles and small arteries. Red blood cells are damaged as they flow through vessels obstructed by fibrin deposition, resulting in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Another pathologic process is the dilatation of cerebral arteries resulting in increased blood flow to brain which leads to clinical manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy. Common age is above 40 years and it is more frequent in man rather than women. Black people are at higher risk of developing hypertensive emergencies than the general population.

Target organs are mainly Kidney, CNS and Heart. So symptoms of Malignant hypertension are oligurea, Headache, vomiting, nausea, chest pain, breathlessness, paralysis, blurred vision. Most commonly heart and CNS are involved in malignant hypertension. The pathogenesis is not fully understood. Up to 1% of patients with essential hypertension develop malignant hypertension, and the reason some patients develop malignant hypertension while others do not is unknown. Other causes include any form of secondary hypertension; use of cocaine, MAOIs, or oral contraceptives; , beta-blockers, or alpha-stimulants. Renal artery stenosis, withdrawal of alcohol, pheochromocytoma {most pheochromocytomas can be localized using CT scan of the adrenals}, aortic coarctation, complications of pregnancy and hyperaldosteronism are secondary causes of hypertension. Main Investigations to access target organ damage are complete renal profile, BSR, Chest Xray, ECG, Echocardiography, CBC, Thyroid function tests.

Management:
Patient is admitted in Intensive Care Unit. An intravenous line is taken for fluids and medications. The initial goal of therapy is to reduce the mean arterial pressure by approximately 25% over the first 24-48 hours. However Hypertensive urgencies do not mandate admission to a hospital. The goal of therapy is to reduce blood pressure within 24 hours, which can be achieved as an outpatient department. Initially, patients treated for malignant hypertension are instructed to fast untill stable. Once stable, all patients with malignant hypertension should take low salt diet, and should focus on weight lowering diet. Activity is limited to bed rest until the patient is stable. Patients should be able to resume normal activity as outpatients once their blood pressure has been controlled.

Hospitalization is essential until the severe high blood pressure is under control. Medications delivered through an IV line, such as nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, or others, may reduce your blood pressure. An alternative for patients with renal insufficiency is IV fenoldopam. Beta-blockade can be accomplished intravenously with esmolol or metoprolol. Labetalol is another common alternative, providing easy transition from IV to oral (PO) dosing. Also available parenterally are enalapril, diltiazem, verapamil, Hydralazine is reserved for use in pregnant patients as it also increases uterine profusion, while phentolamine is the drug of choice for a pheochromocytoma crisis. After the severe high blood pressure is brought under control, regular anti-hypertensive medications taken by mouth can control your blood pressure. The medication may need to be adjusted occasionally.

Remember, It is very necessary to control malignant hypertension, otherwise it can lead to life threatening conditions like Heart Failure, Infarction, Kidney failure and even blindness.

Dr Armughan, Author of this article. Read More about Malignant Hypertension

The Obesity-Hypertension Connection: Is Your Weight Putting You At

2008-10-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2006 Frank Mangano

Did your daily weigh-in cause your blood pressure to spike? If it did, you are not alone. More than 50 percent of Americans are overweight or obese and the numbers just keep on rising. These shocking statistics have doctors from the World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control, and American Heart Institute wondering how to stop the epidemic. That sudden shock of seeing the numbers on the scale inch up is not what?s giving rise to your blood pressure. It is the ongoing, day-to-day strain that obesity puts on the entire cardiovascular system that causes blood pressure to reach dangerous heights.

Being extremely overweight and having high blood pressure is so closely related that it has even been given its own name: obesity hypertension. Of all the cases of hypertension in the U.S., 75% can be directly attributed to obesity. Deaths directly from hypertension or that had high blood pressure as a primary contributor totaled 310,707 deaths in the U.S. in 2002. It?s a chain reaction (obesity=hypertension= heart disease=death) that all begins with how fat a person is.

Obesity is also a condition that is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn?t matter if you are male, female, old, young, or the origins of your ancestry. If you are overweight, you increase your chances for hypertension and if you lose weight, your risk goes down. But stay overweight and your risk of developing hypertension is 5 to 6 times greater than someone who is at his or her ideal weight.

How Heavy is Obese?

The first question to ask in removing the obesity risk factor for hypertension is ?Am I overweight?? Obesity is determined by Body Mass Index (BMI), which takes into account the relationship between height and weight. A BMI above 30.0 is considered obese. A score between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered ?overweight.? Ideally, BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.9.

To measure your own BMI you take your current weight and divide it by the number you get when you multiply your height in inches by your height in inches again. Then multiply that number by 703 for your BMI. For example, if you are 5?6? and weight 165 pounds, you would multiply 66? times 66? for a total of 4356. Then divide 165 by 4356 for a total of 0.0378. Next multiply that by 703 for a BMI equal to 26.6, which is considered overweight.

How Does Being Overweight Impact Blood Pressure?

When you are obese, your body needs more blood in order to supply oxygen to and nourish the extra tissue. When you put more blood into the same passageway of veins and arteries, there will be extra pressure on those blood vessels.

Weight gain is also usually in the form of fat. According to Mayo Clinic research, fat cells even produce more chemicals, which in turn add to the strain on the heart and pressure on the blood vessels. In addition, there is an increase in insulin from weight gain. This makes the body retain sodium and water, which also increases heart rate and decreases the ability of the blood vessels to move blood throughout the body, thereby increasing blood pressure.

It?s not just how much you are overweight, but also where you carry your extra weight that can have a great impact on blood pressure. Risk factors are increased when added weight is in the abdominal area. This is because people with a so-called spare tire also have increases in blood sugar, which causes the fat to be deposited there, and then starts the sodium and water retention cycle.

Reducing Weight to Lower Blood Pressure

Because there is a direct correlation between obesity and hypertension, it makes perfect sense that by losing weight you can lower blood pressure. The proof is in the numbers. Blood pressure is measured in mm/hg. A reading of blood pressure both as the heart beats and as it relaxes, creates the dual number of X over Y giving you your final blood pressure reading. For every 2.2 pounds of weight lost, blood pressure falls 1 mm/hg. Realistically, an overweight person like in our example above could lose just 10 percent of their body weight ? in this case 16.5 pounds and lower their blood pressure by 7 or 8 points.

Small Steps for Big Results

If you can conquer obesity, then you can take dramatic steps in lowering blood pressure. One of the best ways to combat weight is with walking. Walking increases metabolism and is more effective in the long run than more strenuous cardiovascular workouts. Those who are overweight should talk to their doctor before starting an exercise program of any kind, but all physicians will agree that walking is one of the safest, most effective forms of exercise. Good shoes that provide support to the arches will protect feet and knees from stress injuries. Also, walking on softer surfaces such as a grassy field or dirt road will give a better workout because more balance and coordination is needed.

Some other ways to lose weight safely and lower blood pressure include:

1. Reduce sodium intake

2. Don?t eat within 3 hours of going to bed at night

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day

4. Replace saturated animal fats with non-saturated, healthy fats from vegetable sources

5. Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages that are packed with calories

There are some risk factors associated with hypertension that you cannot control, such as genetics, race, and age. How much you weigh and what you do to make sure you are a good weight is within your control. Take action to keep obesity in check and reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

Hypertension: How The Body Controls Blood Pressure

2008-10-15T01:27:00.000-07:00

Hypertension is the term doctors use for high blood pressure. It's often referred to as a Silent Killer since many people may have no noticeable symptoms. Over 50 million people suffer from high blood pressure, but nearly one third aren't even aware of it. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, the nations' number one killer.

Those who do experience the symptoms of high blood pressure feel dizzy, headaches and sometimes nosebleeds. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are felt, blood pressure is dangerously high. But many people with uncontrolled high blood pressure never have any of these symptoms.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood through your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your circulatory system. Blood pressure is reported as a fraction, with one number over the other. The top number, called the systolic pressure, is the force when your heart contracts, the bottom number, called the diastolic pressure, is the pressure when you hear relaxes between beats.

To measure your blood pressure, an inflatable cuff is wrapped around your arm, and air is pumped in. The doctor or nurse, while watching the pressure gauge, listens with a stethoscope for your pulse to disappear. The pressure at which your pulse can no longer be heard corresponds to the systolic pressure. The cuff is released and the pressure at which your pulse can be heard again is the diastolic pressure.

Like the pressure in your car tires, pressure is measure in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. Typically, healthy people have a blood pressure at or below 120/80mmHg. Your risk of heart or CV disease has recently been found to begin increase at a much lower level, blood pressure of 115/75. Blood pressure above 120/80 is considered by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to be pre-hypertenson. A BP of 140/90 mmHg is considered too high, and represents a significantly increased risk of heart disease.

Unfortunately, high blood pressure is more common in certain racial and ethnic minority groups, including blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Factors Controlling Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can result from several factors. The heart itself can impact blood pressure. The heart muscles itself can enlarge, causing higher pressure of blood exiting the heart. Cardiomyopathy or enlargement of the heart muscle also increases blood pressure. Excess weight makes your heart work harder to pump blood through the body.

Extra fluid in your circulatory system as a result of lots of salt intake, kidney problems or other medical conditions also puts a higher demand on the heart. Increased blood volume also causes more constriction within the blood vessels, translating into higher blood pressure.

The blood vessels play an important role in your blood pressure. Usually, the arteries are elastic and can expand and contract in rhythm with the hearts pumping action. High cholesterol and the plaques that form cause the arteries to lose their elasticity. Each time the heart pumps, the vessel can no longer stretch, and a higher pressure is created. Just think about what happens if you step on a garden hose.

Smoking cigarettes constricts, or tightens your blood vessels, pushing the blood pressure even higher. Some medications you take such as steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nasal decongestants and other cold remedies, diet pills, cyclosporine, erythropoetin, tricyclic antidepressants and a type of anti-depressant called monoamine oxidase inhibitors can also contribute to increased BP. Oral contraceptive, which are hormones, can raise blood pressure and should be used cautiously and carefully monitored in patients with HTN.

Treatment For Hypertension

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will most likely order additional test to determine the cause of your elevated blood pressure. He or she will also recommend more frequent visits to monitor you. For moderate hypertension, lifestyle changes may be enough to normalize blood pressure.

One of the first things you can do is change your diet to avoid sodium or salt, and lower your fat intake. The National Institutes of Health's DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, and low in total and saturated fat. The DASH diet also reduces red meat, sweets, and sugary drinks, and it's rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein.

Increasing physical activity can help to lower your blood pressure. By doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, your risk of complications can be reduced. If you are overweight, starting a weigh loss plan can also help bring your blood pressure into the normal range. If dietary and lifestyle changes alone don't normalize your blood pressure, the next step is medication. If your doctor recommend medication, it is vital that you take it exactly as directed. Because most people don't notice any symptoms of hypertension, even if you are feeling well, it is crucial to stick to your medication regimen. Never stop taking medication without discussing it with your healthcare team, even if you feel fine.

Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his Free Exercise and Meal Planner at The Biggest Loser or http://www.free-online-health.com

The Natural Alternative to the Most Prescribed Hypertension Meds

2008-08-06T04:57:00.001-07:00

Wouldn???t it be great if you could get all of the benefits of a high blood pressure medication without the damaging side effects? Well you can if you just know what foods to eat and how to supplement them with a few good choices. When it comes to managing blood pressure it often is the combination of the food and lifestyle choices you make each day that can be the difference between life long dependency on medication or a life of good nutrition and health.

The intent of blood pressure medication prescribed by your doctor is to quickly and continuously lower blood pressure readings for both the systolic and diastolic readings ??? the top and bottom numbers. Sometimes the problem lies with just one of those readings ??? either as the heart beats or the pressure between beats as the heart rests.

Blood pressure medication causes one of three main reactions. They either increase the size of the blood vessel (vasodilator); flush out the blood vessel of salt and water and create freer blood flow with less volume (diuretic); or slow down the heart beat (beta blockers).

Top 3 High Blood Pressure Medications

1. Doxazosin (brand name Wytensin) is a vasodilator that relaxes blood vessel walls. Its negative side effects include rapid heartbeat and fluid retention, so often other medications must be prescribed to counter act these side effects, which can raise blood pressure. Also, this medication is associated with some gastrointestinal problems and impotence.

2. Hydrochlorothiazide (under brand names Carozine, HydroDiuril or Diaqua) is a potassium reserving diuretic. It is intended to hang on to the potassium, an important mineral in lowering blood pressure that can get dangerously low with diuretic usage. The resulting side effects however are dizziness, muscle weakness and especially cramping.

3. Acebutolo (brand name Sectral) is a beta blocker intended to decrease the heart rate and blood flow. The side effects are a lowering of the good cholesterol (HDL) and a rapid heart rate can occur if the medication is suddenly stopped.

Get the Same Results without Drugs

To get the same benefits of the most commonly prescribed medications without the negative side effects there are natural alternatives. Diet is the number one way to increase the desirable reactions, but exercise contributes greatly too.

For example, the same reaction caused by vasodilators can take place when you get enough L-Arginine. This amino acid lets the walls of the blood vessels relax. You can take a supplement or get it through animal proteins, peanuts or soy.

By drinking plenty of water, at least 8 glasses each day, you can accomplish the same diuretic effects of the prescription. You will flush out excess salt and other toxins that can increase blood pressure. You can keep your potassium levels in a good range by eating fresh bananas and potatoes.

Finally, to get the same benefits of a slower heart rate and freer flowing blood without lowering your good cholesterol you can keep your heart strong with Hawthorne and through routine cardiovascular exercise that will allow the heart to work more efficiently.

Frank Mangano. Frank is an author, researcher and dedicates his life to finding solutions for people interested in reducing their risk of health problems by improving their overall quality of life naturally, without the use prescription medication. Learn more by visiting his website:

What Is Hypertension?

2008-07-26T03:50:00.000-07:00

Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, hypertension is "abnormally high blood pressure and especially arterial blood pressure."

High blood pressure occurs when the arteriole arteries narrow, making it difficult for blood to pass through them. This forces the heart to pump harder to get the blood through. As the pressure increases above normal and is sustained, the result is high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a common problem. It is the most common chronic illness in the United States. Almost twenty five percent of Americans have it, and a significant number of them do not realize they have it. That is because high blood pressure causes few, if any symptoms, until it has reached an advanced stage. This makes it important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

High blood pressure is a very dangerous disease to have and leave untreated. High blood pressure significantly increases a person's risk for stroke, heart failure, heart attack, kidney disease, vision impairment, dementia, and premature death. Left untreated, high blood pressure can shorten a person's life by up to twenty years. Despite these alarming facts, a little over fifteen percent of the people in the United States who have high blood pressure and know they have it do nothing to control it.

There is no cure for high blood pressure but it is very treatable (http://www.gothypertension.com/treatment) and is also preventable. Lifestyle changes, along with medication if needed, can keep blood pressure at a safe level.

There have been substantial advances in knowledge about and treatment of high blood pressure in the past several decades. Increased awareness and medical advancements in regards to high blood pressure have helped decrease the number of deaths from strokes by seventy percent and the number of deaths from heart disease by more than fifty percent according to data from the Mayo Clinic.

The risk of developing high blood pressure increases as a person ages. Race is also a determining risk factor. Black Americans have the highest risk of developing high blood pressure--about thirty-three percent of black Americans have it. Approximately twenty-three percent of white Americans have high blood pressure, making them the next highest risk group. Twenty-one percent of American Indians have high blood pressure. Eighteen percent of the American Hispanic population has high blood pressure and sixteen percent of Americans of either Asian or Pacific Islander descent have high blood pressure according to information from the Mayo Clinic.

Family history is a risk factor as well. If high blood pressure runs in a person's family they have a higher risk of developing it. Gender is another factor. Up to age fifty-five, men are more likely to develop high blood pressure. After the age of fifty-five, women have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Other factors that increase a person's chance of developing high blood pressure include: being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, and low potassium levels.

Some illnesses raise a person's risk of developing high blood pressure. If a person has heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or sleep apnea they have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.

There are two different forms of high blood pressure, essential high blood pressure and secondary high blood pressure. Essential high blood pressure is the most common form of high blood pressure. It is also known as primary high blood pressure. It does not have any obvious causes.

Secondary high blood pressure is when the cause of the high blood pressure can be attributed to another disease. Only five to ten percent of high blood pressure cases are secondary. Some of the diseases and disorders that cause secondary high blood pressure are kidney disease, renal artery obstruction, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hormonal abnormalities, and preeclampsia.

It is common for people with untreated high blood pressure to have plaque accumulate in the major arteries of the heart. The plaque deposits reduce blood flow to the heart and can eventually cause a heart attack. High blood pressure narrows the arteries and blood vessels in the body. Getting oxygen rich blood to the heart becomes more difficult as the arteries get narrower. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, it will cause a heart attack.

D Ruplinger is a featured writer for http://www.gothypertension.com. Visit the web site for more information about high blood pressure and hypertension treatment.

Overweight And Hypertension

2008-07-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

The number of overweight and obese people in US is growing. In 2000 65% of adults were overweight and 31% were obese. Each year an average US citizen is gaining 2 pounds of additional body weight. The conequence of this is the elevation of blood pressure and the growth of number of hypertensive people. One third of Americans already have blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg or receive antihypertensive treatment.

The weight loss leads to the decrease in blood pressure in many obese patients. However, most overweight hypertensive individuals can not reduce their body weight and maintain it in long run, despite strong motivation and extraordinary efforts.

Obviously, neither weight loss methods nor antihypertensive treatment do not address the cause of both condition. There is the growing evidence now that the underlying cause of both hypertension and weight gain is the chronic over-activation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

SNS is normally activated during stressful situations. Repeated or prolonged stresses bring to chronic extensive activity of SNS, deregulation of body functions and the development of various diseases.

Which disease will develop depends on individual genetics and environment. For the majority of people this weight gain and hypertension.

The main suspected mechanism here is the insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the decreased ability of insulin to promote glucose utilization by the cells. Insulin here is not damaged nor its concentration declines. But the cells affected by SNS over activity refuse to intake and utilize glucose as a source of energy.

Of course, overeating and low physical activity aggravate the process because the cell will sooner refuse to utilize glucose if it is in surplus in blood and energy expenditure is decreased.

Insulin resistance results in increased blood concentration of both insulin and glucose. That leads to the deviations in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and eventually to the fat accumulation and blood pressure elevation.

The accumulated fat in its turn becomes an important endocrine organ, promoting further development of obesity by stimulating SNS and secreting steroid hormones.

There are two types of fat and two types of obesity. The fat can be subcutaneous and visceral and the obesity can be central and low.

Visceral or intra-abdominal is located inside the abdominal cavity. It stimulates SNS much more than subcutaneous fat and its accumulation is strongly associated with hypertension.

Central or abdominal type of obesity is the accumulation of fat mainly around the waist. The low or hip type of obesity is the accumulation of fat mainly around the hips. The ratio between waist and hip diameters allows distinguishing two types of obesity. Waist/hip ratio, when checked against cardiovascular mortality, shows that abdominal (central) obesity is more dangerous than hip obesity.

Conclusion:

Hypertension and weight gain are both the result of chronic over activity of Sympathetic Nervous System. This explains why many people can not reduce and maintain normal body weight in spite of strong motivation and thorough application of standard weight loss methods, not affecting sympathetic activity.

Alexander Alfimov, To learn more about the role of sympathetic nervous system and the new approach to health and fitness see http://www.slowbreath.com.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

2008-07-16T03:34:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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

Could Hypertension Simply Be "

2008-07-16T03:29:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

The Natural Alternative to the Most Prescribed Hypertension Meds

2008-07-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

Garlic Compound Allicin Prevents Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension

2008-07-01T03:55:00.000-07:00

A study suggested that eating two cloves of raw garlic a day could protect against a severe form of pulmonary hypertension.

The study was performed on rats. A small dose of monocrotalline was used on rats to induce vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arteries. Within three weeks, the control group of rats developed chronic pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary arterial pressure markedly increased while the group pf rats that received small doses of allicin, an active metabolite from garlic, in their diet did not develop the disease.

The study also found that it was allicin that plays the role in the prevention of the severe pulmonary hypertension. Garlic if heated or with allicin stripped does not have the protective effect.

The researchers demonstrated that this protective effect was achieved through vasorelaxation or reduction in tension of the blood vessel walls.

Garlic has been known for long to be medicinally beneficial to the human health. It may help lower blood pressure, decrease ischemic injury, reduce blood cholesterol, inhibit platelet functions and increase thrombolysis or destruction of a thrombus.

Allicin was proved in a separate study by the same group "to protect coronary vascular function and lessen the severity of right heart hypertrophy, two of the serious byproducts of chronic pulmonary hypertension", according to the news released by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Although the study was conducted on rats, it's expected that garlic has the same effect on humans. The effective amount used on rats is equivalent to about two cloves of garlic a day for humans.

The study was conducted by Dr. David D. Ku and colleagues from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Results of the study were presented on April 2 at the Experimental Biology 2005 meeting in San Diego.

Dr. John Roberts is a freelance writer for http://foodconsumer.org. Contact him at foodconsumer@spamarrest.com if you have any questions.