High Blood Pressure what are the choices
An alternative approach to Hypertension?
What is behind the new guidelines for treatment of high blood pressure?
New guidelines for treatment of hypertension were released by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). To quote a prominent Doctor specialising in natural and therapeutic approaches to managing disease issues of the modern world ‘When I read the newspaper accounts the changes seemed reasonable, but I was totally disgusted when I read the actual article in JAMA the Journal of the American Medical Association’. He then went on to explain the recommendations and why it would appear that the move is simply designed to put more people on prescription drugs.
Over the last thirty years the NHLBI has coordinated a group of professional organizations and government agencies to raise awareness, look at prevention, treatment and control high blood pressure. Their last report, "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure" (JNC 7) based on a number of new clinical trials since the sixth version was released six years ago.
Hypertension (High blood pressure) a major factor in heart disease and the main risk factor for stroke and heart attack (failure), and is also a contributory factor in kidney damage. It affects a massive 1 Billion people in the world and is more evident in the developed world where 50 million Americans fall victim to the condition – that is about one in four adults and roughly half of the people over 65 years old in the US. This shows a strong correlation with diet and lifestyle in developed countries. Using the new classification of "prehypertension" level, a staggering another 45 million persons are candidates for drug therapy – why are we treating the symptom and not addressing the cause? Surely there must be another solution!
The rationale behind the new classification has good merit and there is no doubt that an optimal blood pressure below 120/80 important and a great indicator, what appears to have a hidden agenda are the guidelines that stress the early adoption of drug therapy rather than looking at diet, lifestyle, and possibility of addressing deficiencies via prescribed exercise and potential diet and supplementation. Opting to prescribe drugs to lower blood pressure should not be the first step. Diet and lifestyle changes with the addition of effective and supportive supplementation, whilst not as easy as swallowing a pill should be the first steps. If they are unsuccessful, then drugs should definitely be used.
The primary factor for this route is the long term health and well being, long term drug administration has many side effects and is also a financial and environmental burden when compared to the slightly harder but far more positive steps of change in lifestyle and diet.
What is Essential hypertension?
The majority of patients with high blood pressure will diagnosed by their physician with "essential" hypertension. This term says it all; "essential" simply means that the origin or cause of a particular disease is unknown. The term essential hypertension is ridiculous, it simply means I don’t know why and I am just treating the symptom with drugs as opposed to seeking out the cause, which maybe a very simple factor or factors that are easily modified by simple lifestyle choices.
High blood pressure is the result of factors that can lead to hardened, less compliant arteries or factors that disrupt the kidneys ability to regulate fluid volume.
The build-up of plaque containing cholesterol leads to hardening of the arteries and therefore blood pressure rises. It is very important to prevent hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). As with other degenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, the development of high blood pressure there is a high correlation to lifestyle and dietary factors. Lifestyle factors which affect high blood pressure include stress, little exercise, and smoking. Dietary factors include: obesity; high sodium to potassium ratio; low fiber, high sugar diet including alcohol consumption; high saturated fat and low omega-3 fatty acid intake; and a diet low in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. Each of these factors impact the ability of the kidneys to regulate fluid volume and control blood pressure.
The Effect of diet and the treatment of hypertension
(DASH) "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension” clinical studies were funded by the NHLBI to fully evaluate the efficacy of a system of dietary recommendations in the treatment of hypertension. The DASH diet is high in fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods, and low in saturated and total fat. It also is low in cholesterol, high in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and moderately high in protein.
1. The first study showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products can reduce blood pressure in the general population and people with hypertension.
2. The original DASH diet did not require either sodium restriction or weight loss--the two traditional dietary tools to control blood pressure--to be effective.
3. The second study from the DASH research group found that coupling the original DASH diet with sodium restriction is more effective than either dietary manipulation alone.
4. In the first trial, the DASH diet produced a net blood pressure reduction of 11.4 and 5.5 mmHg systolic and diastolic, respectively, in patients with hypertension. In the second trial, sodium intake was also quantified at a "higher" intake of 3,300 milligrams per day; an "intermediate" intake of 2,400 milligrams per day; and a "lower" intake of 1,500 milligrams per day. Compared to the control diet, the DASH diet was associated with a significantly lower systolic blood pressure at each sodium level. The DASH diet with the lower sodium level led to a mean systolic blood pressure that was 7.1 mmHg lower in participants without hypertension, and 11.5 mmHg lower in participants with hypertension. These results are clinically significant and indicate that a sodium intake below the recommended level of 2,400 mg daily can significantly and quickly lower blood pressure.
Natural alternatives that lower blood pressure:
Glucosamine sulfate may do as much good for people with high blood pressure as it has done for people suffering from osteoarthritis. The product is anti-ace peptides - a purified mixture of 9 small peptides (proteins) derived from muscle of the fish bonito (a member of the tuna family). Basically, anti-ACE peptides work to lower blood pressure by inhibiting ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). This enzyme converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II - a compound that increases both the fluid volume and the degree of constriction of the blood vessels. If you imagine a soft tube as the pressure in the arteries, the formation of angiotensin II would be like to pinching off the pipe and restricting the flow of water. Reducing the formation of this compound, Anti-ACE Peptides relax the arterial walls and reduce fluid pressure / volume. Anti-ACE Peptides exert the strongest inhibition of ACE reported for any naturally occurring substance available.
Three clinical studies have shown Anti-ACE Peptides exert significant blood pressure lowering effects in people with high blood pressure (hypertension).The material appears to be effective in about two thirds of people with high blood pressure - about the same percentage as many prescription drugs. The degree of blood pressure reduction in these studies was significant, typically reducing the systolic by at least 10 mm Hg and the diastolic by 7 mm Hg in people with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension. Greater reductions will be seen in people with higher initial blood pressure readings.
Here are 3 steps to a natural solution combined with moderate exercise, simple things like using the stairs and taking a gentle walk, may represent a healthy alternative to long term pharmaceutical support.
Stage 1 Support
Foundational supplements (Quality natural products should be selected)
Multiple vitamin and mineral formula
Enriching Greens - one serving daily
Omega-3 - 2 capsules daily
Potassium chloride 1,500 to 3,000 mg
Magnesium 150 to 400 mg three times daily
Garlic: 4,000 mcg of allicin
After 2 months if there is no change add anti-ACE fish peptides: 1,500 mg daily. If after 2 months there is still no change, discontinue anti-ACE fish peptides and replace with celery seed extract: 150 mg daily.
Stage 2 Support
All of the above plus:
Anti-ACE fish peptides: 1,500 mg daily
If after 2 months if there is no change add celery seed extract: 150 mg daily. If there is still no change, add Coenzyme Q10: 100 mg daily. If the blood pressure has not dropped below 140/105, you will need to work with a physician to select the most appropriate medication. If a prescription drug is necessary, a diuretic alone is often the first recommendation
Stage 3 Support
Consult a physician immediately. A drug may be necessary to achieve initial control calcium channel blockers or ACE inhibitors alone or in combination with a diuretic appear to be the safest when Level 3 Support is required. Follow the supplement recommendations given for Level 2 Support. When satisfactory control over the high blood pressure has been achieved, work with the physician to taper off the medication.
Key References:
Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The JNC 7 Report. see http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289.19.2560v12560.
Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 1997; 336:1117-24.
Moore TJ, Conlin PR, Ard J, Svetkey LP. DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is effective treatment for stage 1 isolated systolic hypertension. Hypertension 2001; 38:155-8.
Fujita H, Yamagami T, Ohshima K. Effect of an ace-inhibitory agent, katuobishi oligopeptide, in the spontaneously hypertensive rat and in borderline and mildly hypertensive subjects. Nutr Res 2001;21:1149-58.
Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Antihypertensive activity of "Katsuobushi Oligopeptide" in hypertensive and borderline hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25:147-51.
Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Antihypertensive activity of "Katsuobushi Oligopeptide" in hypertensive and borderline hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25:153-7.
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