Did you know that heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for the last 80 years running? Currently, nearly half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure. Poorly managed high blood pressure leads to heart attacks and strokes, the main causes of medical disability. Sadly, only one in four adults with hypertension have their condition well controlled.

While a normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mm Hg, elevated blood pressure is defined as greater than 130 mm Hg systolic (the first or upper number) over 80 mm Hg diastolic (the last or lower number). There are no concrete physical symptoms of hypertension, which is why it is known as the “silent killer.” The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked regularly at a pharmacy, with your doctor, or with an automatic blood pressure cuff.
 

Causes of high blood pressure

High blood pressure is treatable and preventable! To understand this, let’s look at why it develops. As you age, the vascular system loses its ability to easily and efficiently dilate, or expand. Vessel walls lose their elasticity, becoming stiffer and more narrow. This increases the blood pressure for the system. But, age is not a pathology, and to merely deduce “getting older” as the only issue dismisses the whole pathophysiology of a problem. Younger people can have high blood pressure as well, given the circumstances. So, why else does hypertension happen?

Nitric oxide is a compound that dilates blood vessels and is attached to the amino acid arginine. As we accumulate oxidative damage through inflammation, poor nutrition, and stress, arginine is depleted in the tissue, making nitric oxide scarce. Lack of nitric oxide means vessels can’t dilate easily, causing them to lose elasticity and stiffen, which increases pressure. You’d think just giving arginine should solve the problem, but it does not.

Too much arginine in the tissues increases herpes simplex virus expression, so it is not the first amino acid of choice in people with this virus. Depleting arginine in tissues is actually associated with suppressing this virus.(1) Giving arginine doesn’t really create a consistent, steady state in tissue that well. The arginine precursor L-citrulline actually increases cellular arginine more efficiently in the tissues, without the risk of expressing herpes simplex virus. L-citrulline supplementation keeps arginine stores consistent, therefore optimizing nitric oxide in the tissue. This support better stabilizes blood pressure and decreases vascular stagnation, improving blood flow.
 

Stabilizing blood pressure

There are many other areas of focus to support healthy blood vessels and establish stable blood pressure. In addition to L-citrulline, advancing lymphatic drainage, improving heart efficiency, and healing endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) are effective strategies to optimize cardiovascular health.

Good lymphatic drainage reduces swelling in tissue, thus improving blood pressure, much like clearing a log-jam on a river. Exercise and movement, alternating hot and cold applications, and massage are three ways to help swollen tissue. In addition, grape seed extract has been proven to help lymph drainage. In one study of women with lower leg swelling due to sedentary conditions, grape seed extract was found to significantly reduce tissue edema (swelling caused by excess fluid).(2) When you clear swollen tissue you reduce stagnation, allowing better efficiency with your cardiovascular system.

Strengthening the heart muscle undoubtedly improves cardiac output, or the amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system. Athletic, young hearts beat efficiently. Weaker heart muscles pump poorly and are associated with high blood pressure. Cardiovascular exercise certainly improves the muscular capability of the heart. Many people walk as exercise, which is a great start, but truly getting the heart rate increased and pumping actually conditions the heart better. In addition, herbs like hawthorne have a vast history in herbal medicine for improving cardiac output and exercise tolerance, and stabilizing energy levels.(3) Hawthorne is a popular tea that you can drink regularly, but you will also see it in many cardiovascular, herbal formulas.

Lastly, healing the inner lining of the blood vessels is vital for minimizing stroke and heart attack risk. Smooth inner linings improve blood flow, lower inflammation, and stabilize blood pressure. There are specific antioxidants that have affinity for blood vessels. Green coffee bean extract is rich in chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that support the delicate inner endothelium.(4)

The flavonoid quercetin is another potent antioxidant that inhibits inflammatory signals harming blood vessels. It is known for its ability to improve endothelial cell dysfunction by maintaining normal inflammatory balance in specific pathways.(5) Think of antioxidants as cellular helpers, cleaning up damage and supporting cell chemistry.

As you can see, many supportive measures can be utilized to help improve your blood pressure. Two really great, all-encompassing products are NuMedica’s NOVA and OrthoMolecular’s CitraNOX. NOVA is an L-citrulline botanical formula that improves the utilization and tissue levels of nitric oxide, while CitraNOX is a product that focuses on endothelial function in addition to L-citrulline support.

Most people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it. Make sure you monitor this health marker regularly for yourself and seek your doctor’s care. Improving your ability to vasodilate (widen your blood vessels), strengthening your heart’s pumping ability, and healing blood vessels are great ways to love on your cardiovascular system. Stop by Peoples Rx today to learn more about these supportive products. If you have more extensive cardiovascular issues, work with one of our amazing practitioners by calling 512-219-8600 to schedule a free meet-and-greet today.

Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders. Amy is available for consultation at Peoples Wellness Center.

*Although licensed in other states, Naturopathic Doctors are not currently licensed in Texas.

If you have comments and/or questions about this blog, email us at blog@peoplesrx.com.
 
 

1. (Griffith RS, DeLong DC, Nelson JD. Relation of arginine-lysine antagonism to herpes simplex growth in tissue culture. Chemotherapy. 1981;27(3):209-13. doi: 10.1159/000237979. PMID: 6262023.)
2. (Sano A, Tokutake S, Seo A. Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract reduces leg swelling in healthy women during prolonged sitting. J Sci Food Agric. 2013 Feb;93(3):457-62. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.5773. Epub 2012 Jul 2. PMID: 22752876.)
3. (Koch E, Malek FA. Standardized extracts from hawthorn leaves and flowers in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders–preclinical and clinical studies. Planta Med. 2011 Jul;77(11):1123-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1270849. Epub 2011 Mar 7. PMID: 21384315.)
4. (Watanabe T, Arai Y, Mitsui Y, Kusaura T, Okawa W, Kajihara Y, Saito I. The blood pressure-lowering effect and safety of chlorogenic acid from green coffee bean extract in essential hypertension. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2006 Jul;28(5):439-49. doi: 10.1080/10641960600798655. PMID: 16820341.)
5. (Sanchez M, Galisteo M, Vera R, Villar IC, Zarzuelo A, Tamargo J, Pérez-Vizcaíno F and Duarte J. Quercetin downregulates NADPH oxidase, increases eNOS activity and prevents endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of hypertension. 2006;24:75-84.)

People are often surprised when the cause of their migraine, skin rash, or elevated cholesterol is a food sensitivity. The digestive system is not always the primary place where food allergies reveal themselves. Other organ systems like the skin, nervous system, and cardiac system can more swiftly respond to inflammatory reactions before digestive tissue becomes irritated. In chronic conditions, our bodies can endure a disorder for years. For example – it takes 40-70 years of daily cigarette smoking for chronic lung disease or cancer to manifest (American Lung Association).

Skin conditions like eczema are frequently related to food triggers. In 2015, The Clinical Journal for Experimental Allergy reported in a cohort study that infants with eczema were 11 times more likely to have food intolerances. The most common food intolerances associated with eczema are gluten and dairy, which are two common first-foods introduced to infants.

Dairy is a base for many formulas and is often encouraged by pediatricians as a source of calcium. Unfortunately, the inflammatory nature of milk likely creates more malabsorption than actual nutrient support. Even though skin is flared, look to the diet for the inflammatory cause.

Migraines and headaches have been long-associated with food triggers. The Journal of Neurological Sciences published a study that found 60 percent of the migraines they assessed to be associated with food intolerances. However, many people with migraines will not report digestive upset.

Elevations in LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and blood pressure are also linked to inflammatory diets. With a reduction in inflammatory foods, much like eliminating smoking and alcohol, LDL will also decrease. Dietary cholesterol is less impactful on your body’s total cholesterol than dietary inflammation. Blood pressure is also involved in that inflammatory reaction, and will also lower with an anti-inflammatory diet.

You do not have to have Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn’s Disease to suffer the consequences from an inflammatory diet. Many people misconceive that if they are not having gastrointestinal distress, their particular diet must be fine for them. However, people who have digestive symptoms (gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain) are actually well informed by their body.

It is important that patients be honest with their practitioners about their eating habits when having issues so that diet can either be ruled out or looked into as a possible culprit. If you are curious about inflammatory diets and gut health in general, Peoples regularly has diet-focused events in our seminar series. Check out these upcoming events this summer:

Gluten Free/Dairy Free Easily
May 2 at 6pm

Thyroid, Adrenals, and Fatigue: Elimination
May 10 at 7pm

Ketogenic vs. Paleo
June 6 at 6pm

Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.
 
 
*Naturopathic Doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.

Did you know that high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, nosebleeds, and/or ringing in the ears in some people; however, others with the same condition may have no symptoms at all? It’s true! Here’s what you should know…

WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?

High blood pressure can be a silent, yet deadly condition that is estimated to affect 1 in 3 Americans. If left untreated, hypertension can cause heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction and many other health problems.

Hypertension occurs when there is chronic increased pressure on the walls of the arteries. This constant force can damage the inner lining of arteries, also known as the endothelium, which plays a crucial role in maintaining microcirculation throughout the body.

WHAT TYPES OF HYPERTENSION ARE THERE?

Hypertension is classified into two categories: Essential (Primary) and Secondary. Essential hypertension accounts for 95% of the hypertensive cases and its cause is unknown. Secondary hypertension makes up the remaining 5% of cases, and its cause can be linked back to another issue like kidney problems, thyroid problems, obstructive sleep apnea and numerous other health issues.

HOW CAN ONE IMPROVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

Now that you know what hypertension is and how it impacts the body, let’s look at ways to achieve healthy blood pressure levels.

1. First things first, invest in a good home blood pressure monitor and then check and record your daily blood pressure readings. Fortunately, there are numerous apps available for you to log your readings. In addition, there is also an app that monitors your blood pressure using only your smart phone. No cuff needed.

            Blood Pressure Readings

• Normal blood pressure: less than 120/80 mm Hg
• Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mm Hg
• Stage 1 Hypertension: 140 – 159/90-99 mm Hg
• Stage 2 Hypertension: 160+/100+ mm Hg

2. Supplement with magnesium, specifically magnesium glycinate and/or magnesium taurate. Glycine and taurine are amino acids that have affinities for the nervous system (i.e. brain and nerves) and the heart, respectively. Magnesium is an amazing mineral that is involved in over 300 enzymatic activities throughout the body, and helps dilate blood vessels, hence decreasing pressure on the arterial walls.

3. Eat, live, and breathe garlic. Make this food a part of your daily diet, because its active ingredient, allicin, supports healthy blood pressure levels. Whether it is freshly crushed, powdered or encapsulated, garlic has been shown to reduce blood pressure levels, support healthy blood glucose levels, and work to balance your natural gut flora, by possessing natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

4. Consume beets. More research is demonstrating the amazing effects beets have on the body’s production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a potent molecule that greatly affects the dilation of blood vessels, hence lowering one’s blood pressure. In addition, to further increase the effectiveness of beets: after consumption, expose yourself to natural sunlight.

5. Manage stress well. Learning to handle the stressors in life, good or bad, is key to achieving proper blood pressure levels. Stress can cause your blood pressure to increase, rather quickly; however, stress reduction techniques can impact blood pressure levels just as quickly. Learning proper breathing techniques like abdominal breathing techniques can greatly impact your life. Abdominal breathing can be done at anytime or any place, and is easy to learn. For those of us who need visual cues, consider purchasing a personal Heart Math sensor, which is a based on heart rate variability (HRV). HRV allows you to synchronize your breathing and heart rhythms, as well as self-monitor your response to stress.

   Lastly, do not forget the time-honored and tested principles that remain true as two of the tenets of health:

6. Exercise regularly and
7. Get adequate sleep.

References:

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  “What is High Blood Pressure?”  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp.  Accessed May 25, 2015.

2. Carretero O. and Oparil, S.   “Essential Hypertension.”  Circulation.  2000; 101: 329-335.

Liu D, Fernandez BO, Hamilton A et al. J Invest Dermatol.  2014 Jan 20.

by Blake Gordon, ND*. Blake is available for consultation at Peoples Westlake.

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.