What is the connection between stress, salt and hypertension?
Written by: bgavish | Posted: Jun 16 2009
Stress has a greater effect on the blood pressure of people whose blood pressure is sensitive to salt intake.
Mental stress has become an inseparable part of the competitive lifestyle of our modern society that relies on technology rather than physical exercise, and has a deleterious effect on our cardiovascular system.
Some people display elevated blood pressure when consuming more salt (containing sodium). This genetically-inherited “salt-sensitivity” was found to cause greater blood pressure elevation in response to mental stress, even in people with normal blood pressure, suggesting that stress reduction is of special significance in this population.
Scientific references:
Stress, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome
Psychophysiological reactivity of salt-sensitive normotensive subjects.
RESPeRATE — How it all began
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Jun 15 2009
In the late 1980’s, Dr. Benjamin Gavish (”Beny”), a biophysicist (and part-time ballroom dance teacher) began researching a biological phenomenon known as vasomotion - the slow and rhythmic oscillation of small blood vessels within the body, which is of vital importance. While research had shown that vasomotion was reduced in those with vascular diseases, Beny was also intrigued by the fact that vasomotion was altered when a person smoked a cigarette or told a lie and he became interested in how vasomotion was affected by stress levels. It was this curiosity that led him to develop a technique to better study vasomotion quantitatively. Two bigger questions began to dawn on him: Could one amplify the blood vessels’ vasomotion in a controlled manner? And if so, would such a change be beneficial to health?
Little did Beny know that his breakthrough would come when his wife, Dr. Leah Gavish (biologist and part-time dance teacher), was complaining of a headache. She happened to visit him at the lab while he was in the middle of a vasomotion experiment. On a whim, he mounted sensors on her fingers and observed that she was experiencing a normal vasomotion rhythm of 6-per-minute. Thinking back to his dancing hobby, Beny recalled people’s natural tendency to follow musical rhythms. He turned on a sound synthesizer that could create tones based on a selected rhythm and played a pattern for Leah. What happened next was amazing. Her breathing pattern “locked” on the sound pattern for 10 minutes and her vasomotion increased considerably. Beny’s visualization of the “blood vessel dance” which he had just created was interrupted by Leah announcing that her headache was gone!
This was only the beginning…
Dr. Gavish began experimenting with guided breathing in a gym in Jerusalem. With the help of a gifted group of experts in digital music, he was able to measure people’s response to changes in a musical rhythm. Beny and Leah tested the ability to guide people’s breathing from a normal rate to as-slow-as-possible-but-still-comfortable levels using enjoyable sound patterns.
The results of the experiments were striking! People who listened to the changing rhythm displayed blood pressure reductions within ten minutes accompanied by frequent sensations of “floating,” “weightlessness,” and “deep relaxation.” Those that attempted to relax simply by listening to pre-recorded, commercial music did not show the same results.
Having faith that he was onto a major finding, Beny set up a “garage-operation” and began to develop the first prototype of what would later become RESPeRATE, a completely unique device. This non-drug solution is now clinically validated by 10 published clinical trials, has received regulatory clearance in major markets around the world, and is currently in use by over 100,000 people. It is safely and effectively lowering their blood pressure through device-guided breathing.
54! non-drug ways to lower blood pressure
Written by: collin_carbno | Posted: May 29 2009
I currently have a list of 54 different suggestions (non-drug) to lower blood pressure. As part of this blog, I want to work my way through the list and give you my impressions and thoughts on this list. My list was composed roughly in the order that I found them. Many of these points have the potential, on average, to lower blood pressure by 2 to 5 points. My idea here is that although each one might have a small effect, combinations of 7 or more of them may allow for substantial reductions in blood pressure. I tried to include only items on the list for which at least one scientific study has found evidence of an improvement in blood pressure. The advantage of having many suggested possibilities to lower blood pressure is that it provides variety in the approach. If one set of possibilities doesn’t work, you can try others.
I once read that a medical researcher suspected that there were up to about 20 different causes of high blood pressure. If so, then it isn’t surprising that some drugs and some treatments don’t work for all folks.
1. Use RESPeRATE (Rr)
My impression from the studies is that the majority of folks (more than half) get a positive response from using RESPeRATE. That aside, it’s highly possible that there are folks that do not get any benefit from using the Rr. The most likely cause in these cases is that they have some cause not effectively managed by Rr and not that they are incorrectly using the machine. Still, when I first started using the machine, I didn’t notice any benefit for the first 3 weeks. I took my blood pressure before and after each session, and sometimes BP went down, sometimes it went up, and sometimes it stayed the same, but an hour later my blood pressure seemed unchanged.
Sometime in the 3rd week, however, I began to relax and I didn’t try to perfect the process. I simply began to relax, enjoy it, and I didn’t worry so much about keeping in perfect time with the machine. Presto — after each session my blood pressure dropped sharply. Then, when I had high blood pressure, I would do a session and drop the blood pressure. If it still wasn’t down enough I’d do another session, and drop it a bit more, and if I had time, I’d even do a third session and drop it further. This gave me a kind of positive feedback loop. I began to feel that I could do something to control my blood pressure value. I then started to notice that my readings an hour later were lower, and over the next few weeks began to see my daily readings dropping. Currently, I try to do one 10 minute session per day. On holidays, and weekends, I try to get in two sessions.
2. Lower Your Salt Intake
Get your salt (sodium) intake down below 1000 mg per day. (The actual number seems to be somewhat in debate– 1000 mg might be too low, and different individuals may need to hit different values to have an effect). My point here is mostly to cut down on your salt. Most prepared foods have some salt, so you have to be careful when trying to add up the amounts – it’s easy to miss substantial amounts of salt. Of course, the body has a need for salt, so I wouldn’t suggest that anyone go on an ultra low salt diet. Be warned that many types of bread have 100 mg per slice, some cheeses have 400 mg of salt or more per slice, and some canned goods contain up to 95 0mg per tin.
Salt has been a somewhat controversial issue — is it the salt itself or is it other ingredients in the salty foods associated with higher blood pressure? Many highly processed foods have a high salt content and low nutritional value. So, perhaps it isn’t the salt reduction itself, maybe the nutritional improvement from substituting other healthier foods is what makes the difference. Nevertheless, there is a theory that excess salt damages the cardiovascular system over time. Studies show that in about half of the cases of hypertension, the reduction of salt in the diet proved to be helpful. The elderly and African Americans are the most likely to benefit from restricted salt intake.
My personal observation is that ingesting a high dosage of salt (2000 mg+ per day), if I have several back-to-back meals that are loaded with salt, my blood pressure will rise 20/20 points and stay up for 3 days. On the other hand, if I get my salt down to a more reasonable level, I haven’t found any improvement from dropping it further. I do feel that salt is somehow hard on the body and it probably does put stress on the cardiovascular system. It seems from reading the medical literature that if you follow a low salt diet for extended periods of time, like years, that there is a kind of accumulative health benefit. Again, the bulk of the benefit may come from the fact that low salt foods tend to be healthier as a whole, rather than the negative impact of the salt itself. My personal thought is that both effects are operating, salt itself is harmful in some way, and the healthy food - less processed, less chemicals of low salt food, also improves overall health.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2288755
Medication: Tekturna/ aliskiren (Renin inhibitor)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
HowTekturna Reduces Blood Pressure
Tekturna (aliskiren) is the first drug in a new class of pharmaceuticals that are used primarily in the treatment of hypertension. It is a renin inhibitor or inhibitors of renin, an enzyme in the kidney, that starts a number of reactions that ultimately increase blood pressure.
Tekturna works by decreasing the ability of renin to start the processes that ultimately narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Ziac (Combination)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
How Ziac Reduces Blood Pressure
Ziac is a combination drug composed of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and bisoprolol.
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) a thiazide diuretic (water pill) decreases the amount of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of salt and water you lose in your urine.
Bisprolol is one of a class of blood pressure medication called Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agent or more commonly known as Beta Blockers.
Beta blockers are a class of drugs that block beta-adrenergic substances such as adrenaline. By blocking the action of the involuntary nervous system on the heart, beta blockers relieve stress on the heart.
Ziac slows the heart beat, lessens the force with which the heart muscle contracts and reduces blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain, and throughout the body, thus lowering blood pressure.
The combination of these two drugs forms Zestoretic which is used to treat blood pressure.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Zestril/ lisinopril (ACE)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
How Zestril Reduces Blood Pressure
Zestril (lisinopril) is one of a class of blood pressure medication called Angiotestin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or more commonly known as ACE Inhibitors.
Angiotensin II is a chemical that causes the muscles surrounding the blood vessels to contract (tighten). This in turn narrows the blood vessels. This narrowing increases the pressure within the blood vessels and can cause high blood pressure (hypertension).
Zestril slows (inhibits) the activity of the enzyme, which decreases the production of angiotensin II. As a result, the blood vessels enlarge or dilate, and the blood pressure is reduced.
Other ACE Inhibitors include Altace, Accupril, Lotensin and Mavik.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Zestoretic (Combination)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
How Zestoretic Reduces Blood Pressure
Zestoretic is a combination of Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
Lisinopril is an Angiotestin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or more commonly known as ACE Inhibitors. Angiotensin II is a chemical that causes the muscles surrounding the blood vessels to contract (tighten). This in turn narrows the blood vessels. This narrowing increases the pressure within the blood vessels and can cause high blood pressure (hypertension). Lisinopril slows (inhibits) the activity of the enzyme, which decreases the production of angiotensin II. As a result, the blood vessels enlarge or dilate, and the blood pressure is reduced.
HCTZ is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) decreases the amount of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of salt and water you lose in your urine.
The combination of these two drugs forms Zestoretic which is used to treat blood pressure.
Other combination drugs include Avalide, Dyazide, and Lotrel.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Toprol XL/ metoprolol (Beta blocker)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
How Toprol XL Reduces Blood Pressure
Toprol XL (metoprolol) is one of a class of blood pressure medication called Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agent or more commonly known as Beta Blockers. Other brand names for metroprolol are Lopressor and Metoprolol Succinate ER.
Beta blockers are a class of drugs that block beta-adrenergic substances such as adrenaline. By blocking the action of the involuntary nervous system on the heart, beta blockers relieve stress on the heart.
Toprol XL slows the heartbeat, lessens the force with which the heart muscle contracts and reduces blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain, and throughout the body, thus lowering blood pressure.
Other Beta Blockers include Coreg, Inderal, Tenormin and Ziac.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Tiazac/ diltiazem (CCB)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 27 2009
How Tiazac Reduces Blood Pressure
Tiazac (diltiazem) is one of a class of blood pressure medication called Calcium Channel Blockers. Other brand names of diltiazem are Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cartia XT, Dilacor XR, and Diltia XT.
Calcium channel blockers block the entry of calcium into the muscle cells of the heart and the arteries. It is the entry of calcium into these cells that causes the heart to contract and arteries to narrow. By blocking the entry of calcium, CCBs decrease contraction of the heart and dilate (widen) the arteries.
Other CCB’s include Adalat and Cardizem LA and Plendil.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
Medication: Teveten/ eprosartan (ARB)
Written by: jchodirker | Posted: Apr 24 2009
How Micardis Reduces Blood Pressure
Teveten is one of a new class of blood pressure medication called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
Angiotensin II is a chemical that causes the muscles surrounding the blood vessels to contract (tighten). This in turn narrows the blood vessels. This narrowing increases the pressure within the blood vessels and can cause high blood pressure (hypertension).
Teveten works by blocking the action of angiotensin II. As a result, the blood vessels dilate (relax) and blood pressure is reduced.
Other ARB medications include Diovan, Cozaar, Atacand, Micardis, Atacand Plus, and Hyzaar.
Although these medications are beneficial, many times they are not enough to control your blood pressure.
Click here for additional information including side effects.
