| Your doctor may use the technical term | | | | strokes, and kidney failure. As people get older, the |
| hypertension, but it is more commonly called high | | | | diastolic blood pressure reading tends to get lower as |
| blood pressure and at least 65 million American adults | | | | the systolic number tends to get higher.Your doctor |
| have high blood pressure. That translates into almost | | | | will use both number when determining your blood |
| one-third of all American adults, and two thirds of all | | | | pressure category and the appropriate prevention |
| Americans over the age of 65. Because high blood | | | | and treatment. |
| pressure often has no warning signs or symptoms, it | | | | What causes high blood pressure? The causes of |
| is often called "the silent killer". High blood pressure is | | | | high blood pressure vary. It may include narrowing or |
| a very dangerous condition. If you don't treat high | | | | hardening of the arteries, a greater than normal blood |
| blood pressure it can kill you and unfortunately, | | | | volume, or the heart beating faster or more |
| one-third of the people that have high blood pressure | | | | forcefully than it should. Any of these things will |
| don't even know it. One important thing to know | | | | increase the pressure against the artery wall. High |
| about high blood pressure is that you can't cure it. | | | | blood pressure could be caused by another medical |
| You can only treat high blood pressure with lifestyle | | | | condition like gestational hypertension (high blood |
| changes and medication, and you will need to treat it | | | | pressure during pregnancy). Or it may even be limited |
| for the rest of your life. | | | | to a specific part of your body like pulmonary |
| What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the | | | | hypertension, but those conditions are rare. By far, |
| amount of force your blood is putting on to the walls | | | | the most common cause of hypertension, or high |
| of your arteries as it is moved through your body by | | | | blood pressure, is a genetic predisposition which is |
| your heart. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry | | | | called "essential hypertension". |
| the oxygen rich blood away from your heart and to | | | | How is high blood pressure treated? Along with there |
| all the muscles, organs and tissues in your | | | | being a lot of different causes of high blood pressure, |
| body.Without this oxygen rich blood, your muscles, | | | | there are also a lot of different treatment options |
| organs and tissues would die and eventually, so | | | | for high blood pressure.Your minimum treatment goal |
| would you. Blood pressure normally rises and falls | | | | is to have your blood pressure below 140/90 and |
| throughout the day, and changes heartbeat to | | | | even lower for people with diabetes, kidney disease |
| heartbeat. | | | | or other conditions. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an |
| How is blood pressure measured? The test is quick | | | | important factor, however most patients will require |
| and painless. The doctor or nurse puts a cuff around | | | | medication to control high blood pressure. Many |
| your upper arm (the technical term for the devices is | | | | patients need two, three or even four different |
| a sphygmomanometer; pronounced | | | | types of prescription medications at once to control |
| sfig'-mo-ma-nom-e-ter). This device is used to get an | | | | their high blood pressure. Because high blood pressure |
| actual measurement of the pressure inside your | | | | can be deadly, it is important that patients get and |
| arteries. Your blood pressure measurement is made | | | | keep blood pressure under control, and monitor it at |
| up of two numbers, one above or before the other. | | | | home as well as with your doctor. |
| The top or first number which is technically called | | | | Hypertension, more commonly called high blood |
| systolic blood pressure is the pressure in your arteries | | | | pressure, is often referred as "the silent killer" |
| while your heart contracts during a heart beat. The | | | | because it often shows no signs or symptoms. In the |
| bottom number is technically called your diastolic | | | | United States alone, at least65 million American adults |
| blood pressure and it is the pressure in your arteries | | | | have high blood pressure. |
| as your heart relaxes between heart beats. | | | | There are many different types of blood pressure |
| If you have ever felt your pulse in your wrist or your | | | | lowering medications that your doctor may prescribe, |
| neck you have felt the differences between your | | | | however these prescriptions can cause certain |
| systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The pulse you | | | | nutritional deficiencies that may increase your risk for |
| are feeling is the heart beating, which creates your | | | | chronic degenerative diseases. NutraMD High Blood |
| systolic blood pressure. Between pulses, your heart is | | | | Pressure Essential Nutrients® supplement was |
| relaxing and the measurement of pressure during | | | | designed to work with your blood pressure lowering |
| that time is your diastolic blood pressure. | | | | medications by replacing lost nutrients, reducing the |
| These two numbers make up what is called your | | | | risk of dangerous side effects, and promote better |
| blood pressure reading. For example a blood pressure | | | | health. |
| measurement of 120/80mmHg (that is, millimeters of | | | | Types of High Blood Pressure Medications |
| mercury) means the pressure measured during a | | | | The main categories of blood pressure lowering |
| heart beat is 120, and measured in between heart | | | | medications that deplete your nutrients are: |
| beats at 80. This measurement would be expressed | | | | Diuretics (loop, potassium sparing, and thiazide), |
| verbally as "120 over 80". Both numbers in the test | | | | ACE inhibitors |
| are important. | | | | Beta blockers |
| Why is high blood pressure dangerous? High blood | | | | Central alpha agonists. |
| pressure is dangerous because it makes your heart | | | | Why do I need blood pressure medication? |
| work too hard, and puts undue stress on your | | | | The main reason for your doctor to prescribe blood |
| arteries. Having high blood pressure increases your | | | | pressure medicines is because there is clear evidence |
| chance of having a heart attack or stroke, (the 1st | | | | that any blood pressure reading greater than 115/75 |
| and 3rd leading causes of death). In fact, every | | | | has an increased risk of cardiovascular events such |
| 20mmHg increase in your systolic blood pressure or | | | | as heart attack and stroke, and a greater risk of |
| 10mmHg increase in your diastolic blood pressure | | | | sudden death. This risk increases dramatically with a |
| DOUBLES your risk of dying from a heart attack or | | | | blood pressure reading above 140/90. The main |
| stroke. It also contributes to your chance of | | | | problem with blood pressure medications as a whole |
| developing other conditions such as congestive heart | | | | is that they have been found to cause depletion of |
| failure, kidney disease and even blindness. High blood | | | | the following nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, |
| pressure is especially dangerous because it often has | | | | potassium, zinc, sodium, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), |
| no warning signs or symptoms. Regardless of age, | | | | folate, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), |
| race, or gender anyone can develop high blood | | | | and vitamin C. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and |
| pressure and once it develops, it usually lasts a | | | | CoQ10 deficiencies are directly linked to high blood |
| lifetime. So it is especially important to continue | | | | pressure. Therefore reducing their amounts in the |
| treatment of high blood pressure for a lifetime. | | | | body can make it more difficult for your doctor to |
| What is high blood pressure? By viewing the table | | | | normalize your blood pressure. |
| below, you can see that a reading of 140/90 is | | | | Why are these nutrients important? |
| considered high. If your blood pressure is between | | | | * Calcium deficiency is related to osteoporosis, and |
| 120/80 and 139/89 you are considered | | | | arthritis. |
| prehypertensive. That means you don't have high | | | | * Magnesium is responsible for more than 300 |
| blood pressure now, but you are probably going to | | | | chemical reactions in the body. |
| develop it in the future.You can take steps now by | | | | * Vitamin A deficiency is related to high cholesterol, |
| adopting a healthy lifestyle to reduce your risk of | | | | diabetes, depression, muscle and joint pain, |
| developing it in the future. | | | | osteoporosis, heart arrhythmias, fatigue, and many |
| Blood Pressure Level (mmHg) | | | | more. |
| Category Systolic Diastolic | | | | * Potassium deficiency is related to heart |
| Normal Less than 120 and Less than 80 | | | | arrhythmias, and mental disturbances. |
| Pre-hypertension 120-139 or 80-89 | | | | * Zinc is responsible for more than 200 chemical |
| High | | | | reactions in the body. Deficiency of zinc is related to |
| Blood Pressure | | | | heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, |
| Stage 1 | | | | psoriasis, gout, and more. |
| Hypertension 140-159 or 90-99 | | | | * CoQ10 deficiency has been linked to the following |
| Stage 2 | | | | diseases and symptoms: Congestive heart failure, high |
| Hypertension > or = to 160 or > or = to 100 | | | | blood pressure, rhabdomyolysis (muscle break down), |
| At the age of 55, if you do not have high blood | | | | muscle and joint pain, angina (pains in the chest), and |
| pressure, there is still a 90% chance you will develop | | | | fatigue. |
| it in the future. As you can see, high blood pressure | | | | * Folate deficiency is directly related to heart disease, |
| is a disease that most people will develop over their | | | | cancer, neural tube defects, anemia, and more. |
| lifetime. Your doctor will make a diagnosis of high | | | | * Vitamin B1 deficiency is related to congestive heart |
| blood pressure if the results of your test are high on | | | | failure, depression, muscle pain, and fatigue. |
| two separate occasions. | | | | * Vitamin B6 deficiency is linked with heart disease, |
| There are two numbers! Which one is the most | | | | carpal tunnel syndrome, PMS, depression, and fatigue. |
| important? Both numbers are important. But once | | | | * Vitamin C deficiency is related to heart disease, |
| you are over the age of 50, the top number or | | | | high cholesterol, muscle pain, and osteoporosis. |
| systolic blood pressure becomes the more accurate | | | | Many of these side nutritional side effects are well |
| reading for high blood pressure. It is high if it is 140 or | | | | known, which is why your doctor may monitor your |
| above. Diastolic blood pressure does not need to be | | | | serum electrolytes (calcium, potassium, magnesium, |
| high for you to have high blood pressure. | | | | and chloride) while you are on some of these |
| When only the top number or systolic blood pressure | | | | medications, however, serum electrolyte levels are |
| is high, your doctor calls it "isolated systolic | | | | not good markers for tissue levels of these nutrients |
| hypertension" or ISH. This is the most common form | | | | and thus do not reliably detect nutritional deficiencies. |
| of high blood pressure in older Americans. You may | | | | Therefore to achieve maximum benefit from the |
| have ISH and feel fine. As with other kinds of high | | | | blood pressure medication and minimize potential side |
| blood pressure, ISH often has no symptoms or | | | | effects of nutrient deficiencies, you should |
| warning signs. Also like any form of high blood | | | | compliment your prescription medication by taking |
| pressure ISH is dangerous if left untreated. Like all | | | | NutraMD High Blood Pressure Essential Nutrients® |
| types of high blood pressure, ISH can never be cured | | | | supplement. By doing this you will balance the risk |
| once it has developed, it can only be controlled. | | | | benefit ratio further in your favor. |
| Many studies have proven that controlling high | | | | In summary, blood pressure lowering medications |
| systolic blood pressure can reduce deaths, illness, and | | | | prescribed by your doctor are necessary to treat |
| improve quality of life; most Americans do not have | | | | your condition, however, you should also be aware |
| their systolic blood pressure under control. | | | | that the long term potential nutritional side effects |
| Diastolic blood pressure or the bottom number | | | | can be just as big a risk factor for your condition and |
| continues to be an important measure of blood | | | | for other conditions as well. Put the odds in your |
| pressure, especially in younger people. The higher the | | | | favor and maintain your health with NutraMD High |
| diastolic number, the greater the risk of heart attack, | | | | Blood Pressure Essential Nutrients® supplement. |