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5 Cool Ways To Lower Your High Blood Pressure The Natural Way
Did you know there are natural ways to lower your blood pressure without popping pills for the rest of your life? Here are a few ways you can start changing things from now on and your life will easily change for the better.
Lose all that fat
Can you see your feet when you look down, or do you see nothing but belly fat? If you can not see your feet you will need to do something about it because your body has to work so much harder for no reason. Start exercising a few times per week and you should see the weight drop right off. As you get leaner your blood pressure will decrease and you will not need to worry about having a heart attack. Just make sure you start working on losing weight right now.
Overhaul your diet
Did you know you can drop your blood pressure by as much as 14 mmHG by changing a few things around in your diet? That means you shouldn’t skimp on those tasty veggies and you should also eat lots of fresh fruit. Lots of whole grains and low fat dairy products are good too, but just do not eat too many of them otherwise you will end up gaining weight. The easiest way to change your diet so it sticks is to change things slowly and over time your diet will be completely different.
Do not eat as much salt
Most of the stuff you eat already contains a lot of sodium. If you eat lots of meat it will be full of the stuff. Sometimes you do not need to add extra salt to something to make it taste better because they’re could be alternatives. Do not think you should shy away from salt because it is an essential mineral and you need it in your diet. You just do not need enough of it to raise your blood pressure because there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Limit alcohol intake
Before you start going crazy I am definitely not suggesting you should cut alcohol out of your life completely. That would obviously be the best thing to do, but for the majority of people it’s never going to happen. The only thing we can expect is that you will reduce the amount of alcohol you drink per week. Start to track how much you drink on a weekly basis and you might be surprised by the final figure. If you drink a lot at the moment you should taper off instead of quitting cold turkey.
Start to meditate
Garlic is among the most astounding foods around the world and among the major reasons people in the Mediterranean region live as long as they do despite smoking, drinking and eating a great deal of fatty meals. In addition to red onions, shallots, chives, scallions and leeks, it forms the allium family members group. These meals have been located to stimulate manufacturing of an antioxidant called glutathione which is superb for the liver. Along with this, garlic also lowers the degree of cholesterol levels total while likewise improving the levels of high thickness lipoprotein which you might called the efficient type of cholesterol. The newest research studies have additionally revealed that garlic could enhance the degrees of testosterone to an extent, providing you with even more electricity. It helps control blood pressure.
Hi. My name is Dr. Robert Ehrman and if you’re like me and most other Americans then there is a 1 in 4 chance YOU may die in a silent epidemic that’s killing more Americans EVERY year… than all the soldiers we lost in World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, War in Afghanistan and both the wars in Iraq…combined!
This silent epidemic killer is taking more lives every day than the Americans we lost in the September 11 terrorist attack in New York. Every day we have a 9-11 attack killing Americans and the government and medical establishment is silent about it.
But first allow me to introduce myself to you. I am a medical doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine and practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I attended Yale Medical School. In my final year of training there at Yale, I was honored to be selected as chief resident doctor.
I’ve done clinical research on heart health and high blood pressure. My research findings have been published in numerous medical journals.
The information I have in my head, could save your life.
I’m here to tell you if you suffer from heart trouble, poor circulation, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, fatigue, poor memory, joint pain, vision problems and mood swings or depression then this will be the most important quick presentation you’ll ever watch. This all may sound like hot air but allow me to prove myself.
While working in the Emergency Department at Yale-New Haven Hospital, I witnessed first-hand just how devastating these conditions can be for those unlucky enough to have them.
Even though I knew that heart disease was the number one killer of Americans today… it wasn’t until my father had a massive heart attack and underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, I realized how devastating it could be to someone suffering from it.
First he had to go through all the discomfort that comes with post surgery recovery. He had swelling of the area where arteries or veins were removed for grafting. He suffered from tiredness, mood swings, and depression. He constantly complained of chest pain. At times he had the feeling of an elephant sitting on his chest.
And after recovery he became a shadow of his former self. Unfortunately after heart surgery… you’re still a patient for life. You have to make serious lifestyle changes… and give up on a lot of things you enjoyed in the past. His medicine cabinet is full of all kinds of drugs. And it seems like he’s a walking pharmacy.
The medicines he takes have MANY side effects including headache, difficulty sleeping, flushing of the skin, muscle aches, weakness (myalgia), drowsiness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramping and pain, bloating or gas, constipation and rash. By the way the side effects I just described are from just ONE medication.
The drugs he takes also carry warnings about memory loss, mental confusion, kidney damage, high blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes as possible side effects.
In order to manage the side effects he has to take more drugs… which have their own set of side effects. It’s a vicious cycle of taking more and more medications with more and more side effects and no end in sight once you’re in the maze. Unfortunately, he’s had to go more times to the hospital Emergency Room because of adverse medication reactions than the actual heart problem he suffers from.
But this is not only about my father. Reading statistics from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention really opened my eyes to the gigantic problem facing us.
Since you arrived on this page… 2 Americans have died, and they’ll keep dying every minute because of heart disease. This includes both men & women. The sexist joke of why men die earlier than women doesn’t hold true any more. The punch line “Because it doesn’t kill to shop but it kills to pay the bills” is no longer relevant. This is an urgent warning for women as well.
In the next 24 hours 1,643 people will die because of heart disease.
Within the year we’d have 600,000 Americans dead to heart disease according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Chances are 1 in 4 (25%) that YOU will die from heart disease.
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America.
Equally bad are the numbers on high blood pressure. The undeniable facts are right here:
The CDC states that 67 million American adults (about 31%) have high blood pressurethat’s 1 of every 3 adults.
Only about half (or 47%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.
Nearly 1 of 3 American adults has prehypertensionblood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range.
Can you guess where they’re headed?
High blood pressure costs the nation $47.5 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat high blood pressure, and missed days of work.
More than 348,000 American deaths in 2009 included high blood pressure as a primary or contributing cause. That is 1,000 deaths each day.
Worse still – high blood pressure increases your risk for dangerous health conditions:
For example, about 7 of every 10 people having their first heart attack have high blood pressure.
About 8 of every 10 people having their first stroke have high blood pressure.
About 7 of every 10 people with chronic heart failure have high blood pressure.
Kidney disease is also a major risk factor for high blood pressure.
As I said earlier, every year we have more deaths due to heart issues and high blood pressure… than all the American deaths in World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, War in Afghanistan and both the Iraq Wars… combined. Every day we create a 9-11 in terms of deaths.
Although you cannot control all of your risk factors for high blood pressure, you can take steps to prevent or control high blood pressure and its complications.
You can save your body from murdering itself!
I wondered what my father could have done more to take care of his heart to avoid the heart attack. And now that he has undergone surgery… I wondered what he could do to strengthen his heart… and live a long and healthy life. I wondered what we all could do to avoid our hearts from becoming a ticking time bomb whose fuse can go light off anytime and destroy our lives with it.
I have dedicated my life to discovering the secret to living a long healthy life… even if you’re not in the best health at this moment. This is the reason I became a doctor.
On doing intense research I found a Nobel Prize winning discovery in 2009 that may be nature’s most dramatic defense against heart attacks, high blood pressure and a number of other diseases. The Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2009 was given to 3 scientists Carol Greider, Jack Szostak and Elizabeth Blackburn.
Their discovery has been shown to affect your life-span, fight conditions of aging like brain and memory decline, blood sugar issues and give you radiant health of someone probably half your age.
Yet most doctors don’t talk about it. It’s feels as if a massive treasure is lying out in the open and yet no one goes and gets it.
May be it’s because the solution is probably so cheap that if people actually follow the advice I’m about to reveal… it will bankrupt cardiologists? Maybe it will cancel many scheduled heart surgeries and doctors don’t want this to happen? May be the big pharmaceutical companies want you to keep popping pills with serious side-effects and paying billions and billions of dollars for that privilege. I don’t know the answer.
But I’m here to reveal the truth to you:
American scientists looked at the effect of a deep-sea discovery I’m going to reveal to you that has shown to protect your heart & extend your life. For brevity, I’m going to call this deep-sea discovery Factor 786.
Anyway, at the start of one study, 608 patients with heart disease where examined, everything about their heart and its condition was recorded.
The scientists found after 5 years of following the patients… those who had low levels of Factor 786 had the FASTEST rate of heart health decline, while those in the top 25% of Factor 786 consumption levels had the SLOWEST rate.
In conclusion the scientists, led by Dr. Ramin Farzaneh-Far of the University of California at San Francisco, wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association: “These findings raise the possibility that [Factor 786] may protect against cellular ageing in patients with coronary heart disease.”
And what I just described to you is just one of the MANY benefits of Factor 786. Enthusiastic health claims regarding the benefits of consuming this 100% natural discovery abound in popular health culture. Claims include less inflammation, lower heart disease risk, lower blood pressure, better vision and improved neural development – all proven health benefits.
Factor 786 can help… keep you alive and healthy instead of dying a miserable death.
Maintain healthy circulation – both vital for a powerful cardiovascular system and a full, active life.
Ensure your blood gets from head to toe and back again the way it’s supposed to.
Keep blood pressure in normal range – for steady and smooth blood flow.
Keep cholesterol in the healthy range – so you and your family can rest easy at night.
Support healthy artery walls – even if you spent years not eating right or exercising as often as you should… it’s not too late to take the first step.
Build up a strong heart – so you can get out and enjoy each day, with less worry.
A good portion is true. In fact, even the FDA announced a qualified health claim on the benefits of this health supplement… for coronary heart disease. It’s almost unheard of for the FDA to issue a qualified health claim for a natural health supplement.
Here are the exact words from the FDA, “Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of [Factor 786] may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”
In fact, Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner said, “Coronary heart disease is a significant health problem that causes 500,000 deaths annually in the United States. This new qualified health claim for… [Factor 786] should help consumers as they work to improve their health by identifying foods that contain these important compounds.”
But (and it’s a B-I-G BUT) there are a few outright lies and hidden-truths you may not be aware of… that may end up slowly murdering your body and brains by consuming Factor 786.
Let’s start with the good news.
Here are specific ways (with numerous documented scientific studies) on how Factor 786 may potentially help prevent disease and promote lasting health and longevity:
Harvard University claims Factor 786 may “lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve blood vessel function, and, at higher doses, lower triglycerides and may ease inflammation”. “An analysis of 20 studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants indicates that eating… [Factor 786] reduces the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.”
The American Heart Association says consuming Factor 786 “benefit the heart of healthy people and those at high risk of or who have cardiovascular disease. Research has shown that [Factor 786] decrease[s] risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which can lead to sudden cardiac death. [It] also decrease triglyceride levels, slows the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque and lowers blood pressure (slightly).”
University of Maryland states Factor 786 may, “help reduce risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.” It has been shown “to lower levels of triglycerides (fats in the blood), and to lower the risk of death, heart attack, stroke, and abnormal heart rhythms in people who have already had a heart attack. [It] also appears to help prevent and treat atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by slowing the development of plaque and blood clots, which can clog arteries.” They continue, stating that Factor 786 “helps protect against stroke caused by plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries that lead to the brain.” Consuming it can “reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 50%.”
Dr. Oz says Factor 786 may “reduce triglycerides, stabilize your heartbeat, make platelets “less sticky” and can even lower blood pressure.”
Mayo Clinic, states, “Daily intake [of Factor 786] has been linked to a reduced risk of sudden heart failure.”
And if you suffer from heart disease or ALREADY have had a heart attack can Factor 786 help your cardiovascular (CV) health too? A new study of tens of thousands of patients shows the answer is a resounding “yes”.
The research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is so conclusive, in fact, that the scientists who conducted the study are suggesting that everyone should consume Factor 786 daily for heart health.
“This isn’t just hype; we now have tremendous and compelling evidence from very large studies, some dating back 20 and 30 years, that demonstrate the protective benefits of [Factor 786] in multiple aspects of preventive cardiology,” Dr. Carl Lavie, medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and lead author of the article, said in a statement to the media. “The strongest evidence of a cardioprotective effect of [Factor 786] appears in patients with established cardiovascular disease and following a heart attack with up to a 30 percent reduction in CV-related death.”
That’s because Factor 786 is believed to help stabilize any plaque in arteries, improve the heart’s electrical activity, normalize vascular tone, and reduce blood pressure, among other benefits.
As you can see the cardio-protective benefits of Factor 786 are perhaps its most well known benefits. It has also been shown to consistently protect the heart and cardiovascular system against illness. Clinical evidence shows it protects against high cholesterol by reducing systemic as well as balance blood pressure and protect against heart disease.
Here is proof.
University of Maryland says, several clinical studies suggest diets rich in Factor 786 may “lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.” An analysis of 17 clinical studies using this health supplement found that it may “reduce blood pressure in people with untreated hypertension.”
Mayo Clinic says, “Many studies report [Factor 786] may help reduce blood pressure.”
University of Maryland says, “People who follow a Mediterranean style diet tend to have higher HDL or “good” cholesterol levels, which help promote heart health. Inuit Eskimos, who get high amounts of [Factor 786] also tend to have increased HDL cholesterol and decreased triglycerides (fats in the blood). Several studies have shown that [Factor 786] may reduce triglyceride levels.”
I could go on and on. You get the point, don’t you? I’ve just quoted snippets on the science on Factor 786 from some of the most reputed sources.
Besides the above benefits there are numerous studies documented by Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, University of Maryland, Ohio State University and pretty much almost all medical establishments and medical journals of repute that proclaim the inflammation reducing abilities, age-reversing abilities, weight loss effect, joint support benefits and wrinkle fighting abilities of Factor 786.
The above is not my opinion. I’m a medical doctor and believe in facts. It is my life’s mission to keep as many American’s healthy, alive and living long lives. And it is personal for me because of my family’s history with ill health.
In fact, concerned about my family’s history with ill health… my cardiologist recommended I get a stress test and some blood work done. When the tests were done, my cardiologist looked at the sheet with my results. Then he looked up at me and looked down at the sheet again. He scratched his head, stroked his chin, and said, “there’s something I can’t figure out here.”
“Oh really?” I couldn’t help showing a little amusement.
My cardiologist started to crack a confused grin and said, “Robert youre a middle-aged man right? But these tests say you have risk factors of a 20 something year-old. Im not sure whats going on here… but its great news.
Today’s guest author, Karen Fernandes, is a fitness enthusiast who often writes on topics related to health and wellness online. She is associated with CTCMPC, a pharmacology centre. She enjoys dancing and working out in her free time. You can follow her on Twitter for more information.
Finally Harvard is saying what I said 38 years ago that prevention is better than Intervention. Meditation is better than Medication.
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Date: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Relax your way to lower blood pressure
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Focus On: Blood Pressure — Relax your way to lower blood pressure
In this Issue:
Relax your way to lower blood pressure
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Focus On Blood Pressure Harvard Medical School
ISSUE #1 OF 8 IN AN E-MAIL SERIES
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Hypertension: Controlling the ‘silent killer’
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This report lays out a step-by-step lifestyle program you can use to lower your blood pressure, including a special section on the best diet for keeping your blood pressure in check. It also covers blood pressure monitoring and medications. With the information available today, there is no need for hypertension to be a killer any longer.
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In the Next Issue
High blood pressure and diabetes—double trouble
Additional Resources
• What to do About High Cholesterol
Relax your way to lower blood pressure
The easiest way to lower blood pressure is by popping a pill. It takes just a few seconds and you are finished. But pills cost money and often have side effects. Fully relaxing your body and your mind for a few minutes a day could lower your systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) by 10 points or more—at no cost, and with no side effects.
Researchers with the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital compared a stress management technique called the relaxation response with education about lifestyle changes such as sodium reduction, weight loss, and exercise. They found:
Blood pressure decreased more in the relaxation response group
32% of the volunteers in that group were able to eliminate one blood pressure medication and still keep their blood pressure under control, compared with 14% of the lifestyle group.
The relaxation response, developed by Harvard’s Dr. Herbert Benson, has been shown to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and muscle tension. Here’s how to do it:
Select a word (such as “one” or “peace”), a short phrase, or a prayer to focus on.
Sit quietly in a comfortable position and close your eyes.
Relax your muscles, progressing from your feet to your calves, thighs, abdomen, and so on, up to your neck and face.
Breathe slowly through your nose, silently saying your focus word, phrase, or prayer to yourself as you exhale.
When other thoughts come to mind, don’t worry. Simply return your attention to your focus word, phrase, or prayer.
Do this for 10-20 minutes.
Sit quietly for a minute or so, then open your eyes.
Practice the relaxation response once or twice a day.
Blood pressure basics
Blood pressure is the force that a wave of blood propelled from the heart exerts on the arteries. It is measured at two points; each measurement is recorded in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
Systolic pressure gauges the pressure in the arteries at systole (SIS-tuh-lee), the instant when the heart contracts and pushes a wave of blood along the arterial tree (think “s” for squeeze). It is the top number of a blood pressure reading.
Diastolic pressure reflects the pressure during diastole (die-AS-tuh-lee), the brief period of relaxation between beats. It is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading.
Hypertension is the formal name for high blood pressure.
Blood pressure categories
Systolic Diastolic
Normal (optimal) less than 120 and less than 80
Prehypertension 120 – 139 or 80 – 89
Hypertension 140 or higher or 90 or higher
Nearly 46 percent of American adults suffer from high blood pressure, which ranks as the second greatest public health threat in the U.S.1 Your blood pressure is the force needed to push blood through your arteries, delivering oxygen rich blood and nutrients around your body. When measured, you get a high-value (systolic) and a low-value (diastolic). The high number measures the highest pressure occurring in the blood vessels while your heart is contracting and the low value measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
A reading of 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. Your systolic pressure, the top number, offers the most information about the stiffness of your arteries and the work your heart is doing to push blood. Your systolic pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Initial recommendations for individuals whose blood pressure is only slightly elevated includes increasing physical activity, stopping smoking and improving your diet. According to statistics from the American Heart Association, only 1 in 5 Americans gets enough exercise, and poor eating habits may have contributed to 45 percent of U.S. deaths from heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes in 2012.2
New Blood Pressure Guidelines Means Earlier Intervention
Recent studies have demonstrated an increased risk from heart disease and stroke with every 20 mmHg rise in your systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg elevation in your diastolic pressure in people ages 40 to 89.3 Although past guidelines recommended treatment in individuals whose blood pressure was higher than 140/90 mmHg, new American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend treatment for individuals whose blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg.4
These new guidelines are the first comprehensive changes made in over a decade and lower the definition of high blood pressure in order to address complications that often occur at higher numbers and allow for earlier intervention. With this new definition, the number of U.S. adults with high blood pressure rose from 29 percent to 50 percent, with the greatest impact expected among those younger than 40.
The new guidelines eliminate the category of prehypertension and now categorize individuals as having either stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension. The guidelines are:5
Normal less than 120/80 mmHg
Elevated systolic 122-129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg
Stage 1 hypertension systolic 130-139 mmHg or diastolic 80-89 mmHg
Stage 2 hypertension systolic at least 140 mmHg or diastolic at least 90 mmHg
Hypertensive crisis systolic over 180 mmHg and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg
Links Between Your Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease
Your kidneys are two bean shaped organs located just below your rib cage on both sides of your spine. They filter up to 150 quarts of blood and flush out waste products through your urine every day. One of the reasons it’s necessary to drink enough water is to ensure healthy kidney function, essential for maintaining homeostasis in your body, including with the composition of your blood. Your kidneys produce hormones regulating the production of red blood cells and those helping to regulate your blood pressure.6
Your blood pressure is also affected by vessel constriction and your circulating blood volume; the higher the volume the more the heart muscle gets stretched by the incoming blood.7 However, as with all things, balance is necessary. Lower levels of blood (hypovolemia) are as dangerous to your heart and blood pressure as higher levels of blood volume (hypervolemia).
Your kidneys produce hormones regulating arterial and venous constriction, which affects your blood pressure. They also regulate your circulating blood volume. These two functions work together to maintain your blood pressure within normal limits. Within your kidneys are special cells responsible for sensing the amount of sodium in the filtrate, and others to sense your blood pressure.8
As blood pressure drops, the amount of filtered sodium also drops and cells release an enzyme called renin. This in turn is converted into angiotensin I, and then to angiotensin II, a peptide hormone causing vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. At the same time, angiotensin II stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete a hormone, aldosterone.9
This stimulates the body to reabsorb more sodium, which pulls more water with it. The increase in sodium and water reabsorption reduces your urine output and increases your circulating blood volume. Both of these functions affect your blood pressure measurements.
How Vitamin D Is Connected to Kidney Health
Additionally, your body uses calcium and vitamin D in a continued effort to maintain blood pressure homeostasis. Although your body stores calcium in your bones, it also maintains a consistent level within your blood. If your calcium level falls, your parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone which increases calcium reabsorption from the kidneys and intestines,10 and stimulates calcium release from your bones. However, the parathyroid hormone also requires vitamin D to stimulate calcium absorption from the kidney and the intestine.
Unfortunately, vitamin D deficiency is common in U.S. populations,11 and those with the lowest levels have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.12 The kidneys have an important role in making vitamin D useful within the body as they convert it from supplements or from the sun into an active form.13 However, those suffering with chronic kidney disease also experience low vitamin D levels, not from lack of absorption or sun exposure, but from lack of activation within the kidneys.
In a study14 published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, researchers found low vitamin D levels may be able to predict early kidney disease. Those who were deficient were twice as likely to develop albuminuria, type of protein in the urine, over a period of five years. This condition is an early indication of kidney damage.
Of the more than 5,800 men and women without albuminuria in the study, nearly 4 percent developed it during a five-year follow up. Those who were deficient in vitamin D were found to be 84 percent more likely to have protein in their urine. For this study, deficiency was defined as having less than 15 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). The study’s lead author commented:15
“There is mounting evidence of the benefits of correcting vitamin D levels to prevent or delay the development of albuminuria in the general population. It is also likely patients with chronic conditions such as CKD [chronic kidney disease] may need higher vitamin D levels than the general healthy population.”
CKD is one of the most powerful predictors of premature cardiovascular disease, and emerging evidence suggests progression may be linked to low levels of vitamin D.16 Those with CKD have been found with an exceptionally high rate of severe vitamin D deficiency exacerbated by a reduced ability to convert vitamin D into the active form.
Abnormalities in vitamin D metabolism17 may also play a role in the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD. The gradual and progressive decline of the active form of vitamin D in the course of the disease may limit the ability of the kidneys to maintain adequate levels despite increasing levels of parathyroid hormone.
Uric Acid Is Connected to More Than Gout
Uric acid is a normal waste product found in blood and associated with the development of gout when present in large amounts. Gout is a painful arthritic and inflammatory condition often targeting the base of the big toe. Individuals with high blood pressure and kidney disease, and who are overweight, often have high uric acid levels as well. Your body requires a balance of uric acid as it performs as an antioxidant and a pro-oxidant inside your cells. When levels are too high it tends to increase harmful levels inside the cells where it acts as a pro-oxidant.
While an overabundance of uric acid is associated with the development of gout, a reduction in uric acid has demonstrated the ability to lower blood pressure to normal levels in a teen population.18 Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine found half the teenagers enrolled in their study with newly-diagnosed high blood pressure and higher than normal levels of uric acid responded well when levels of uric acid were reduced using treatment with allopurinol.19
The treatment reduced uric acid levels and blood pressure to normal in 20 of the 30 teens treated. Dr. Daniel Feig, pediatric nephrologist at Baylor College of Medicine, commented on the results of the study:20
“This is far from being a reasonable therapeutic intervention for high blood pressure, but these findings indicate a first step in understanding the pathway of the disease. You cannot prevent a disease until you know the cause. This study is a way of finding that out.”
Previous studies using rats found high levels of uric acid were associated with the development of high blood pressure, and this study demonstrated the same appears to be true in humans. Feig reports current antihyperuricemic pharmaceuticals may not be safe to be used as a first line of therapy for most individuals with high blood pressure.21
Higher levels of uric acid are also associated with the development of kidney stones.22 Kidney stones are hard masses forming within the kidney and can affect both children and adults. When concentrations of uric acid in the urine exceed a certain point they no longer remain dissolved and may precipitate into an insoluble substance, which then forms into stones.
The presence of high amounts of uric acid in combination with dehydration increases your risk of uric acid precipitation. Uric acid stones may be preventable using some of the lifestyle choices I discuss in my previous article, “Gout Pill Poses Major Risk for Your Heart.”
How to Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading
Several factors can play into the accuracy of your blood pressure reading.23 To ensure your reading is as accurate as possible, keep the following factors in mind:
Cuff size
The size of the cuff may change the blood pressure reading significantly. The blood pressure cuff will have an arm circumference range printed on the cuff. Using a cuff that is too small may artificially increase the systolic measurement between 10 mmHg and 40 mmHg.
Cuff placement
The cuff must be placed on a bare arm, not over clothing, with the edges of the cuff aligned and positioned at heart level, approximately 1 inch above the bend in your elbow. The sleeve of your shirt should be off and not rolled up.
Body position
Your body position has a great deal to do with how accurate a peripheral blood pressure measurement will be. The proper position is to have your feet flat on the floor, back supported in a chair, legs uncrossed for at least five minutes and your arm supported while sitting.
Activity
Talking to the person taking your blood pressure during the reading may increase your systolic pressure by 10 mmHg, and a full bladder may increase your systolic reading by 10 mmHg. Prior to taking your blood pressure, it is important that you sit quietly for three to five minutes and do not exercise for at least 30 minutes prior to the reading.
Nicotine, caffeine or alcohol
All should be eliminated in the 30 minutes prior to having your pressure measured.
Stress
If your blood pressure consistently measures greater than 140/90 mmHg or above at the doctor’s office, while being consistently lower when measured at home, you may have white coat hypertension. For some people, seeing the doctor is an inherently stressful experience that may temporarily raise your blood pressure. An estimated 15 percent to 30 percent of people with documented high blood pressure have white coat hypertension.24
To decrease your risk of being falsely diagnosed with hypertension in this situation, take a moment to calm down (be sure to arrive for your appointment ahead of time so you can unwind), then breathe deeply and relax when you’re getting your blood pressure taken.
Machine calibration
Home machines and automated machines must be accurately calibrated to ensure a proper reading. One study25 demonstrated some home pressure machines were off in up to 15 percent of patients. Readings from these machines may impact treatment recommendations.
Hearing ability when using a stethoscope
Many of the machines used today in hospitals and some clinics to take blood pressure are automated and don’t require someone to manually listen for Korotkoff sounds in your brachial artery. However, there remain a large number of blood pressure measurements taken by an individual listening for the change in sounds in the brachial artery. Individuals who have some hearing loss may record an abnormal reading when they don’t hear the change in sounds correctly.
How to Protect Your Kidneys
Your kidneys play a vital role in your overall health. Eating the right foods helps to improve your kidney function as certain foods help you manage blood pressure, prevent kidney stones and reduce uric acid output better than others. Here are three dietary keys to help protect your kidney function. 26
Restrict protein. Uric acid is the metabolic waste product of the breakdown of purine, found in abundance in all meats, poultry and fish. Organ meat and certain oily fish, such as herring and mackerel, tend to have higher levels of purine. It is not necessary to eliminate meat, but care should be taken to balance your protein intake. You can read more about this in my previous article, “Precision Matters When It Comes to Protein.”
An ideal protein intake is likely around one-half gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. The American Kidney Fund27 recommends restricting protein to a maximum of 50 grams if you currently have kidney disease. Discover more about your protein requirements in my previous article, “How to Prevent and Treat Kidney Problems With Food.”
Restrict fructose. Uric acid is also a byproduct of fructose metabolism. Fructose is independently associated with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Limit your fructose intake to 25 grams per day or less, especially if you’re insulin or leptin resistant.
Drink pure, clean water. One of the most effective ways to prevent uric acid precipitation is to remain fully hydrated. Ensure your fluid intake is higher during summer months or with strenuous activities, or if you’re suffering gastroenteritis with vomiting or diarrhea.
When fully hydrated your urine should be the color of straw and you should ideally be visiting the bathroom around seven to eight times per day. Simply swapping out sweetened beverages, such as sodas and fruit juices, for pure water can go a long way toward improving your kidney function and your overall health.
Limit high-purine vegetables. Asparagus, beans, peas and spinach are plant-based foods with higher levels of purine. Moderate intake does not usually pose a problem, but meals containing large quantities should be avoided.
Avoid substances causing water loss. Certain medications, diuretics, alcohol and caffeine may increase your urine output and without proper rehydration fluid loss may result in dehydration.