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High blood pressure is a multifactorial condition that is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. And the complexity of blood pressure shows the need for alternative interventions such as chiropractic. Chiropractic in West Palm Beach: High Blood Pressure and Nutrition is about supplementation and lifestyle changes to help high blood pressure.
What is Hypertension (high blood pressure)?
Hypertension is a systolic (pressure when your heart pushes blood out) blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg and/or a diastolic (pressure when your heart rests between beats) blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg. High blood pressure develops when blood flows through your arteries at higher-than-normal pressures. According to the Centers of Disease Control, nearly half of adults have hypertension (48.1%, 119.9 million). Unfortunately, about 1 in 4 adults with hypertension don’t have their hypertension under control (22.5%, 27.0 million). In fact, some don’t even know they have it.
The above figures pertain to the 90 percent of all hypertension cases labeled as “primary,” or “idiopathic”(unknown cause). In other words, hypertension is not secondary to the disease but is the disease. So these don’t have a cause, such as hypercalcemia, hyperaldosteronism (due to adrenal disease), renovascular (due to kidney problems) disease, drug iatrogenesis (effects of conventional drug), hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
What happens if hypertension isn’t managed?
Chronic hypertension accelerates the development of atherosclerosis (thickening/hardening of arteries) and is thus a major risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Additionally, the physiologic consequences of continued high blood pressure contribute to the development of congestive heart failure, hypertensive retinopathy (eye disease), and hypertensive kidney disease. Furthermore, hypertension combined with diabetes, smoking or dyslipidemia (imbalance of lipids), increase your risk for cardiovascular disease tremendously.
Helpful Supplementation/Nutritional Recommendations for Hypertension
Calcium- relaxs vascular smooth muscle and increases sodium excretion.
Magnesium-deficiency can contribute to hypertension
Potassium- assists sodium and water excretion.
Coenzyme Q10 plus Coenzyme A- helps with heart function and for immune function
Essential Fatty Acids– black currant seed oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, primrose oil- Improves circulation and to decrease blood pressure
Garlic– helps to lower blood pressure
L-arginine– (amino acid that helps the body build protein) important role in heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
L-carnitine plus L-glutamic acid and L-glutamine– also amino acids, aids in helping heart disease.
Selenium-a mineral which supports immune and cognitive function. Deficiency has been linked to heart disease.
Vitamin E-acts as a blood-thinning agent (may be contraindicated if taking prescription blood-thinners).
Vitamin C- with bioflavonoids– Improves adrenal function and reduces blood-clotting tendencies.
Lecithin (capsules) (group of fatty substances found in plant and animal tissues) or lipothropic factors (choline, methionine, betaine, folic acid, and vitamin B12) Helps digestion, improves liver function and helps lower blood pressure.
Bromelain- (Enzyme found in pineapple) aids in digestion of fats.
Chinese red yeast rice extract- has cholesterol lowering ability
Kelp- source of mineral and iodine
Barley and wheatgrass juice– contains important nutrients.
Maitake extract, shiitake extract, reishi extract– To help reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart disease.
Multivitamin and mineral complex with vitamin A and zinc-All nutrients are needed in balance.
Proteolytic enzymes– helps cleanse the circulatory system. Also, completes protein digestion.
Raw heart glandular– Strengthens the heart.
Vitamin B complex plus extra vitamin B3 (niacin)*only take Niacin under supervision of physician and choline (nutrient similar to B vit) and inositol (form of sugar found in body)-
Important in cardiovascular health.
Vitamin B6- helps in decreasing tissue hydration and thereby pressure on cardiovascular system
Herbs for high blood pressure/hypertension- cayenne (capsicum), chamomile (avoid chamomile if you have hayfever), fennel, hawthorn berries, parsley, and rosemary. Hops and valerian root are good for stress. Mistletoe decreases headaches and dizziness due to hypertension.
Diet/Lifestyle Changes for Hypertension
Weight reduction is usually helpful. Indeed, there is an average rise of 6.5 mmHG systolic blood pressure for every 10% increase in body weight over ideal weight. And this is especially true if weight gain is due to body fat and not muscle. To be effective, weight loss usually requires a combination of lowered caloric intake in addition to more calories utilized. Importantly, a moderate exercise program is necessary.
Alcohol Restriction
Alcohol restriction reduces blood pressure and risk of stroke in heavy drinkers. Similarly, for “casual” or responsible drinkers they should limit to no more than 2 drinks per day.
Sodium Restriction
Decreasing sodium intake may help 20% to 50% of hypertensives.
Mild Sodium Restriction (2500 to 4500 mg/day) is for drug-controlled mild hypertension only. This may enhance herbal diuretic therapy for hypertension. It entails no salty foods, table salt or salty seasonings. So minimal salt is allowed in cooking.
Obviously, moderate sodium restriction (1500 to 2500 mg/day) produces better results than mild. No salt at all may be used in cooking or eating. And most processed foods must be avoided.
Modification of Dietary Fat Intake
First, Lowering total fat and saturated fat may reduce viscosity (thickness) of blood. Second, Saturated fats are found in animal-based foods like beef, pork, poultry, full-fat dairy products and eggs. Third, Increasing polyunsaturated fats (vegetable oils, fish oils, etc) may affect vascular and renal prostaglandins (hormone like compounds in body which dilate peripheral blood vessels and thereby to lower arterial pressure).
The Pritikin diet with exercise may reduce blood pressure by 21/11 mmHg in nonmedicated patients and by 7/5mmHG in medicated patients. A low-fat diet, the Pritikin diet focuses on unprocessed fruits and vegetables, lean animal foods,and non-fat dairy products.
The DASH diet (which stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension) is also for lowering high blood pressure naturally. Focus is on eating a variety of easy-to-find healthy foods while reducing your empty calories, high sodium foods, added sugar, refined grains and unhealthy fats.
Drug/Nutrient Interactions
Diuretics (water pills) are a class of medications that remove water and electrolytes from the body by increasing urination. They’re often used to treat hypertension. Some diuretics for high blood pressure cause sodium excretion.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise has an effect on blood pressure as well as contributing to weight loss and stress reduction. Regular aerobic exercise and moderate circuit weight training for 10 weeks reduces blood pressure 14/15 mm Hg.
Stress Reduction
Identify and minimize sources of stress and explore relaxation therapies. Stress reduction and meditation have been shown to be effective for hypertension.
Heavy Metal Detoxification
Cadmium and lead accumulation may contribute to hypertension. Vitamin C and nutrient minerals may help lower your body burden of these toxic metals.
Chiropractic in West Palm Beach: High Blood Pressure and Nutrition
Firstly, research on chiropractic spinal manipulation in the treatment of chronic hypertension was published in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension by Bakris and colleagues. In this research, 50 hypertensive patients, blood pressure reductions were -17/-10 mm Hg in the treatment group receiving upper cervical (neck) chiropractic spinal manipulation versus -3/-2 mm Hg in the placebo group.
Secondly, chiropractic focuses on the more natural forms of healing, and looks for ways to encourage the body to heal itself. Your chiropractor may recommend lifestyle changes that can help lower high blood pressure including, regular exercise, weight loss, healthy eating, and not smoking along with your adjustments.
Thirdly, many studies have been performed utilizing chiropractic treatment to lower blood pressure, some using chiropractic treatment alone, some in conjunction with blood pressure lowering medications. Most cases of hypertension are corrected with prescription medication, although some cases are difficult to control. And these prescription medications have many side effects. While Chiropractors do not treat hypertension/high blood pressure, Chiropractic care helps to normalize the functioning of the nervous system. Next, this allows the nervous system to regulate all the functions of the body including blood pressure.
In conclusion, call Dr. Natalie Meiri, your chiropractor in West Palm Beach at 561-253-8984 to find out more about Chiropractic in West Palm Beach: High Blood Pressure and Nutrition or to schedule an appointment today!
References: Handbook of Preventative and Therapeutic Nutrition by James M. Gerber,M.S., D.C.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing (3rd edition), Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
Thomas Souza, (2018) Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor
*With all the above supplements, please first check with your doctor (M.D.) who is managing your condition.