High Blood Pressure ( H.B.P. ) Education
Some facts laid out by the American Heart Health Association;
● High Blood Pressure (HBP) aka Hypertension results from a variety of influences.
● Approximately half of the American population has hypertension.
● Sustained High Blood Pressure is a slow developing condition.
● Oftentimes, hypertension has no apparent warning signs.
● Many individuals with hypertension are unaware.
Perhaps a bit more prospective is in order, in 2017 stats indicated HBP participated (directly & indirectly) to over 470,00 U.S. deaths. That’s craziness, get this that’s nearly 1,300 HBP related deaths DAILY!
This is partially due to its slow progression leaving the residual fallout relatively unnoticed. This is also why sustained HBP is commonly referred to as the “Silent Killer”. Although a pertinent indicator of heat excitation is that of biliousness, a (choleric, pitha, yang type quality) humoral excess signified through yellowing of the tongue, eyes, and/or skin.
From an ayurvedic prospective, Dhatus are bodily tissues (such as blood and serious fluids), which are formed from food. The Rasa Dhatu otherwise the serious fluids are primarily composed of water thus houses kapha. Though it circulates throughout, the primary locations are the heart, the vessels, and the skin. When rasa is adequate there’s contentment and enthusiasm, the skin is soft and the is hair shiny.
Additionally the Rakta Dhatu aka the blood is not only composed of water but fire as well, thence contains pitha. The fiery element residing within the hemoglobin, making Rakta a fluid conveyor for cellular respiration. When Rakta is sufficient there’s a lust for life and endeavor, the energy is good, the cognition is clear.
When our Prakuti (Constitution; vatha, pitha, kapha) becomes imbalanced it is known as Vikruti and manifests in the following;
🟢 A vata derangement may exhibit dryness and hardening of the blood vessels such as in the case of hypertension and arteriosclerosis.
🔴 A pitha excess may result in an excess of blood, this derangement is also akin to inflammation, both ultimately contribute to HBP and even myocardial infarction.
🔵 A kapha derangement may produce excessive phlegm with thickened fluids like that of congestive heart failure, ischemic infarction, pulmonary embolism, or cor pulmonale.
🟢 🔵 With vata-kapha dualities displaying the most susceptibility to cardiovascular imbalances.
A simple rule of thumb relating to the “Doctrine of signatures” proposed by Hippocrates, indicates that which resembles blood, develops it. Meat itself can be thought of as congealed or thickened blood. Dairy products such as cheese, milk, yogurt etc are considered to be of similar composition (lacking red corpuscles) akin to serious fluids. Such as blood serum or what I often refer to as non-blood. Both will (in excess) unduly thicken blood producing clots along with building high pressure.
Blood and or phlegm excess may potentially manifest irritability, headache, manic tendency, edema, pms, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, mastalgia, clotting, prostatitis, impotency, chest pain (angina), rapid heart beat (tachycardia), heart attack (myocardial infarction), mini stroke (Transient Ischaemic Attack), brain attack (Ischaemic stroke), and the alike.
Typical Contributors:
Genetics.
Smoking.
Over eating.
Constitution.
Humoral excess.
Adrenal Disorders.
Unmanaged stress.
Endocrine Disfunction.
Lack of physical activity.
Eating directly before bed.
Typical Dietary Contributors:
Excessive Consumption Of;
White salt (sodium chloride (NaCl).
Trans fats (fast food, chips, butter, baked products). CM, VLDL, LDL.
Interesterified oils (cookies, crackers, tortillas, biscuits). CM, LDL, this is new & research is progressing.
Saturated Fats (red meat, dairy). CM, VLDL, LDL.
Hydrogenated Oils (cookies, granola bars, salad dressings, margarine, shortening). CM, VLDL, LDL.
Processed Simple Sugars (all of the above examples from fast food to salad dressings, yes even meat). CM, VLDL.
Caffeine (energy drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate).
Alcohol (beer, wine, cocktails). CM, VLDL, LDL.
A Brief Review;
Hydrogenated oils and fats refer to the degree hydrogen that saturates the carbon bonds such as partially unsaturated, monounsaturated, and unsaturated oil. The higher the degree of saturation, the higher degree of oxidation (inflammation) placed upon the physiology. A simple yet effective way of identifying saturated oils and fats is through solidification. For example, bacon fat is solid at room temperature, while Olive (Olea europaea) seed oil isn’t. This is because the bacon fat contains more hydrogen atoms and solidifies at warmer temperatures.
When it comes to cholesterol the degree of saturation influences the type of cholesterol produced by the liver. Lower density lipoproteins are produced from higher degrees of saturation. Lipoproteins act as transport vessels for fats in water, through our blood serum.
There’s 5 primary subsets of lipoproteins;
● Chylomicrons (CMs) are large, super low in density and in relation the HBP move triglycerides to muscle (such as the heart) & adipose tissue.
● Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDLs) are also high in triglycerides but with a higher concentration of “bad cholesterol” and are generally associated with alcohol consumption and insulin resistance.
● Intermediate Density Lipoproteins (IDLs), being intermediate are bystanders.
● Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) aka ‘Bad Cholesterol’ are primarily associated to arterial calcification aka arteriosclerosis a leading contributor to HBP.
● High Density Lipoproteins (HDLs) are the smallest and most complex of the five groups, aka ‘Good Cholesterol. Namely so, as these transport proteins, carry and remove “Bad Cholesterol” from arterial walls, known as Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT), which in turn reduces HBP.
How Do You Measure Up?
Blood pressure is measured using millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) monitored through pressure exerted along the arterial wall. With the systolic (the higher #) representing the atria (upper chambers) contraction, and diastolic (the lower #) representing ventricular (lower chambers) relaxation (think yin & yan) of the heart.
Let’s Briefly Talk Numbers;
● Normal Blood Pressure, lower than 120 over 80 (120/80).
● Elevated aka Prehypertension, 120-129 over 80- & lower.
● Stage 1 HBP, 130-139 over 80-99.
● Stage 2 HBP, 140 & up over 90 & up (holy smokes, its like a ticking bomb!).
● Hypertensive crisis, anything above 180 over 120 (this bomb is about to explode!)
Keep in mind, at the center of the mechanism lyes the pulmonary circuit. This is where all the bodies blood runs through the alveoli of the lungs for gas exchange, water & waste removal. This is where the blood releases & adheres, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, H2O, 2.5 particulate matter, various allergens and the alike. No matter it be “Vape”, Smoke, Drugs, or Oxygen the blood is sure to receive it just as the lungs do.
In relation to pressures, a brief rundown of the pump that builds the pressure aka the Heart. Cardiovascular etymology: Greek “Kardia” (heart), “Vascula” (vessel). A healthy heart beats roughly 115,000 times every day, moving approximately 4 tablespoons with every beat! Every beat supplies every cell (with exception of the corneas) with blood.
Measuring the heart rate is an efficient way of assessing stress which is typically accompanied by HBP. A simple exercise is performed to determine the rate at which the heart beats. To preform this exercise simply place your index and middle finger on the wrist (Gently feel around, you should notice a small bump (Bone) adjacent to a small dip, this is known as the hill & the valley. This is a good location to feel the beat) or on the side of the neck just below the jaw line.
Starting with zero, count the # of beats for 60 seconds (or 30 seconds & multiply by 2), then simply add a zero to the resulting # of beats and you end up with your blood pulse aka heart rate. The formula; H.R. = B.P.M. + 0 =, To exemplify this, say you counted 7 beats in 60 seconds, you’d add the zero to the 7, resulting in 70 beats per minute. To determine the maximum heart rate simply subtract your age from 220. The formula; Max H.R. = 220 – Yrs of age =, Exemplification; 220 – 40 yrs age = 180.
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Brought to you from Herbal Restoration LLC, Written By Herbalist S. Reese. All Rights Reserved © 2024 Herbal Restoration LLC.