Drugs and Medicines to Treat High Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure? All the tissues and organs of the body need nourishment in the form of oxygen, glucose, and minerals for their normal functioning. This nourishment is carried by the blood to various sites through the blood vessels by the pumping action of the heart. With each contraction of the heart, blood is pushed into the arteries. In healthy persons this pressure is normal, but in some it may be more than normal. This above normal pressure in the arteries is called high blood pressure or hypertension. In some cases it may be less than normal and is then termed low blood pressure or hypotension. Blood pressure has two components - Systolic (upper) and Diastolic (lower). It is written as 120/80 mm Hg which means 120 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic. The abbreviation ‘mm Hg’ stands for millimeter of mercury. Correct Way to Measure BP: Routine office BP measurement is done in a sitting position. One has to sit quietly with back supported for 5 minutes and arm placed at the level of heart. Coffee tea or smoking are not allowed in the preceding hour. For establishing hypertension at least three readings, one week apart must be taken. At each sitting two readings should be taken to confirm diagnosis. Readings are taken in both arms and if there is a significant difference then the arm with higher reading is selected for subsequent measurements. In diabetics, BP is taken in supine or lying down position and repeated, 2 minutes later, in upright position. This is done to detect any fall in BP in upright position. This is very important in diabetics and elderly lest they may fall under the effect of medicines used to control hypertension. In a number of cases BP is higher in the physician’s clinic than at home. This is due to a stress in the presence of doctor and is called as ‘white-coat hypertension’. This phenomenon is more common in females. Self-check provide useful information on blood pressure response to treatment, may improve adherence to therapy and is useful in evaluating the extent of ‘white-coat’ hypertension. Home measurements can be done by ‘dial type’ variant of BP instrument, electronic self-inflating sets or by miniature versions which are placed on wrists. These instruments are reasonably accurate. However, they must be calibrated from time to time. This can be determined by measuring the blood pressure with an instrument called sphygmomanometer (BP measuring instrument). Normally, blood pressure varies from individual to individual, depending upon factors such as heredity, age, sex, nutrition, and body weight. A diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or above is classified as hypertension and requires medical consultation. The treatment of BP is generally determined by the rise of systolic and diastolic BP. However, one should not get apprehensive if the BP goes above the normal limit once in a while. Types and Causes of Hypertension: Hypertension has been divided into two categories: essential or primary hypertension, and secondary hypertension. The exact cause of primary or essential hypertension is not known but there is generally a narrowing of the blood vessels. In secondary hypertension, there is involvement of other organs or systems such as the kidney, adrenal glands, and disorders like toxaemia of pregnancy. In secondary hypertension, the cause can be treated and blood pressure brought to normal. Primary hypertension lasts a lifetime and needs continuous treatment. Almost 90% cases of hypertension are of primary variety. Syndrome-X is given to a constellation of obesity, high BP, insulin resistance and raised blood lipids. It is commonly seen in our country.When Does Blood Pressure Become High? BP depends upon three important factors: force of contraction, the rate of beating of the heart, and the resistance to blood flow caused by the inner diameter of the blood vessels. Besides these, the volume of blood may also affect the BP. It is a common experience that emotional trauma or excitement, physical exercise or exertion increase the heart rate, which is experienced in the form of palpitation (bouncing or beating of the heart against the chest wall), resulting in a rise in BP. This is generally short-lived and does not require any treatment. The dangerous form of high BP is one which persists on repeated examinations. What Happens When the Blood Pressure Is High? The symptoms of high blood pressure may be related to elevated pressure itself, a disease of the blood vessel, or some other underlying diseases responsible for elevation of blood pressure. The most common symptom of elevated blood pressure is headache, specially in the back portion of the head. This is usually more severe when the person wakes up in the morning. Other symptoms are dizziness, giddiness, palpitation, and easy fatigability. In more severe cases the symptoms are bleeding through the nose or blood in the urine, blurring of vision due to changes in the arteries of the retina (screen for vision in the eye), incidence of dizziness or fainting due to transient decrease in blood flow to the brain, pain in the chest, and breathlessness. When blood supply of brain is drastically reduced, paralysis or ’stroke’ may occur.It is a well-established fact that hypertension may be both the cause and effect of heart or kidney disorders, and may decrease the life expectancy of a person. Statistics show that hypertension, if untreated, shortens the life span of a person. There is 2-4 fold increase in ischaemic heart disease. High blood pressure is also the second most common cause of kidney failure. It is, therefore, important to detect the cause early and start the treatment. The treatment consists of general measures and drugs therapy. Any BP above 140/90 mm Hg should be treated. New evidence shows that BP should be kept below 130/80 mm Hg in pregnancy. diabetes and kidney disease.

New Revolutionary Plaque Busting Supplement Shocks Investigators! According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, each year about 700,000 people suffer a stroke, the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. The American Heart Association estimates that over1 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year. About 700,000 of these will be first-time heart attack sufferers. Traditional Medicine’s War on Heart Disease Continues to Fall Short Despite spending billions of dollars and having the most sophisticated health care system the world has ever known, one American dies every 33 seconds from heart disease! We have lipid-lowering drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, etc.) to reduce cholesterol. Aspirin and Warfarin (Cumadin), to thin the blood. Anti-hypertension medications for reducing high blood pressure. Bypass surgery, and angioplasty to help clear blocked arteries. However, there is a price to pay for covering up symptoms with potentially dangerous drugs and risky surgical procedures. Certain blood pressure drugs are known to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke by 5 fold and others have side effects, which include congestive heart failure. ( The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that only 10% of bypass heart surgeries are needed. And up to 10% of those having bypass surgery die from the procedure. According to an article in the Jan. 9 issue of Neurology, the blood thinner Warfarin- also known as Cumadin – causes brain bleeding and is serious and growing concern. Warfarin (Cumadin), the main ingredient in rat poisoning, is often prescribed to prevent blood clotting and help combat the most common type of stroke, known as ischemic stroke. However, warfarin itself has been linked to brain hemorrhage and stroke caused by ruptured blood vessels and subsequent bleeding in the brain. All of these medical therapies are designed to alleviate the symptoms of arteriosclerosis, plaque filled arteries and poor blood flow. Unfortunately, while they do reduce the symptoms, they don’t correct the cause of heart disease, plaque build-up and clot formation. And they’re also associated with potential, sometimes life threatening, side effects. Cardiovascular disease risk can be greatly reduced by modifying lifestyle and adding nutritional supplements proven to support cardiovascular health (vitamin E, a good multivitamin/mineral formula, fish oil, and CoQ10). Most of us are aware that eating a healthier, more balanced diet, not smoking, and exercising regularly are big steps in reducing heart disease. But, sometimes even a healthy life style isn’t enough. It’s Really Scary When We Learn That- Forty percent of all heart attacks occur in people with no known risk factors; they have normal cholesterol and blood pressure, aren’t over weight, don’t smoke, and try to eat healthy. A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (3/6/2002) indicates that exposure to air pollution can cause some 10,000 fatal heart attacks a year in the U.S.! There’s no getting away from arteriosclerosis, plaque build-up, and heart disease risk. Ever hear about the marathon runner, aerobics teacher, or general “health nut” who collapsed with a heart attack while exercising? Life isn’t fair sometimes; even folks who try to be healthy are no-match for the ravages of arteriosclerosis. The body contains some 60 miles of arteries and veins, yet one blocked vessel and BAM, you’re on your back from a heart attack or stroke! Yes, you should eat a balanced diet, exercise on a regular basis, manage your stress, take a good optimal daily multivitamin/mineral formula with vitamin E, and fish oil; and perhaps some CoQ10 (if you have high blood pressure or heart disease or it runs in your family). But is this enough? It’s a good start, but you may need to do more. How do blood clots form? Blood clotting is a natural process that allows the blood to thicken and form a clot or thrombus of blood cells. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets clump together and strands of the blood protein fibrin glue them together in order to stop the bleeding. Eventually the clot helps form a protective scab over a healing wound. If our bodies did not have the ability to clot blood, we would bleed to death after even a minor cut, which was often the case with hemophiliacs. But sometimes blood clots form even when a person has not been wounded or cut. A thrombus (blood clot/plaque build-up) can form in an artery. It could then block the flow of blood and cut off oxygen supply. This can trigger a heart attack. In the brain, blood clots also block blood and oxygen from reaching necessary areas, which can result in senility and/or stroke. A piece of the blood clot could form in one of the heart’s chambers and then travel through the bloodstream, lodging in either an organ or an artery and cutting off the blood supply from that point, causing an embolism. An embolism is especially dangerous when it ends up in a lung. The chances of developing thrombi or blood clot increase as we age. Although the human body produces more than 20 enzymes for making blood clots, it produces only one enzyme—plasmin—for dissolving them. The problem is, as we age the production of plasmin slows down, making the blood more prone to coagulation (clotting). To make matters worse, fibrinogen levels rise as we age. And high levels of fibrinogen levels usually lead to increased platelet aggregation, blood clots, and eventually heart attack or stroke. In fact, high fibrinogen levels are considered a more dangerous risk factor for heart attack and stroke than high cholesterol. A study of 2,116 men found that those with high LDL (bad) cholesterol but low fibrinogen levels had only one sixth the risk for heart attack than the men with low LDL and high fibrinogen. The Good News Dr. Martin Milner, from the Center for Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, “In all my years of research as a professor of cardiovascular and pulmonary medicine, natto and nattokinase represents the most exciting new development in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular related diseases,” Dr. Milner said. “We have finally found a potent natural agent that can thin and dissolve clots effectively, with relative safety and without side effects. In some ways, Milner says, nattokinase is actually superior to conventional clot-dissolving drugs. T-PAs (tissue plasminogen activators) like urokinase (the drug), are only effective when taken intravenously and often fail simply because a stroke or heart attack victim’s arteries have hardened beyond the point where they can be treated by any other clot-dissolving agent. Nattokinase, however, can help prevent that hardening with an oral dose of as little as 100 mg a day.Doctors and researchers around the world are hailing the plaque busting affects of nattokinase as nothing short of shocking.” For those with cardiovascular problems (high blood pressure, past heart attack, or stroke or elevated cholesterol levels) or a family history of heart related deaths please consider adding the all-natural supplement known as nattokinase. A new clot-busting supplement known as nattokinase is proving to be extremely safe and effective in reversing and preventing blood clots. Nattokinase is a potent fibrinolytic (anti-clotting) enzyme complex extracted and highly purified from a traditional Japanese food called Natto. Natto is a fermented cheese-like food that has been used in Japanese culture for more than 1000 years for its popular taste, and as a folk remedy for heart and vascular diseases. Research has shown that Nattokinase supports the body in breaking up and dissolving the unhealthy coagulation of blood. In fact, it has been shown to have four times greater fibrinolytic activity than plasmin. How was Nattokinase discovered? Japanese researcher Dr. Hiroyuki Sumi had spent many years searching for a natural thrombolytic, anti-clot agent that could successfully dissolve blood clots associated with heart attacks and stroke. Finally in 1980, after testing more than 173 natural foods, Sumi found what he was looking for. Natto, a traditional Japanese soy cheese, was dropped onto an artificial thrombus (fibrin) in a Petri dish and allowed to stand at 37ºC (approximately body temperature). Over the next 18 hours, the thrombus around the natto completely dissolved! Sumi named the newly discovered enzyme Nattokinase, which means “enzyme in natto.” Dr. Sumi remarked that Nattokinase showed “a potency matched by no other enzyme.” Researchers have found that Nattokinase is four times more potent than plasmin (in dissolving blood clots), and works even more effectively than Warfarin drugs because it continues to work for long periods of time, and it doesn’t produce any side effects. Research Shows nattokinase Reverses dissolves Blood Clots And Lowers Blood Pressure Research Animal %26 Human Studies Nattokinase has been the subject of 17 studies, including two small human trials. Dr. Sumi and his colleagues induced blood clots in male dogs, and then orally administered either four capsules of nattokinase (250 mg per capsule) or four placebo capsules to each dog. Angiograms (X-rays of blood vessels) revealed that the dogs that received nattokinase regained normal blood circulation (free of the clot) within five hours of treatment. Blood clots in the dogs who received only placebo showed no sign of dissolving in the 18 hours following treatment. Researchers from Biotechnology Research Laboratories and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. of Kobe, Japan, tested nattokinase’s ability to dissolve a thrombus (blood clotting plaque) in the carotid arteries of rats. Animals treated with nattokinase regained 62 percent of blood flow, whereas those treated with the usual drug, plasmin regained just 15.8 percent of blood flow. Researchers from JCR Pharmaceuticals, Oklahoma State University, and Miyazaki Medical College tested nattokinase on 12 healthy Japanese volunteers (6 men and 6 women, between the ages of 21 and 55). They gave the volunteers nattokinase before breakfast, then tracked fibrinolytic activity through a series of blood plasma tests. The tests indicated that the natto generated a heightened ability to dissolve blood clots: On average, the volunteers’ ELT (a measure of how long it takes to dissolve a blood clot) dropped by 48 percent within two hours of treatment, and volunteers retained an enhanced ability to dissolve blood clots for up to 8 hours. As a control, researchers later fed the same amount of boiled soybeans to the same volunteers and tracked their fibrinolytic activity. The tests showed no significant change. The Benefits of Nattokinase on Blood Pressure Human Studies Nattokinase extract was tested on human volunteers with high blood pressure. Blood pressure levels were measured after the test subjects took Nattokinase, which was administered orally for 4 consecutive days. In 4 out of 5 volunteers, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased on average from 173.8mmHg to 154.8mmHg: A 19-point drop in systolic blood pressure! Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased on average from 101.0mmHg to 91.2 mmHg; Almost a 10-point reduction in diastolic blood pressure! How safe is Nattokinase? It is very safe when used according to the recommended dosage. However, people with ulcers, recent or pending surgery, or recent major trauma should not take Nattokinase. Anyone who has ever had neurosurgery or ischemic stroke in the previous six months should not take Nattokinase, as well as those who have had intracranial bleeding. Because this supplement is so potent in its anti-clotting abilities it shouldn’t be used with other blood thinning drugs (Cumadin), unless monitored by a doctor. Otherwise anyone not on blood thinning drugs or having upcoming surgery and wants to reverse the formation of blood clots (plaque) can add nattokinase to their daily supplement regiment. Conclusion The traditional Japanese food Natto has been used safely for over 1000 years. The potent fibrinolytic enzyme nattokinase appears to be safe based upon the long-term traditional use of this food as well as numerous scientific clinical studies. Nattokinase has many benefits including convenience of oral administration, confirmed efficacy, prolonged effects, cost effectiveness, and can be used preventatively. It is a naturally occurring, food based dietary supplement that has demonstrated stability in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to changes in pH and temperature. Nattokinase: Supports normal blood pressure Helps reduce elevated blood pressure Prevents blood clots from forming Dissolves existing blood clots Dissolves fibrin and reduces fibrinogen levels Enhances the body’s production of plasmin and other clot-dissolving agents, including urokinase thus reducing risk of heart attack and stroke. for more information about heart disease and Dr. Muphree visit treatingandbeating.com About Dr. Murphree Dr. Murphree is a board certified nutritional specialist and chiropractic physician who has been in private practice since 1990. He is the founder and past clinic director for a large integrated medical practice located on the campus of Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham Alabama. The clinic was staffed with medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists, and massage therapists. The clinic combined prescription and natural medicines for acute and chronic illnesses. He is the author of 5 books for patients and doctors, including “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” “Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You,” and “Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine.” In 2002 Dr. Murphree sold his medical practice and now maintains a busy solo practice specializing in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, mood disorders, and other chronic illnesses. for more information about heart disease and Dr. Muphree visit treatingandbeating.com He can be reached toll free 1-888-884-9577 or at 205-879-2383 References: 1.Soy intake shown to reduce mortality rate from cancer and CVD. Nagata C. Ecological study of the association between soy product intake and mortality from cancer and heart disease in Japan. Int J Epidemiol. 2000 Oct;29(5):832-6. 2.Fujita M, Nomura K, Hong K, Ito Y, Asada A, Nishimuro S. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1993 Dec 30;197(3):1340-7 Biotechnology Research Laboratories, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan. 3.Clinical trials.gov. Epidemiology of Coronary Heart Disease in Men Aged 40 and Over. August 2004. National Institutes of Health. Sept. 13, 2004. 4.Suzuki Y, Kondo K, Ichise H, Tsukamoto Y, Urano T, Umemura K. Dietary supplementation with fermented soybeans suppresses intimal thickening. Nutrition. 2003 Mar;19(3):261-4. 5.Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke with Potent Enzyme that Dissolves Deadly Blood Clots in Hours. Health Sciences Institute, March 2002. Hager, K. et al. Fibrinogen and Aging. Aging (Milano) 1994, 6:133-38. Heinrich, J. et al. Fibrinogen and factor VII in the prediction of coronary risk. Arterioscler Thromb 1994, 14:54-59. 6. Sumi H. Interview With Doctor of Medicine Hiroyuki Sumi. Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co. Ltd. Sumi, H. et al. “Enhancement of the fibrinolytic activity in plasma by oral administration of nattokinase.” Acta haematol 1990, 84: 139-43. 7.Suzuki Y, Kondo K, Matsumoto Y, Zhao BQ, Otsuguro K, Maeda T, Tsukamoto Y, Urano T, Umemura K. Dietary supplementation of fermented soybean, natto, suppresses intimal thickening and modulates the lysis of mural thrombi after endothelial injury in rat femoral artery. Life Sci. 2003 Jul 25;73(10):1289-98. 8.Maruyama M, Sumi H. Effect of Natto Diet on Blood Pressure. JTTAS, 1995. _ Nishimura, K. et al. Natto diet was apparently effective in a case of incipient central retinal vein occlusion. Japan Rev Clin Ophthalmol 1994, 88:1381-85.

If you have high blood pressure, you will have to take action to treat it. If ignored, hypertension can lead to very serious health problems including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. So what high blood pressure treatments are the most effective? Find out what works best to keep blood pressure under control.Healthy lifestyle is the best way to lower your blood pressureNo drug can ever help you to win a battle against hypertension for good. The best they can do is to give a temporarily relief. However, by changing your lifestyle habits you can keep the problem under control.There are 3 major aspects of your life that affect your blood pressure:- Exercise- Diet- Stress managementMaking your heart beating slightly faster than normal from time to time is very important. This doesn’t mean you will have to go the gym every day. Many everyday things count as exercise - house chores, gardening, walking your dog or playing active games with your children are good examples. Walking is the best exercise, even 15 minutes a day will do wonder. Most important you should do some exercise every day.Another essential thing you will have to evaluate is your diet. Do you like souces, pickles and pre-cooked meals? Than you will have to cut it down, because all of the above are extremely high in sodium and sodium leads to hypertension. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet, remove your salt shaker from the table and you will feel much better as your blood pressure lowers.Every time you stress out, your pressure jumps up. And if stress is a permanent part of your life it can constantly keep your readings high. Don’t ignore stress; there are many effective ways to deal with it. For example, you can enroll in a stress relief class or take a yoga or Tai Chi class, listen to relaxation music. Try to find time to do things that you enjoy.Hypertension medicationWhen it comes to high blood pressure drugs, you should never get one without consulting a doctor. If a particular medicine works well for your friend it doesn’t mean it will suit you. Most hypertension drugs are prescription drugs, so the only way to get them is to visit your physician first and ask for prescription.Medication used to control blood pressure includes:- ACE inhibitors - Calcium channel blockers - Beta-blockers - Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)- Alpha-blockers- DiureticsIn the past a lot of hypertension medications were unsafe and had side effects. Luckily they improved in recent years, so modern drugs that help to lower your blood pressure are more effective and safe. Alternative high blood pressure treatmentsIf you don’t trust conventional drugs and prefer alternative medicine, there are several treatments that can help you.Natural herbs is also a very popular treatment. Most effective are Hawthorn and Ginkgo Biloba. Several studies have shown that garlic also helps with hypertension control. Garlic thins the blood (reduces its ability to clot). Garlic supplements work just as well as fresh garlic.Among the alternative therapies, most common are acupuncture and magnetic therapy.Acupuncture relaxes your body and releases some of the strain on the heart. There is no hard scientific proof that acupunctures works, but many people who tried it, swear that it helped to decrease their blood pressure.Treatment with magnets can also help. Copper and iron bracelets reduce the effects of blood pressure, but scientists don’t know how and why. However, this treatment is painless and safe, so it is worth the try. There are many ways to treat high blood pressure. You should never ignore it, because this condition doesn’t just go away unless you do something to control it.

The causes of impotence

Impotence, also called erectile dysfunction, is a sexual dysfunction in which a man cannot develop or maintain a penile erection. The main cause of impotence is the inability of blood to flow into and be retained in the penis normally. This can be caused by nerve trauma from prostatectomy surgery. Other causes may be low testosterone levels, diabetes, cardiovascular leakage, arteriosclerosis and neurological disease. Most of these causes are medically treatable.

However, some medications to treat these conditions can also adversely affect erectile dysfunction. Such medications having such an effect are high blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, and cimedine (an ulcer drug).

Lifestyle may impact erectile function

Besides medicine and surgery, lifestyle can also affect erectile dysfunction. Experts believe that heavy smoking, excessive drinking, stress and anxiety all can affect blood flow in the veins and arteries. Lack of proper blood flow results in abnormal levels of hormones, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Therefore, a good and healthy lifestyle is essential for normal erectile function. A healthy diet and regular exercise can improve this condition.

Herbal and natural remedies

Supplements of testosterone are used for cases of erectile dysfunction which are due to hormonal deficiencies. It has been widely suggested by both doctors and nutritionists that zinc is helpful in cases of testosterone deficiency. However, the most common cause of impotence is a deficient blood supply in the penis. There are many herbs and natural remedies that can help those with erectile function maintain sexual activity for a longer period. Ginkgo biloba is an effective herb for increasing blood supply in penis. Finding natural ways to increase blood supply to the penis can bring successful results in treating erectile dysfunction.