Hypertension

High Blood Pressure and AK

The first clinical trial I have done for APL Nutrtion was for Hypertension. I had 18 subjects all with long term elevated blood pressure. 10 were mild, non medicated with systolic BP ranging from 140-160. Of this group 7c ame under 140 within one month of the trial. 3 did not return for follow ups. In the medicated group all 8 were taking hypertensive medications, but still above 140 systolic. Of the 6 that returned for one month and two month follow up, all had a significant improvement. 4 long term follow up patients have had continued normalcy (under 140 systolic) 2 with the APL natural blood pressure support, 2 were normal without any supplements or medication. Using Bienergetic Medicine, AK and nutriton I have had excellent response with those that are compliant.

Blood pressure should be checked periodically because it can be abnormal without causing any symptoms. Failing to find and adequately treat high blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Many things affect blood pressure, including neural, glandular, kidney and cardiovascular factors. High blood pressure can be caused by hardening of the arteries or kidney disease.

If the exact cause of high blood pressure cannot be determined, it is called �essential hypertension. Often there are several factors contributing to the high blood pressure, making it impossible to find a single cause.

If there is no pathology, often high blood pressure can be improved without the use of drugs. The natural approach does not have the side-effects of the drugs. Even if the natural methods do not completely control the blood pressure, they can help reduce the amount of drugs necessary to do the job.

The Nervous System and Blood Pressure:

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that automatically controls certain bodily functions like digestion, heart rate, blood vessel diameter and other functions that happen free of central nervous control. These are bodily functions that you dont have to think about, they happen autonomously. You dont tell your stomach to start producing acid after you eat; it is handled automatically by the autonomic nervous system.

The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These two divisions are opposites. They are analogous to the accelerator (sympathetic) and brakes (parasympathetic) on a car.

Branches of the nerves that make up the autonomic nervous system come from the spine. They are affected by spinal subluxations (vertebrae that are out of place) and fixations (vertebrae that do not move properly). Spinal subluxationsand fixations interfere with proper nervous system control. They are very effectively treated by chiropractors and applied kinesiolgists.

Chiropractors are actually doctors of the nervous system. The chiropractor using applied kinesilogyalso has an additional tool to help the nervous system correct high blood pressure, the cranial sacral respiratory mechanism. While we think of the skull as a solid bone, it is actually several bones tightly joined together. The bones are linked by joints known as sutures, and move very slightly in a definite rhythm. The movement corresponds with filling and emptying of cerebrospinal fluid. If you have ever observed a fish in water and movement of the gills, human cranial movement is similar (although not nearly as pronounced). The sacrum, or tail bone, has a similar rhythm.

Trauma (including birth trauma), allergies, mal-occlusion of teeth and other things can affect this cranial sacral rhythm. Problems with this mechanism can have a profound effect on the nervous system and health in general. This mechanism can influence blood pressure. A chiropractor trained in treating the cranial sacral mechanism can help balance the nervous system using this tool.

Emotion also affects neurological control of the blood pressure. Stress has an effect on the autonomic nervous system. Read the report on the adrenal gland for more information about how stress affects the body.

Nutrition and Blood Pressure:

There are several nutritional factors that can affect blood pressure. The most common nutritional approach is sodium restriction, which isnt always a good strategy. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure in some cases.

Obesity is another important link to high blood pressure. If one weighs more than 15% more than his or her ideal weight, weight loss has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure.

One nutritional issue not commonly discussed with respect to high blood pressure is sugar. Eating refined sugar (and other refined carbohydrates) can lead to Syndrome X. Syndrome X is a condition described by Dr. Gerald Reaven. In short, stress and insulin resistance (caused by eating too much sugar and too many refined carbohydrates) can raise cholesterol and blood pressure. The cholesterol increase has a definite pattern. Triglycidesand LDL (bad cholesterol) are too high and HDL (good cholesterol) is too low.Sugar consumption can also adversely affect the adrenal glands and can contribute to high blood pressure.

Arteriosclerosis (loss of elasticity or hardening of the arteries) and atherosclerosis(accumulation of plaque on the internal arterial wall) can cause high blood pressure. High cholesterol, a lack of antioxidant nutrients, consumption of trans fats and refined carbohydrates, smoking, alcohol consumption and stress can all contribute to this condition.

Proper treatment should include dietary and lifestyle changes (whether or not medication is being used to control the blood pressure. Your chiropractor trained in applied kinesiology is equipped to help you develop an effective nutritional program to address all of the issues associated with high blood pressure. Call for a consultation to explore this issue.

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