Low blood pressure in patients with kidney disease may increase risk of death

The common treatment of patients suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension is lowering their pressure to a normal level. However, the latest researches show that lowering high blood pressure in patients suffering from kidney disease may increase the risk of death. This was established in a study including 600,000 patients suffering from kidney disease.

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Csaba Kovesdy, MD from the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center supported this thesis by examining more than 18 million blood pressure readings which showed that mortality rates were higher in patients with either very low or very high blood pressures. Researches showed that the best blood pressure levels range between 130 and 159 mm HG for the systolic blood pressure and between 70 and 89 mm HG for the diastolic pressure and these readings ensured the best health outcomes in male patients suffering from kidney problems. It should be mentioned that this study applied only to a wide group of veterans suffering from kidney disease and not to the general U.S. population. It has been established that more than 20 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from kidney disease. These medical issues usually affect people older than 65 years of age.

There is another very important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration when talking about normal blood pressure. According to Dr. William Abraham, cardiologist, there is no an absolute number as to what is considered to be a low blood pressure and lower pressure is usually associated with longevity and healthier life. However, in some patients, low blood pressure readings can indicate to an underlying health issue. In healthy persons, blood pressures under 90/60 may require check-up in order to establish what causes it. Dr. Abraham also suggested that now there is a more precise definition about what is considered to be optimal blood pressure for hypertension patients. Namely, there is a so-called j-shaped curve for patients using blood pressure drugs and the worst health incomes are related to blood pressure readings which are either too low or too high. The ideal reading would be 110-115/70-75.

Researchers also tackled another interesting area: what is normal pressure. They actually say that normal blood pressure readings vary from person to person and there is no exact number that should be reached. This means that what is considered to be low blood pressure for one person may be perfectly normal for another.

What are the most common symptoms of very low blood pressure? Well, these usually include fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurry vision and fatigue. Sudden change in blood pressure may be a sign of an underlying health problem and should be checked. However, many people actually have low blood pressure without ever noticing any symptom and in such case there is definitely no place for worries.photo credit:

A 30-Day Program to Treat Low Blood Pressure

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Many of you may not know, but low blood pressure can cause many health problems such as dizziness, nausea, fainting, poor blood circulation, weak arteries and even damage some organs.

It is characterized by readings of 100/70 to 69 or below. Some of the many factors which cause low blood pressure are nerve disorders, drug use and poor diet. Boosting the blood pressure with herbs and natural remedies is very easy and simple. All you need is a 30-day program.

Things needed

•  Herb guide for dosages and side effects
•  Book of food counts 
•  Food items
•  Nutritional supplements 

Dietary changes

1. The first thing you should do is stop consuming fried foods like caffeine, foods high in cholesterol and larger amounts of red meat. All of these can slow down your adrenal system and make other systems slow down.

2. Thirty minutes before having a breakfast, drink spring water with a squeezed lemon into a 12-ounce glass. Except for being a great tonic, the lemon also hypes the liver, helping you digest the foods in order to energize the body.

3. ¼ cup of oatmeal in the morning is great for you and your body since it’s a great source of carbohydrates and at the same time it’s very inexpensive. The carbohydrates are vital for energy and proper blood flow. However, in case you don’t eat oatmeal, you can substitute it with foods such as grits, farina and whole grain cereal. You can also add banana for flavor. If your blood pressure is low, avoid eating sugar.

4. Have a potassium drink for 1 month when having a lunch. This drink is easily made by juicing 2 carrots, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 stalks of celery, 2 radishes and a little parsley. Another alternative is drinking 10 to 12 oz. juice of low-sodium vegetable. Since potassium is a very important electrolyte which the body needs, its deficiency is one of the main reasons for having a low blood pressure.

5. Eat a salad between lunch and dinner. Make sure the salad has onions, organic beef chunks, carrots, peas, broccoli and sea greens. They all have macrobiotic ingredients which help balance your hormones and other chemicals, while alkalizing your body.

6. For dinner, eat 1 cup of brown rice and 6 ounces of lean and chemical-free beef. Lean beef abounds with proteins, but be careful not to over-consume it. Brown rice is a wonderful detoxifier and a great source of carbohydrates. Since pineapple is high in bioflavonoids which boost the metabolism and is great for strengthening the blood vessels, we recommend a 12-ounce glass of pineapple juice with dinner.

7. Two cloves of garlic 1 hour before going to bed will help stabilizing your blood pressure. Furthermore, one cup of ginseng tea will boost your energy while sleeping.

Exercises

1. A chiropractic adjustment once a week will help you regulate your blood pressure.


2. Walking and breathing exercises will regulate your blood flow. Walk at least 20 minutes and do breathing exercises once a day.

3. Meditate! Meditation is an amazing way to relax and rest your body besides sleeping, so meditate 30 minutes a day and refill your body with energy.

Useful tips and warnings

•  Be careful with your diet. It should consist of 70% complex carbohydrates, 20% protein and 10% fat.
•  Water is very important so don’t forget to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. 
• Vitamin E is vital for a strong heart so take 100mg of it each day.
• Drink rose hips tea.
• For a good liver health, take 200mg of vitamin B complex each day.
• A healthy blood pressure is in the 120/80 range. Check yours often.
• Do not rely on this article without consulting a medical person.
• Do not take herbs without a medical advice.
• Keep away from cigarettes. They are bad for your health and drain your body from oxygen.
• In case you feel ill, see your doctor or call 911.

Lowering high blood pressure: What is the magic number?

New clinical study conducted in the U.S. showed that lowering high blood pressure as low as possible may not have any significant impact on preventing heat attack as scientists thought it had.

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Namely, according to the latest studies, one third of Americans suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. Usually, this category of patients is recommended a therapy that helps them reduce blood pressure as low as possible. However, new scientific results published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine show something else.

The research included 4.480 participants and lasted for 21 years. Patients were followed during this period in order to discover whether these hypertension patents developed any type of heart condition or disease. The research was particularly focused on measuring systolic blood pressure of SBP, which is actually the higher number we get in standard blood pressure measuring.

Researchers in the study considered that SBP reading 140 or higher to be high, readings between 120 and 139 to be normal and below 120 to be low. What the study revealed was that in patients with hypertension, reducing of the SBP to below 120 had no particular impact on preventing heart failure, heart attack and stroke risks. What the study did show it that lowering blood pressure below 140 did have significant benefit.

These results are surely interesting and partially go against what we know about high blood pressure and high blood pressure treatment. The American Heart Association still sticks to the conventional information, that is, that lowering of the blood pressure below 120 is the best therapy providing the best results.

One of the researchers of the study, Dr. Rodriguez says that the study showed that the greatest clinical effects and benefits appear when lowering high blood pressure below 140. Since this was not a treatment studies, many additional studies will be needed to confirm or dispute the results of the study we looked at today.

Debunking Top Five Myths About Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Heart rate and blood pressure go together and they are measured together by doctors. However, they do not signify the same thing. 

Heart rate, or the pulse, is the number of heart beats in a minute, while the blood pressure represents the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries. Michael Faulx, Cleveland Clinic’s cardiologist talks about several main differences between these too which might surprise you alongside with a few myths busted.

1. Blood pressure and heart rate always go hand in hand

False: Truth be told, they usually rise and fall together as Dr. M. Faulx remarks, when we face danger our pulse and blood pressure rise simultaneously. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that if one of these rise or fall, the other one will automatically do the same. He also says that if the two are disconnected, there may be a problem. For instance, if your blood pressure is high all the time, while your heart rate doesn’t change you may need a treatment.

2. 120/80 - the only normal

False: everything that is normal for one person is not for another. Which means this “normal“ rate may vary from one person to another. The optimal blood pressure, however, is 120 mmHg systolic over 80 mmHg diastolic. Relating to the heart rate, the span is from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Dr. Faulx adds that you should consult your doctor and establish your normal baseline.

3. If your BP is low you have a problem

False: Once again, what’s healthy and good for one person may not be for another. Dr. Faulx also says that if, for instance, a young, slim person happens to have a resting heart rate in the 50s or the 40s , it can actually be a great sign as a result of his or her good shape. He also adds that low blood pressure can cause problems in older patients and patients with heart diseases. However, their bodies will give away what’s happening inside. That’s why it’s very important to pay attention to certain symptoms.

4. High blood pressure or heart rate can sometimes be dangerous

True: This one is true, however, “normal” varies. Dr. Faulx says that it’s been proven that when blood pressure is over the typical average, no matter how little or how much that is, it may cause heart disease or stroke. The high blood pressure can also affect your blood vessels negatively. He also says that studies have shown that people who run a faster heart rate are at higher risk of having cardiac problems, but they are not quite sure if that’s the cause of the problem or only a sign of what’s happening.

5. Be careful when you measure

True: Dr. Faulx advises you saying you must feel relaxed when you’re measuring your resting heart rate. It’s also not recommendable to do it after exercising. Another important thing is that for patients with atrial fivrillation, the heart rate is more important to watch, still many other diseases depend on the blood pressure. That’s why you should always measure both.

Dr. Faulx concludes that it’s great that the automated kits we buy at drugstores give blood pressure and pulse on one readout, that’s why there’s no reason not to check them both, for your own sake.

Hypotension Causes

Certain medical conditions can cause hypotension. Here follows an overview on some of those conditions:

- Heart problems.

Heart conditions such as bradycardia (low heart rate), heart attack and heart valve problems. They can cause hypotension because they suppress the circulation of blood in the human body.

- Dehydration    

Even more mild forms of dehydration can be the cause for hypotension. Vomiting, overuse of diuretics, severe diarrhea, strenuous exercise, fever can lead to dehydration. However, that is not as dangerous as hypovolemic shock can be. It is a life-threatening complication of dehydration. Hypovolemic shock occurs when low blood volume causes a decrease of the oxygen reaching the body tissues and triggers a drop in blood pressure.

- Pregnancy. 

As a result of the expansion of the circulatory system during pregnancy, lower blood pressure is pretty common. In the first twenty-four weeks the diastolic blood pressure drops from 10 to 15 mm Hg, while the systolic pressure usually drops from 5 to 10 mm Hg. After the pregnancy the blood pressure returns to its pre-pregnancy levels.

- Blood loose.

Losing significant amounts of blood as a result of some type of injury can cause a sudden drop of blood pressure.

Other possible causes of hypotension include: Lack of nutrients in the diet, severe allergic reaction, sever infection, endocrine problems.

Drugs that can trigger hypotension

- Drugs for Parkinson’s disease

- Sildenafil (Viagra), when combined with heart drugs such as nitroglycerine.

- Alpha Blockers

- Beta Blockers

- Diuretics

- Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants.

- Alcohol.

- Medications used for surgery

Refference http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007278.htm

Hypotension Symptoms

Large percentages of the people that suffer from hypotension don’t have any symptoms. However, there is still a large percentage of people that suffers from the symptoms. Here follow the most common low blood pressure symptoms. 


Many people that suffer from this condition are not aware of it and often mistake the symptoms with other disease or condition. The only way to be sure that one suffers from hypotension is by measuring BP, by a medical exam or by reading BP with sphygmomanometer.  In case you are not part of the no symptoms group of people here are the most common HYPOTENSION SYMPTOMS: 

Lightheadedness, Vomiting,Nausea, Dizziness, Weakness, Sleepiness, Confusion, Blurry vision,Being Tired, Fewer, Black, Tarry Stool.

Having one or more of these symptoms may or may not mean that you are suffering from hypotension, but rather from something completely different. Once you detect some of the symptoms, especially fainting and/or dizziness it’s important to call or visit your physician. If you own a sphygmomanometer you can easiy measure your BP and see yourself if you have LBP. 

References: U.S. National Library of Medicine - The World's Largest Medical Library

An overview on Hypotension (Low blood pressure)

Hypotension (Low blood Pressure) is the medical term used to describe low blood pressure. It occurs when brain, hearth and other parts of the body don’t receive enough blood. Doctors consider it more of a physiological state sooner than a type of disease.  Usually, people relate it with shock even though that is not a general rule and can be caused by a variety of other factors.

The condition (Low Blood Pressure) is manifested through symptoms such as fainting and dizziness. Severe cases can deprive vital organs of nutrients and oxygen which can indicate neurological, endocrine or hearth disorders. Regardless that blood pressure can significantly vary from one to another person, reading of 60 (mm Hg) or less diastolic - bottom number, and of 90 mm or less of systolic pressure - the top number of the reading, indicate that you might be suffering from Low Blood Pressure. On the other hand sportsmen and people that regularly exercise, hypotension is an indication that they are in good physical condition. Therefore, many people that exercise regularly may have low or borderline low blood pressure, but at the same time not to suffer from its effects as others do.

The important thing to remember is that HYPOTENSION is TREATABLE. However, it is very important to get to the root of it as soon as possible so that it can be treated effectively. Regardless of what you learn and read about it on the internet or in medical books, the best course of action is to make an appointment with your doctor and seek for his advice. What you read here is to help you better understand what you are dealing with as well as to get a better comprehension of the therapy prescribed by your doctor.

References:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007278.htm http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159609.php