https://udumbara.net/how-potassium-helps-to-treat-high-blood-pressure
https://udumbara.net/how-potassium-helps-to-treat-high-blood-pressure
UDUMBARA.NET
How Potassium Helps to Treat High Blood Pressure
Hypertension affects nearly half the people in the US, and many are unaware they have itSTORY AT-A-GLANCE Nearly half—47 percent—of all Americans have high blood pressure, costing about $131 billion each year in direct medical costs Many who have hypertension don’t have it under control, which affects your microvascular system, triggering damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart, and sexual performance By ensuring that you have enough potassium in your daily diet, you may prevent hypertension or reduce your dependence on medication to control it According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-half—47 percent—of Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension).1 Hypertension carries a high cost to your health. It’s a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke,2 which are the first and fifth leading causes, respectively, of death in the United States.3 Hypertension comes with an annual financial burden of more than $131 billion in direct medical costs and lost work days; that doesn’t include a number of other health conditions worsened by hypertension, including kidney disease and cognitive decline. Only 1 in 4 of those with hypertension have their blood pressure under control.4 Unfortunately, while blood pressure monitoring has become commonplace at dentists’ and eye doctors’ offices, the CDC estimates that 1 in 3 people aren’t aware they have hypertension.5 There are several ways to reduce your blood pressure without drugs, which I discuss below. Among them is balancing your potassium level, as this electrolyte has a significant effect on muscle contraction and arterial wall relaxation, but most Americans barely get half of the recommended daily allowance.6 What Is High Blood Pressure? When your physician takes your blood pressure, he uses a sphygmomanometer to measure the amount of pressure your heart exerts to push blood through your arterial system. The top number represents the highest pressure needed, and the bottom number the lowest pressure needed. These numbers are related to the elasticity and diameter of your arterial walls. When the pressure required to circulate your blood is high, it places an abnormal amount of stress on your heart muscle and smaller arteries, and reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the smallest blood vessels in your body. Both of these consequences account for many of the secondary effects of hypertension. Your blood pressure reading can vary throughout the day, so one high reading isn’t a concern. It’s only when your blood pressure is consistently or chronically higher than normal that significant health conditions may occur. The validity of your blood pressure reading will be affected by the size of the blood pressure cuff, the position of the cuff on your arm, and whether you’re nervous. Measuring your blood pressure in both arms at the same office visit may also give vital information about your circulatory health. A number of studies have revealed that a significant difference between your right and left arm pressure may indicate circulatory problems that raise your risk for stroke, peripheral artery disease, or other cardiovascular problems. While small differences between your arms are normal, researchers found people with a difference of 5 points in the systolic reading (top number) had double the risk of dying from heart disease in the following eight years.7 The difference suggests the presence of plaque in the artery supplying the arm with the higher pressure.8 In a meta-analysis evaluating mortality rates of more than 17,000 participants with inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences, researchers found participants with a greater than 10-point difference between arms had a 58 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those with a less than 10-point difference.9 When the difference increased to 15 points, the risk increased to 88 percent. Potassium Level Affects Blood Pressure Potassium is a naturally occurring mineral that your body uses as an electrolyte, or substance in solution that will conduct electricity. It’s vital for normal functioning, as your body relies on electrical charges for countless processes, from cell signaling to nerve impulses to healthy brain function. Diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating (such as when using a sauna), and some drugs may deplete or disrupt your potassium balance. The most common reason that potassium levels aren’t within normal limits is due to poor dietary choices. The average reported intake of potassium from food is about half of the recommended 4,700 milligrams (mg) per day.10 Research demonstrates that these low levels of potassium may have a significant impact on blood pressure, especially as it relates to the amount of salt normally found in a Western diet. Dr. Paul Whelton, professor of epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, conducted an analysis in 1997 of more than 29 tri
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