Quote:
Originally Posted by sgibson1626
Malibu, I am 49 and have been on blood pressure meds since June of this year and I have reduced my sodium intake and increased my exercise. I am not a "runner", but I do complete about 4 miles a day on the treadmill or through some time of aerobic workout.
My BP went from a dangerous 197/95 to a 116/70! I have lost 20 pounds!
"Leading cause of hypertention is IDIOPATHIC" ??? I think that there are plenty leading medical journals that will agree that there are found leading causes of high BP - ie. genetic, diet , etc
Perhaps your HP is not true HP and it is just a result of something else going on in your body.
All I know is that w/meds mine has gone tremendously and I hope to be off my meds by next summer - if not before!
Sgibson... Losing weight is the largest component for bringing down high blood pressure...and sodium has been shown to help in 20% of the population. I didn't conduct the study...but it IS a study in a reputable journal.
All I am saying is it is good to look out for more research. Sodium sensitivity is what causes hypertension in SOME people, but not all.
However, fact is check with any MD, the leading cause is idiopathic (they beat that into us.) Though they know genetics plays a role, they haven't isolated a specific "high blood pressure gene."
Sorry to beat this in, but this is the honest to God truth... the leading cause is idiopathic. I have my MS in physiology... 5 years in medical research and currently in dental school.
I just took a pathology class taught completely by MDs through the university.
It is a FACT THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS IDIOPATHIC! Matter of fact, 95% of cases are (primary hypertension)... the other 5% are attributed to different diseases, hormone production levels etc.
I don't want to come across as a know it all and I wasn't going to mention my education or that class, but I thought it would probably be good for everyone to know that the technical cause is unknown.
That said, I'm still on restricted Na, but my skeptical nature doesn't allow me to push this by the wayside. I will be on the look out for more studies... as everyone here should be.