Herbal Health

There are two types of hypertension. The most common type is primary hypertension, sometimes referred to as essential hypertension. (This term was coined in the early 1800s by English physician Richard Bright, and it refers to the prevailing theory of the time that high blood pressure was an essential response of the body to ensure blood flow to the vital organs.) Up to 95 percent of all patients with hypertension have this type, which is attributed to and may be modified by diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits. However, 5 to 10 percent of those with hypertension have secondary hypertension, in which high blood pressure stems from an underlying physical cause, such as kidney disease or adrenal disorders. Although secondary hypertension is rare, if you have high blood pressure, this condition needs to be ruled out.If, for example, a tumor is pressing on specialized tissue of the adrenal glands called chromaffin tissue, the excess pressure will provoke the glands to produce abnormally high levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. These chemical messengers cause the heart to pump harder and the blood pressure to rise. Removal of the tumor will relieve the pressure on the chromaffin tissue and thereby normalize hormone production and blood pressure.One of my patients, Elizabeth, was suffering from a number of health complaints, including hypertension. None of her doctors could understand why her blood pressure fluctuated so dramatically until one physician found an obstruction in the renal artery, leading to her kidney. The blockage caused her kidney to perceive the blood pressure as being low – which it was on the kidney side of the blockage. This false perception caused her kidneys to compensate by releasing renin, which activates the BAAS pathway to constrict the arteries and cause blood pressure to go up. When the blockage was removed, Elizabeth’s kidneys were able to determine her true blood pressure and normalize renin production. She now reports having lower and more consistent blood pressure, which indicates that her hypertension was secondary to an underlying medical condition.It can sometimes be tricky to diagnose secondary hypertension. Researchers Robert J. Heyka, M.D., and Donald G. Vidt, M.D., at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, devised a four-point checklist that helps doctors narrow the possibilities of secondary hypertension. If you have hypertension and any of these apply to you, make sure to let your physician know right away.- The sudden onset of high blood pressure- Hypertension developed before age 30 or after age 55- Hypertension previously controlled through medication but now high, or on the sudden rise- Stage 3 hypertension (systolic higher than 180 mm Hg or diastolic higher than 110 mm Hg)Secondary hypertension is serious business, but its underlying causes can often be corrected. Don’t forget, however, that it accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of all cases of hypertension. The vast majority of patients with high blood pressure have primary hypertension, which can be addressed through the program for reversing hypertension.*17/313/5*