LifeCare Chiropractic

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BP

Nitric oxide prevents cardiovascular disease – (11-06-00)

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Nitric oxide prevents cardiovascular disease

NO has been a major area of research for about the past decade. NO has shown to be a vasodialator effective in lowering BP safely and effectively. But, like many other natural substances, in high levels NO is also dangerous, leading to increased inflammation. Many clinicians are using the amino acid arginine as a source of NO to lower blood pressure naturally. This stude uses NO in mice to protect against dangerous levels of induced cardiovascular risk factors.

PNAS — Abstracts: Ruschitzka et al. 97 (21): 11609

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Blood Lead, BP, and Hypertension – (03-31-03)

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Blood Lead, BP, and Hypertension.

Heavy metals are widely overlooked by mainstream medicine despite heavy research into their affects on human health. Here we see links with hypertension. Of additional note on BP is cadmium (found mainly in cigarette smoke) which damages the kidneys and can lead to hypertension.

JAMA — Abstracts: Nash et al. 289 (12): 1523

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Markers of cumulative biological risk: studies of successful aging – (05-10-01)

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Markers of cumulative biological risk: studies of successful aging

This article reviews the use of allostatic load (AL) to determine biological risks of aging. AL is an index that uses 10 parameters of biological functioning to give an overall level of risk. I have seen computer programs that attempt to give a biological age to the patients. I have very little faith in these because they do not address real questions (they ask for seat belt use, check BP and cholesterol, exercise levels…). Ironically, none of the 10 factors in AL are used on these questionnaires. I have to mention one more thing for those of you that just read my comments…6 of the 10 factors are associated with Syndrome X. Go figure…a disease state that most of the medical profession is unaware of, a disease state that is highly modifiable with nutrition and natural medicine, and one that contributes to 60% of aging? And we wonder why medicine in the US is ranked so poorly.

PNAS — Abstracts: Seeman et al. 98 (8): 4770

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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Hypertension – (12-14-00)

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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Hypertension

It seems that we can now add elevation of BP to the list of side effects of NSAIDs use. This list also contains gastric erosions/ulcers, disruption of intestinal permeability, kidney damage and liver damage. I could accept the harm vs benefit logic for NSAIDs if there were not tens if not hundreds of natural options to curb inflammation without these side effects. Remember…NSAIDs do not fix whatever caused the underlying inflammation.

J Clin Hypertens 2(5):319-323, 2000 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most widely prescribed medications. Their effect on blood pressure has been monitored, and many small studies have determined a potential relationship between their use and elevation of blood pressure. These drugs may affect blood pressure by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, which may affect arteriolar smooth muscle tone and natriuresis. Since many patients with conditions such as osteoarthritis require treatment and also have hypertension, even modest elevations in blood pressure or inhibition of antihypertensive medication efficacy resulting from non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be of significant clinical and public health importance. This review finds that certain drugs (e.g., indomethicin, piroxicam, and naproxen) may cause clinically relevant elevations in blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Aspirin and sulindac do not appear to elevate blood pressure significantly, even in hypertensive patients. Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs appear to have an intermediate blood pressure effect. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors such as refecoxib and celecoxib have been shown to cause mild elevations in blood pressure, but further studies are needed to evaluate the full magnitude and population distribution of this effect.

Effects of fruit and vegetables on antioxidant concentrations, BP – (06-24-02)

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Effects of fruit and vegetables on antioxidant concentrations, BP

This is another of those “how much did we spend on this study???” study. Is there anyone out there that thinks that increased consumption of fruits and veggies won’t positively impact markers of health? Do we really need to spend money just to quantify what common sense already tells us?

The Journal : Back Issues

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