Fifty million Americans are diagnosed with hypertension, and over a billion people worldwide. Cardiovascular-related medications top the list in the United States, with a whopping thirty-three percent of the population on either a blood pressure or cholesterol regulating medication! Unfortunately, these medications not infrequently fail to regulate blood pressure, and chronic use can cause mild to severe side-effects, such as dizziness, fatigue, weakness, and chronic cough. So what is causing the epidemic of cardiovascular decline, and is there another way to remedy it?
The causes of high blood pressure can be frustratingly complex, ranging from common risk factors like obesity and high stress, to medically rare conditions like adrenal tumors. Many are surprised to learn that sleep apnea is a common cause, and studies have shown heavy metal exposure (such as outgassing from mercury fillings), exposure to BPAs in plastics, and air pollution are associated with hypertension. Diabetes and insulin resistance, overwhelmingly fostered by diets high in carbohydrates and sugars, lead to chronic elevated inflammation that then develops into arterial stiffness and high blood pressure.
We start to see a picture emerging that gives us more clarity as to why hypertension is so common in our modern world. And while high blood pressure itself may not be immediately life threatening, long-term damage frequently leads to kidney failure, heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes that do commonly lead to premature death.
Just like any other complex health issue, the causes of high blood pressure require a bit of detective work. At Vital Health we help many patients wean off blood pressure meds through finding and removing the source(s), thereby not only correcting the blood pressure issue but preventing recurrence. At times a low sugar and low carbohydrate diet combined with regular exercise might be all that is required. Other times targeted nutrient deficiencies, environmental toxicities, and genetic factors may need to be addressed in order to correct the problem.
Multiple studies have shown the positive effect of acupuncture on high blood pressure. One study in 2013 looked at 34 participants not on hypertensive medication, who received acupuncture three times a week. In just a one-month period there was an average drop in systolic pressure of over 30 points! In another 2018 study 140 participants already on hypertensive medication were divided into real and fake acupuncture groups, and acupuncture was provided three times a week over a 6-week period. The participants receiving actual acupuncture dropped an average of 5.4 systolic points, and 3.4 diastolic points, versus no change in the control group.
The body’s natural response is to heal. If you remove what is damaging the body and provide it with the tools it needs, the body can in most cases fully recover. At Vital Health we take the time to investigate and unearth the unique causes of hypertension so we can pinpoint the necessary solutions. We then combine targeted nutritional therapy and acupuncture with appropriate detox programs to restore the body to health.
©2021 Darcy Greenwald, M.S.O.M., L.Ac. and Vital Health
