Hypertension – The Metabolic Aspects

Hypertension has many causes.

It is known in medicine that under the classification of “essential hypertension” there are different types of conditions.  Some cases of hypertension are “labile” or erratic, while other cases are chronic.  Some individuals respond favorably to a reduction in salt intake, or weight reduction, while other cases fail to respond.
Utilizing tissue mineral testing methods we have been able to distinguish at least 7 separate causes for hypertension making treatment more precise and effective.

Causes of Hypertension

Causes of hypertention can be divided into those related to kidney dysfunction and those related to arterial changes.

Renal Causes
All of the body’s blood flows through the kidneys every three minutes, and any change in the rate of flow through the kidneys can have profound effects on blood pressure.  Changes in kidney function, which can be identified from a tissue mineral test are:

• Toxic metal deposition.  The most common toxic metal which affects blood pressure is cadmium.  However, nickel, mercury and copper toxicity also can affect renal filtration and affect blood pressure.
• Renal calcification.  Imbalance in the calcium/magnesium ratio or an elevated calcium level may be associated with deposits of calcium in renal arteries, which may adversely affect blood pressure.
• Renal arteriosclerosis.  Both a low copper and zinc level, or an elevated cadmium level, are associated with a weakening of the arterial walls.  The body adaptively responds by coating the arteries with a layer of fatty plaque or calcium, which narrows the arteries consequently causing a rise in blood pressure.
• Excessive aldosterone secretion.  Aldosterone is an adrenal hormone, which causes sodium and fluid retention.  While aldosterone levels may be normal on blood tests, slight elevation of aldosterone can cause hypertension as a result of fluid retention.
• Sodium/potassium imbalance.  A low ratio of sodium to potassium on a tissue mineral chart is associated with kidney stress, and frequently associated with hypertension.

Arterial Causes
Causes of hypertension related to general arterial circulation come in two groups:

• alteration of the tone of the arterial musculature, and
• alteration in the elasticity of the artery walls due to sclerosis or hardening of the arterial walls, and/or deposits of fatty substances or calcium plaques which both harden the arteries and narrow them as well.

Arterial Muscle Tone
If the muscular tone of the arteries increases for any reason, blood pressure will rise.  Since this tone varies depending on nervous system functioning, this is usually the cause of “labile” or transient high blood pressure. On a tissue mineral test we identify several correctable biochemical patterns that are associated with a tendency for increased arterial muscle tone:

FAST OXIDIZERS AND EXCESSIVE SYMPATHETIC TONE, HIGH HISTAMINE LEVELS, AND SODIUM RETENTION

• Fast oxidation is an important mineral pattern that is readily identified on the tissue mineral chart.  It is defined as a relatively low tissue calcium and magnesium level in relation to sodium and potassium levels.
• A low level of calcium and magnesium is indicative of dominance of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes a loss of calcium and magnesium from the body.
• Calcium and magnesium in optimal amounts relax muscles and nerves.  A chronic deficiency of these minerals contributes greatly to the development of hypertension.
• High histamine levels are also associated with a fast oxidation type of metabolic pattern.  Excessive histamine release is a common cause of hypertension.
• A fast oxidation pattern is also indicative of a high aldosterone level and consequent retention of sodium.  Fluid retention resulting from high sodium levels is a common cause of hypertension.

IMBALANCE IN NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Certain nutrients, such as copper  and manganese stimulate catecholamine production, the sympathetic nervous system neurotransmitters, while others, such as choline, are precursors for the parasympathetic neurotransmitters.  Imbalance in these nutrients will affect nervous system function, and can increase arterial wall tone.

Zinc Deficiency Weakens Arterial Walls
A deficiency of zinc causes arterial walls to become brittle and inelastic.  Inelasticity alone may result in a raise in systolic blood pressure.  In addition to a low tissue zinc level, a zinc deficiency should be suspected whenever there is an elevated cadmium level on a tissue mineral analysis chart.

Calcium or Fat Deposition Due To Weakened Arterial Walls
Zinc deficiency, copper deficiency, or cadmium toxicity, weaken arterial walls, and as a compensatory measure, the body may deposit calcium or fatty substances to reinforce arterial strength. The effect of the plaque is to narrow the arteries and  make them more rigid.  Both of these effects lead to high blood pressure.

Chromium Deficiency Associated with Plaque Formation
In addition to it’s association with elevated cholesterol levels, chromium deficiency, a common trace element deficiency, has been associated with plaque development.