Over one hundred million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension) that is their systolic blood pressure is above 130 mm Hg, or their diastolic blood pressure is over 80 mm Hg – https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension
Just a few years ago, high blood pressure was assessed as over 140/90 mm Hg (SPRINT Trials – https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2015/09/23/10/40/sprint)
Many take blood pressure medicines; however, just under 25% can control their blood pressure within normal limits – less than 120/80 mm Hg. Life Extension Magazine is a source I often use for my research. They recommend that normal blood pressure should be less than 115/75 mm Hg – https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/heart-circulatory/high-blood-pressure.
Zinc – Alzheimer’s – Hypertension
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/could-zinc-help-control-blood-pressure. A study published this month in Nature Communications had the intention of studying Alzheimer’s treatments using laboratory animals. The scientists had used zinc as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s and discovered that the animals’ blood pressure declined in the zinc-treated group.
Study Results
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23198-6. Medical researchers know that calcium and potassium affect blood pressure. High blood pressure is created when blood vessel walls contract, reducing blood flow. The constriction increases the pressure of the blood the heart must pump.
Calcium atoms in our muscles can cause a tightening around the blood vessels flowing through them. The amount of calcium is controlled by the amount of potassium in the muscle tissue.
The researchers discovered that zinc also plays a part in the blood pressure equation. Zinc levels can reduce calcium levels, thereby reducing the tightening that calcium causes on the blood vessel walls.
As calcium is reduced, muscles relax, and blood vessels expand, thereby allowing lower blood pressure.
Human studies have not been performed to verify the findings using laboratory animals. Zinc in the bloodstream is not critical; however, zinc in the cells is essential. Intracellular zinc can be controlled by ionophores and chelators.
Ionophores are like taxi cabs, in a sense. They transport ions across cells. Chelators are like traffic cops who stop the transport of ions. Increasing ionophores or inhibiting chelators can increase intracellular zine and lower blood pressure. The actual mechanisms to control blood pressure are theoretical today and will be clarified and verified with further research.
Conclusion
The test results worked within the realm of laboratory animals. The final report emphasized that humans should not increase their intake of zinc supplements to reduce blood pressure.
There are distinct differences in the vascular anatomy to say that zinc will or will not work the same in humans. However, it opens a new field of blood pressure control for testing. Blood pressure, like headaches, has many causes.
Drugs for hypertension treat the symptoms, not the cause(s). Therefore, the body may acclimate to a specific drug and render it less effective. Many blood pressure medicines work for a while and are replaced with a different or more potent prescription drug.
All drugs have side effects. The ability to regulate intracellular zinc levels might be a natural-like remedy with far fewer side effects. Time will tell.
Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com
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