low bp and lowering bp

[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

As someone with low blood pressure, I'd like to offer a couple

thoughts, though these may previously been discussed.

 

If you have low blood pressure, first, you should honestly assess your

daily water intake. Lack of hydration can cause lowered b/p (I'm not

suggesting that people with high b/p stop drinking water to attain

lower results!)

 

Second, Swedish and Danish researchers have long noted that women who

carry the gene for cystic fibrosis (CF) tend to have lower blood

pressure. They link this to an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency

of omega-3's. People with CF lack an enzyme necessary for converting

the omega-3 EPA to the omega-3 DHA. And sometimes carriers of CF

exhibit similar symptoms as those with the disease.

 

It's estimated that 1-20 Caucasions carry the CF gene; though the CF

gene is also found in other ethnic groups (to date, there are over 900

mutations of the CF gene).

 

Anyway... It's funny about omega-3. If you have high blood pressure,

then eating more foods rich in omega-3, while drastically cutting back

on foods high in omega-9 and omega-6, you can lower a high b/p.

 

At the same time, if you have low b/p and increase your omega-3

intake, then you may be able to raise your blood-pressure.

 

Case in point: I'm a female CF carrier (of the most common CF gene,

Delta F508). My normal b/p has always hovered around 110/70, with my

lowest recorded around 90/63 (I even had the nurse doublecheck using

my left arm, but then it read 87/62). I'm 5'6 " and average 125 lbs.

 

For over a year now, I've been taking an omega-3 supplement

(containing 250 mg. DHA and 100 mg. EPA), and eating at least 2 tbs.

flax seeds or flax seed meal daily. My b/p last week was 120/70.

 

Kim