Dr. Murray's Newsletter - Natural Facts

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Doctor Murray's Newsletter- Natural Facts JoAnn Guest May 21, 2003 14:03 PDT

Doctor Murray's Newsletter | Natural Facts For May 21, 2003

21 May 2003 13:36:58 -0700

 

 

 

 

 

1:10:2003

What is behind the new guidelines for treatment of high blood pressure?

 

In case you missed it, last week new classifications of high blood

pressure and guidelines for treatment were released by the National

Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). When I read the newspaper

accounts the changes seemed reasonable, but I was totally disgusted when

I read the actual article in JAMA the Journal of the American Medical

Association.1 Let me first explain the recommendations and then explain

why I am convinced the move is simply designed to put more people on

drugs.

 

For more than 3 decades the NHLBI has coordinated a coalition of major

professional organizations and federal agencies to increase awareness,

prevention, treatment, and control of high blood pressure. The latest

report, " The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on

Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure "

(JNC 7) was deemed necessary based the publication of many new clinical

trials since the sixth version was released 6 years ago.

 

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and the

chief risk factor for stroke and heart failure, and also can lead to

kidney damage. It affects about 50 million Americans - about one in four

adults and roughly half of the people over 65 years old. With the new

classification of " prehypertension " level another 45 million persons are

candidates for drug therapy - but, there is a better way.

 

While I agree 100% with the rationale behind the new classification and

the importance of an optimal blood pressure below 120/80, what I am

totally against are the practical guidelines that overstress the use of

drugs rather than focus on diet, lifestyle, and appropriate

supplementation. Giving people drugs to lower blood pressure is not the

best first step at all. Diet, lifestyle modification, and proper

supplementation should be the first steps. If they are unsuccessful,

then drugs should definitely be used.

 

 

Essential hypertension is a ridiculous term

 

Most people with high blood pressure will be told by their physician

that they have " essential " hypertension. The term " essential " is used to

designate that the origin or cause of a particular disease is unknown.

Essentially, I think that the term essential hypertension is utterly

ridiculous. High blood pressure is clearly the result of factors that

lead to hardened, less compliant arteries or factors that disrupt the

kidneys ability to regulate fluid volume.

 

When the arteries become hard due to the build-up of plaque containing

cholesterol, blood pressure rises. Therefore, it is very important to

prevent atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Just like other

degenerative diseases including atherosclerosis, the development of high

blood pressure is closely related to lifestyle and dietary factors. Some

of the important lifestyle factors which may cause high blood pressure

include stress, lack of exercise, and smoking. Some of the dietary

factors include: obesity; high sodium to potassium ratio; low fiber,

high sugar diet; high saturated fat and low omega-3 fatty acid intake;

and a diet low in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. These same factors

are known to also impact the ability of the kidneys to regulate fluid

volume and control blood pressure.

 

 

Diet in the treatment of hypertension

 

The " Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension " (DASH) clinical studies

were funded by the NHLBI to fully evaluate the efficacy of a system of

dietary recommendations in the treatment of hypertension. The DASH diet

is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods, and low in

saturated and total fat. It also is low in cholesterol, high in dietary

fiber, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and moderately high in

protein.

 

The first study showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and

low-fat dairy products can reduce blood pressure in the general

population and people with hypertension.2 The original DASH diet did not

require either sodium restriction or weight loss--the two traditional

dietary tools to control blood pressure--to be effective.3 The second

study from the DASH research group found that coupling the original DASH

diet with sodium restriction is more effective than either dietary

manipulation alone.31 In the first trial, the DASH diet produced a net

blood pressure reduction of 11.4 and 5.5 mmHg systolic and diastolic,

respectively, in patients with hypertension. In the second trial, sodium

intake was also quantified at a " higher " intake of 3,300 milligrams per

day; an " intermediate " intake of 2,400 milligrams per day; and a " lower "

intake of 1,500 milligrams per day. Compared to the control diet, the

DASH diet was associated with a significantly lower systolic blood

pressure at each sodium level. The DASH diet with the lower sodium level

led to a mean systolic blood pressure that was 7.1 mmHg lower in

participants without hypertension, and 11.5 mmHg lower in participants

with hypertension. These results are clinically significant and indicate

that a sodium intake below the recommended level of 2,400 mg daily can

significantly and quickly lower blood pressure.

 

 

Natural products to lower blood pressure

 

There is a new product that I hope will do as much good for people with

high blood pressure as glucosamine sulfate did for people with

osteoarthritis. The product is anti-ace peptides - a purified mixture of

9 small peptides (proteins) derived from muscle of the fish bonito (a

member of the tuna family). I feature an article on this natural product

on my website. Basically, anti-ACE peptides works to lower blood

pressure by inhibiting ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). This enzyme

converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II - a compound that increases

both the fluid volume and the degree of constriction of the blood

vessels. If we use a garden hose model illustrate the pressure in your

arteries, the formation of angiotensin II would be similar to pinching

off the hose while turning up the faucet full blast. By inhibiting the

formation of this compound, Anti-ACE Peptides relax the arterial walls

and reduce fluid volume. Anti-ACE Peptides exert the strongest

inhibition of ACE reported for any naturally occurring substance

available.

 

Three clinical studies have shown Anti-ACE Peptides exert significant

blood pressure lowering effects in people with high blood pressure

(hypertension).4-6 The material appears to be effective in about two

thirds of people with high blood pressure - about the same percentage as

many prescription drugs. (NOTE: People who do not respond to Anti-ACE

Peptides after a two month trial should try Celery Seed Extract). The

degree of blood pressure reduction in these studies was quite

significant, typically reducing the systolic by at least 10 mm Hg and

the diastolic by 7 mm Hg in people with prehypertension and Stage 1

hypertension. Greater reductions will be seen in people with higher

initial blood pressure readings.

 

 

Classification and Recommended Treatments For Stages of Hypertension

 

Blood PressureStages

(points) Group A

(no risk factors) Group B

(one or more risk factors†) Group C

(certain conditions††)

Prehypertension

(120-139/80-89) Level 1 Support Level 1 Support Level 2 Support

Stage 1

(140-159/90-99) Level 2 Support Level 2 Support Level 3 Support

Stages 2 and 3

(>160/>100) Level 3 Support Level 3 Support Level 3 Support

 

† Smoking, high cholesterol, age over 60, or family history of heart

disease

†† Diabetes, stroke, retinopathy, peripheral arterial disease,

nephropathy, or clinical signs of heart disease

 

Level 1 Support

 

Foundational supplements (Natural Factors products)

MultiStart multiple vitamin and mineral formula

Enriching Greens - one serving daily

RxOmega-3 Factors - 2 capsules daily

Potassium chloride 1,500 to 3,000 mg (use NuSalt or NoSalt salt

substitutes to achieve dosage)

Magnesium 150 to 400 mg three times daily

ProMannan: 1,000 mg before meals three times daily

Garlic: 4,000 mcg of allicin (I recommend Garlic Factors from Natural

Factors)

If after 2 months if there is no change add anti-ACE fish peptides:

1,500 mg daily. If after 2 months there is still no change, discontinue

anti-ACE fish peptides and replace with celery seed extract: 150 mg

daily.

 

Level 2 Support

 

All of the above plus:

Anti-ACE fish peptides: 1,500 mg daily

If after 2 months if there is no change add celery seed extract: 150 mg

daily. If there is still no change, add Coenzyme Q10: 100 mg daily. If

the blood pressure has not dropped below 140/105, you will need to work

with a physician to select the most appropriate medication. If a

prescription drug is necessary, a diuretic alone is often the first

recommendation

 

Level 3 Support

 

Consult a physician immediately. A drug may be necessary to achieve

initial control calcium channel blockers or ACE inhibitors alone or in

combination with a diuretic appear to be the safest when Level 3 Support

is required. Follow the supplement recommendations given for Level 2

Support. When satisfactory control over the high blood pressure has been

achieved, work with the physician to taper off the medication.

 

 

 

Key References:

 

Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. The Seventh Report of the

Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and

Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The JNC 7 Report. see

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289.19.2560v12560.

Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al. A clinical trial of the effects

of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research

Group. N Engl J Med 1997; 336:1117-24.

Moore TJ, Conlin PR, Ard J, Svetkey LP. DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop

Hypertension) diet is effective treatment for stage 1 isolated systolic

hypertension. Hypertension 2001; 38:155-8.

Fujita H, Yamagami T, Ohshima K. Effect of an ace-inhibitory agent,

katuobishi oligopeptide, in the spontaneously hypertensive rat and in

borderline and mildly hypertensive subjects. Nutr Res 2001;21:1149-58.

Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Antihypertensive activity

of " Katsuobushi Oligopeptide " in hypertensive and borderline

hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25:147-51.

Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Antihypertensive activity

of " Katsuobushi Oligopeptide " in hypertensive and borderline

hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25:153-7.

 

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