Regulate Your Blood Pressure

Your blood carries many essential substances throughout your body to keep cells alive and functioning. It is important that every part of your body receives the resources it needs, otherwise it cannot remove waste and nourish itself.

COMPONENTS OF BLOOD

Plasma

A transport medium for many substances:

Nutrients:

Glucose – blood sugar
Nutrients – amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals
Hormones – insulin, thyroid hormone, cortisol

Waste Products:

Carbon dioxide – produced by cells during energy production, carried to the lungs for exhalation
Urea – produced by your liver from protein metabolism, carried to the kidneys for excretion in urine
Creatinine – produced by muscle metabolism and excreted by the kidneys
Bilirubin – produced from the breakdown of red blood cells, sent to your liver for processing and excreted in bile

Platelets

Small blood cell fragments whose main role is helping the blood clot and stop bleeding:

Fibrinogen – a protein that forms fibrin which provides the scaffolding for clotting and tissue repair
Von Willebrand factor – helps platelets stick to damaged blood vessel walls; protects Factor VIII from breakdown, supporting the clotting cascade; supports clot formation to ensure bleeding stops effectively
Factor V – a coenzyme that converts prothrombin into thrombin, and converts fibrinogen into fibrin

Red Blood Cells

Carries:

Oxygen – from the lungs to the body using a protein called hemoglobin
Carbon Dioxide – carry about 20%
Nitric Oxide – some RBCs carry it for vessel dilation

White Blood Cells

Travels in the blood to help protect your body from infection and disease:

Neutrophils – first responder
Lymphocytes – adaptive immune system
- B cells – makes antibodies
- T-cells – destroys infected or abnormal cells
- Natural Killer cells – attack virus-infected and cancer cells
Monocytes – move into tissues where they help fight infection and remove damaged cells
Eosinophils – participate in allergic reactions and fight parasites
Basophils – participate in allergic reactions, release histamine

Blood Pressure

Your blood is held within elastic vessels that expand and contract based on how much external force is needed to exceed the artery’s pressure and compress it so that blood no longer flows through it.

An elevation in blood pressure is often your body trying to get resources to areas where there is inadequate blood flow. This can occur due to:

Arteries Stiffening: Blood pressure raises because the arteries cannot expand as effectively. This is often due to:

Sedentary lifestyle reduces blood flow and weakens elasticity
High glucose damages proteins in the vessel wall through a process called Advanced Glycation End Products causing collagen stiffening, oxidative stress, and vascular damage
Collagen increases in the vessel walls
Free radicals damage vascular tissue and reduce nitric oxide, which normally helps arteries relax
Chronic inflammation and high LDL promote plaque formation
Fatty plaque (contains cholesterol, calcium and inflammatory cells) builds up in artery walls
Calcium depositing into your arteries versus your bones due to Vitamin D and K2 deficiency
Chronic pressure causes the arterial walls to thicken, reducing their elasticity
Elastin fibers break down

Endothelial Dysfunction: The endothelium is a thin layer of cells that line the inside of all blood vessels and functions as a protective and regulatory interface between the blood and the vessel wall. It:

Relaxes (Nitric Oxide) or constricts blood flow (Endothelin)
Controls clotting
Regulates exchange of resources with the blood
Supports immune function by signaling when there is an infection or tissue injury and allowing the white blood cells to move into the affected tissues

Sympathetic Reflex: a counter-regulatory measure to the body losing blood, inadequate sodium, or the use of a diuretic.

Measurement Inaccuracy: Stiffening arteries require more pressure to compress them. Blood pressure cuffs could overestimate and generate a higher reading.

Supporting Healthy Blood Pressure

Over 90% of high blood pressure (primary hypertension) has no known cause. The remaining 10% (secondary hypertension) is associated with reduced blood flow to the kidneys, sleep apnea, or having a rare tumor.

Considering each of the potential causes of your blood pressure increasing, shouldn’t your focus begin with supporting these mechanisms versus manipulating your body to reduce your pressure with medication?

Lifestyle	Cleansing Lifestyle Program
Arterial Stiffening & Endothelial Dysfunction	Blood Sugar Support Protocol & Support Arterial Health
Reduced blood flow to the Kidneys	Gentle Kidney Cleanse
Measurement Inaccuracy	Validated Blood Pressure Cuff

Blood Pressure Medications

They work by blocking and inhibiting normal functions:

Blocking an enzyme that converts a hormone that tightens the blood vessels	ACE Inhibitor Examples: Lisinopril, Enalapril, Ramipril, Benazepril
Blocking the receptor for the same hormone that tightens the blood vessels	ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers) Examples: Irbesartan, Losartan, Valsartan, Olmesartan
Inhibit specific channels that allow calcium to enter these cells	Calcium Channel Blockers Examples: Nifedipine, Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Verapamil
Removes extra sodium and water	Diuretics (“Water Pills”) Examples: Hydrochlorothiazide, Chlorthalidone, Furosemide
Slow the heart by blocking β₁ receptors in the SA node, preventing adrenaline from speeding up the heart’s pacemaker	Beta Blockers Examples: Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propranolol, Carvedilol

These medications may lower your blood pressure, but they are also reducing your ability to reach every part of your body.

In addition to potentially causing low blood pressure, they can also cause:

ACE Inhibitor	Chronic dry cough Headaches, lightheadness Loss of taste
Calcium Channel Blockers	Edema, dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation
Diuretics (“Water Pills”)	Electrolyte imbalances Gut symptoms due to dehydration Increase uric acid Increase risk of gout and diabetes
Beta-Blockers	Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting Slow heart rate, fatigue Nausea, weight gain, shortness of breath, cold hands and feet Depression, mood swings, trouble sleeping Sexual disfunction

Start supporting your blood pressure by optimizing your body’s function versus treating a number.

Step into Action

Improve Lifestyle	Cleansing Lifestyle Program
Accurately Monitor Your Blood Pressure	Validated Blood Pressure Cuff
Address Arterial Stiffening & Endothelial Dysfunction	Support Arterial Health
Incorporate when high glucose damages proteins in the vessel	Blood Sugar Support Protocol
Secondary Hypertension Treatment	Gentle Kidney Cleanse
Would like support	Schedule A Personalized Consultation