Supplements That Raise Blood Pressure

What Is Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure depends on both the amount of blood your heart pumps and the resistance to blood flow in the arteries. Generally, speaking, the narrower the space in your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, and diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests in between beats.

Blood pressure is written as systolic over diastolic. For example, if a person has a systolic BP of 110mmHg and a diastolic BP of 70mmHg, their blood pressure is written as 110/70mmHg.

A blood pressure measurement around 120/80mmHg is considered healthy blood pressure, but blood pressures that are much higher or lower than normal can create health problems, so its important to check your blood pressure when directed to do so by your doctor.

What Types Of Blood Pressure Supplements Are There

We can divide up the ingredients of typical OTC blood pressure supplements by their method of lowering blood pressure. Youll see that the products will use a blend of ingredients, combining the effects together into a well-rounded supplement.

• Vasodilators: These lower blood pressure by widening the blood vessels by relaxing the muscle cells that make up the walls of the blood vessels. Blood pressure supplements that contain Vitamin B3 , Vitamin C, garlic, and green tea extract work as vasodilators. An example is the NutraPro Blood Pressure Support Supplement.

NutraPro Blood Pressure Support Supplement

There are also supplements that provide nitric oxide, which functions as a vasodilator, lowering your blood pressure. Beets contain nitrates which allow the body to produce nitric oxide. One beet extract product is the Force Factor Total Beets Blood Pressure Support Supplement. It also contains Vitamins C, B3, B6, B12, Calcium, Phosphorous, and Selenium.

Force Factor Total Beets Blood Pressure Support Supplement

NusaPures Blood Pressure Support Supplement

Snap Supplements Heart Health Blood Pressure Supplement

Another ingredient that lowers blood lipid levels that youll find in supplements is fish oil, especially Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Vitamin D Supplementation And Blood Pressure Levels

Figures 2 and 3 present the forest plots for effect of vitamin D supplementation on SBP and DPB across the included 27 trials. Overall, vitamin D supplementation did not have a significant effect on SBP reduction , with evidence of low heterogeneity . There was also no significant reduction in DBP after intervention, and the WMD was 0.19 mm Hg , without evidence of significant heterogeneity .

Figure 2.Meta-analysis of effect of vitamin D supplementation on systolic blood pressure, update meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effect of vitamin D on blood pressure in the general population. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval WMD, weighted mean difference.

Figure 3.Meta-analysis of effect of vitamin D supplementation on diastolic blood pressure, update meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effect of vitamin D on blood pressure in the general population. Abbreviation: WMD, weighted mean difference.

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Disclaimer And Safety Information

This information is not intended to replace the attention or advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional. Anyone who wishes to embark on any dietary, drug, exercise, or other lifestyle change intended to prevent or treat a specific disease or condition should first consult with and seek clearance from a physician or other qualified health care professional. Pregnant women in particular should seek the advice of a physician before using any protocol listed on this website. The protocols described on this website are for adults only, unless otherwise specified. Product labels may contain important safety information and the most recent product information provided by the product manufacturers should be carefully reviewed prior to use to verify the dose, administration, and contraindications. National, state, and local laws may vary regarding the use and application of many of the therapies discussed. The reader assumes the risk of any injuries. The authors and publishers, their affiliates and assigns are not liable for any injury and/or damage to persons arising from this protocol and expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Other Ways To Lower Blood Pressure

Aside from taking heart-healthy supplements, you can lower your blood pressure by shifting your diet and behavior. Regular cardio exercise is a highly effective way to keep blood pressure within healthy ranges. However, you can also adjust your diet to reduce sodium and foods that tend to raise blood pressure. Additionally, measures such as stress relief and avoiding smoking go a long way in lowering blood pressure.

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What Are The Risks Of Resistant Hypertension

Over time, uncontrolled hypertension damages the arteries, contributing to their stiffening. As the arteries become narrower and less flexible, the heart has to work harder to move blood through the body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and other heart conditions cause damage to your kidneys, memory and vision and contribute to erectile dysfunction.

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The study involved 27,599 adults, 35.4 percent of whom had uncontrolled hypertension, who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The periodic surveys, which are known as NHANES and track the health of a representative sample of Americans, found that many people took medications and other substances that could raise an otherwise normal blood pressure or limit the effectiveness of treatment prescribed to lower an elevated blood pressure.

Among adults in the survey, 17.5 percent whose hypertension was not adequately controlled were taking prescription drugs that can raise blood pressure, the researchers reported. And 18.5 percent of survey participants with hypertension that was effectively treated were also taking such drugs, suggesting that some of these people might not otherwise need blood pressure treatment.

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Overview Of Supplements And Medications That Raise Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it pushes against the blood vessel walls. According to the latest guidelines, healthy blood pressure measurements should be at least 90/60 millimeters of mercury and less than 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure readings can be influenced by exercise, stress, sleep, medications, and supplements. In most cases, blood pressure is lowest in the morning and highest in the middle of the afternoon. Typically, it decreases in the late afternoon and evening. Anxiety and night-shift work can both increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. Patients who have borderline high readings should have their blood pressure checked by a doctor at least once a year.

Some patients may want supplements for high blood pressure. However, high blood pressure pills are only recommended when patients have readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Many individuals will attempt natural remedies for high blood pressure as well. Of course, patients should talk to their doctors first. Sometimes, certain medications and supplements will raise blood pressure instead.

Best Supplements That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a common health problem affecting nearly half of all adults in the United States. Healthcare providers are constantly looking for new ways to help their patients manage high blood pressure. One way is by recommending a range of supplements found to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure.

In this article, well be discussing high blood pressure and the different blood pressure supplements that may help manage it.

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Who Are Blood Pressure Supplements For

Blood pressure supplements obviously benefit individuals who have hypertension. However, because of their heart-healthy and generally healthy ingredients, they also benefit others, including but not limited to:

• People with diabetes
• People at risk for heart disease
• People at risk for stroke or heart attack
• People with arthritis and/or inflammatory issues
• People with poor or compromised immune systems
• People looking for increased energy or physical stamina during exercise
• People with high levels of bad cholesterol or triglycerides

Many blood pressure supplements contain powerful vitamins and other nutrients that support other aspects of physical health.

A Guide To The 10 Best Blood Pressure Supplements Of 2022

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 47%–almost half!–of adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure, and only 24% of these people have their blood pressure problem under control. That means that theyre actively working to lower their blood pressure: exercise, diet, and even medication if necessary. Also, there are over-the-counter blood pressure supplements that are available.

In order to be non-prescription, these OTC products typically contain necessary vitamins and minerals that have a role in reducing blood pressure. Others will use extracts from natural ingredients that have been shown in studies, or at least believed, to reduce high blood pressure. Some of the ingredients are things found in every kitchen, such as garlic powder or green tea. Other ingredients are a bit more exotic, such as Buchu Lear or Hawthorn Extract. Even if they just manage to reduce blood pressure 8-10 mmHg, that can be a big plus!

Well go through the list of the MSNs Top 10 Blood Pressure Supplements, taking note of some of the ingredients and properties of the most popular products.

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How Do I Decide Which Medications Are Worth Taking

Just because some drugs and supplements may negatively affect blood sugars does not mean you should not take them! This will just require a little more planning on your part.

Always work with your doctor and medical team to determine what drugs and supplements to take, how often to take them, and how much to take to balance the benefits of the drugs or supplements with the costs to your blood sugar.

Always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any medications.

Diligent Monitoring To Prevent Treatment

Those who take prescription antihypertensive medications must remain aware of the potential for these drugs to cause kidney dysfunction and electrolyte abnormalities in some people. Also, blood pressure that is too low can cause dizziness, especially upon standing, which may result in fainting and injurious falls. At-home blood pressure monitoring is critical, and should be performed twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

In order to mitigate the chances of medication-related complications, particularly those related to kidney function, blood tests should be performed regularly to monitor treatment and health status. Changes in medications and medication dosage levels, and changes in overall health status are indications to repeat testing, bearing in mind that some alterations will manifest rapidly while others may appear gradually. It is important to remember that this applies to all medications, including over-the-counter drugs, not simply to blood pressure medications. For those in stable health, with no change in medication or dosage, testing should be performed every six months at minimum. All changes that could potentially impact kidney function should be closely followed using the indicated laboratory tests.

Important tests for people undertaking strategies to lower blood pressure include:

• Chemistry panel and complete blood count
• Orthostatic hypotension evaluation

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Drugs And Supplements That Affect Your Blood Sugar

According to a 2018 study by diaTribe, over 42 factors affect ones blood sugar, ranging not only from biological factors such as too little sleep and stress to environmental factors such as sunburn, and even medications like prescription drugs and supplements.

Managing life with diabetes while also taking other prescribed medications or even a daily assortment of vitamins can become stressful.

In this article, Ill list which drugs and supplements affect blood sugar the most. Ill also discuss why they raise or lower your blood sugar, and what you can do to better manage the impact.

Always talk with your doctor before starting or stopping a new medication.

Supplements With Potential To Increase Bp

Some DSs can potentially increase BP or exacerbate hypertension. Due to historical use, consumers often infer that these products are safe and harmless. However, many herbals previously used in other forms, a diluted tea for example, may now be available as concentrated and potent extract formulations and thus potentially more harmful. Four products have consistent documentation for increasing BP: ephedra, bitter orange, ginseng, and licorice .

The sympathomimetic agent, ephedra, is one of the oldest medicinal botanical products available with a 5millionyear history of use.25 Ephedra metabolites cause cardiac effects, peripheral vasoconstriction, bronchodilation, and central nervous system stimulation.26 Several case reports document the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular effects and even fatalities with the use of ephedra as a weight loss product. Hypertension is cited as the most common adverse effect related to ephedra however, palpitations, tachycardia, stroke, and seizures are also frequently reported.27 The increasing number of reported adverse events caused the FDA to ban sales of ephedracontaining products in the United States in 2004.28

Bitter orange is a botanical product that is often used for weight loss and dyspepsia. Synephrine and octopamine, similar to phenylephrine and ephedra, are the predominant ingredients and are thought to be the cause of BP increases.29 BP increases occur in healthy people and may be related to dose.30, 31

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What Natural Interventions May Help Lower Blood Pressure

• Quercetin. Quercetin, a plant flavonoid shown to effectively lower blood pressure, is linked to lower cardiovascular risk. It is believed to act as an angiotensin receptor blocker.
• Myricetin. Myricetin is a flavonoid like quercetin, which also appears to act as an angiotensin receptor blocker. Myricetin may lower blood pressure in diabetics with hypertension.
• Stevioside. Stevioside, an extract from the Stevia plant commonly used as a sweetener in the United States, can also act as a calcium channel blocker to reduce blood pressure.
• Melatonin. Melatonin helps relax blood vessels and inhibit the sympathetic nervous system, both of which can reduce blood pressure. A meta-analysis indicated melatonin supplementation was effective at lowering nocturnal blood pressure.
• Fish oil. Fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Fish oil supplements have been shown to lower blood pressure in numerous clinical studies.
• Coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 has strong antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects, which may be due to its protection of various vasodilators.
• Magnesium. Magnesium supplementation can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. It can improve endothelial function and act as a calcium channel blocker and vasodilator.
• Other natural interventions include whey protein peptides, grape polyphenols, pomegranate, olive leaf extract, celery seed extract, and hesperidin.

How Many People Are Affected By High Blood Pressure

The role of blood pressure is to maintain adequate blood perfusion to every tissue and organ in your body. Blood needs to fight against gravity, and your body is especially adept at maintaining a level of equilibrium for normal functioninga healthy blood pressure is a huge part of that. Over time, however, the mechanism that pushes blood may weaken, resulting in your body having to work extra hard to push blood through the vessels. This leads to blood pressure rising and it can wreak havoc on the vascular system.

High blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. It is estimated that about 75 million American adults currently have high blood pressure roughly one in every three Americans. High blood pressure contributes to more than 1,100 deaths each day.

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Blood Pressure Medications May Confer Greater Protection If Taken At Bedtime

A number of studies have shown that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medication may improve treatment efficacy compared with traditional morning and evening dosage schedules.196-201

In one trial that enrolled 661 patients with chronic kidney disease, ambulatory blood pressure was measured at baseline, then tracked for over five years after adjusting the medication schedule according to one of two regimens. In the first group, all antihypertensive drugs were taken upon awakening, while a second group took at least one medication at bedtime. Not only did the second group have lower blood pressure during sleep, but a markedly greater percentage of them gained control over their daytime blood pressure compared with the morning dosing group.196

After analyzing the study data, researchers uncovered a dramatic reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events and associated mortalitythose taking blood pressure medication at bedtime had only about one-third the risk of those who took all their blood pressure medication in the morning. Moreover, each 5 mm Hg reduction in blood pressure during sleep was tied to a 14% reduction in cardiovascular events during the follow-up period.

Several other trials have also shown that bedtime dosing of blood pressure medications offers superior blood pressure control compared with morning dosing.197-199,201