Blood Pressure

[Guest guest]

Hi folsk:

Also from Dr. Mirkin ............. quite interesting, much of which

I was not previously aware of for BP:

" WHY BLOOD PRESSURE RISES WITH AGE

Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Blood pressure often rises with aging. Contrary to what many doctors

think, salt, obesity and alcohol have little to do with this rise.

High blood pressure is associated with heart attacks, strokes, aging

and death. Recent research shows that high blood pressure associated

with aging is probably caused by damage to the arteries leading to

the kidneys. Obesity, excess salt and alcohol cause reversible high

blood pressure. Taking a large amount of salt can cause your body to

retain fluid, enlarge blood volume and raise blood pressure

temporarily, but blood pressure returns to normal soon afterwards.

For most people, taking in a lot of salt does not raise blood

pressure. Drinking alcohol raises blood pressure only for a short

time. Obesity is associated with a sustained high blood pressure at

any age, and is usually reversible with weight loss.

Recent research show that damaged kidney arteries, called intimal

fibroplasia, are the most likely cause of high blood pressure and

that prevention of high blood pressure with aging includes preventing

kidney arterial damage by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole

grains, beans and nuts, reducing your intake of processed foods and

dairy products, exercising and avoiding overweight. See the DASH

diet, report #8614.

RE . Salt, obesity, and alcohol fail to induce a lasting rise of

blood pressure with age, and may be independent of renocortical

vasculopathy.Qjm - Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians,

1999, Vol 92, Iss 10, pp 601-607.Address RE, Louisiana State

Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Pathol, 1901 Perdido St, New Orleans,LA 70112 USA "

Rodney.