Blog# 175 Holistic Life Based Blood Pressure Discussion and Corrections

Last September was the first month in about ten years that I have not written a monthly blog. Each month, I feel strongly urged to write on a particular topic, or else someone requests a topic.  But not for September.  There were too many things going on which needed attention.  Now, I have found a topic about which I feel strongly, and will probably write about it in several blogs.  So here it is:  hypertension.  This is a common imbalance which many people face at some time in their lives.  Authors of an article in Lancet, a well-known medical journal, say that 1.4 billion people between ages 30 and 79 world-wide suffer from hypertension, yet less than one in five have the condition adequately controlled.  Since uncontrolled hypertension can lead to many problems, including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and dementia, it is important to work to control blood pressure.  This article notes pharmaceuticals as the way to control blood pressure, saying that they are inexpensive and relatively harmless compared to the severe complications that can arise with uncontrolled high blood pressure.  Here is a link to that article, which can be downloaded, if you are interested. Volume 406, Issue 10517P2318-2319November 15, 2025

Many of my patients take hypertensive medications regularly, and while it appears that the medications are relatively benign, we do not know how their bodies may be affected in the long run.  And being hooked into taking medication for many years or even for the rest of one’s life, does not appeal to everyone, since that means dependence on a medical physician, who may not always know what is best for each individual patient. That lack of knowledge is not surprising, since everyone is unique, and therefore the elements contributing to their imbalances may be different, as may the corrections for those imbalances.  Generally, if a person can find and successfully address the root of an issue, their whole life will improve: other symptoms, such as anxiety attacks, migraine headaches and irritable bowel may clear up.  Their capacity for mental focus and understanding may improve.  Their immune system may function in a more healthful manner and they may be better able to break free from addictions.  They may even be able to achieve inner peace much of the time.  However, some people have very deep or even congenital causes for hypertension, such as kidney and urinary tract abnormalities, narrowing of the aorta, or even some rare hormonal disorders, such as enlarged and overactive adrenal glands.  People who have these problems usually have blood pressure issues begin when they are very young, or else the blood pressure is severe or difficult to control. In these cases, medications or even surgery may be a necessary element for control, but generally will not be the whole answer.

Those people fortunate enough to be able to control blood pressure via life-style and attitude changes, might seriously consider making the needed changes, and freeing themselves of addictive medications.  Some life style imbalances that contribute to hypertension are unwholesome diet, addictive habits, such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or consuming food and drink high in caffeine, such as coffee, chocolate, some energy bars and some herbs and herbal teas, including black tea.  Obesity and poor food choices can contribute to high blood pressure. Excess fat is estrogenic and inflammatory, thus possibly impacting digestive, respiratory, renal and cardiac health, among other things.  More body and fat to which the heart needs to circulate nourishing blood will eventually put more strain on the heart, possibly resulting in cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart), cardiac arrythmias, rapid heartbeat, congestive heart failure, and, of course, hypertension.  If the heart is not functioning well, this can affect the kidney function and compromise the body’s detoxification.  And poor renal health can further impact cardiac health, in a continuous circle, that also can include other body systems and even impact mental and emotional health.  Another contributing factor for high blood pressure is advancing age.  As people get older, their bodies tend to not function as optimally as when they were young. Stress may cause more damage and harms to the body may take longer to heal.

Hiatal hernia is a bodily injury that can contribute to high blood pressure, as well as to sleep apnea, which also can be a contributing factor to hypertension.  This type of hernia occurs when the top of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a pre-existing weakness or tear in the diaphragm.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, these hernias may not cause problems and occur in approximately 20% of the total U. S. population and in about 70% of the population over 70 years old.  Sometimes, the stomach can herniate up into the region of the heart, especially at night, when gravity no longer encourages the hernia to stay below the diaphragm. Especially when the stomach is full or partially full, due to a late and/or large evening meal, the stomach may even place pressure near or on the heart.  This pressure can, in turn, result in slightly reduced vital capacity of the heart muscle, since it is squeezed a little by the hernia.  If the heart is enlarged, the pressure effects can sometimes be notable, resulting in chest tension, acid reflux, rapid heartbeat and even hypertension. Reduced cardiac muscle capacity can result in the rapid heartbeat and even hypertension, since the heart may have to work harder to spread blood throughout the body.  The above scenario could serve as a motivating factor to eat smaller meals, and to consume the last meal several hours before bedtime, so that the stomach is empty when we lay down to sleep.

Psychological and emotional stress can contribute to the development of high blood pressure and also hiatal hernia.  Muscles – heart and diaphragm – can weaken, especially as we age, and a hiatal hernia or weakened or enlarged heart will be more likely to develop. Psychological and emotional stress can worsen symptoms or the perception of symptoms.  Heavy lifting, a physical stress, can also contribute to the development of hernia, due to muscle tears, especially with increasing age.  Both of these stresses – mental and physical – can result in intra-abdominal pressure, raising the risk of developing hiatal hernia, and therefore possibly may compromise cardiac function.

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) views the Heart as the Ruler/Emperor of the body.  It responds instantly to harmful substances, sometimes in not so obvious ways.  For example, ingestion or inhalation of toxins, such as aluminum, mercury, lead and various herbicides and pesticides can result in either rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or both.  Severe poisoning, including by cardiac prescription medication, can sometime result in an extremely slow heartbeat (bradycardia).  Sometimes we are not initially aware these conditions are present.  When the heart is compromised, other organs can be affected, such as the thyroid gland, the kidneys, the liver and the adrenal glands.  When the harm to the heart is significant, then injuries to the above, and other internal organs become more likely.

In addition to avoiding toxic exposure and also consuming a wholesome diet, breathing clean air and drinking pure water; other things, such supportive social connections or positive, caring meditation and breathing exercises can be helpful in preventing or sometimes even in reversing damage to the body. I will discuss, among other topics, some potentially helpful meditations and breath work in my next blog.

This blog’s offer:  feel free to contact me with questions about blood pressure issues you may have.  Either I may refer you to someone or to a reading source for answers or may answer your questions myself.  If I personally answer your questions, I will likely need some medical history information and may charge a fee.