The functional medicine approach to high blood pressure

The most commonly diagnosed medical condition in the United States is high blood pressure, or hypertension, and blood pressure medications are among the top 10 most commonly prescribed drugs. However, these medications can cause undesirable side effects. It’s better to address the underlying causes of high blood pressure—research shows diet and lifestyle changes may be just as effective or even better than medications in lowering high blood pressure.

Why should you be concerned about high blood pressure? High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. Thirty percent of the population has high blood pressure, and another 30 percent has pre-hypertension, or somewhat elevated high blood pressure. Men are more likely than women to have high blood pressure before the age of 45, but after 65 the ratio reverses.

Diet and lifestyle changes most effective approach

Instead of merely treating symptoms, addressing the actual causes of high blood can lead to longer lasting, better health. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes alone can reduce risk of heart disease by a dramatic 90 percent. Lifestyle interventions influence the fundamental biological mechanisms leading to all chronic disease. For instance, regular exercise is one of the best ways known to control high blood pressure. Other important factors include a whole foods diet rich in plant fiber and low in sugar and sodium, maintaining a healthy weight (a BMI less than 25 is ideal), not smoking, and managing stress, such as through yoga, meditation, walking, and laughter.

Adding the functional medicine approach

In my office, I look for why the person has high blood pressure rather than simply at what can be done to lower it; it’s a person-centered approach, versus a disease-centered one. Factors to consider include genetic predispositions, nutritional deficiencies, neurological imbalances,  environmental triggers, and lifestyle habits, such as:

• Deficiencies in nutrients such as biotin, vitamin D, vitamin C, B1, choline, magnesium and CoQ10.
• Toxic levels of mercury.
• Hypothyroidism: Appropriate management of a thyroid condition such as autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism can normalize blood pressure.
• An overactive sympathetic nervous system will increase stimulation of the adrenal glands and will increased blood pressure.
• A lack of dietary potassium and too much sodium. Balancing these nutrients can help balance blood pressure.
• Magnesium deficiency. Many people are deficient in magnesium, which can help relax the blood vessels.
• Chronic systemic inflammation.
• Elevated blood sugar and metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes), which are related to hypertension.
• Hormonal imbalances, such as an estrogen deficiency, can lead to high blood pressure.

By addressing these and other factors, a functional medicine approach addresses the root cause of high blood pressure. Research has shown that up to 62 percent of high blood pressure patients were able to go off their anti-hypertension medications and maintain normal blood pressure by making diet and lifestyle changes. Eating a whole foods, vegetable-based diet and avoiding processed foods will help keep you sufficient and balanced in the right minerals to support healthy blood pressure. It is also imperative to have a neurological examination performed as increases in blood pressure may be an indication of brain degeneration. One quick way to screen for imbalances in the nervous system that may be playing a role in increasing blood pressure is to check blood pressure levels on both the left and the right side. The pressure should be within 5 points on each side. If there is more of a discrepancy than that it may be an indicator that there is a neurological change driving up the blood pressure.

Feel free to call my office at 763-398-7770 for more information on how you can address the root cause of your high blood pressure.

God Bless,
Joshua Huffman, DC, DACNB, DAAIM, DABAAHP, FICT