Vitamin C Prevents Hypertension?
08 Nov 2009
"Is my blood pressure OK, doctor?" is a question asked day after day by patients. They worry their pressure is too high or too low. So this week, Course 101 in hypertension. And why is it that doctors do not prescribe vitamin C to prevent this silent killer?
What is normal blood pressure? Normal is 120/80. The first number represents the force of the blood when the heart contracts. The second figure is the pressure between beats.
What causes hypertension or high blood pressure? Often doctors are unable to pinpoint any specific cause for this condition. But high blood pressure is usually associated with patients who are obese with resulting Type 2 diabetes. This disease causes atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) which increases blood pressure. It’s soft, flexible arteries that keep blood pressure low.
What is the risk of high blood pressure? Just as too much pressure in a car’s tire can cause a blowout, too much force can rupture an artery in the brain causing a massive stroke. Continued daily pressure can also result in heart and kidney failure. Correcting lifestyle problems by exercising and losing weight will help to decrease blood pressure and its risk of complications.
Does salt play a role here?Experts have been debating this matter for years. It’s generally accepted that a high sodium diet is likely to increase the risk of hypertension. Conversely, a low sodium diet will aid in preventing hypertension or help to bring it under control. Healthy individuals should consume no more than 2,200 milligrams (mgs) of salt a day. This amount is about half a flat teaspoon. Those with hypertension should consume no more than 1,500 mgs daily. The majority of sodium in today’s diet comes from processed foods and it’s shocking how much salt is in some cans of soup and packaged foods. The best way to avoid salt is to check labels on processed foods and concentrate on unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Does alcohol and smoking increase the risk?Excessive amounts of alcohol are believed to increase the risk of hypertension. But no one will convince me that 1.5 ounces of spirits or 6 ounces of wine or a beer a day will cause hypertension. In fact, this moderate consumption with it’s relaxing effect, should decrease the risk of high blood pressure. Giving up smoking helps to prevent hypertension and many other problems. There is nothing good to say about smoking.
Can dietary supplements aid in preventing hypertension?Many people today are not getting sufficient calcium, potassium and magnesium in their diet, so supplements can help to decrease blood pressure. Magnesium, in particular, is helpful because it relaxes arteries.
Why don’t doctors prescribe vitamin C?99.9 percent of doctors are not aware of the work of Dr. Sydney Bush, an optometrist in Hull, England. Ten years ago, Bush took photos of patients’ retina which often showed arteries containing large amounts of cholesterol. We know that cholesterol makes arteries less flexible causing increased blood pressure. So Bush prescribed large doses of vitamin C (6,000 to 10,000mg) for these patients. A year later further pictures of the retina, showed that cholesterol deposits were gradually disappearing. This surprising finding should have made headlines around the world. In a recent column, I reported that I had travelled to England and spent a week with Dr. Bush examining before-and-after photos of the retina. It was very obvious that cholesterol deposits were dramatically less after vitamin C therapy. What happens in retinal arteries must also occur throughout the body, and decrease hypertension. Unfortunately, unlike animals, who produce thousands of milligrams of vitamin C daily, humans make none. The question is, could the widespread use of vitamin C prevent hypertension, along with heart attack, stroke and kidney failure? Bush’s evidence is convincing, but his voice is crying in the wilderness.
My previous column that linked the lack of vitamin C to heart attack resulted in many people having their retinas photographed and sent to Dr. Bush for analysis. If his analysis shows clogged retinal arteries, knowing the right mixture of vitamin C and amino acids could be life-saving. For information on this matter use the e-mail info@cardio-retinometry.org or call 416-917-4396
