 Hypertension,
or high blood pressure, is a key symptom of Metabolic Syndrome, also known as Syndrome X. Both conditions are
important risk factors in developing Cardiovascular Disease, which can lead to a heart attack or
stroke.
If left untreated, hypertension can also lead to a wide variety
of other life-threatening conditions, such as kidney damage and
congestive heart failure.
Hypertension is a very common condition with wide-spread
consequences and can remain asymptomatic (undiagnosed) until
relatively late in its course. Several studies have proven that
Insulin Resistance and the resulting hyperinsulinemia (elevated
insulin in the blood) cause increases in blood pressure. This is
because elevated levels of insulin can cause atherosclerosis,
which directly affects the diameter of the inside of the blood
vessel.
A person's blood pressure is determined by cardiac output – how
much blood the heart is pumping per beat, total peripheral
resistance and how easily the blood is pumped to the farthest
points of the body. Blood pressure itself is affected by various
factors, such as genetics, lifestyle and environment. The higher
the blood pressure, the greater the chances of suffering a heart
attack or stroke.
Think
of your vascular system as a complex, interlocking web of hoses,
similar to the garden variety. The smaller the size of the hose,
the more pressure on all of the other hoses as less blood flows
through per minute. The heart must pump harder to get blood to
distant sites while facing the decreased diameter of vessels.
This increases the pressure of the entire cardiovascular system,
causing elevated blood pressure.
"Approximately 119 million American adults, or 64.5% of
the population, are currently thought to be either overweight or
obese. According to projections, 73% of adults in the U.S. could
be overweight or obese by 2008."
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Insulite Weekly Health Support Message |
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Hardening and thickening of the arteries is divided divided into three distinct variants. These can occur due to build up of fat deposits (plaque) on the inner walls of arteries (atherosclerosis), calcification of the wall of the arteries (Monckeberg's medial calcific sclerosis), or thickening of the muscular wall of small arteries and arterioles (arteriolosclerosis).
Most scientists agree that plaque damage begins with
the innermost layer of the artery wall. Causes of this damage
come from elevated levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides
in the blood, high blood pressure, tobacco smoke and Type 2
Diabetes.
Chronic elevations of glucose and insulin levels are classic
symptoms of Insulin Resistance, which is an underlying cause of
Metabolic Syndrome. One of the primary risk factors for
atherosclerosis is an elevated level of triglycerides. The
biggest risk factor, in turn, for increasing the production of
triglycerides is the rate of your insulin secretion.
As insulin comes in contact with the interior wall of the
arteries, it is caustic to the tissue, causing the initial
injury that produces plaque. As plaque builds up on the interior
wall of the arteries, the circumference of the arteries
decreases, thus increasing the pressure of the blood rushing
through the entire vascular system.
This complex interaction becomes a serious health concern
because as high blood pressure rises there is corresponding
damage to your cardiovascular system. Hypertension makes your
heart work harder than normal and, as a result, both the heart
and arteries are more prone to injury. High blood pressure
increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, eye
damage and congestive heart failure. If you have hypertension,
are obese, smoke or have high blood cholesterol levels or Type
2 Diabetes, your risk of heart attack or stroke goes up
dramatically.
 Untreated high blood pressure forces your heart to work harder
to pump enough blood and oxygen to your body's organs and
tissues. It also damages arteries and arterioles, the very small
arteries that connect larger arteries to tiny capillaries.
Arterial damage is a serious health issue because hardened or
narrowed arteries may not be able to supply enough blood to your
body's organs, thus reducing their ability to function properly.
In addition, plaque may dislodge from the sides of the artery
wall, forming a blockage in another part of your body and
causing a heart attack or stroke.
There are pharmaceuticals that can help lower pressure to nearer
normal blood pressure levels but there is currently no single
drug that will completely reverse Insulin Resistance or
Metabolic Syndrome. Instead, we feel you must rely on a multi-faceted
approach to improving these conditions.
What's needed to address the issues presented by these disorders
is a complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs
and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise
program combined with nutritional guidance and a support network
that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Click here to read about the new, scientifically-designed Insulite MetaX System,
which can help reduce hypertension (high blood pressure)
and the subsequent risk of a heart attack or stroke. The system includes numerous formulations,
such as RejuvenX, with ingredients like vitamin C, which can
reduce damage to arteries.
You may be interested in some of our Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) about Metabolic Syndrome and the Insulite
MetaX System.
Click here to read
about
Metabolic Syndrome(Syndrome X) and Heart Health
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