One of the greatest challenges in the world today is aging. It is often said you can fight it, you can postpone it or even try to run away from it, but when it catches up with you, then there is no escaping. Many people are concerned about getting old for the mere reason of losing their beauty and appearance. However, there is the health-conscious group that would fight aging owing to the health challenges it poses. One of the major health risks of aging is high blood pressure, a condition medically referred to as hypertension.
Relationship between High Blood Pressure and Old Age
Cases of high blood pressure among the elderly are higher as compared to the younger population. Some of the reasons that contribute to this trend include the following;
- Increased stress level – As people grow old, there is often a general increase in the level of stress and anxiety caused by various life challenges. Some of these challenges are often family and finance related, and they basically contribute to increased stress levels which in turn leads to hypertension.
- Chronic conditions – High blood pressure among the older generations may be influenced by certain chronic conditions. These conditions are often brought about by a long-term accumulation of cholesterol in the body as a result of unchecked lifestyles. Some of these conditions may also be caused by multiple organ failure. Chronic kidney disease, diabetes and obesity are just but some of the conditions that characterize high blood pressure among the aged.
- Blood vessel damage – As people age, considerable damage happens to body organs, of which blood vessels is part. This is due to the fact that blood vessels develop more connective tissues as one grows older. The vessels then get damaged as a result of the fibrotic nature of these tissues, thereby resulting in hypertension.
The Role of Nitric Acid in High Blood Pressure Regulation
Among the many uses of nitric acid in the body is its role in smoothing and relaxation of the endothelium of the blood vessels. It is key when it comes to blood pressure regulation. This function often results in vasodilation and increased blood flow, which in turn improves blood circulation around the body, thus guarding against high blood pressure.
As we grow old, however, we lose as much as 85% nitric acid production. This is often due to the reduced rate of metabolism in the body which means less oxidation of nitrogen gas into nitrogen oxide. As a result, the body becomes exposed to high blood pressure.
For the very fact it controls the rate of blood pressure, nitrogen oxide is a compound whose production in the body should therefore be controlled. One of the natural ways of controlling the production of this compound is by taking nitrogen oxide-boosting supplements.
Beet root is highly recommended. This is because it contains naturally-occurring nitrates, and the fact that it is consumed raw as salad makes it more effective in releasing the nutrients into the body.
As aging is inevitable, so are its challenges. However, as far as hypertension goes, we are all in agreement that it can be managed, especially with the knowledge that the level of nitrogen oxide, which plays a vital role in controlling it, can actually be increased and better yet, naturally by use of natural supplements like beet root.
References
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/high-blood-pressure
http://hubpages.com/health/How-to-naturally-raise-Nitric-Oxide
http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20131218/new-blood-pressure-guidelines-raise-the-bar-for-taking-medications
Leave a Reply