What is Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure / Kidney / Heart / Nitric Oxide

To survive and function properly, your tissues and organs need the oxygenated blood that your circulatory system carries throughout the body. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped blood vessels, which include arteries, veins and capillaries. This pressure — blood pressure — is the result of two forces:

The first force (systolic pressure) occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system.

The second force (diastolic pressure) is created as the heart rests between heart beats. These two forces are each represented by numbers in a blood pressure reading.

Your blood pressure numbers and what they mean

Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers:

Systolic blood pressure (the first number) – indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart contracts.

Diastolic blood pressure (the second number) – indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart muscle is resting between contractions.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when your blood pressure, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high.

Which number is more important?

Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure (the first number) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term buildup of plaque and an increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.

However, either an elevated systolic or an elevated diastolic blood pressure reading may be used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

How High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Kidney Damage or Failure

How your kidneys work

• Your kidneys are located on either side of your back. Their main function is to maintain the balance of water and minerals in the body. They also act as a filter system that removes waste products and excess fluid from the body.
• Your kidneys and circulatory system depend on each other for good health.
• Each of your kidneys is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process: the glomerulus filters your blood, and the tubule returns needed substances to your blood and removes wastes.
• The nephrons in the kidneys are supplied with a dense network of blood vessels, and high volumes of blood flow through them.
• When the blood vessels become damaged, the nephrons that filter your blood don’t receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function well. Then the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood and regulate the fluid, hormones, acids and salts in the body.
• This is why high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure.
• Healthy kidneys respond to a hormone called aldosterone which is produced in the adrenal glands, to help the body regulate blood pressure.
• Protect your kidneys by managing your blood pressure.

How High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Heart Failure

Is there a link between HBP and heart failure?

• Heart failure, a condition in which your heart is unable to provide enough blood to the body, can happen quickly or take years to develop. The thickening and/or stiffening of the heart’s walls, as well as narrowing and constriction of blood vessels caused by high blood pressure, are the most common non-cardiac causes of heart failure.
• High blood pressure adds to your heart’s workload: Narrowed arteries that are less elastic make it more difficult for blood to travel efficiently throughout your body. This causes your heart to work harder.
• Over time, a higher workload leads to an enlarged heart: To cope with increased demands, the heart thickens and becomes larger. While it’s still able to pump blood, it becomes less efficient. The larger the heart becomes, the harder it works to meet your body’s demands for oxygen and nutrients.

Nitric Oxide in the Body: Functions, Effects, and Dangers

• Nitric oxide is a simple molecule with big effects inside our body. Many biological molecules have a complex structure, but nitric oxide contains just two atoms—a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom—and has the formula NO. It’s sometimes called nitrogen monoxide.
• Nitric Oxide has many important biological functions. It relaxes the walls of blood vessels, which causes vasodilation (widening of the vessels). This allows more blood to flow into the heart and other organs. It also acts as a signaling molecule between nerve cells. In addition, it plays an important role in our immune system and helps it to fight infections.
• Nitric oxide is useful in the very low concentrations found in the body but is dangerous in high concentrations. It’s an interesting substance that can be a friend or a foe.
• Nitric oxide must NOT be confused with nitrous oxide, which is commonly known as laughing gas. A nitrous oxide molecule contains two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen one. It acts as an anesthetic and isn’t a normal component of our body.

Role of NO in the Circulatory System

• Nitric oxide in blood plays a vital role in keeping our circulatory system healthy. It causes vessels to widen and open up, allowing large quantities of blood to be transported through them. Blood without NO doesn’t cause vessels to expand. This means that the blood can’t flow as easily through the vessels.
• Nitric oxide also lowers blood pressure. We have some control over this action via the food that we eat. A diet high in leafy green vegetables and beets (or beetroot) is known to lower high blood pressure. These vegetables are a good source of nitrates. Inside the body, the nitrates are converted to nitrites. The nitrites are converted to nitric oxide. This chemical then expands blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure.
• The body also makes NO from an amino acid called L-arginine, which we produce in our body. L-arginine is present at a good level in many foods that are a rich source of protein, include some meats, fish, dairy, certain legumes (or pulses), and some nuts and seeds. Proteins are made of amino acids.
• Best Foods to Boost Nitric Oxide Levels
• Beets – Beets are rich in dietary nitrates, which your body can convert to nitric oxide.
• Garlic – Garlic can boost nitric oxide levels by activating nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that aids in the conversion of nitric oxide from the amino acid L-arginine
• Meat – Meat, poultry and seafood are all excellent sources of coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 — an important compound believed to help preserve nitric oxide in the body
• Leafy Greens – Leafy green vegetables like spinach, arugula, kale and cabbage are packed with nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide in your body
• Citrus Fruits – Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit are all excellent sources of vitamin C, an important water-soluble vitamin that plays a central role in health
• Pomegranate – Pomegranate is loaded with potent antioxidants that can protect your cells against damage and preserve nitric oxide.
• Nuts and Seeds – Nuts and seeds are high in arginine, a type of amino acid that is involved in the production of nitric oxide.
• Watermelon – Watermelon is one of the best sources of citrulline, an amino acid that’s converted to arginine and, ultimately, nitric oxide in your body. Note – Adulteration in Watermelon is high, thus not suggested. Oval Shape watermelons are simple sign of adulterated whereas round indicates natural growth.

This article or information is just for knowledge and sourced from internet.