Posted by Greg - National College of Naturopathic Medicine

Hypertension is primarily caused by environmental conditions (including
stress, diet, exercise level, exposures, etc.). Genetics can, at best,
account for some marginal predisposition to hypertension. The existence of
any "hypertension genes" do not, however, preclude anyone from receiving
benefit from non-drug- based hypertensive management programs.

Extensive literature demonstrates this.

Title
Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10.
Author
Langsjoen P; Langsjoen P; Willis R; Folkers K
Address
Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Texas at
Austin 78712, USA.
Source
Mol Aspects Med, 15 Suppl():S265-72 1994
Abstract
A total of 109 patients with symptomatic essential
hypertension presenting to a private cardiology practice
were observed after the addition of CoQ10 (average dose,
225 mg/day by mouth) to their existing antihypertensive
drug regimen. In 80 per cent of patients, the diagnosis of
essential hypertension was established for a year or more
prior to starting CoQ10 (average 9.2 years). Only one
patient was dropped from analysis due to noncompliance.
The dosage of CoQ10 was not fixed and was adjusted
according to clinical response and blood CoQ10 levels. Our
aim was to attain blood levels greater than 2.0
micrograms/ml (average 3.02 micrograms/ml on CoQ10).
Patients were followed closely with frequent clinic visits to
record blood pressure and clinical status and make
necessary adjustments in drug therapy. Echocardiograms
were obtained at baseline in 88% of patients and both at
baseline and during treatment in 39% of patients. A definite
and gradual improvement in functional status was observed
with the concomitant need to gradually decrease
antihypertensive drug therapy within the first one to six
months. Thereafter, clinical status and cardiovascular drug
requirements stabilized with a significantly improved
systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Overall New York
Heart Association (NYHA) functional class improved from
a mean of 2.40 to 1.36 (P < 0.001) and 51% of patients
came completely off of between one and three
antihypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after
starting CoQ10. Only 3% of patients required the addition
of one antihypertensive drug. In the 9.4% of patients with
echocardiograms both before and during treatment, we
observed a highly significant improvement in left
ventricular wall thickness and diastolic
function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The examples of this *one therapy* reducing hypertension go on and on. A
simple Medline search on "coenzyme Q10" and hypertension will produce a list.
Here a full 51% came off anti-hypertensive medication completely from just
*one* change.

If "essential hypertension" is heritable and, ergo (so Andrew Chung claims),
genetically based, and this 51% of 109 essential hypertension patients could
cease their drugs with just one supplement, that doesn't say much for the
power of genes to cause/maintain essential hypertension.

Coenzyme Q10 is hardly the only non-drug therapy which can decrease essential
(genetic?!) hypertension.

Title
Cardiovascular and endocrine effects of acupuncture in
hypertensive patients.
Author
Chiu YJ; Chi A; Reid IA
Address
Chiu General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Source
Clin Exp Hypertens, 19(7):1047-63 1997 Oct
Abstract
It has been reported that acupuncture can decrease blood pressure
in patients with hypertension, possibly by an endocrine
mechanism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
effects of acupuncture on arterial blood pressure and the secretion
of renin, vasopressin and cortisol in hypertensive patients.
Acupuncture was performed in fifty untreated essential
hypertensive patients resting in the supine position. Thirty min
after acupuncture there were decreases in systolic pressure from
169 +/- 2 to 151 +/- 2 mm Hg, diastolic pressure from 107 +/- 1 to
96 +/- 1 mm Hg, and heart rate from 77 +/- 2 to 72 +/- 2 bpm (P <
0.01). Plasma renin activity decreased from 1.7 +/- 0.4 to 1.1 +/-
0.2 ng/ml/2h (P < 0.01), but there were no significant changes in
plasma vasopressin or cortisol concentrations. These results
confirm that acupuncture decreases blood pressure in
hypertensive patients, and suggest that the decrease results, at least
in part, from a decrease in renin secretion.

Due to the way that studies have to be conducted in order to be "valid," who
knows how effective a full treatment plan which included not just one
supplement or just acupuncture, but other dietary changes or supplements,
relaxation (see below), and other therapies combined could be? In
naturopathic medical school we have this crazy idea drilled into our heads:
treat the patient, not the disease. A complete treatment program is fitted to
the unique circumstances of the individual.

Title
Sustained effects of biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy in
essential hypertension.
Author
McGrady A; Nadsady PA; Schumann-Brzezinski C
Address
Department of Physiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo
43699-0008.
Source
Biofeedback Self Regul, 16(4):399-411 1991 Dec
Abstract
The usefulness of biofeedback-assisted relaxation as an adjunct or
substitute for pharmacotherapy in essential hypertension can be
enhanced if the effects are shown to persist after formal treatment
has ended... It appears that some patients
trained in biofeedback-assisted relaxation can maintain lowered
blood pressure, muscle tension, anxiety, and cortisol levels over the
long term; however, the role of relaxation practice in maintaining
these lowered levels remains unclear.

Using one's noggin to overcome a genetically-rooted condition: who dares call
it mind over matter?

There is *no evidence* that hypertension cannot be adequately treated (at
least in the majority of cases) through non-drug-based treatments. If
essential hypertension is genetic, then those genes are very responsive to
non-drug treatments. Again, no one is claiming that *every* case of
hypertension can be completely controlled without anti-hypertensive
medication, but there is significant evidence that the majority can be, even
if that majority is, as Mr. Chung believes, genetically based.

Greg
National College of Naturopathic Medicine

Follow Ups:

• the hypertensives i communicate with, and i, do not share these views jwwright
  • Not all Hypertension is the same Greg - National College of Naturopathic Medicine
    • Re: Not all Hypertension is the same bernice
    • Re: Not all Hypertension is the same WILL

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