Possible harm to kidneys from blood pressure medication: an exploration?
It's a confident gamble to guess you've got high blood pressure, but, unfortunately, you clicked on the wrong article if you're hoping for a consolation.
It's a common issue, though, as millions worldwide struggle with this chronic ailment. And if you are among them, you're not just courting Heart attacks, strokes, dementia, aneurysms, or even hearing loss, but also kidney damage from your beloved meds.
Yes, you read that right. Take a deep breath and hang on tight, as things are about to get a bit complex.
Let's move back to the beginning, shall we? There are these cells in your kidneys called renin cells. In normal circumstances, they work diligently to regulate blood pressure, but they can only do so much when blood pressure remains high for extended periods.
Eventually, renin cells cannot keep up with the constant compensation, and things go awry. High blood pressure leads to adverse changes in renin cells, causing them to invade the walls of your kidney's blood vessels, making them thick and stiff. Result? Blood no longer flows freely through your kidneys, and the dreaded dialysis looms on the horizon.
Here's the twist, though. These blood pressure drugs you rely on to keep your blood pressure in check could instigate the very same harmful changes in renin cells that high blood pressure does. In fact, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine discovered that long-term use of blood pressure medications, including the commonly used ACE inhibitors, was associated with hardened kidney vessels in both lab mice and humans.
In essence, overusing blood pressure medications for an extended period can lead to severe kidney damage.
So, what can you do? Don't stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor, as they'll likely have another pill or pill combination to recommend. If, however, you're intrigued by the concept of committing to real changes that could transform your health, there are a few natural steps you might consider:
- Bid adieu to gluten, as it may trigger inflammation that can exacerbate high blood pressure issues.
- Include yogurt in your diet, as studies have linked even small amounts of yogurt to lower blood pressure.
- Get moving, and regular exercise has been consistently shown to be the most effective tool to lower blood pressure.
- Consider boosting your fiber intake, as consumption of more dietary fiber can help in lowering blood pressure.
- Take some self-care time, to reduce stress and relax the nerves affecting your arterial wall muscles.
- Try supplements, like these four blood-pressure supporting supplements, which have strong backing from research for promoting healthy blood pressure.
- High blood pressure can lead to chronic medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, dementia, aneurysms, hearing loss, and kidney damage, and it may also result in thick and stiff kidney blood vessels due to the invasion of renin cells, causing restrictions in blood flow.
- Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have found that long-term use of blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors can also lead to hardening of kidney vessels in both lab mice and humans.
- To potentially transform your health and mitigate high blood pressure issues, consider natural steps such as eliminating gluten from your diet, including yogurt in your meals, engaging in regular exercise, increasing fiber intake, reducing stress levels, and taking blood pressure supplements with research-backed benefits.
- If you're prone to inflammation due to high blood pressure, reducing gluten consumption may help alleviate symptoms, while incorporating yogurt, regular exercise, a high-fiber diet, stress management techniques, and nutritional supplements can all contribute to improved brain health, fitness and exercise routines, and overall wellness.
