Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 HEALTH
Thursday 7 June 2018
Treating Blood Pressure Problems

[hypertension]

Clinically, I have found that there are many hypertension, high blood pressure.
reasons that produce high blood pressure, With low, weak blood or low blood sugar,
weak blood, or anemia, high cholesterol, pre- hypoglycemia, the body tightens or constricts
diabetes, stress, tight blood vessels or liver the blood vessels to increase oxygen and
problems. Fortunately, we can treat many of glucose movement. Constriction of the blood
the different reasons that develop hypertension vessels is the body’s way to raise the blood
with natural dietary supplements made from pressure. By narrowing the passage in the
organic food. blood vessels, blood flows more slowly to the
Low blood count reduces your blood’s organs and the arms and legs. I prescribe Biotin
ability to carry oxygen through your body. supplementation to reduces systolic blood
To compensate, your heart starts beating pressure by helping arteries be smoother and
faster and stronger. Blood pressure rises. The able to relax more. Mari Watanabe-Kamiyama
human body needs vitamin B12 to make red reported in the British Journal of Nutrition that
blood cells, nerves, DNA, and carry out other biotin has beneficial effects on hypertension
functions. The average adult should get 2.4 and the frequency of stroke.
micrograms a day. Like most vitamins, B12 Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that help
can’t be made by the body. Instead, it must the body convert food into energy.
be gotten from food or supplements. In older The word biotin comes from the ancient
people, B12 deficiency has been linked to Greek word “biotos,” which means “life” or
dementia. This deficiency has also been linked “sustenance.” B vitamins, and specifically
to other neurodegenerative disorders such as biotin, help keep your skin, hair, eyes, liver, and
multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. nervous system healthy. Biotin is also a crucial
By: Dr. Carlos Viana Individuals who experience even slightly nutrient during pregnancy, as it’s important for
reduced levels of vitamin B12 also embryonic growth.
Hypertension, high blood pressure is a risk factor tend to have elevated homocysteine When a new patient has blood pressure of 140
associated with heart attacks and strokes. levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid used over 90 or more, I do a blood test to check for
Blood pressure readings involve two number, normally by the body in making energy and Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). The National
one above the other. The top number, which is making muscles. Elevated concentrations in Diabetes Information Clearinghouse reports
also the higher of the two numbers, measures the blood are thought to increase the risk for high blood sugar contributes to high blood
the pressure in the arteries when the heart heart disease by damaging the lining of blood pressure. One of the proposed uses of the
beats, that is, when the heart muscle contracts. vessels and increasing the risk of blood clot herb milk thistle is to lower blood sugar levels,
The top number is called the Systolic number. formation. Always make sure you are taking a B which may ultimately cause a decrease in
The bottom number, the Diastolic, which is also complex with your B 12 or other B’s. They work blood pressure. Mayo Clinic states animal and
the lower of the two numbers, measures the best together. laboratory research found milk thistle may be
pressure in the arteries between heartbeats When I studied and worked as a Traditional capable of lowering high cholesterol levels. If this
(when the heart muscle is resting between Chinese Medical doctor in Shanghai one of our is true, milk thistle may help lower blood pressure
beats and refilling with blood). principle natural medicines was rice that had a by eliminating excessive cholesterol within the
I consider abnormal blood pressure to be more yeast or fungus growing on the grains. The yeast arteries. For centuries natural physicians have
than 140/90. Like an overinflated tire or balloon, called Monascus purpureus, turns the rice a red used milk thistle to help the liver detoxify.
that can rupture, a burst blood vessel in the color. Called Red yeast rice, it has a long history Get the Point! Years ago, nutritionists would take
brain causes a stroke and in the heart blood of use as both a food and a medicine in China. your blood pressure, have you eat one food and
vessels that are blocked or broken can cause Red yeast rice contains natural monacolin K, check your blood pressure ten minutes later. If
a heart attack. When the largest artery in the which has properties very similar to cholesterol- your blood pressure rose more than ten points,
body, the aorta, is torn or ruptured, traumatic lowering prescription medications known as that food was considered to be intolerant, or
aortic rupture is a life- threatening condition. statins. Besides helping the liver convert the not good for you. The food – blood pressure
Blood pressure problems should not be ignored cholesterol into a healthier bile, clinical tests connection is well established. Thankfully, we
and should instead, if possible, be treated with have looked at the benefits of red yeast rice to can use natural food dietary supplements to
natural supplements. treat other cardiovascular disorders, including help control our blood pressure naturally. q

Sensera’s MEMS Mimic Human Organs Through Bioengineering

Associated Press providing critical micro- living human cells.” vides molds to manufac- ers engaged in this technol-
WOBURN--Sensera Inc., a device component fab- “These hollow, microfluidic ture the polymeric mem- ogy.” “Sensera has been
leading provider of MEMS rication, which enables channels carry fluids in a branes that are assembled able to deliver consistent
devices, is adapting its our growing applications way that accurately mim- in the organ-on-a-chip mi- quality while meeting chal-
technology for new appli- in precision medicine and ics various functions of the crofluidic devices. Ralph lenging specifications,” Dr.
cations in bioengineering. personalized health,” said human body, including the Schmitt, CEO of Sensera Novak added. The success
The company’s MEMS, or Dr. Richard Novak, Senior respiratory, circulatory and Inc., said, “Manufacturing of Sensera’s involvement
MicroElectroMechanical Staff Engineer at Harvard digestive systems. Mechan- these molds is a new chal- in the microfluidic device
Systems, technology is now University’s Wyss Institute for ical forces can be applied lenge for us. We’ve had to market is supported by the
being used at Harvard Uni- Biologically Inspired Engi- to emulate the physical mi- adapt our traditional MEMS fact that it is ISO 9001 certi-
versity in the creation of neering. “These microchips, croenvironments of living processes and implement fied and is working towards
microfluidic devices, which called ‘organs-on-chips’, organs, including breath- a very stringent quality its ISO 13485 certification.
mimic the functions of living offer a potential alterna- ing motions in the lung and management system that “These types of MEMS-
human organs, including tive to traditional animal peristalsis-like deformations meets the demands of based products are excit-
the lung, intestine, kidney, testing. Each organ-on- in the intestine,” Dr. Novak biomedical applications. ing,” Schmitt said. “It’s a
skin, bone marrow and chip comprises a polymeric explained. Through our collaboration high-growth market space
blood-brain barrier. membrane that contains For Wyss Institute and other with the Wyss Institute, we in precision medical tech-
“Sensera is a key partner hollow channels lined by customers, Sensera pro- now have multiple custom- nology. q