Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Published online: 2007-01-24
New possibilities of non-drug therapy of arterial hypertension?
Jerzy Głuszek, Teresa Kosicka
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2007;11(1):66-70.
Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Kontrowersje
Published online: 2007-01-24
Abstract
The hyperactivity sympathetic nervous system has a significant
role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Factors that account for increase in sympathetic activity
are present not only in early and borderline hypertension
but also contribute to the maintenance of sustained hypertension.
Patients with borderline hypertension, particularly
when they are young, have a faster heart rate and hyperdynamic
circulation associated with increased levels of norepinephrine
in blood. Measurement of cardiac and kidney
catecholamine release revealed sympathetic overactivity
and microneurography showed revealed sympathetic nerve
activity in hypertensive humans. Moreover, several cardiovascular
and renal risk factors such as left ventricular
hypertrophy, disorders of cardiac rhythm, sudden death,
sodium and water reabsorption from proximal tubules frequently
associated with hypertension are etiologically
linked to sympathetic activation. The modification of lifestyle,
specially overweight reduction and increase of physical
activity diminishe sympathetic tone and reduce blood
pressure. Also slow breathing may reduce high blood pressure.
The recent studies have demonstrated that prolonged
baroreflex activation (by chronic electrical stimulation of
the afferent limb of the carotid baroreflex) reduced normal
and high blood pressure in experimental animals. Clinical
trials are now underway to evaluate the efficacy of this new
nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension.
Abstract
The hyperactivity sympathetic nervous system has a significant
role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Factors that account for increase in sympathetic activity
are present not only in early and borderline hypertension
but also contribute to the maintenance of sustained hypertension.
Patients with borderline hypertension, particularly
when they are young, have a faster heart rate and hyperdynamic
circulation associated with increased levels of norepinephrine
in blood. Measurement of cardiac and kidney
catecholamine release revealed sympathetic overactivity
and microneurography showed revealed sympathetic nerve
activity in hypertensive humans. Moreover, several cardiovascular
and renal risk factors such as left ventricular
hypertrophy, disorders of cardiac rhythm, sudden death,
sodium and water reabsorption from proximal tubules frequently
associated with hypertension are etiologically
linked to sympathetic activation. The modification of lifestyle,
specially overweight reduction and increase of physical
activity diminishe sympathetic tone and reduce blood
pressure. Also slow breathing may reduce high blood pressure.
The recent studies have demonstrated that prolonged
baroreflex activation (by chronic electrical stimulation of
the afferent limb of the carotid baroreflex) reduced normal
and high blood pressure in experimental animals. Clinical
trials are now underway to evaluate the efficacy of this new
nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension.
Keywords
nondrug therapy; sympathetic nervous system; baroreflex
Title
New possibilities of non-drug therapy of arterial hypertension?
Journal
Arterial Hypertension
Issue
Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
66-70
Published online
2007-01-24
Page views
605
Article views/downloads
1876
Bibliographic record
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2007;11(1):66-70.
Keywords
nondrug therapy
sympathetic nervous system
baroreflex
Authors
Jerzy Głuszek
Teresa Kosicka
About this article