The Causes Of High Blood Pressure - Part 2

Another important point is where the scarring takes place. Usually it is found that where the finer arteries are affected, arterial rupture is common. This is always a weak point in the arterial system, that is, the distal parts of the body, and if any part is going to collapse it will be in this area, unless, of course, there has been tremendous strain on one of the larger arteries. This is one of the reasons why cerebral haemorrhage is so common as an end-result of high blood-pressure. The very small arteries in the brain area become hardened and cannot stand the strain, with the result that blood leaks through the arterial wall in a way that should not be possible, gradually impinging on the brain substance and causing nervous reactions due to pressure.

Impurity or toxaemia within the bloodstream does not always attack the walls of the arteries but affects the nervous system of these vessels. This is rather difficult to understand, but it means that in certain cases the nervous system is more sensitive than it should be and is easily upset by blood changes.

There are, of course, many forms of toxaemia -- that is, poisons arising from impurities within our systems --and these were. specially numerous after the last war, as a result of the poor quality of food. The result was that most of us took unnatural substances into our bodies, and these poisons upset the nerve endings. This often means, in cases of high blood-pressure, that the nerves controlling the muscles of the arteries become irritated. Our arteries have three muscular coats, and the nerves controlling the circular coat often become over-stimulated and the artery contracts. This contraction may be intermittent or it may always be present, but when it occurs, then the blood-pressure rises beyond the normal.

It is usually found in practice that a nervous contraction due to over-stimulation of these muscles is not so difficult to remove as other causes of high blood-pressure. The irritation may be due to defective teeth, septic appendix, dirty bowel, ineffective kidneys, excessive consumption of tea or coffee or excessive smoking. If the cause of this contraction can be determined, then its removal, combined with a balanced diet, will usually bring about a very satisfactory result. On the other hand, if no cause can be discovered and yet there is definite poor circulation combined with high blood-pressure, this must be termed essential high blood-pressure.

The cause of this trouble lies within the glandular system and is very difficult to determine, but general Nature Cure treatment will allow the body to create its own conditions of cure and bring about a removal of these symptoms. There are, of course, certain emotional causes that bring about a general nervous contraction and a slowing down of the actions of the body, but it is seldom that this general nervousness is so concentrated that it reduces the capacity of the artery. It is much more likely that the arterial nervous system is in direct contact with some impurity that is causing the trouble, and it is along these lines that the cure should be sought.

The last of the main causes of high blood-pressure is over-working of the kidneys. In health, the kidneys act as strainers of the blood and remove water, uric acid, urea and various other salts. When they are working correctly the blood is not allowed to become too concentrated or thickened in any way, but when they are affected the blood is not cleared as it should be and there are, of course, various detrimental substances retained in this fluid.

A sluggish bloodstream means that the circulation is impaired, and with a slow flow, irritation of the walls of the arteries becomes common. Many of the impurities that thicken the bloodstream are actual irritants to the inner lining of the artery, and this in turn sets up some form of inflammation. Here we have a vicious circle, because when inflammation is present the arteries of the kidneys are commonly affected and their efficiency is further reduced.

Kidney weakness is a very common cause of high blood-pressure, and it is mainly caused by over-indulgence in tea, coffee, alcohol and condiments. These substances, if taken in excess, set up an irritation inside the very fine structure of the kidneys and ultimately disturb the blood-pressure. Of all the substances detrimental to kidney action, excessive tea-drinking is the most dangerous, although it is fairly closely followed by the extravagant use of coffee. Tea subjected to prolonged brewing is especially harmful, but when it is quickly infused and receives a small addition of milk it is not so dangerous, because the tannin is precipitated. Anyone who suffers from any type of kidney ailment, particularly if there is some disturbance of the blood-pressure, should stop drinking tea.