High Blood pressure
In cranial work - whether
cranial fluid dynamics [CFD], osteopathy in the cranial field or
craniosacral therapy [CST] practitioners have often had varied yet,
on the whole, positive results with regard to hypertension.
It is probable that most of us have little notion to actually
'tackle' high blood pressure, but in the consequent reorganization
of the cerebral fluid flow, the altered mechanism results in a
lowered overall blood pressure. It is known that blood pressure is
linked to cerebral spinal pressure, and as we lead much of our
lives within our thoughts it may be a contributory factor to
impeded blood flow within the cranium, mainly due to poor drainage
through the jugular foramen.
In CFD we have suggested that a number of causative processes occur
within the psyche of humankind that preempt high blood
pressure.
One is that we are so caught in our thinking that we may become
rigid and locked in our cleverness and this is ably illustrated by
the stasis and restriction found at the cranial base and the
rotatory dynamic between the occiput and the temporal bones, which
impedes their normal relationship, altering the jugular foramen
through which the major proportion of our returning blood exits the
brain. Just below the exit of the jugular vein are a series of
receptors - the baroreceptors - which monitor the returning
pressure of the exiting blood. Too low a pressure alerts the
angiotensin mechanism via the kidneys as the baroreceptors relay
the message that there is effectively too little blood exiting the
brain [low blood pressure] and thus ramps up angiotensin production
to fire the heart to pump more up into the cerebral
circuitry.
Interestingly several years ago researchers also found that in
Alzeihmer's cases the fluid flow in the ventricular spaces is
impeded suggesting that Alzeihmers may also be linked to poor flow
or return of the CSF;its general stasis within the ventricular
spaces may be contributory factor to the onset
Alzeihmers.
Recent studies [April 07]
have shown that stimulating parts of the brain with
electrodes can change a patient's blood pressure, researchers have
found.
Although this may seem a
drastic way to treat hypertension, the authors say it could help in
most extreme cases where conventional therapy has failed.
It also sheds light on where in the brain blood pressure is
controlled which could lead to new treatments.
The findings from Imperial College London and Oxford University are
published in Neuroreport.
It would initially only be warranted in those patients for whom
drug treatments just aren't working
Lead researcher Alexander
Green:
"The team of neurosurgeons and physiologists discovered the blood
pressure effects while fitting brain electrodes to 15 patients for
pain control.
Deep brain stimulation involves placing very thin electrodes on
very exact locations in the brain and is already used to relieve
pain and to help Parkinson's disease patients with their
movement."
The researchers found that they could make patients' blood pressure
increase or decrease by stimulating very specific regions of the
brain with the electrodes - the dorsal or ventral periventricular
and periaqueductal grey matter, respectively.
Lead author of the paper Alexander Green said: "Obviously, as this
is brain surgery, we have to proceed with great caution. It would
initially only be warranted in those patients for whom drug
treatments just aren't working."
New
therapies
"However, other research groups are
working on less invasive methods of stimulating exact locations in
the brain, for example using nanotechnology, and if this becomes
available then the treatment would be attractive to a much larger
number of people."
In the UK, about one in five people, at least 10 million, have high
blood pressure or hypertension.
Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart
Foundation, said: "It has been known for some time that the brain
can affect blood pressure.
"Although this research will help us understand better which parts
of the brain are involved in blood pressure control, it is unlikely
that this approach would be used to control high blood pressure in
most heart patients because we already have other effective and
well tolerated medicines are available to us.
"However, a very small number of patients have postural hypotension
- a fall in blood pressure upon standing up - which can be
debilitating and difficult to treat with existing medicines. This
research may open up new avenues to treat these heart
patients."
and
Blood pressure 'is in
the brain'
JAM-1 is located in the
walls of blood vessels in the brain
The cause of high blood pressure may lie within the brain, rather
than with problems relating to the heart, kidneys or blood vessels,
research suggests.
Scientists at Bristol
University say the findings could lead to new ways of treating the
condition, which affects about one in five Britons.
The scientists isolated a protein, JAM-1, which appeared to trap
white blood cells, obstructing blood flow.
This can cause inflammation and result in poor oxygen supply to the
brain.
Brain blood pressure
Professor Julian Paton and
colleagues believe these, in turn, trigger events that raise blood
pressure, the journal Hypertension reports.
The future challenge will be to understand the type of inflammation
within the vessels in the brain
Lead researcher Professor
Julian Pato
Their studies in rats show JAM-1 is linked to raised blood
pressure, but the exact mechanisms behind this are still unclear.
They are now looking at the human brain to understand more.
Professor Paton explained: "The future challenge will be to
understand the type of inflammation within the vessels in the
brain, so that we know what drug to use, and how to target
them.
"JAM-1 could provide us with new clues as to how to deal with this
disease.
"We are looking at the possibility of treating those patients that
fail to respond to conventional therapy for hypertension with drugs
that reduce blood vessel inflammation and increase blood flow
within the brain."
Drug target
Professor Jeremy Pearson of
the British Heart Foundation, which funded the latest work, said:
"This exciting study is important because it suggests there are
unexpected causes of high blood pressure related to blood supply to
the brain.
"It therefore opens up the possibility of new ways to treat this
common, but often poorly managed, condition."
It has been known for some time that the brain can affect blood
pressure.
A team of researchers, led by Neurosurgery expert Mr Alex Green of
Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, found they could make patients'
blood pressure increase or decrease by stimulating very specific
regions of the brain with electrodes.
Mr Green said the latest work was "very exciting" and that it
suggested JAM-1 could be a good target for new blood pressure
therapies.
Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of the Blood Pressure
Association, cautioned that the work was at a very early stage and
much more extensive research was needed.
He said blood pressure medicines currently prescribed by doctors
could be very effective, provided they were taken correctly and in
combination with leading a healthy lifestyle.
Although high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause
headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of
people with the condition do not display any noticeable
symptoms.
It can lead to heart attack, stroke and kidney damage, but
medication can be used to control its effects if changes to
lifestyle fail to lower blood pressure