Old Zhang's daughter-in-law wondered: eating folic acid can lower blood pressure?
Old Zhang's daughter-in-law had dizziness and poor sleep due to high blood pressure, and after going to the hospital for treatment, the doctor suggested eating folic acid.
In the concept of lao Zhang's daughter-in-law: folic acid is for pregnant women. Last year, the eldest daughter-in-law became pregnant, and the doctor suggested eating 0.4mg of folic acid every day, and also let the daily eating of things containing more folic acid can help the baby develop.
Later, the old Zhang daughter-in-law asked an acquaintance to find an expert from the Provincial Second Hospital for inspection. The advice given after the examination of the expert is: have H-type hypertension and need to take folic acid.
Experts explain that H-type hypertension is associated with atherosclerosis and increases the risk of stroke. Eating folic acid can reduce the risk of stroke.
Is it that many people and old Zhang's daughter-in-law understand folic acid as "eating folic acid when pregnant"? How to eat folic acid for high blood pressure? Like 5mg just eat a tablet? Listen specifically to what the experts have to say.
1. Folate small class
1. What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a synthetic form of water-soluble B vitamins that occur naturally in food. Foods that are naturally rich in folic acid include green leafy vegetables, okra, asparagus, fruits, legumes, yeast, mushrooms, meats, orange juice, and tomato juice. It is also used to supplement nutrition and some foods such as rice, bread, etc.
Folic acid is used to prevent and treat folate deficiency and its complications, including anemia and the inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients properly. Folic acid is also used for other disorders commonly associated with folate deficiency, including ulcerative colitis, liver disease, alcoholism, and kidney dialysis.
2. The role of folic acid
Folic acid is necessary for the normal development of the human body. It is involved in the production of DNA's genetic material and many other bodily functions.
Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and "neural tube defects", that is, birth defects such as spina bifida that occur when the spine and back of the fetus do not close during development.
Women also take folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent other complications, such as elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, and to improve the growth and development of children.
Some people use folic acid to prevent various types of cancer, including colon or cervical cancer, as well as to alleviate nerve pain in people with diabetes. It is also used to prevent heart disease and stroke, as well as to lower the amount of a chemical called homocysteine in the blood.
If the patient has difficulty taking folic acid orally, it is sometimes injected with a needle to prevent and treat folate deficiency. Needle injections of folic acid are also used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, a chronic fever, pain and tiredness.
Taking folic acid can improve folate deficiency, reduce nausea and vomiting that may occur with methotrexate treatment, and reduce homocysteine levels by 20 to 30 percent. Taking folic acid with other vitamins reduces the risk of age-related vision loss.
It is said that taking folic acid and antidepressants can improve the symptoms of depressed patients and improve the symptoms of vitiligo. However, there is no particularly clear conclusion to support the medical evidence.
Applying folic acid to the gums seems to improve gum disease during pregnancy. However, oral folic acid does not seem to improve the symptoms of this condition.
3. Side effects of folic acid
For most people, folic acid is safer when taken or injected into the body. Most adults do not experience any side effects when using doses of less than 1 mg per day.
Long-term high-dose oral folic acid may not be safe. High doses of folic acid may cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, rashes, sleep disturbances, irritability, confusion, nausea, stomach upset, behavioral changes, skin reactions, seizures, flatulence, excitement, and other side effects.
Some studies have shown that taking folic acid in doses of 0.8 mg to 1.2 mg may increase the risk of heart attacks in patients with heart disease. People with a history of cancer should avoid taking high doses of folic acid, as taking 0.8 mg to 1 mg of folic acid per day may increase the risk of cancer.
Other studies have shown that people with narrow arteries do not recommend oral or injection of folic acid, which may worsen the narrowed arteries. Taking high-dose folic acid supplements may increase the risk of seizures, lung cancer, or prostate cancer in people with epilepsy.
2. Hypertension and folic acid
1. Understand high blood pressure
Defined as hypertension when the average arterial blood pressure on a normal day is 130/80 mmhg or higher. High blood pressure gradually damages the walls of the aortic and arterioles and causes the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. High blood pressure is a common health problem.
Hypertension, a major modifier risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is fairly common in adults. Maintaining blood pressure at optimal levels reduces the risk of vascular damage, which helps prevent diseases such as stroke, heart attack, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and worsening chronic kidney disease.
Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine to cysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been recognized as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of plasma lipid levels or other factors.
Recent studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for arteriosclerosis, involving the coronary arteries, brain, and peripheral arteries.
Elevated homocysteinemia reduces vasodilation caused by nitric oxide, increases oxidative stress, stimulates the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and alters the elastic properties of the vascular wall. Therefore, an increase in the plasma level of homocysteine leads to oxidative damage to the endothelium.
A growing body of clinical evidence also suggests elevated plasma total homocysteine levels in patients with essential hypertension or end-stage renal disease. Elevated homocysteinemia can be corrected by taking vitamins B12 and B6 plus folic acid. This is only a useful adjunctive treatment for hypertension.
2. Causes of folate deficiency
Folic acid, along with vitamin B12 and vitamin C, helps the body break down, use and make new proteins. Vitamins help form red and white blood cells. It also helps produce DNA, which is an integral part of the human body, carrying genetic information.
Folic acid is water-soluble, which means it is not stored in the body's adipose tissue. The remaining vitamins are excreted through the urine. Since folic acid is not stored in large amounts in the body, only after a few weeks of eating a low-folic acid diet, your blood levels will decrease, a condition that may occur.
Diseases of malabsorption of folic acid in the digestive system, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and eating overcooked fruits and vegetables. Folic acid is easily destroyed by heat, and folate deficiency can be caused by hemolytic anemia, unhealthy diet, less consumption of fruits and vegetables, and kidney dialysis.
3. How to eat folic acid?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that hypertensive women who took folic acid were able to significantly lower their blood pressure.
In another study, hypertensive adults with low platelet counts took a combination of enalapril and folic acid daily compared to patients who took only enalapril daily. The risk of a first stroke was reduced by 73 percent.
The researchers say folic acid is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure by helping blood vessels relax and improve blood flow. Previous studies have shown that a diet rich in folic acid can improve blood pressure.
It is estimated that more than 200 million people on the mainland suffer from high blood pressure. Because the risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age. Just as women of childbearing age are advised to take vitamins containing folic acid to reduce the risk of birth defects, folic acid supplementation has become an urgent need in preventing high blood pressure.
If you are unsure whether homocysteine levels are elevated, you can go to the hospital for a serum homocysteine test. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is a chemical used by the body to make proteins. Homocysteine tests can help you know if you are deficient in folic acid.
It is recommended that patients with corrected elevated homocysteinemia take folic acid in an amount of 0.4 to 0.8 mg / day, which can meet the needs of the body and generally do not have other side effects.
It is especially necessary to pay attention to the dosage when taking folic acid. If the doctor prescribes you 5mg folic acid tablets, please take them exactly according to the dosage required by the doctor, for example, you can divide the 5mg folic acid tablets into 4-8 small tablets, and take small tablets at a time.
Because of individual differences, your doctor may ask you to take a certain dose of folic acid every day when prescribing folic acid, or you may ask you to take a certain dose only on certain days of the week, and be sure to follow your doctor's advice. For convenience, you can make memos, which help you remember to take your medication regularly.
There is no special tip for taking folic acid before or after meals. If you would like to learn more about taking folic acid yourself, you can pay attention to the more information provided on the manufacturer's printed information sheet inside the package.
If you forget to take it on the same day, take it immediately after remembering. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the number of times and dosages you forgot. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for missed doses.
During the storage of folic acid, be sure to keep folic acid out of reach of children; Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Third, the relationship between high blood pressure and diet has to be said
By changing your eating habits, including counting calories and servings, you may be able to lower your blood pressure and reduce the medications you need to control your high blood pressure. It's also the most proven way to help control high blood pressure.
These changes can also help you lose weight and reduce your chances of heart disease and stroke. The recommended international diet for reducing blood pressure is: low-salt diet to stop high blood pressure.
A low-salt diet is rich in important nutrients and fiber. Compared to the typical Chinese diet, it also includes foods that are higher in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and lower in sodium (salt). Its effect on blood pressure can sometimes appear within a few weeks.
A low-salt diet limits sodium to no more than the standard 2300 mg per day, or even lower than 1500 mg. This reduces saturated fat to no more than 6% of calories per day and total fat to 27% of daily calories.
The following foods can be selected to lower systolic blood pressure: low-fat dairy products, monounsaturated oils such as olive oil or rapeseed oil, whole grains instead of white or pasta products, fresh fruits and vegetables, foods rich in potassium and fiber, nuts, seeds and soy products, fish, peeled poultry.
Garlic helps lower blood pressure. Garlic has been shown to help reduce inflammation. Adding flavor to food with garlic also helps reduce salt, which also helps lower blood pressure.
Moderate amounts of alcohol have also been shown to help lower blood pressure. Women should not exceed one cup a day, while men should not exceed two cups a day. Keep in mind that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Still, drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol can interfere with certain medications and may increase your risk of other chronic diseases, including certain cancers and osteoporosis. Consult your doctor as appropriate for drinking alcohol and drink appropriately as directed by your physician.
summary
When you choose low-sodium foods and beverages, you may not adapt at first, you need to give your taste some time to adjust, you can choose vanilla, herbs and other auxiliary items to adjust.
While folic acid supplementation is an important part of a healthy high blood pressure diet, it is only one component. A healthy diet is one of the most important ways to prevent high blood pressure.
Hypertension remains the number one killer on the continent and around the world, and while there is no cure, the death rate has dropped significantly. Using medications and making lifestyle changes as prescribed can improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of related diseases, making your life better tomorrow.