Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against arterial walls. The normal blood pressure value of an adult male is approximately 120/80. The lower number represents diastolic pressure, or the pressure during ventricular relaxation, whereas the higher number is systolic pressure, or the pressure generated during contraction of ejection of blood from the heart. Mean arterial blood pressure is determined by cardiac output and total vascular resistance. Four specific minerals regulate blood pressure via hormonal and cellular mechanisms. An imbalance of any of these crucial minerals poses a serious threat to the overall function of the heart.
Calcium
Calcium is the mineral that is primarily responsible for contraction of the heart during systole. The amount of calcium present in the blood is a critical part of regulating heartbeat and blood pressure. Maintaining adequate levels of calcium has been shown to result in lower blood pressure. Calcium is stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Once electrical impulses signal the release of calcium, calcium is released in the cell, causing it to contract.
Magnesium
While calcium is required for contraction, magnesium is needed for relaxation and is also a key mineral in regulating blood pressure. According to Health Central, magnesium is a powerful vasodilator, enabling vessels to increase in diameter and relax for smooth blood flow. Additionally, magnesium regulates levels of calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Potassium
Potassium is another mineral that is needed for muscular contraction and ultimately helps regulate blood pressure. While approximately 98 percent of potassium is contained inside cells, small changes in levels of potassium outside the cells can have adverse effects on the heart. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "Keeping the right potassium balance in the body depends on the amount of sodium and magnesium in the blood."
Sodium
The most notorious of the minerals when it comes to blood pressure is sodium, or salt. Increased levels or intake of sodium induces arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, "Because sodium is the primary determinant of extracellular fluid volume, including blood volume, a number of physiological mechanisms that regulate blood volume and blood pressure work by adjusting the body's sodium content."
