Hypertension, known as high blood pressure, affect approximately one-third of all adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As one of the main risk factors for heart disease -- the leading cause of death -- doctors urge patients to take measure to lower their blood pressure. The term lipid refers to a diverse group of organic molecules in the human body with the common characteristic of insolubility in water. Several types of lipids can affect your blood pressure by either causing it to become high or by helping it to remain low.
Hypertension
To understand the effect of lipids on hypertension you must first understand about hypertension. Doctors measure blood pressure, the force of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels, as a way of monitoring the health of the cardiovascular system which includes the heart and the blood vessels. As blood pressure increases, it can cause damage to the walls of the blood vessels and place added strain on the heart, which can lead to heart disease. Doctors encourage patients to maintain a blood pressure of less than 120 mmHg for systolic and less than 80 mmHg for diastolic. When the systolic pressure increases to greater than 140 mmHg or the diastolic pressure increases to greater than 90 mmHg, doctors provide a diagnosis of hypertension. Although some cases of hypertension occur as a result of another disease, like kidney disease, doctors cannot pinpoint the specific cause of the condition. The presence of certain types of lipids may contribute to high blood pressure.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is classified as a lipid due to its waxy coating, which makes it insoluble in water. Cells within the body, mostly in the liver, produce approximately 75 percent of the total cholesterol in your body. For the cholesterol to reach the cells it must travel through the blood. Since it cannot mix in the blood it binds to specialized proteins known as lipoproteins, also produced by the liver cells. Low-density lipoprotein carries most of the cholesterol from the liver through the blood to be delivered to cells that use the cholesterol to add structure to the cell membranes or to stimulate the production of hormones. High-density lipoprotein picks up excess cholesterol from the tissues in the body and carries it back to the liver where it gets broken down and excreted. Many patients suffer from both high blood cholesterol and hypertension but it is difficult to determine which occurs first. High blood pressure causes damage to the blood vessel walls and excess cholesterol accumulates at these areas of damage. The buildup of cholesterol restricts the flow of blood, which causes blood pressure to increase.
Triglycerides
The food you eat, including carbohydrates, fats and protein, contains calories. Your body uses calories as a source of energy. Your body converts any unused calories into triglycerides, a type of lipid, which get stored in the fat cells for use later. Consistently eating more calories than you body needs can cause high triglyceride levels. Like cholesterol, your body transports triglycerides using the lipoproteins. Although the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, MayoClinic.com reports that high triglyceride levels can contribute to atherosclerosis, a condition that causes the blood vessels to lose their elasticity and become thick and hard. Blood cannot as easily move through hardened arteries, so the heart must pump more forcefully, increasing blood pressure, to propel the blood.
Fatty Acids
A fatty acid is a type of lipid combined with an alcohol group. Foods contain many different naturally occurring fatty acids. Nutritionists classify fatty acids as either saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids, such as those found in animal derived foods like meat and dairy products, cause blood cholesterol levels to increase. Unsaturated fatty acids, found in the oils from vegetables, seeds and nuts, may help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can help reduce hypertension. Alpha linolenic acid, classified as an omega-3 fatty acid, occurs naturally in some nut and vegetable oils. This lipid may slow the process of atherosclerosis and lower blood pressure slightly, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; High Blood Pressure Facts; March 2011
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; What Is High Blood Pressure?; April 2011
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; What is High Blood Cholesterol?; September 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Triglycerides: Why They Matter; June 2010
- American Heart Association:Triglycerides
- MayoClinic.com; Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid; April 2011
