Blood pressure is the force exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps your blood through them. Two measurements are used for blood pressure. The first, called your systolic blood pressure, is taken when your heart beats, and the second, called your diastolic blood pressure, is taken between your heartbeats. An average systolic blood pressure of 120 and an average diastolic pressure of 80 means your blood pressure is normal. On the other hand, if your average systolic blood pressure is above 140 or your average diastolic blood pressure is above 90, or both, you most likely have hypertension, or high blood pressure. To treat hypertension, calcium can be used, especially in patients suffering from calcium deficiency.
Calcium Deficiency and Hypertension
While many factors can contribute to your developing hypertension, not getting enough calcium regularly in your diet might put you at higher risk for developing high blood pressure, HighBloodPressureInfo.org says. Not only is calcium essential for strong bones and teeth, but it also plays a vital role in working with other minerals such as potassium and magnesium to help muscle tissue contract and keep artery walls supple and pliable. Calcium and magnesium, in particular, work together to regulate heartbeat and blood vessel dilation, and a deficiency of calcium might weaken this ability.
Increasing Calcium Intake
Some evidence suggests increasing calcium levels might decrease blood pressure slightly, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Unfortunately, results are contradictory, and researchers are unclear about whether taking calcium supplements provide this benefit or if it is a matter of diet. Consult your doctor before taking calcium supplements so he can determine the dose that is appropriate for your condition. In any case, do not stop taking your blood pressure medication.
Risks
It is not advisable to take more calcium than is prescribed, which can cause side effects. Evidence suggests that taking doses greater than the recommended daily requirement of 1,000 to 1,300 mg for most adults might increase your risk of a heart attack, says MedlinePlus. While this finding remains controversial and more research is needed to confirm this suspicion, it is prudent to make sure you are taking amounts of calcium that are adequate to, but not in excess of, your needs.
Dosages
Your body can absorb only a limited amount of calcium at any one time, so take your calcium supplements in doses of 500 mg or less throughout the day with six to eight cups of water to avoid constipation, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends. The daily dosage for adults 19 to 50 years old is 1,000 mg, while those 51 years and older need 1,200 mg per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women have special daily calcium needs depending on how old they are. If they are under 19, they need 1,300 mg, but those who are older need only 1,000 mg.
