Diovan, the brand name for valsartan, is classed as an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The medication is prescribed for people with high blood pressure and, according to MedlinePlus, for heart failure in patients who can't use...
The two major forms of vitamin D are vitamin D-3 and vitamin D-2. Vitamin D-3 is a fat-soluble form synthesized in your skin from sunlight exposure, whereas vitamin D-2 is a plant form of vitamin D found in foods such as fish, eggs and milk. Your...
If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), your doctor might prescribe medication to help you control it. Drugs for high blood pressure either lower the amount of blood that your heart pumps out or they decrease resistance in your blood...
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem affecting more than 50 million people and millions of others are at increased risk. The two main causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes. Increased blood pressure causes...
The hormone angiotensin is secreted in the liver and acts directly at the kidney to raise blood pressure. The hormone is secreted in response to stimuli by other hormones in the body, and as a response to low blood pressure. Angiotensin must be...
Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure exerted on blood vessel walls as a result of blood circulation. High blood pressure places excess strain on the blood vessels and the heart, and can lead to heart disease or blood vessel rupture....
Aldosteronism is the condition in which the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone targets the collecting ducts in the kidneys and increases sodium and water reabsorption and the secretion of potassium. Renin, an...
Calcium channel blockers, also called calcium antagonists, are mainly prescribed for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues. Renin is an enzyme that the kidney cells release in certain situations, and one function of renin is to raise...
The kidneys work to remove excess minerals and waste products from the blood. As the American Heart Association notes, the kidneys' ability to remove excess water as well as these byproducts of cell metabolism and dissolved salts also allows the...
The benefits of vitamin D are numerous. Vitamin D goes further than promoting bone health by showing benefit to the heart. Vitamin D is obtained primarily from the sunshine. Dietary sources of vitamin D include vitamin-D fortified milk, cod liver...
Sodium--one of two elements in table salt--is essential for life. Although there is a small amount of sodium inside all your cells, it is sodium's presence in extracellular fluids that determines its important contributions to your health....
According to the National Kidney Foundation, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem affecting nearly 50 million people. More than half of the people who have CKD also have high blood pressure. CKD can cause hypertension...
It is important to consult with a physician for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions. Problems such as low blood potassium and hypertension, or high blood pressure, if they have a single underlying cause, may be from Conn's syndrome....
The kidneys are organs designed to filter the blood, and are made up of a number of highly specialized cell types. Cell growth in the kidney is tightly controlled, and defects in cell growth lead to diseases such as cancer. Cancer is the...
Maintaining a balance of different minerals in your diet is important for maintaining your health. A diet that contains too much salt can increase your risk of developing a number of different health problems, including osteoporosis. If you are...
Medications typically follow a common route from research to development, from clinical studies to controlled release. For many drugs, once patent protection expires, the next step takes them from behind the pharmacist's counter to...
Sodium is an essential nutrient, helping your body maintain salt and water balance. Too much sodium in your diet, however, is potentially harmful. Processed and fast foods are common sources of excess dietary sodium. Consuming too much sodium may...
Hypertension, is the increase in the pressure needed to pump blood due to increased resistance to blood flow by blood vessels all over the body. Over the last decade more people became hypertensive as a result of obesity. In the United States,...
Tekturna (aliskiren) is a medication used to manage high blood pressure (hypertension). According to MedlinePlus, Tekturna is a direct renin inhibitor and its main goal is to decrease renin, a substance made in your kidneys responsible for...
Probiotics are microscopic organisms, usually bacteria, that possibly provide you with beneficial health effects, such as treating gastrointestinal illnesses and hypertension. A number of different types of probiotics exist, with some proven to be...
More than 750,000 adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Risk factors for high blood pressure include a salt-rich diet, obesity and low levels of physical activity. In...
High blood pressure is a condition in which the force of your blood against your artery walls is too high. This makes your heart work harder, and if uncontrolled, it can lead to serious problems like heart attack and stroke. Your blood pressure is...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin critical for calcium balance, immunity and insulin secretion. It's also involved in blood pressure regulation. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, you are more likely to have a higher output of renin, an enzyme...
The kidneys regulate the body’s fluid volume, maintain electrolyte concentrations and acid-base balance, filter the blood and remove wastes. The kidneys directly influence blood volume and blood pressure by controlling sodium levels in the...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects nearly one-third of adults in the U.S., estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 70 percent of hypertensive adults take medication to treat their condition. Among common...
Both cod liver oil and iodine are substances that your body greatly benefits. The presence of iodine helps to keep your thyroid system functioning properly and prevents a lot of very harmful conditions. Cod liver oil enhances the overall function...
Breakfast has often been touted as the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many people often resort to unhealthful choices such as sugar-laden cereal for breakfast. For those looking to start their day off by eating healthily, one...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood exerts too much pressure on the walls of vessels as it flows through the body. If high blood pressure remains untreated, it can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, heart and...
Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of disorders that increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation, or IDF, defines metabolic syndrome in people with central obesity and any...
