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...
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...
Hyperaldosteronism results when one's adrenal glands create elevated levels of the hormone aldosterone. Causes of hyperaldosteronism include a benign tumor in an adrenal gland (Conn's syndrome) or enlarged adrenal glands. Elevated levels of...
Hormones are an important part of the body because they affect several aspects of the body's function such as growth, development, blood pressure, fluid balance and immunity. Endocrine glands like the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, pancreas and...
Hormonal birth control and hormone therapy for women in menopause are both treatments that rely on synthetic hormones for their activity. One class of synthetic hormones is called progestins, named for their ability to mimic the effects of the...
The adrenal glands are important for hormone production. Like all hormone-producing organs, the adrenal glands are carefully regulated by chemical signals produced by the pituitary and kidneys. As a result, any perturbation to this system can...
High blood pressure --- or hypertension --- is a higher than normal amount of pressure placed on the arterial walls as blood moves through the arteries. It's a common condition often attributed to age, weight, genetics, diet and physical activity....
Although experts disagree as to the exact definition and cause of salt sensitivity, the chief symptom of the condition is blood pressure that is unusually sensitive to salt or sodium intake. Certain populations appear to be at a higher risk for...
Hypertension is an elevation in blood pressure (BP) of at least 140/90 on several consistent readings. The higher the blood pressure, the more the likelihood that there will be medications recommended in addition to lifestyle modifications. To...
There are several causes of a magnesium deficiency. The hormonal cause for the electrolyte imbalance, hyperaldosteronism, involves your adrenal glands. Low magnesium, or hypomagnesemia, becomes dangerous without intervention. Therefore, if you...
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when the arteries narrow or when an increased amount of blood is pumped by your heart. When not adequately treated, hypertension can lead to heart disease. Mild cases of high blood pressure...
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious health problems: high blood pressure, rickets, constant muscle pain. Have your vitamin D levels checked periodically, even if you are pretty sure you don't have a deficiency. Certain people are more prone...
Renin inhibitors are used to control high blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. They work by blocking the enzymes that cause blood vessels to tighten, preventing the narrowed arteries that cause high blood pressure. Common renin inhibitors...
Regulation of sodium in your body requires tight controls of the amounts of fluid in your body. Your body has a number of "sensors" that detect your overall sodium level, many of which are in the kidneys. When your sodium levels are too high,...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a silent disease that causes inflammation of your blood vessels, which disrupts blood and nutrient flow to your organs. Over time, hypertension can damage organs, thereby increasing your risk for disease...
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...
Blood pressure is a measurement that reflects the force of the blood on the walls of the arteries. It is expressed as the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure (e.g., 120/80). Systolic pressure measures the force of the blood when the...
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...
Vinegar of all kinds, and particularly apple cider vinegar, has been ascribed a wide variety of miraculous health benefits for a long, long time. Though there is relatively little science to support most of the claims, there is growing evidence...
Vitamin D is important for health, but deficiency is common. According to an article by Dr. John Lee in the Dec. 9, 2008, issue of the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology," vitamin D deficiency is a blood concentration less than 20...
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 electrolyte disorder hyperkalemia, or high potassium, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. The kidneys, with the help of the hormones renin and aldosteron, maintain the balance of potassium in the body. As people age, the...
The syndrome known as malignant hypertension occurs with systolic blood pressures over 200 and diastolic blood pressures typically over 120 mm Hg. The basis for this increase in blood pressure (BP) is not well understood; however the levels of...
The nutrients found in cod liver oil, most notably vitamin D and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, might be effective for decreasing the risk for hypertension and lowering blood pressure in...
If you are struggling with high blood pressure, your vitamin D status might be something to consider as a possible culprit. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked in some studies to a higher blood pressure, leading scientists to suspect that...
Blood consists of cells and a liquid component called plasma. The plasma contains proteins and other chemicals with many functions. Some of the chemicals are hormones; others are charged minerals known as electrolytes. There are also substances...
The renin-angiotensin system works to control fluid levels and blood pressure in the body. Angiotensin I, a powerful vasoconstrictor, or substance in the body that causes blood vessels to constrict and narrow, requires the angiotensin converting...
Apple cider vinegar mixed with honey is a traditional home remedy for many ailments, including the common cold, arthritis and other infections. Dr. D.C. Jarvis, author of "Folk Medicine," also suggested apple cider vinegar and honey may assist in...
You have two kidneys. These organs are small, shaped like a bean and perform many important functions. They're located just below the ribs, one kidney on each side of your body. If the kidneys lose some ability to function, you may not have any...
