Light, Minerals, and High Blood Pressure
How hormones and neurotransmitters play a key role in health and wellness
Recently, we saw a case of high blood pressure in a woman who had just gone through menopause.
As women age, their blood pressure tends to rise.
Why is this?
Hormones and neurotransmitters control blood pressure. As women age, their hormone levels decline. Their HRV drops as well, indicating a decline in parasympathetic nervous system activity. The logical result is less flexible vessel walls and higher blood pressures.
One of the best things I have to offer women who are struggling with menopause is light therapy. Before we get into why, I’d like to invite you to our weekly light therapy meeting, where you can hear real testimonials about the benefits of light therapy. Register here.
How do we protect women from this inexorable rise in blood pressure?
First, we need to optimize their mineral and vitamin status. This is why we test hair tissue minerals every three to four months in my practice.
This allows us to identify everything from methylation issues to mineral overload to mineral deficiencies, and address them with a single test and supplement protocol.
Second, we need to optimize the environment and lifestyle. We need time for relaxation, rest, and digestion. We need to bring HRV up into an ideal range, which is age-dependent. We need to optimize sleep.
Third, we need to optimize hormones and neurotransmitters. As we age, using bioidentical hormones becomes more and more important to optimize sleep, because without these hormones, sleep quality inevitably deteriorates. I have lost track of how many women I have treated over the years whose sleep issues completely resolved with a combination of nutritional balancing and bioidentical hormones.
Most people who come to see me can radically reduce their blood pressure medications within a matter of weeks or months. We do occasionally get tough cases that require a longer period of treatment than that. High blood pressure rarely happens overnight - it takes time to get to the root of the problem.
What are my top culprits for our modern epidemic of high blood pressure?
Hormone-disrupting compounds (endocrine disrupting compounds) are interfering with normal hormone function that keeps our heart and blood vessels healthy.
Heavy metals, organic toxins, and synthetic toxins are accumulating in our bodies and play a major role in heart disease and high blood pressure.
Nutritional deficiencies of key micronutrients for optimal blood pressure, like arginine, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, and more.
Modern stressors like electromagnetic radiation and technology over-use/addiction.
Light pollution and lack of sunlight. Sun exposure is strongly correlated with better heart health. Light pollution is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, which goes hand-in-hand with higher blood pressure.
This is not rocket science. These are logical conclusions based on a reading of the literature combined with a decade of my experience in practice.
My best solution to high blood pressure is a combination of nutritional balancing, optimization of lifestyle and environment, and bioidentical hormones.
High blood pressure is an epidemic today. It doesn't have to be. People just don't have access to great preventive care, including lab testing, supplements, and bioidentical hormones.
One of the most consistent treatments I see resolving high blood pressure is light therapy. Yes, I said, “resolving.” I’ve had multiple testimonials in the last year to this effect. If you want to learn more about light therapy, join our weekly call on light therapy by registering here.
If you’re interested in becoming a patient to start nutritional balancing and/or bioidentical hormones, we are currently at capacity for 2024 and are now booking out into January of 2025. Apply for consultation today at StillmanMD.com to join our waiting list for membership. Our current renewal rate is 80-100%, which indicates that we are delivering on the value we promise with superior outcomes for our patients. Join our waiting list today to have the first opportunity to join the practice when we have new availability.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman