#155

 

MARCH/APRIL 1987

BULLETIN # 155

 

HYPOGLYCEMIA ASSOCIATION, INC.

18008 New Hampshire Ave, Box 165

Ashton, MD 20861-0165

(Founded in 1967)

 

                                               

RECORDED MESSAGE

(202) 544-4044

In Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

Our bulletin is not meant to be medical advice. It is written by lay people, dedicated to helping those with hypoglycemia. All cases are individuaL If you need medical advice, see your physician.

 

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

 

Dorothy R. Schultz

 

Those of us with low blood pressure have been told many times that it is a good condition to have, much better than high blood pressure. I would prefer to have normal blood pressure.

In a paper entitled POSTURAL HYPOTENSION AND FUNCTIONAL HYPOADRENIA (low blood pressure and low adrenal function), Dr. George Goodheart describes the hypoadrenia patient as one who is dizzy on change of position, especially on rising, the patient who can't get going in the morning, the patient who feels best as the day goes on then suddenly seems to collapse around 7:00 or 8:00pm. This patient will have per­haps a normal blood pressure sitting or lying but upon arising there is a DROP in the systolic pressure of as much as 4Omm. The usual amount of abnormal drop is about 10 to l5mm but any drop is ABNORMAL.

He says, "In a normal person the systolic blood pressure is 4 to lOmm higher in the standing position than it is in the lying position." As a fighter pilot wears a "G" suit or "Leg Squeezer" to counter the effects of gravity on a fast pullout from a vertical dive so also do we have our own "G" suit which causes a redistribution of the blood from the abdomen to the heart and muscles. The tone of the blood vessels in the abdomen is under the control of the SPLANCHNIC NERVES which are controlled by the adrenal system.

He further explains that the adrenals produce a chemical substance called "SYM­PATHIN" which influences the valveless splanchnic vein's ability to compensate for the change in position. The same "SYMPATHIN" causes the iris in the eye to contract when exposed to a bright light. When "SYMPATHIN" is in short supply, as in hypo­adrenia, the usual contraction of the pupil to light does not last. If the examining light is shown on the eye for 30 to 40 seconds there will be a dilation rather than a constriction of the pupil or, as is often seen, "an alternating contraction and dila­tion with the pupil getting larger following each alternation.

 

These two signs, a dropping blood pressure on standing and a dilation or alter­nating contraction and dilation of the pupil of the eye to light are two easy, quick, simple, but valid indicators of weak functioning adrenals.

FALLING BLOOD PRESSURE:  Dr. Goodheart writes about patients who suffer from headache and/or dizziness when standing or who complain of weakness which is unre­lated to blood count, blood pressure or blood sugar levels. He feels that this ad­renal dysfunction could many times be the basis for their complaints. In this regard it is interesting to note that just as low blood sugar symptoms can occur in a dia­betic because sometimes it is not the actual LEVEL of the blood sugar but the RATE of drop that causes the symptoms; so also can there be falling blood pressure in a person with high blood pressure as well when he sits up or stands up, so it is best to be alert for this condition in all varieties of patients.         

 

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THE ADRENAL BANK ACCOUNT: The patient who dates his trouble of tiredness and loss of interest following an attack of "flu" and who must force himself or herself to do everything, very often will have a systolic reclining blood pressure of 124, with an erect blood pressure of 100. Also following severe illness with fever, anes­thesia, alcoholism, prolonged worry, focal infections, toxic conditions, fractures, to name a few that, in Dr. Goodheart's own practice, set the stage for a run on the reserves of the adrenal bank account along with the usual patterns of modern life with all of its tensions, quickly "overdraw" this adrenal reserve and produce the characteristic pattern of fatigue. These patients sometimes have a mid sleep insom­nia, awakening after about four hours of sleep and having difficulty getting back to sleep again. There is a type of adrenal patient that is stimulated by activity and finds it almost impossible to leave a party, or as is seen in some infants who seem to get their days and nights mixed up. This is also hypoadrenia.

THE ADRENAL SYSTEM: Dr. Goodheart describes primitive man who, in escaping the sabre-toothed tiger, used the "fight or flight" mechanism to get to a branch or tree higher than the tiger could leap. Then perching safely, though exhausted, breathing hard and pumping much blood, his recently activated adrenal system returns to normal. Man now uses this adrenal system just as if he were being chased by the tiger but the stress is often illness or toxemia or severe injury and he has no feed-back mech­anism to revive the overworked adrenal system, so it goes down to a depleted state.

 

ASTHMA: It is Dr. Goodheart's belief that many clinical states have their ori­gins in hypoadrenia, asthma being a classic example. The patient comes into contact with a potentially allergic substance, or excessive carbohydrate, or even constipa­tion. His nervous system is thrown out of balance, the "fight or flight" mechanism goes into action. To do this the body must:

         

1. Increase the blood sugar.

 

         

2.To cover the extra blood sugar, produce insulin.

 

         

3. The adrenal glands must stop any excess insulin production but since they are already under stress they are unable to do this.

4. Salt, which is needed, is lost in the urine. Aldosterone in the adrenal cortex should recycle the salt back into the body to be used again. The weak adrenals again fail, consequently the salt may need to be replenished. (See HAl Bulletin #152, SALT)

 

Since the body has failed to activate its "flight or flight" mechanism sufficiently the following things may happen:

1. Adrenalin and sympathin are reduced. The parasympathetics become dominant.

 

2. Bronchial arteries dilate and congestion of the bronchial vascular bed results in edema.

 

3. This narrows- the bronchiolar openings and wheezing with labored breathing begins.

 

4. Muscles used in the labored breathing need more blood sugar for their contraction which then increases the production of insulin.

 

5. Loss of gas exchange in the lungs (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out) and increased salt loss in the urine causes an acidosis to develop with an increase in potassium.

 

6.  Activity of A.T.P. at the muscle fibers is altered and all the muscles of breathing go into spasm.

 

7. The vicious cycle repeats itself.

 

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The key to this condition is a sub clinical hypoadrenalism. This key will unlock many doors that often only open by accident. Dr. Goodheart adds that bromine in tea, and chocolate all cause an excretion/of salt which is in short supply. He recommends an increase in sodium foods and a decrease in potassium foods in these situations.

 

Chiropractic analysis and adjustments are described by Dr. Goodheart in this

article from "THE DIGEST OF CHIROPRACTIC ECONOMICS", May/June 1965. His address is:

Dr. George Goodheart

20567 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

 

EXPERIENCES OF MEMBERS WITH LOW BLOOD PRESSURE:

 

No.1  When I was a child, if I got up too quickly when lying down everything would turn dark. Sometimes I couldn't see for a minute or so. As I was sick a lot and had many other problems I don't think I mentioned it to anyone. Probably I thought every­one had the same problem. I can remember having the "grippe" many times with aching eyes that couldn't stand the light. All my muscles ached. The term "grippe" is not used anymore. Perhaps it would be called a virus now.

Once when I was pregnant in my late 20's, I was lying on the couch feeling miserable. The door bell rang. When I got up to answer it I managed to open the door but before I could see who was there everything went black. Taking a chance I invited them in. When my vision returned there were some friends who had brought me some vegetables and fruit. Seeing that I was a little dizzy they went to the kitchen to put the food in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, they opened one that didn't work in which my husband kept some alcoholic beverages. Now I was really embarrassed. Even though I couldn't drink it certainly looked as if that might have been my pro­blem. 

 

Fortunately, after being  treated for hypoglycemia in 1965 I never had that pro­blem again although I still had fatigue and insomnia for quite some time as my recov­ery was gradual. Too much stress will still cause me to awaken at 1 or 2 am. That gives me a message that I had better slow down.

 

No.2  I was told to get down on my knees and thank God that I had low blood pressure when I was young. They said they couldn't do anything about it anyhow.

No.3 When I applied for a job in my early twenties I had to have a physical. The doctor said my blood pressure was so low that he was afraid they wouldn't hire me so he faked it and made it higher. Since being on the hypoglycemia diet for about 15 years my blood pressure is usually around 110 over 70 which is low normal.

No.4 When my mother pinned a dress on me as a child she put me next to a bed so I could hold onto something to help keep me from passing out. If I did pass out I could try to fall over on the bed instead of the floor.

 

Whenever we had a parade at school the marchers had to stand a long time wait­ing their turn in the parade, then we marched about a mile and a half. Waves of feel­ing like I was going to pass out came over me until it was over.

Now my blood pressure seems normal since being on the hypoglycemia diet for 20 years. The only time I have any problem with my blood pressure being low is after I have the flu which I have much less than formerly.

COMMENT: While none of these 60 and 70 year olds has perfect health, No.1 clog dances. No.2 exercises at the Y, travels and leads an active life. No.3 has traveled the world and is an avid hiker since her retirement. Recently she hiked the C & 0 Canal from Georgetown, D. C. to Harpers Ferry, W. VA. in 10 mile segments. High level square

 

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dancing is another one of her hobbies. No.4 is active in HAl, takes an art class, does crafts, went to England, Ireland and Scotland last year; Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand this year with no "jet lag".

 

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Richard P. Huemer, M.D., in his column in the November 1986 Let's Live magazine entitled PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, states that chronic low blood pressure is often ignored. Patients are even complimented on their low blood pressure. He believes that the adrenal glands should be examined. Since blood levels of sodium and cholesterol are sometimes unusually low, a few individuals actually need more, not less, in their systems.

 

PEN IN HAND

 

"Of all the help I seek I do, in fact, get the best of articles from your asso­ciation. I want to thank you very much for your assistance for being knowledgeable is by far my best defense."                                                   VQ Florida

     "What a wonderful organization you are, to provide this valuable information to the public. If it weren't for HAl, my best discoveries would never have been made."   SG N. Carolina

 

"My mother had low blood sugar--I have it--my son has it and now we think my grandaughter has it. Throughout my extensive professional practice (RN) I have never had a low blood sugar. case or a high blood sugar case where there weren't alcoholics in the family."   MA Ohio

 

"At times I feel that I am alone in left field, so to speak, as professionals and lay people alike turn a deaf ear to me and low blood sugar and the 'Hell on Earth' it often causes because it goes untreated, misunderstood and  misdiagnosed."

 

A second letter from the same person about a year later-­-

 

"I found that sharing a room with another too stressful in our retirement commun­ity. Although I looked 'so good' to others, at times I felt drained so I made the change to a single room. Best thing I ever did for myself. It affords the privacy I owed myself." MC New York

 

"The last bulletin I received was No. 154 that was dated Jan/Feb 1987. I never received bulletins for Mar/Apr or May/June 1987. I have been a member of HAl since about 1970 and have paid my dues. Please send these bulletins. I have had a lot of information and help from them and miss them very much."

  MN Pennsylvania

 

 

Dear MM (and all other members and friends of HAl):

It's nice to know that you miss our bulletins. The reason that you had not re­ceived the Mar/Apr and May/June bulletins is that they had not been printed yet. We are trying to catch up but, being vacation time and our directors traveling far and wide, it is difficult. Also we have been updating some of our earlier bulletins. Then there is correspondance, planning meetings with speakers, having meetings, phone calls and the membership list to keep current. For the bulletins there is the transcribing of tapes, editing, research, consulting with others in the health field and lots of reading and clipping of articles. We have no office and the directors live quite a distance from each other, from Baltimore, Md. to Alexandria, Va. but we are doing our best. Please be patient.

 

Up with blood sugar,

 

Dorothy

 

 

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