View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Mark Houston discusses An Integrative Approach to Hypertension with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights 3:20  Hypertension.  What causes high blood pressure are three finite vascular responses, which are inflammation of the arteries, oxidative stress in the arteries, and immune dysfunction in the arteries.  4:59  Hypertension is blood pressure higher than 120 over 80 but several large cohort studies show that the risk starts at 110 over 70.   6:28  Untreated hypertension.   7:15  Proper way to measure blood pressure. 9:58  White Coat Hypertension.   10:58  Genetic Factors.  11:50  Plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone levels help guide care for patients with hypertension.   13:57  Diet and Lifestyle.  There are four main diet factors that affect hypertension: 1. Low sodium--below 1.5 gms per day, 2. High potassium--at least 5 gm per day, 3. High magnesium--at least 1,000 mg per day, and 4. at least 12 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.   16:48  Toxins.  17:11  Micronutrients.   17:48  Exercise.  18:25  Endothelial dysfunction.   24:12  Nutrients.   27:32  Medications.                            Dr. Mark Houston is the director of the Hypertension Institute in Nashville, Tennessee and he is the go to expert on cardiovascular disease in the Functional Medicine world. Dr. Houston is tripled board certified in hypertension as an American Society of Hypertension (ASH) specialist and Fellow of the American Society of Hypertension (FASH), Internal Medicine (ABIM) and Anti-aging medicine (ABAARM). Dr. Houston teaches doctors around the world about cardiovascular medicine as part of the A4M programs.  Dr. Houston is also a very prolific author, having written many books, the latest two being  Precision and Personalized Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine and Controlling High Blood Pressure through Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Lifestyle, and Drugs.  Dr. Houston's web site is HypertensionInstitute.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.     Podcast Transcript