African Americans and High Blood Pressure
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What is Plasma Renin
To control high blood pressure in difficult cases, you have to figure out what is the cause, and the best way is to measure the renin, a kidney enzyme, and aldosterone, an adrenal gland hormone, in the blood plasma.
To get a good reading of plasma renin, your doctor gives you a dose of diuretic to stimulate the production of renin and aldosterone.
The relation between the kidney and adrenal gland is to regulate your body salt and water.
When it goes wrong, it causes high blood pressure.
How It Goes Wrong
If your kidney senses that your body is too dry or that your blood pressure is too low, it puts out renin, the enzine that activates a precursor to angiotensis I, which is a short chain of amino acids.
Then your angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II by an enzyme called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
Now angiotensin II can raise your blood pressure, because it constricts your arteries. Also, it goes to your outer part of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex, and causes your adrenal gland to release aldosterone.
Then aldosterone goes to your kidney and causes salt and water retention, excretion of potassium, magnesium and other ions.
This is the link between African Americans and high blood pressure.
The Link
African Americans on average have lower plasma renin levels.
Researchers have found that individuals from Africa, and individuals with African ancestors, are at least ten times more likely to have high blood pressure with low renin levels due to the enlargement of adrenal cortex.
Treatment
So if your blood pressure is difficult to control, or if you are having problems with potassium depletion, and if you are of African ancestors, have your plasma renin and aldosterone checked after a dose of diuretic will be helpful in choosing the best treatment.
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