Hypertension

Considered by many physicians as a silent killer because of the absence of typical signs during its attack, hypertension is one of the most dangerous cardiovascular ailments today. It is estimated that 2 out of 5 people suffer from this disease and the worst part of it; many are left undiagnosed and remains unaware of their disorder. Chronic and unattended hypertension could lead to other more serious diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and congestive heart failure.

There are two forms of hypertension, the essential hypertension and the secondary hypertension. In the primary hypertension, the cause in the rise of blood pressure is unknown whereas the secondary hypertension is a direct result of other diseases such as kidney problems and hormonal imbalances. In most cases, 95% of people with high blood pressure are classified in essential form. Theorized risk factors includes age (detected most often in older adults), hereditary (tends to run in the family), gender (common in men below 50 and women above 50), obesity (fats causes narrowing of arteries), sedentary lifestyle (increases risk of becoming overweight), tobacco use (damages arterial wall and can constrict blood vessels during smoking), high in sodium diet (increases fluid retention in the body), low potassium diet (impaired sodium-potassium balance), excessive alcohol intake and stress.

The regulation of blood pressure is very important in our survival. The heart, brain, blood vessels, kidney and other parts of the body works in a complex mechanism to regulate blood pressure for optimum blood circulation. It is important that this pressure remain within normal levels to effectively distribute blood in our body.

Ganoderma’s anti-hypertension effect is linked to its compounds triterpenoid. Its ganoderic acid A, K and S, and ganoderol A and B showed the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory property. ACE prevents the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II which is a potent vasoconstrictor. Angiotensin II will constrict the the blood vessels which leads to the rise in blood pressure. Thru the ACE suppression activity of the triterpenoids, hypertension through this mechanism can be greatly prevented.