Available empirical evidence and facts points to the direction that potassium is a critical component in the human body as a regulator of blood pressure. The above stems from surveys and data recorded over a cross-sectional spectrum of the human population to the effect that areas and regions that take less of potassium have a likelihood of suffering blood pressure-related complications. It is to say that people who take less of potassium have a higher prevalence and prospects of getting hypertension. This logic is true and possible since the ion present in Potassium are unique and provide some functions that aid in the regulation of the blood pressure and subsequent blood flow. Thus, this paper will discuss and give a detailed analysis on the role of potassium in the human blood pressure and flow.
On the other hand, the above argument and line of thought would also hold because a reverse of the same would result into vasoconstriction. It is to say that instead of the arterials relaxing and thus increasing the smooth passage of blood, there is a contrition which is opposite of relaxation. The above explains the logic and reason as to why some patients who may be affected in the line and respect of vasoconstriction are put in dietary complements laced with Potassium. This supplement plays the basic duty of ensuring that the resistance to blood flows in minimized and reduced greatly.
In the clinical and scientific aspect, the lining cells of the blood vessels emit or release chemicals that alter, by either way of decreasing or increasing the general aspect of the circulation and blood flow or movement. The relaxing factors in a comprehensive and exhaustive manner include Nitric Oxide. It is noteworthy to highlight and present the notion and line of reasoning that the blood vessels would also release Potassium that would also in turn cause relaxation of the muscles and the cell linings.
Similarly, the very nature, character and composition of Potassium ensure that it helps in the vasodilatation. It comes from the fact that hyper polarization of the vascular muscles which are smooth in nature. Thus, when potassium stimulation from the Na+-K+ pumps which is an electrogenic ion. In any case there are any internal defects of fault on the Kir channels. Then the NA+K-K+ is called to action to acts a self-corrective ion and agent. Thus, in the matter and case of brain and the skeletal muscles, the continuous and increase flow benefits in the augmented metabolic functions and needs of the tissues. Potassium ions are also emitted and given out or released by the cells of the endothelial regions. The above would be occasioned as a response to a neurohormonal mediators and forces or bond that is physical in nature. The physical forces come in the form of shear stress which leads to the endothelium relaxation which is not influenced by any other factor-thus dependent endothelium relaxation (Nelson, Mark and Quayle, 9). This logic explains that there is a component and aspect of hyperlorazitaion aspect induced response. Thus, when potassium is involved, the buildup on the tiny lining cells would be minimized and thus a subsequent reduction in the prospects of chances of getting high blood pressure.
There is a homeostatic mechanism and aspect whereby Potassium and Sodium correlate and engage in order to reduce the chances and prospects of a person or a patient from getting high Blood Pressure. It is so because there are empirical knowledge and facts that show and suggest high intake and consumption of Potassium correlate with low levels of Blood pressure. The above is because the endothelial cells lead to natriuresis. Similarly, potassium intake in large volumes or size has been noted to have an effect of controlling the arterial pressure which stems from the neural and peripheral regions. It is to say that the baroreceptor activity would be induced. Itis to imply and say that the resting blood pressure in human would be attained.
On the other hand, Potassium has also been used as a diuretic, thus inhibiting the prospects of Sodium being reabsorbed back into the body of the human being. Especially in the proximal tubule (Faraci, Frank and Heistad, 59). This implies that when the sodium levels are controlled and maintained. There is a balance in the blood components thus reducing any prospects of irregular flow which may lead to high blood pressure on the part of the human being.
In addition to the above point and line of thought and reasoning, compounds of Potassium such as Potassium Chloride have noted to be useful in the suppression of renin. The prospects and the ability of Potassium to suppress rennin waters down any negative effects that may be caused or accrued by the over presence of sodium thus removing any imbalance. It is important and imperative to note and mention that the effects of Potassium on the vascular activity or subsequent reactivity is not constrained to the changes in rennin activity. There is another critical aspect of angiotensin which could be changed or altered by high intake of potassium or a diet that is rich in Potassium.
In the past, studies have done and conducted to the conclusion and inference that high potassium channels are crucial in determining the resting or relaxation point of the membrane. It is so because cells maintain a relatively higher intracellular balance or concentration of Potassium. The comparison holds when compared against the extracellular medium. Thus, the aperture and the opening created by Potassium are helpful since it would induce a negative change towards negative values from repolarization or hypolarization.
As far as blood pressure in concerned, there is a direct influence on the Potassium intake in hypertensive and normal subjects. There is a functional relationship between the urinary Potassium expulsion from the body or excretion to the ratio of Sodium excretion. A practical case and instance are the study and relationship that points to the direction that African Americans with a relatively low Potassium intake in their diet relative to sodium Chloride. Thus, dietary depletion or reduction of potassium or any of its beneficial compounds leads to high blood pressure in Human beings. It is associated and correlated with the blunted ability in handling the acute load of Sodium and its retention in the human body. For instance, in situations where there is a hypertensive patient, a low potassium diet for close to ten days is recommended and administered forthwith. It is so because the systolic and diastolic pressures would increase by close 7 and six mmHg in that concurrent manner. The above is true if the administering is compared on a scale of ten days relative to a high potassium diet (96mmol/day).
Intuitively, potassium supplements in the diet are known to correct the otherwise impaired systolic and diastolic pressures by the turn of the tenth day after continuous use. It is key because it would also prevent stroke related fatalities due to the buildup of blood pressure. Normal human beings on the hand recorded an increase in the urinary potassium excretion; this fall is then related or associated with a minute or a diminutive reduction in the plasma potassium concentration. This method and approach are mostly recommended in patients who are under the treatment model and approach of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). It is thus the rule of the thumb that the daily continuous amount of potassium is increased from two grams to about five grams. However, patients who are being treated for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may become hyperkalemic. Therefore, the diuretic nature and character of Potassium as stipulated above here would be called to action. It is to say and imply that the antihypertensive effect of dietary potassium may be occasioned by more than one mechanism. On the list of possibilities and prospects are the stimulation and subsequent secretion of Na+-K+_ATP use. These are important because they are involved in the vascular smooth muscle cells which result in vasodilatation.
Conclusively, the above essay and disposition has articulated in details and principles the role of Potassium in maintain, controlling and regulation of blood flow and blood pressure. A case in point is in the hypertensive patients. It is so because the amounts of Sodium in their body system are in excess and thus potassium would be lost in the form of urine. Thus, salt imbalance would be occasioned in the body of the human person, and blood pressure would then imminently result. It is the reason as to why once potassium supplementation is started, the situation would be reversed, and the normal blood flow and balance re-established. Repletion of Potassium in these models induces natriuresis and reduces the blood pressure which would have otherwise built up. This hypertensive reaction or response best applies where there are normal or less amounts of sodium. It is so because sodium retention alters the reaction of vasoactive hormones and subsequent vasoconstriction. It helps the subsequent build up and pressure in the concerned human beings.
Works Cited
Faraci, Frank M., and Donald D. Heistad. "Regulation of the cerebral circulation: role of
endothelium and potassium channels." Physiological Reviews 78.1 (1998): 53-97.
Haddy, Francis J., Paul M. Vanhoutte, and Michel Feletou. "Role of potassium in regulating
`blood flow and blood pressure." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 290.3 (2006): R546-R552.
Nelson, Mark T., and John M. Quayle. "Physiological roles and properties of potassium channels
in arterial smooth muscle." American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology 37.4 (1995): C799.
