Speculative treatment for hypertension & migraine

[Green Xenon]

Hi:

 

A theoretical pill to permanently cure hypertension and the non-aura stages of migraine is developed.

 

This pill decreases blood pressure by changing the dynamics of the cardiac muscles such that:

 

1. When a cardiac muscle relaxes, it relaxes completely

2. The extent to which the cardiac muscles un-relax is minimal enough that the patient cannot hear the heartbeat or arterial-pulse unless he/she covers his/her ears, is in a completely-silent environment, and consciously chooses to concentrate on the sounds of the heartbeat or resulting pulses.

3. The heart rate is as slow as it can get without causing any medical concerns provided the patient is in a resting state.

4. The cardiac muscles totally ignore any commands from the body's regulatory systems [including the heart's own pacemaker] to increase the intensity or speed of un-relaxation -- even during the most intense aerobic exercise!

 

After the pill is ingested, the active ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream via the villi and microvilli of the small intestine. Next, the active ingredients enter the cardiac muscles via the bloodstream. Finally, the above 4 changes immediately take effect. These changes are permanent and completely unaffected even by drugs that would otherwise alter them.

 

The active ingredients in this pill also cure the non-aura phases of migraines by affecting the width of blood vessels in pertinent parts of the brain [that would otherwise constrict/dilate] in the following manner:

 

1. Veins and venules in the concerned parts of the brain dilate to full width.

2. The width of the capillaries in these parts of the brain are not directly affected by this pill.

3. Placing a restriction on the extent to which the arteries and arterioles in these parts of the brain can dilate such that they cannot dilate anymore than the normal width.

 

The above changes to these blood vessels are permanent and cannot be changed -- to any extent -- by any of the body's regulatory systems or by drugs that would otherwise cause such changes.

 

What are the disadvantages to this therapy?

 

 

Thanks,

 

GX

[Bobbicus]

I think having the heart rate so slow and the contractility so diminished might lead to a problem with oxygen delivery, especially during exercise since the hearts ability to respond is blocked. It also seems placing a limit on how much the arteries/arterioles in the brain can dilate in soeone that's already hypertensive could lead to a hemorrhagic stroke. And while it seems like it being permanent and unaffected by other drugs would be a good idea, I think it would eventually become a problem. There are ACS/cardiovascular disorders that are treated with drugs that alter the inotropic/chronotropic properties of the heart and these wouldn't work anymore. I think it's always good to have the option to stop treatment with a certain drug when something changes in a particular patient.

Edited October 9, 2011 by Bobbicus

[Green Xenon]

It also seems placing a limit on how much the arteries/arterioles in the brain can dilate in soeone that's already hypertensive could lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.

 

Wouldn't the lack of hypertension [caused by the pill] help prevent brain hemorrhages from taking place?

Edited October 9, 2011 by Green Xenon

[Bobbicus]

It should definitely help prevent them, I'd just be a little nervous in taking the compensatory mechanism of the arteries dilating away. Who knows when the patients going to decide to consume a lot of sodium or if an artery in their brain is 95% occluded by plaque. I think that'd be a drawback that you could get around just by informing them about certain dietary restrictions they might want to follow after taking the drug and maybe checking for plaque buildup in the arteries first.

[John Cuthber]

" Finally, the above 4 changes immediately take effect"

By magic?

[insane_alien]

Hi:

 

A theoretical pill to permanently cure hypertension and the non-aura stages of migraine is developed.

 

This pill decreases blood pressure by changing the dynamics of the cardiac muscles such that:

 

1. When a cardiac muscle relaxes, it relaxes completely

2. The extent to which the cardiac muscles un-relax is minimal enough that the patient cannot hear the heartbeat or arterial-pulse unless he/she covers his/her ears, is in a completely-silent environment, and consciously chooses to concentrate on the sounds of the heartbeat or resulting pulses.

3. The heart rate is as slow as it can get without causing any medical concerns provided the patient is in a resting state.

4. The cardiac muscles totally ignore any commands from the body's regulatory systems [including the heart's own pacemaker] to increase the intensity or speed of un-relaxation -- even during the most intense aerobic exercise!

 

After the pill is ingested, the active ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream via the villi and microvilli of the small intestine. Next, the active ingredients enter the cardiac muscles via the bloodstream. Finally, the above 4 changes immediately take effect. These changes are permanent and completely unaffected even by drugs that would otherwise alter them.

 

The active ingredients in this pill also cure the non-aura phases of migraines by affecting the width of blood vessels in pertinent parts of the brain [that would otherwise constrict/dilate] in the following manner:

 

1. Veins and venules in the concerned parts of the brain dilate to full width.

2. The width of the capillaries in these parts of the brain are not directly affected by this pill.

3. Placing a restriction on the extent to which the arteries and arterioles in these parts of the brain can dilate such that they cannot dilate anymore than the normal width.

 

The above changes to these blood vessels are permanent and cannot be changed -- to any extent -- by any of the body's regulatory systems or by drugs that would otherwise cause such changes.

 

What are the disadvantages to this therapy?

 

 

Thanks,

 

GX

 

disadvantages would be death. thin about it, if your heart is pumping as slow as possible and your veins are dilated then you have extremely low blood pressure. dangerously low. at the very least you are looking at permanent unconciousness if this pill is somhow permanent.

[John Cuthber]

You might be able to maintain adequate blood flow as long as you were lying in bed. You would pass out as soon as you stood up though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthostatic_hypotension