What Are Your Options When it Comes to Improving Blood Flow?
Common medicines can alter blood's flow, but some side effects remain unclear. See your options below, or choose the natural route with Redwood.
Many drugs can alter degree of vasodilation, or the width of blood vessels.
When blood vessels tighten, blood pressure increases, and when it is too high this can lead to harmful side effects on the heart.
On the other hand, when blood pressure is too low, people may experience lethargy, dysfunction and other problems.
Research is still in progress on the true effects of circulation medications on other bodily systems, like the brain, and whether these unintended outcomes are helpful or harmful remains an open question.
DRUG:
ACE Inhibitors
EXAMPLES:
Perendopril, Captopril
HOW THEY WORK:
ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure by suppressing the action of an enzyme that encourages blood vessels to constrict.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Older generation ACE inhibitors can cross the blood-brain barrier and may stave off cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s. Some evidence suggests that the drugs might slow the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain. Newer types of ACE inhibitors, however, don’t cross the barrier, and they have been found to have the opposite effect: they might increase the risk of developing dementia.
DRUG:
Antihistamines
EXAMPLES:
Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra
HOW THEY WORK:
During an allergic reaction, histamines bind to receptors along the blood vessels, making them expand and become more permeable so white blood cells can attack the pathogen. Antihistamines block this mechanism, in effect narrowing the blood vessels.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In the brain, histamines are important in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. They have also been associated with learning, memory and attention. Older antihistamines can suppress brain activity, leading to drowsiness and learning problems. Newer antihistamines, such as Zyrtec, work more selectively and have fewer side effects.
DRUG:
Beta-blockers
EXAMPLES:
Propranolol, Carvedilol, Atenolol
HOW THEY WORK:
Beta-blockers prevent the stress hormone epinephrine from binding to receptors in the nervous system. Typically, epinephrine triggers the “fight or flight” response, which causes blood vessels to contract to pump more blood to the heart.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Doctors often prescribe beta-blockers off label for people with anxiety disorders, and actors and musicians sometimes take them to calm stage fright. In addition, a recent study suggests that beta-blockers may reduce the risk of dementia by releasing the overly tight blood vessels in the brain. Beta-blockers can also cause side effects of fatigue, insomnia and, potentially, depression.
DRUG:
Calcium channel blockers
EXAMPLES:
Nifedipine
HOW THEY WORK:
Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium ions from entering cell membranes in the heart and arteries, a process that normally signals the blood vessels to contract. By reducing the force of contraction, these drugs allow the heart to pump blood with less effort.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Some scientists propose that an excess of calcium channels in the brain can contribute to Parkinson’s disease, as too much calcium can be toxic to dopamine neurons. Epidemiological studies hint that taking calcium channel blockers that cross the blood brain barrier (not all do) reduces the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s.
DRUG:
Decongestants
EXAMPLES:
Ephedrine, Sudafed
HOW THEY WORK:
Decongestants vanquish runny noses by causing swollen blood vessels in the mucus membrane of the nose and sinuses to tighten. When taken in pill form, this effect extends throughout the body.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in most decongestants, also causes tightening in the blood vessels in the brain, which can trigger insomnia, restlessness and anxiety, as well as headache if the blood vessels narrow too quickly.
DRUG:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
EXAMPLES:
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Naproxen (Aleve)
HOW THEY WORK:
NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation by preventing the production of prostaglandins and thromboxane, chemical compounds that cause blood vessels to constrict.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Prostaglandins and thromboxane are synthesized from a fatty substance in the brain and muscle tissue that is involved in cellular repair. Some studies suggest that NSAIDs protect against brain atrophy and memory loss in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by blocking the breakdown of this fatty substance.
DRUG:
Sildenafil
EXAMPLES:
Viagra, Cialis, Levitra
HOW THEY WORK:
Stimulating the p**** produces cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGNP), a chemical that dilates blood vessels. Viagra inhibits an enzyme that destroys cGNP, enabling more blood to flow to the organ.
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Blocking the enzyme that destroys cGNP also increases the amount of oxytocin in the brain. Sometimes called the “love hormone,” oxytocin facilitates emotional bonding. In addition, animal studies indicate that Viagra can increase blood flow and promote nerve growth in the brain, potentially alleviating depression.