High Blood Pressure and Anxiety. Possible MTHFR Mutation - Dr Ben Consult

Given your lifelong history of anxiety and family history, I recommend you test for the MTHFR mutation.

To help reduce stress levels, consider these nutrients:

• Ashwagandha: two capsules in the AM and two capsules in the evening before bed - and as needed throughout the day. Ashwagandha is quite effective at lowering the effects of stress.
• Pantothenic acid: consider taking 2 capsules in the morning to help with adrenal support. Adrenal health is crucial to balancing anxiety.
• Optimal Multivitamin: a broad-spectrum mutlivitamin which is easy to absorb as it contains chelated minerals and active B vitamins along with greens. Low B vitamins and minerals are commonly found in those with anxiety and stress. Consider taking 3 capsules in the AM with breakfast and three capsules at lunch.
• Magnesium Plus: consider taking 2 capsules of Magnesium Plus in the morning and two in the evening before bed. Magnesium is critical for numerous enzymatic pathways and neurotransmitter support - along with vitamin B6. After one month at 2 capsules twice a day, try reducing to one capsule before bed.
• Optimal Vitamin C: cortisol levels stay elevated in those with low vitamin C. High cortisol levels are found in those with anxiety and stress. Vitamin C helps blunt the cortisol response thereby reducing the effects of stressful situations. Consider taking 1/2 scoop in a glass of filtered water on an as needed basis - at least once per day.
• Optimal Fish Oil Liquid: not necessarily an 'anti-anxiety' nutrient per se but definitely needed for general health, nerve protection and cell membrane support. Anxiety and stress is a 'catabolic' situation in the body meaning it breaks down your health vs building it. Optimal Fish Oil helps reverse this. Consider taking 2 tsps once a day with a meal any time of day.

If your genetic test comes back positive for MTHFR, we will need to discuss what to do and create a plan.

If your blood pressure continues to stay elevated after improving your anxiety and stress, then we need to approach it from another method.

Of course, healthy dietary intake, exercise, social activities and sleep are critical to healthy blood pressure.