Potassium and magnesium are good for your heart
Ions are distributed segregatively between the inner and outer parts of the cell membrane.
Irritability, a defining characteristic of the living organism, is effected by ion exchange between this membrane in excitable tissue e.g the nerve or muscle cell. Similar exchange is carried out in the less excitable cell. Mechanical, chemical and electrical stimuli cause ion distribution across the membrane to change transiently, mainly sodium and potassium in the nerve; and sodium, potassium and calcium in the muscle. This is commonly sensed as irritation, and structurally leads to cellular proliferation, if chronic.
Such chronic stimulation in some highly proliferative cells like fibroblasts, hepatocytes, or bone marrow stem cells or genetically modified adult cells, from such damage, will receive signal from influxed calcium to proliferate, through gene activation and protein synthesis. No doubt, most chronic irritations in the body lead to excessive tissue growth and calcification. Magnesium has a similar electronic configuration to Calcium. Given in most such chronic lesions, it flushes out calcium, retains water and leads to the regression of growth, which has the potential to become cancerous. However, excessive calcium may accumulate in the cytosol, cause cell death and limit tumor progression.
In a similar vein, sodium is found outside the cell membrane, and goes into the cell as potassium comes out during stimulation. Both have similar electronic configuration. Normally, sodium draws water through osmosis and keeps it in the extracellular medium, which includes blood and this has the potential to cause high blood pressure. To help flush out sodium, potassium consumption is advocated.
Too much sodium and calcium will increase heart and blood vessel contraction and may contribute to high blood pressure. By using magnesium and potassium to flush out calcium and sodium, high blood pressure can be controlled in a similar way as calcium antagonists e.g. nifedipine and thiazides e.g Lasix are used therapeutically to treat hypertension.
Excess electrolytes loss will however lead to muscle cramps, heart flutter, muscle weakness and low blood pressure.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso
Irritability, a defining characteristic of the living organism, is effected by ion exchange between this membrane in excitable tissue e.g the nerve or muscle cell. Similar exchange is carried out in the less excitable cell. Mechanical, chemical and electrical stimuli cause ion distribution across the membrane to change transiently, mainly sodium and potassium in the nerve; and sodium, potassium and calcium in the muscle. This is commonly sensed as irritation, and structurally leads to cellular proliferation, if chronic.
Such chronic stimulation in some highly proliferative cells like fibroblasts, hepatocytes, or bone marrow stem cells or genetically modified adult cells, from such damage, will receive signal from influxed calcium to proliferate, through gene activation and protein synthesis. No doubt, most chronic irritations in the body lead to excessive tissue growth and calcification. Magnesium has a similar electronic configuration to Calcium. Given in most such chronic lesions, it flushes out calcium, retains water and leads to the regression of growth, which has the potential to become cancerous. However, excessive calcium may accumulate in the cytosol, cause cell death and limit tumor progression.
In a similar vein, sodium is found outside the cell membrane, and goes into the cell as potassium comes out during stimulation. Both have similar electronic configuration. Normally, sodium draws water through osmosis and keeps it in the extracellular medium, which includes blood and this has the potential to cause high blood pressure. To help flush out sodium, potassium consumption is advocated.
Too much sodium and calcium will increase heart and blood vessel contraction and may contribute to high blood pressure. By using magnesium and potassium to flush out calcium and sodium, high blood pressure can be controlled in a similar way as calcium antagonists e.g. nifedipine and thiazides e.g Lasix are used therapeutically to treat hypertension.
Excess electrolytes loss will however lead to muscle cramps, heart flutter, muscle weakness and low blood pressure.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso
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