Not Many of us Think about the Role of Bradykinin in Heart Health.
Bradykinin is what is known as an “endogenous kinin peptide hormone” (1). The role of bradykinin in heart health is:
- Regulation of blood pressure.
- Regulation of inflammation.
- Coagulation.
- Pain control.
This article will look at the role of bradykinin (in general), and in the Cardiovascular System, and heart health.
Bradykinin is a part of a kinin group of proteins, which are known for their ability to cause dilation of blood vessels, contraction of smooth muscle tissues, and increased vascular permeability. It originates from kininogen, a protein that’s broken down by an enzyme called kallikrein. The result is a potent vasodilator that widens blood vessels and enhances blood flow.
If you have low or high bradykinin on your CBH bioenergetic scan, you will most likely not feel anything.
We do not want you worried about your blood pressure, as you will see that this peptide hormone can relate to other things!
The Role of Bradykinin in Heart Health.
Let’s first define what ‘heart health’ actually means. Simply put, heart health refers to the overall wellness of the heart, including its structures, functions, and the blood vessels supplying it. It involves maintaining a normal heart rhythm, ensuring adequate blood supply to the heart, and preventing the development of heart diseases.
The heart, the Cardiovascular System’s powerhouse, is responsible for pumping blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body. It is also responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the lungs for oxygenation. Any disruption in these processes can lead to heart diseases, some of the leading causes of death globally.
We have a blog post called Explaining the Cardiovascular System Dial, if your Cardio Dial is stressed on your CBH report. This is helpful if you want further links to the Cardiovascular System and the heart in general.
The Role of Bradykinin in the Human Body.
Bradykinin plays multiple roles in human physiology.
- Regulation of Blood Pressure. As a potent vasodilator, it is fundamental for blood pressure regulation. By dilating blood vessels, Bradykinin ensures that blood can flow easily throughout the body. This function makes it crucial for heart health as efficient blood flow is the heart’s primary function.
- Inflammation. When an injury or infection occurs, Bradykinin levels increase, causing inflammation and pain, which are the body’s natural defense mechanisms. This peptide also plays a role in the regulation of electrolytes, glucose metabolism, and even the release of insulin, making it a multifaceted compound. Bradykinin works with prostaglandins and histamine in the role of vasodilation.
- Protective Mechanisms. The role of bradykinin is one of protection for the Cardiovascular System. Parts of these kinin systems are in the heart and blood vessels. Genetics, changes in the receptors and pathology can impair these systems (2).
- Pain signaling. When someone has an infection, inflammation or an injury, there is a release of peptides such as bradykinin, serotonin, and prostaglandins. This leads to something called nociceptive signaling. This signaling happens in the nervous system in response to a stimuli that may transmit pain (3).
Any bioenergetic imbalance in a hormone, either too high or too low, can change or stress other systems in the body.
How the Role of Bradykinin in Heart Health looks on Bioenergetic Testing.
Bradykinin’s primary role as a vasodilator makes it fundamentally important for heart health. By dilating the blood vessels, it decreases resistance to blood flow, effectively lowering blood pressure. This means the heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood throughout the body, reducing the risk of heart diseases like hypertension.
However, when Bradykinin levels become too high, it can lead to something known as ‘Bradykinin storm,’ which can negatively affect the heart. In such a scenario, the excessive dilation of blood vessels can cause a significant drop in blood pressure, leading to something called hypotension. This can reduce the blood supply to the heart, causing heart-related complications.
What if bradykinin shows up high on my report?
If your hormonal imbalance section shows high bradykinin, does this mean your heart is in trouble? No, it does not. Bioenergetic testing and looking at the human energy field is very different from western type testing.
Read the post Bioenergetic Testing and How it May Help You to Dig Deeper in your quest for creating balanced health.
If your report has bioenergetically imbalanced bradykinin, or high bradykinin, this could relate to an inflammatory process in the body. Earlier in the post we discussed pain signalling, blood pressure and even glucose metabolism. When looking at all hormones, it’s best to look at the bigger picture of the body.
With imbalanced bradykinin, you might link it to a chronic pain response you’re having. Imbalanced bradykinin can increase the pain response (3).
Fun Scan Fact: overworked muscles become sore and inflamed and bradykinin can increase in the body. Herbs such as turmeric, saffron and ginger decrease inflammation and may indirectly decrease bradykinin (4)
We also talked about blood sugar regulation, or even low blood pressure. Even without bioenergetic testing, science does link balanced blood sugar to a healthy heart.
Top Bioenergetic Testing Takeaways for Improving Bradykinin
Heart health is linked to overall health, and even your oral health.
Besides genetics, lifestyle factors can impact bradykinin levels. Regular exercise, for instance, has been shown to increase bradykinin levels, contributing to better blood flow and lower blood pressure. Additionally, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help maintain a healthy kinin-kallikrein system, the system responsible for bradykinin production.
It’s also important to manage stress levels, as chronic stress can impact bradykinin production and function. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can be beneficial in managing stress and supporting overall heart health.
Improving heart health involves more than just managing Bradykinin levels. The tips in the post we have on Explaining the Cardiovascular System are helpful here!
Have a few questions on your CBH bioenergetic testing report? Book a 30 minute call with one of our practitioners.
