To Investigate the Mechanism of Hypertension Induced by Chronic Renal Failure-Related Arteriosclerosis and Principles of Treatment and Nursing Care in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Kidney disease is one of the causes of secondary hypertension; there are many mechanisms of hypertension, but the most basic one is arteriosclerosis. Recent studies have indicated a relationship between arteriosclerosis and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), arterial deposition, and difficulty in removing obstructions. Oxidative stress is one of the causes of AGEs formation. Studies have shown that chronic renal failure (CRF) not only causes an increase in oxidative stress in the body, but also leads to a decreased clearance of advanced glycation end products. CRF-related arteriosclerosis can also be interpreted by the five-phase engendering and restraining theory of pathology in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to five-phase theory, water restrains fire, that is, diseases of the kidney are transmitted to the heart. Moreover, because the heart governs the blood vessels, diseases of the kidney indirectly damage the blood vessels. Therefore, from the principles of treatment and nursing care in TCM, arteriosclerosis treatment and care can be used according to the formation mechanism. Furthermore, treatment that attenuates renal dysfunction progression may improve kidney function and achieve the aim of preventing or reducing the risk of developing arteriosclerosis.