The prevalence of hypertension amongst adults age 30 and above in Malaysia in 2011 was at 43.5%.*
In a more recent (2021) study, the figure jumped to 49.4%** High blood pressure does not discriminate between genders and it is a growing concern in Malaysia.

Let's try and understand hypertension a little better..

There are two types of hypertension: primary and secondary. It has been said that there is no single cause for primary hypertension while secondary hypertension always arises as a consequence of another disease. Causes of primary hypertension that are often cited include: family history, high cholesterol, obesity, diet, smoking, stress and excessive salt intake. Conversely, the one very significant cause -magnesium deficiency- is overlooked.[1]

This is how magnesium is involved with maintaining blood pressure levels:

1. Magnesium keeps blood vessels relaxed and in dilated conditions as necessary, consequently maintaining normal blood pressure levels.[2]
   
   
2. ‘Magnesium prevents muscle spasms of the peripheral blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure.’[3]
   
   
3. By lowering hypertension and normalizing blood pressure levels, magnesium lowers the risk of pre-eclampsia. [4]
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When mineral (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc) content is balanced, BP is normal. However, today’s diet is typically imbalanced: low in magnesium and potassium, and high in sodium.
While the de-facto advice often is to reduce salt consumption, this does not address the problem of LACK or DEFICIENCY of magnesium and potassium. 

There are notable health professionals such as Dr. James DiNicolantonio who wrote The Salt Fix that can challenge what we believe about salt consumption. The problem is not in how much salt we consume, but what kind of salt, and whether it is balanced with the other minerals and electrolytes. 

"The body requires magnesium to absorb and utilize nutrients. Without magnesium the body cannot properly use the fats, proteins and carbohydrates we eat every day. When we aren’t getting what we need from our diet, the body will crave more food in an effort to obtain those vital nutrients. By activating hundreds of enzymes in the body, magnesium helps you get the most from what you eat, so your body can be satisfied with the amount of food you genuinely need.*
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Conditions like insulin resistance and diabetes are strongly associated with obesity. Obesity also often precedes the development of type 2 diabetes.   

By taking steps to prevent or reverse obesity, one would be evading not just one disease, but several potential major diseases including heart diseases. Furthermore, supplementation of magnesium to counter a deficiency in the mineral and for the maintenance of your body can be greatly beneficial.

When enough magnesium is present in the body, insulin can function properly and blood glucose is used for energy. A magnesium deficiency causes insulin to function poorly, resulting in high blood sugar and fat storage."⠀

With regard to obesity and diabetes [1] :

‘A large clinical study of over 2000 people found that getting more magnesium in the diet may help protect against developing type 2 diabetes.’[2] For every 100 mg of increased daily magnesium intake, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes fall by 15 %.

-Magnesium has a role in activating enzymes in your body that control the processes of digestion, absorption and use of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

-Magnesium is needed for insulin to open cell membranes for glucose to enter and contribute in the production of energy for your body.

-When your body is low in  magnesium and high in calcium, both insulin and glucose levels become elevated. The excess glucose gets stored as fat and contributes to obesity; in addition to placing you on the path towards diabetes. Furthermore, your body responds to low magnesium-high calcium conditions as follows [3]:

1. beta cells (insulin producers) make & release too much insulin = hyperinsulinemia
   
   
2. fat tissue cells unable to respond to insulin = insulin resistance
   
   
3. muscle cells unable to respond to insulin = insulin resistance
   
   
4. liver cells produce too much glucose = poor glucose tolerance  (diabetes)
   
   

-At high dosages, magnesium supports nerve regeneration that combats diabetic neuropathy of the organs and peripherals. [4] [5]

-Magnesium is necessary in metabolizing B vitamins which help in preventing obesity genes from expressing themselves.[6]

-‘…magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. Based on current knowledge, clinicians have good reason to believe that magnesium repletion may play a role in delaying type 2 diabetes onset and potentially in warding off its devastating complications — cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, and nephropathy.’[7]

What we recommend chronic sufferers of diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity is to ensure healthy magnesium levels and regular use/uptake of magnesium. A good way would be by having daily foot soaks or baths with magnesium flakes for 4-6 weeks. You can then cut back to soaks 2-3x a week after that. Combine this with daily use of magnesium oil and/or lotion, higher intake of magnesium-rich foods and increase physical movement, Furthermore, do eliminate all negative talk, low vibe-ing people, processed foods, sugars and inflammatory foods for faster, longer-lasting results! Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and take measurements, and we look forward to hearing from you on your progress!

There are many factors that can contribute to you having a headache; one of them is stress. Did you know that magnesium is natural stress reliever? Furthermore,  serotonin (a neurotransmitter) is dependent on magnesium for its production and function[1]. In theory, the lower your serotonin levels, the more adverse the effects of stress can be on you. A deficiency in serotonin can also lead to depression and migraine headaches.[2] ‘Mg deficiency intensifies adverse reactions to stress that can be life threatening.’ [3]

d)    Magnesium relaxes muscles and prevents the build-up of lactic acid; lactic acid in combination with tension can worsen head and muscle pain.

e)     Magnesium regulates brain neurotransmitter action and inflammatory substances.

f)     Magnesium prevents platelet aggregation (the clumping together of platelets in the blood)[4], therefore preventing the formation of clots that can cause blood vessel spasm and the occurrence of migraine pains.

It has been suggested by a few clinical studies that ‘magnesium supplements may shorten the duration of a migraine and reduce the amount of medication needed.’ Individuals who have migraine headaches usually tend to have lower levels of magnesium in comparison to those with tension headaches or no headaches at all.[5]

The importance of magnesium to the nervous system is such that your brain stores twice as much magnesium as other body tissues. Magnesium is an anti-stress mineral that has a calming effect, induces restful sleep and is very useful for the person with an overactive nervous system or who is anxious or agitated.

As a preventative measure, we recommend having regular foot soaks or baths using magnesium flakes, using magnesium oil or lotion daily, and increasing your intake of magnesium-rich foods.
In an acute situation, where you feel the onslaught of a migraine or have a headache, we suggest saturating your scalp with magnesium oil, apply magnesium oil on your forehead, temples, back of neck, shoulders and chest. Some users like to also add 5-10 drops of Mg Oil to a glass of warm water, drink that then rest/relax in a cool and dark room until you feel the migraine/headache ease off. Do as many of the above suggested as you can. We know headaches and migraines don't always come at convenient times. But in general for many, the more magnesium used in a shorter span of time, the faster the results.

If you have other recommendations, or have used magnesium for your headaches and migraines, please do share in a comment below!