Managing High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Health
Millions of people suffer from hypertension and, as such, managing high blood pressure is crucial for those that have been diagnosed with it.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries created by the pumping of your heart. A complex bodily system regulates blood pressure. However, the main regulators are arterioles, the body's smallest arteries, which widen and constrict, causing pressure to fall and rise. In short, chronically high blood pressure is when the regulatory system goes awry and the arterioles stay constricted.
Elevated high blood pressure causes the heart to work harder to pump an adequate amount of blood and nutrients throughout the body.
In addition, long term high blood pressure damages the blood vessels and increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure, which is why many people look for information in regards to managing high blood pressure.
The precise cause of this condition is unknown in about 90-95 percent of people. However, experts point out that there are several risk factors associated with high blood pressure. These include high sodium intake, stress, obesity, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking, age, alcohol, heredity, and the excessive use of stimulates such as drug abuse, coffee or tea.
High Blood Pressure Health
How is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure is measured by using a sphygmomanometer that measures two points in the heart's pumping rhythm: systolic blood pressure is taken at the moment the heart beats and, as such, the first point measures the pressure on arteries as the heart beats; diastolic blood pressure is taken when the heart rests between beats and, as such, the second point measures the pressure on the arteries when the heart relaxes.
Part of managing blood pressure is the understanding what is considered normal, borderline high, and high. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 and borderline high is 130-139/85-89. High blood pressure is any measure greater than 140/90.
Managing High Blood Pressure
Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications
Managing high blood pressure through diet and lifestyle changes have shown to be effective.
Lifestyle modifications such as eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in salt is recommended. If lowering your salt intake is not enough; follow a strict salt-free diet.
In addition, boost your fiber intake, including taking supplemental fiber, and add grains such as brown rice, buckwheat, millet, and oats to your diet.
Garlic can be adding to your cooking since it has shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol. Moreover, eating garlic can't hurt you so it's worth a try.
It is also recommended that you maintain a healthy weight, drink eight 8 oz glasses of water daily, exercise regularly, and limit or cut out your alcohol consumption.
It's important to avoid caffeine and tobacco. In addition, cut out animal fats such as bacon, beef, chicken liver, dairy products, corned beef, pork, sausage, processed meats, etc. However, there are a few animal foods that are acceptable in moderation, which include broiled white fish and skinless turkey or chicken. It is recommended that you get your protein from vegetables sources, grains, and legumes.
Relaxation exercises are also helpful such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, visualization, and prayer.
Those of you that are taking an MAO inhibitor, a class of drugs prescribed to counter depression, lower blood pressure, and treat infections and cancer, it is recommend that you avoid the chemical tyramine and it's precursor, tyrosine. Experts claim that combining MAO inhibitors with the chemical tyramine will not help in the managing of high blood pressure – it causes the blood pressure to soar and could cause a stroke. Food sources containing tyramine include almonds, avocados, bananas, beef or chicken liver, beer, cheese, cottage cheese, chocolate, coffee, fava beans, herring, meat tenderizers, peanuts, pickles, pineapples, pumpkin seeds, raisins, sausage, sesame seeds, sour cream, soy sauce, wine, yeast extracts, yogurt, and others. In general, stay clear from any high-protein food that has undergone aging, pickling, fermentation, or similar processes.
High Blood Pressure Health
High Blood Pressure Prevention
The prevention of high blood pressure requires reducing all the possible risk factors.
Get regular exercise
Eat a healthy diet
Don't smoke
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Maintain a healthy weight
In addition, other factors associated with high blood pressure include high sodium intake, stress, and the excessive use of stimulates such as drug abuse, coffee or tea. In fact, a diet high in sodium and low in potassium is associated with high blood pressure. One the other hand, a diet high in potassium and low in sodium have been noted to have favorable results in managing high blood pressure by lowering it.
Managing High Blood Pressure
Prescription Treatments
High blood pressure management also includes the use of prescription medications. However, many of these can have adverse side effects, so it's important that you consult with your doctor carefully if you are considering one.
Managing High Blood Pressure
Natural High Blood Pressure Treatments
According to world famous Reader's Digest, in their well-renowned tome "The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs":
"If you have mild hypertension, you may want to try lifestyle changes and supplements before turning to prescription drugs, which often have unpleasant side effects. Begin with a two or three-month trial with supplements. If your blood pressure drops, you can use the supplements indefinitely."
Managing High Blood Pressure
Natural High Blood Pressure Herbs
Click here to learn all about natural high blood pressure remedies.
The following natural herbs are also very promising in managing high blood pressure and are often advocated by naturopath physicians and other like-minded experts. For example, from Native Remedies Website, a well respected manufacturer of high quality natural health products:
Crataegus oxyacantha (Hawthorn) is one of the most highly respected natural remedies for high blood pressure and has well-known cardio-protective properties. Hawthorn dilates blood vessels by blocking the action of a blood constricting enzyme called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). This increases the heart's energy supply and improves its pumping ability. Hawthorn not only reduces blood pressure in cases where there are chronically constricted arteries but its anti-oxidant properties also help to protect against damage caused by plaque build up in the coronary arteries.
Passiflora incarnate is a well known calmative herb which also relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood pressure.
Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose bark) is a very effective cardiac tonic and muscle relaxant. It is known to relax the cardiovascular system and also to relieve nervous tension, often associated with high blood pressure.
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on the planet, dating back about 200 million years. It has survived mainly in Oriental temple gardens, where it is highly prized for its medicinal properties in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Modern studies have demonstrated the significant effect that Ginkgo biloba has on the cardiovascular system, relaxing blood vessels, acting as a circulatory stimulant and anti-inflammatory. One of the most important active ingredients, ginkgolide, has been clinically shown to be just as effective as standard pharmaceutical drugs in treating irregular heart beats. Improving blood flow throughout the body, Ginkgo biloba can also reduce blood 'stickiness', which lowers the risk of blood clots.
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Remember to always speak to a physican before taking any dietary supplements.
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