Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Natural High Blood Pressure Treatment

What is High Blood Pressure?
Hypertension is treated using many different types of prescription medications. The natural therapies described in this article are to be used in conjunction with regular high blood pressure medications to help one lower blood pressure to the optimal range of less than 120 over 80mmHg. 


Hypertension or high blood pressure is often undiagnosed and left uncontrolled because many people have no symptoms in the early stages. When left untreated it results in complications such kidney failure, heart failure and stroke. It is therefore very important for one to have regular checkups to determine if their blood pressure is above the normal range and if it is, for it to be controlled.


One is said to have high blood when their systolic or upper blood pressure reading is more than 140 and their diastolic or lower blood pressure reading is more than 90 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). A single reading of more than 140 over 90 does not mean that one has high blood pressure and a doctor can help determine whether or not a patient has hypertension.
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a scientifically proven method of lowering high blood pressure by modifying your diet.  It is consists of a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with modest amounts of fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, and low fat dairy foods.


Potassium rich foods are very beneficial in lowering blood pressure. They include bananas, orange juice, spinach and tomato juice. If one has kidney disease they should consult their doctor before increasing the intake of potassium rich foods.


To control high blood pressure a diet should be low in sodium. This can be achieved by reducing the intake of salt and avoiding high sodium foods such as potato crisps. One can also flavor food by cooking it with herbs instead of adding a lot of salt.


Garlic juice can also help dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. One can squeeze garlic cloves and drink the fresh juice or they can obtain the benefits by eating fresh garlic cloves whole.


These dietary measures should be part of a balanced diet with plenty of fiber and pure water. The diet should be low in processed foods, artificial preservatives, food additives and coloring. 

Close-up of Cut and Uncut Fresh Fruit


Nutritional Supplements for High Blood Pressure
Supplements that help with the management of hypertension include calcium and magnesium. They can be obtained from dietary sources such as milk, yoghurt, cheese and green leafy vegetables. 


Adequate vitamin C intake has also been shown to be beneficial in the management of hypertension. It can also be obtained from citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and lemons.


In addition to these nutritional supplements, one should also take a daily multivitamin and multimineral supplement to ensure they get their full daily requirements of all the vitamins and minerals.
Physical Exercise for Hypertension
Regular exercise is also very important in regulating blood pressure. Exercise relaxes the artery walls, helps one lose weight and manage stress. Regular aerobic exercise is especially beneficial and includes walking, swimming, sporting activities such as badminton as well as everyday activities such as gardening. One can begin with 5 minutes of walking everyday and build it up to 30 minutes four times a week. 
Lifestyle Modifications for High Blood Pressure
Lifestyle modifications that can help in managing hypertension include loosing weight. Excess weight places extra pressure on the heart and blood vessels. In overweight and obese patients, weight loss of even just 5 to 10% of their body weight can significantly reduce their blood pressure.
Stress Management and High Blood Pressure
Stress management is also vital for reducing high blood pressure since during the stress reaction the body produces stress hormones which result in elevation of blood pressure. One can effectively manage their stress by learning effective relaxation techniques such as abdominal breathing, having a rich spiritual life and exercising regularly.
Holistic High Blood Pressure Treatment
Therefore, a combination of eating healthily, using nutritional supplements judiciously and simple lifestyle modifications can help one lower high blood pressure naturally. Note that the natural therapies described in this article should be used together with you prescription hypertension medications.


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