Around one in three adults in western industrialised nations will suffer from high blood pressure, a further third of these will be unaware of their condition because high blood pressure is a silent and deadly disease.
Blood pressure at a normalised rate will look something like 120(systolic)/80(diastolic)mmHg. Pre-hypertension is between 120-139/80-89 and stage one and two hypertension range between 140-160/90-100 or higher. Nosebleeds, headaches and dizziness are some of the symptoms of high blood pressure, though symptoms are rare in the early stages.
There is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure (unless it is secondary hypertension which is directly related to another illness) rather it is a combination of lifestyle factors which lead to the disease. Lifestyles that are sedentary, involve high intake of salt and sugar, smoking and alcohol consumption will all carry risk of hypertension as will excess weigh, increased age and a family history of the disorder.
There are many natural remedies and lifestyle changes which can help to get your blood pressure lower naturally. Most doctors will recommend medications for controlling hypertension and in severe cases this is very necessary, but try and work with your doctor to find natural solutions to hypertension ” in any case leaving high blood pressure untreated can lead to kidney disease, stroke and heart attack.
Some natural remedies worth looking into include coenzyme Q10, which has seen promising results in studies for lowering blood pressure. Garlic is one of natures wonder plants, and as a natural blood thinner helps in lowering blood pressure ” including it in your diet is a great health benefit even without hypertension, though if you are taking garlic supplements then consult your doctor to see how it will react with any other medication you are one.
Hawthorn is also great for high blood pressure. Hawthorn extract has seen marked reductions in studies of hypertensive patients without any herb-drug reactions.
Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium have all shown to have results in helping to lower high blood pressure. Potassium helps counter the effects of salt on the kidneys and helps to lower blood pressure there. There are many other herbal and natural remedies out there, so try all your options before going on life-time medication.
Stress is also a significant factor in high blood pressure, so learning to de-stress your life is essential to controlling the disorder. The fight against hypertension can also be helped by using your mind ” techniques such as autogenic training and biofeedback have shown postivie impacts on high blood pressure. Both techniques are about learning to control otherwise involuntary functions like breathing, temperature, heart rate and of course blood pressure. These techniques are positive life practices, though they do require a lot of effort.
Low impact exercise evens out blood flow and will lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure, so taking a daily walk is another good treatment. High intensity exercise is not recommended for hypertensive patients, though any new exercise program should be run past your doctor first to be on the safe side.
Ayurvedic, Chinese and other alternative medicical practices also have treatments for high blood pressure. Constitutional types are used to treat patients in Ayurvedic medicine, so each remedy will differ for each patient . Chinese medicine sees a lack of vital energy or Qi as being realted to high blood pressure and emotional issues such as depression and anger linked to hypertension. Chinese medicine practitioners will generally combine acupuncture with herbal treatments.
It is very important to remember that natural remedies are available and can work quickly to lower blood pressure. Finding ways to deal with high blood pressure naturally is essential if you are a hypertension sufferer and even if you think you may be at risk.