High Blood Pressure Also known as: Hypertension

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High Blood Pressure Also known as: Hypertension

 

It is estimated that over 50 million people in the United States have high blood

pressure or are on prescription drugs to control their blood pressure. High

blood pressure is a silent disease. It is often diagnosed during a routine visit

to the doctor.

 

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against the walls of the arteries,

veins, and the chambers of the heart as it is pumped through the body. With high

blood pressure, there is a greater force against the arteries, which over time,

begins to damage the lining of the blood vessels. It can lead to

atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. High cholesterol and

smoking are other risk factors of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, in turn, can

increase the lead to heart attack, stroke, and other serious conditions.

 

There are two forms of high blood pressure: essential hypertension (also called

primary hypertention) and secondary hypertension. In essential hypertension,

doctors are unable to find a cause of the high blood pressure. Between 85 to 90%

of cases are of this type. In secondary hypertension, the high blood pressure is

caused by an underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal dysfunction,

thyroid disease, excessive alcohol intake, and drugs such as oral

contraceptives, corticosteroids, licorice, or drugs that stimulate the

sympathetic nervous system.

 

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. People with severe high blood

pressure may experience the following symptoms:

 

dizziness

 

flushed face

 

dizziness

 

nervousness

 

headache

 

fatigue and weakness

 

restlessness

 

difficulty breathing

 

nose bleed

 

insomnia

 

intestinal complaints

 

emotional instability

 

Primary hypertension is often asymptomatic until complications develop, such as

stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. Causes of High Blood Pressure

Heredity is a predisposing factor, but the exact mechanism is unclear. There is

usually more than one factor involved. Diet, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol,

diabetes, stress, and obesity are just some of the possible environmental

factors. These factors may affect blood pressure more in people with genetic

susceptibility.

 

High blood pressure is associated with the Western diet, obesity, stress, and

dietary factors. Some nutritionists point to the lack of potassium and magnesium

in the diet, especially in relation to salt intake. Other lifestyle factors that

may play a role are smoking and coffee and alcohol consumption. There is also

some evidence that contamination from heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and

cadmium can promote high blood pressure.

 

Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

The diagnosis of high blood pressure depends on repeatedly demonstrating higher

than normal blood pressure. Secondary causes of high blood pressure must also be

ruled out. Blood and urine tests and eye exams are often conducted.

 

Natural Treatments for High Blood Pressure

In most cases of mildly elevated blood pressure, doctors will recommend dietary

and lifestyle modification for a period of time to see if this normalizes blood

pressure. It is important to work with your primary care provider. Untreated

high blood pressure can damage many organs in the body and increases the risk

for stroke, brain hemorrhage, heart attack, and kidney failure at an early age.

 

Diet

 

Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium – Adequate intake of the minerals calcium,

potassium, and magnesium is necessary for blood pressure control. When the diet

lacks these minerals, supplementation may improve blood pressure control.

Potassium-rich foods include avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon,

grapefruit, nectarines, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,

green peas, potatoes, and squash. Foods rich in magnesium include nuts, rice,

bananas, potatoes, wheat germ, kidney and lima beans, soy, and molasses.

 

Herbs and Nutritional Supplements

 

Garlic – There have been a number of studies examining the effects of garlic

supplements on blood pressure. Garlic appears to lower blood pressure by 5 to

10%. It can also lower cholesterol, reduce triglyceride levels, discourage clot

formation, and promote blood circulation. A typical dose of garlic is 900 mg of

garlic powder per day, standardized to contain 1.3% alliin. This provides about

12,000 mcg of alliin per day. This dosage is also recommended for lowering high

cholesterol.

 

Garlic can thin the blood. It should not be combined with prescription

blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline) or with

natural blood-thinners such as vitamin E or ginkgo. It is usually recommended

that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of

surgery.

 

 

 

Co Q10- Coenzyme Q10, also called Co Q10, is another supplement that is commonly

recommended for high blood pressure. One double blind, placebo-controlled study

of 59 men already taking blood pressure medication found that 120 mg of Co Q10

daily for eight weeks could reduce blood pressure by about 9% compared to

placebo. A typical dose of Co Q10 is 30 to 100 mg three times a day. Co Q10

appears to be safe, however, there are some concerns about whether Co Q10

interacts with the blood-thinning drug Coumadin (warfarin).

 

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) – Hawthorn is a very well known heart herbal

tonic in traditional herbal medicine. It has been used in Europe and China for

centuries as a folk remedy. It is believed to decrease blood pressure, increase

heart muscle contraction, increase blood flow to the heart muscle, and decrease

heart rate. There is more evidence supporting the use of hawthorn for congestive

heart failure. For blood pressure, hawthorn is believed to seldom be enough to

make a significant difference. A typical dose of hawthorn is 100 to 300 mg three

times a day of a dose standardized to contain about 2 to 3% flavonoids or 18 to

20% procyanidins. The full effect takes several weeks to months to develop.

 

Ayurvedic Medicine

 

In ayurveda, high blood pressure is treated according to each person’s dosha, or

constitutional type. High blood pressure is most often found in pitta and kapha

types. Ayurvedic approaches often include a diet low in salt and fat, yoga

breathing exercises, and herbs such as sankhapuspi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and

ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).

 

Traditional

 

In traditional Chinese medicine, high blood pressure is often a problem of

circulation of energy (qi) in the body. Poor diet and emotional imbalance are

just some of the factors that can lead to this condition. A combination of

acupuncture and herbs is often recommended to balance energy flow. Secondary

high blood pressure is often due to exhaustion of energy reserves. This is

called kidney yin deficiency. The treatment goal is to build up and restore

energy.

 

Lifestyle Changes

 

Exercise - Regular exercise can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and

decrease resting heart rate, which is a sign of heart health. Before beginning a

new exercise program, a person with high blood pressure should consult a

qualified health professional.

 

Stress Management – Mind/body techniques to help manage stress include yoga,

meditation, biofeedback, qigong, relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, and

hypnotherapy. There have been numerous studies that suggest these techniques can

effective in managing high blood pressure, in combination with other approaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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