NATURAL COMPOUNDS for Healthy Blood Pressure

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NATURAL COMPOUNDS for Healthy Blood Pressure

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Diet, exercise and lifestyle

changes are essential for controlling blood pressure. Specific food

supplements may also help. A large proportion of the U.S. population suffers

from

hypertension or high blood pressure. Many put themselves into this

situation by ignoring proper diet and exercise and/or creating a reality of

stress

for themselves. The following are several compounds based on natural

" helpers " that are not drugs created by the drug companies and that have been

able to substantially (in many cases) reduce the problem of high blood

pressure and hypertension. Most of these can be obtained without a

prescription,

however, self-treatment is not recommended (see_ Notice)_

(http://www.karinya.com/notice.htm) , so you need to check with your health

care provider

for your specific situation, since there are many different factors involved

with blood pressure/hypertension, and of course each one of us is

different.

 

 

 

 

PRESSURE POINTS

ITEM

DESCRIPTION

What is Blood Pressure Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the

arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. How is Blood

Pressure Measured Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury and

recorded as two (2) numbers, for example 120/80. The larger number indicates

the pressure in the arteries as the heart squeezes out blood during each

beat, called the systolic blood pressure. The lower number indicates the

pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat, called the dislistolic

blood

pressure. It's best to measure the pressure when you are relaxed, sitting

or lying down. Why is High Blood

Pressure Unhealthy If the blood pressure remains high it can cause serious

problems such as heart attack, a stroke, heart failure or kidney dis-ease.

High pressure usually does not give warning signs. The only way to find

out whether one has high blood pressure (or any pressure for that matter) is

to have it checked regularly. Who is At Risk

for High

Blood Pressure Blacks, Heavy (alcohol) drinkers, Middle-age and elderly,

Obese, those with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney dis-ease. Blood

Pressures Normal: Systolic - below 130, Diastolic: below 85, example:

120/84

High Normal: Systolic - 130-139, Diastolic: 85-89, example: 135/85

Mild High: Systolic - 140-159, Diastolic: 90-99, example: 145/95

Moderate High: Systolic: 160-179, Diastolic: 100-109, example: 160/105

Severe High: Systolic: 180+, Diastolic: 110+, example: 180/115 How to

Measure

Your Pulse These are the steps for determining your pulse in the radial

artery in your wrist:

1) Stop any exercise

2) Using tips of your fingers, locate the area between your wrist bone (on

either hand) and tendon on the thumb side of either wrist. You will feel

the pulsing of the artery when you have positioned your finger properly.

3) Make sure not to press so hard on the blood vessel that the flow of

blood is obstructed.

4) Count your radial pulse for 10 seconds and then multiply by six (6) to

get your pulse rate per minute.

 

 

 

First, you should know there are several categories of hypertension drugs.

These are shown in the following chart. Secondly, most if not all of these

have been formulated by the drug companies to be taken upon a doctor's

prescription. This chart displays the basic grouping and describes what they

are about. Some of this information may surprise you!

 

DRUG TYPE WHAT IT DOES SIDE EFFECTS Diuretics Increases kidney's

excretion of sodium, which in turn decreases the volume of blood in the system.

Drains the body's supplies of potassium and magnesium; raises cholesterol

levels; and makes blood platelets sticker, increasing the risk of harmful

clots. Beta Blockers Lowers blood pressure by blocking responses from beta

nerve receptors. This slows down the heartbeat and decreases the amount of

blood that the heart pumps. Impotence, fatigue, depression, and increased

triglyceride and cholesterol levels; difficulty in getting sufficient

blood to the hands, feet and brain. Calcium Channel Blockers Keeps calcium

from getting into the muscle cells of the arteries, allowing blood vessels to

widen. May weaken the heart and harm the liver.

 

Now that the above chart shows you what some of the more popular groups of

prescription drugs can do, the below chart shows a few of the Natural

Compounds that do the same or better job (in our opinion), without a

prescription.

 

NATURAL

COMPOUNDS DESCRIPTION Hawthorn Can widen blood vessels, especially the

coronary arteries. Some of the flavonoids in Hawthorn help prevent the

narrowing of blood vessels. (*1) (See references below) Cayenne Reduces the

risk

of atherosclerosis, which can lead to hypertension. Kudzu Contains a

chemical (puerarin) that has decreased blood pressure by 15 percent in lab

animals (*2). In addition, puerarin has many times the antioxidant activity of

vitamin E, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Saffron

Contains a blood-pressure-lowering chemical called crocetin. Some

researchers speculate that the low rate of heart disease in Spain is due to the

Spaniards' high consumption of saffron. Valerian Promotes higher levels of

gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) in the body. GABA helps regulate blood

pressure. In addition, valerian has sedative activity, which has a beneficial

impact on blood pressure. Potassium Supplementation of this may be

especially beneficial for hypertensives over the age of 65 (*3). " The elderly

often

do not fully respond to blood pressure- lowering drugs, which makes the

use of potassium supplementation an exciting possibility. " Magnesium

Supplements of this may also lower blood pressure. One double-blind study

focused

on 91 middle-aged and elderly women with mild to moderately high blood

pressure. They randomly received either 480mg of magnesium asparate or a

placebo each day for six months. At the end of the study, both systolic and

diastolic levels dropped significantly in the magnesium group. Vitamin C

Supplementation has exerted a modest blood-pressure-lowering effect in people

with mild hypertension. (*5) One way vitamin C may support healthy blood

pressure is by promoting the excretion of lead, which is linked to hyperte

nsion. CoQ10 This is a nutrient that shows promise for hypertensives and

that naturally occurs in our bodies. One study investigated 26 hypertensives

who took 50mg of CoQ10 twice a day for 10 weeks. At the end of the study,

systolic blood pressure had dropped from an average of 165 to 147, and

diastolic blood pressure dropped from 98 to 86. Garlic Garlic helps reduce

cholesterol as well as blood pressure (*7). In a 1993 study, people with high

blood pressure consumed one clove of garlic, a day for 12 weeks. At the

conclusion of the study, they demonstrated significantly lower diastolic

blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Onions These are also recommended for

hypertensives. In one study, two to three tablespoons of onion essential

oil a day lowered blood pressure in 67 percent of people with moderately high

blood pressure. Their systolic levels fell an average of 25 points and

their diastolic readings fell 15 points. Onion essential oil is not available,

but you can promote healthy blood pressure by adding more onions to your

diet. Other

Compounds Fennel, oregano, black pepper, basil, and tarragon all contain

several blood-pressure-lowering compounds. Kava-Kava Kava-Kava is an herb

that's in a class by itself. Its remarkable ability to promote relaxation

without loss in mental sharpness makes it a perfect herbal supplement for

today's too-busy-to-relax lifestyle. And it's safe! Used for thousands of

years by the Oceanic people of the South Pacific who have the reputation of

being the happiest, friendliest people in the world. Best of all, Kava-Kava

is free of the side effects and addictive properties common to anti-anxiety

drugs.

 

 

References:

(*1) B.Havsteen, Biochem Pharm 32:1141-1148, 1982| (*2) James A. Duke,

PhD.| (*3) Michael T. Murray, N.D., Encylopedia of Nutritional Supplements,

1996| (*4) J.C. M. Witterman, et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

60:129-135, 1994| (*5) Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements| (*6) Ray

Sahelian, M.D., Coenzyme Q10: Nature's Heart Energizer, 1997| (*7) Dr. James

Duke, The Green Pharmacy, 1996| American Heart Association | National Heart

Foundation | The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute | Mayo Clinic

Family Health Book