Natural cures for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is more than a medical exasperation; it is the most precise forecaster of future heart disease in people over the age of sixty-five. High blood pressure is the pressure that the blood puts against the blood vessels as the heart pumps blood through the arteries. When blood presses against the walls of the blood vessels at a level that is greater than normal, it is considered high blood pressure.
One of the main contributing factors to elevated pressure is cholesterol, which clogs the arteries, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood through the narrow blood vessels, which in turn causes the blood pressure to rise. However, other factors contribute to high blood pressure like smoking, obesity, high salt consumption, use of contraceptives, stress, and over consumption of coffee or tea.
Blood pressure reading consists of a couple of numbers: the systolic pressure, which is the higher number and the diastolic number, which is the lower number. A typical blood pressure reading is considered 120/80; however, the numbers go up and down throughout the day depending on your activity levels.
According to statistics, forty million Americans have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for loss of vision, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. This is a result of the added workload on the heart to pump blood. The majority of high blood pressure sufferers are people with diabetes, kidney problems, heart disease, obesity, arteriosclerosis, and adrenal tumors. Hypertension is also known as the “silent killer” because it shows no symptoms until it is too late.
The good news is that you can control your blood pressure through simple diet and lifestyle changes. Therefore, do not believe that an elevated blood pressure is just a part of aging; it does not have to be.
Natural Cures for High Blood Pressure
- People with hypertension are usually deficient in calcium. According to different studies, calcium have the ability to lower blood pressure, especially among African Americans, people that are sensitive to salt, women that are pregnant, and the elderly. People that participated in these clinical studies reported reductions of 10 points (systolic) and 5 points (diastolic).
- Coenzyme Q10 lowers blood pressure and improves the function of the heart.
- Garlic is a very strong blood- pressure -lowering herb. It can lower the systolic pressure by a whopping twenty to thirty points and the diastolic by ten to twenty points. Try to eat four to ten cloves of garlic daily, or you can use the garlic supplements. Garlic is a powerful blood thinner, so please let your physician know that you are taking garlic if you are about to have surgery.
- Prevent damage to your heart due to elevated blood pressure by taking carnitine.
- Hawthorn is an herb that is widely used in Europe. It lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, prevents cholesterol from forming, and helps to strengthen the heart muscle.
- Potassium deficiencies are a problem for people who are taking diuretics for hypertension control. When potassium levels are low and sodium levels are high, it increases fluid, which throws off the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure properly. If you are taking a diuretic or a blood pressure medication, try to eat at least two bananas a day. One is ok also.
- Vitamin C is a well know blood pressure regulator. Taking some form of vitamin C daily can slash the risk of getting high blood pressure in half.
Unfortunately, not all cases of high blood pressure can be kept under control or prevented using lifestyle changes. However, many can be. Here are some tips on high blood pressure prevention:
1. Find out your blood pressure reading.
2. Do not smoke. Try your hardest to avoid people who do. The nicotine in cigarettes constricts the arteries; therefore, elevating blood pressure. Smokers with hypertension are five times more likely to have a heart attack and sixteen times more likely to have a stroke.
3. If you are overweight – lose weight as soon as possible. Once the weight starts to come off, the pressure will go back down. Losing twenty pounds can reduce your systolic pressure six points and three points for your diastolic pressure.
4. be careful with over-the-counter medicines. Avoid medicines that contain antihistamines, decongestants, cold remedies, and drugs that suppress the appetite. Use these medicines only under the supervision of a physician.
5. Try to manage the daily stresses in your life. Stress is a good elevator of blood pressure. Try to incorporate relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, muscle relaxation, and biofeedback. All of the above have been shown to be quite effective lowering blood pressure.
6. Do not consume coffee or beverages that contain caffeine.
7. Say no to alcohol.
Do not take high blood pressure lightly, it is known as the “silent killer” because it strikes like a thief in the night – without warning. Twenty percent of Americans have high blood pressure and are unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.
Advanced uncontrolled hypertension can cause headaches (particularly in the mornings), dizziness, fatigue, rapid pulse, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and eye problems. Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Check your blood pressure regularly. You can purchase a good blood pressure monitor on the internet or at a local pharmacy.
Top herbs for lowering high blood pressure:
Garlic – Garlic dilates the arteries, which lowers blood pressure. This effect can be achieved by eating several cloves. A garlic supplement is just as good.
Hawthorn – The flowers and fruits of the hawthorn are one of the most effective vegetal remedies for the treatment of tachycardia, hypertension, and other heart dysfunctions with a nervous cause.
Top foods for lowering blood pressure:
Fish oil supplements – Fish oil supplements contribute to the reduction in blood pressure due to their richness in omega-3 fatty acids.
Grapefruit – It protects the arteries and improves the fluidity of blood.
Celery – lowers blood pressure by dilating the arteries.
Legumes – Legumes contain potassium, magnesium, and calcium. All of these minerals help to lower and prevent hypertension.
Calcium – A calcium deficiency can cause hypertension.