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Hypertension, Doctor Recommended Alternative Care for High Blood Pressure *Scroll down below the TABLE for discussion and related Categories.
*For more information on Hypertension and related sites scroll below. HYPERTENSION “Hypertension affects 50 million Americans and another 45 million people are currently classified as pre-hypertensive (Systolic Blood Pressure 120-140, Diastolic Blood Pressure 80-90 mm Hg). Epidemiologic studies show that beginning at 115/75 mmHg, for every 20/10 mm increase, there is a doubling of mortality from both ischemic heart disease and stroke”. Holistic Primary Care 2006 Vo. 7, No.1. It is estimated that 1/5 Americans have high blood pressure. About 30% of Americans who have high blood pressure do not know they have it. Blood circulating through blood vessels at increased pressure is called hypertension and increases the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. The numbers are about the same for men and women. High blood pressure and diabetes are called the “silent killers”, because they both cause fatal heart attacks with few symptoms. Stress Reduction and High Blood Pressure. Blood pressure is a product of how forcefully the heart beats, the volume of blood passing through the vessels, the number of times the heart beats per minute, the health of the vessel walls and the health of the nervous system that regulates the heart and vessels. Reducing stress can be beneficial in reducing blood pressure since physiological and psychological reactions to our environment can influence blood pressure. Stress that is not managed contributes to hypertension by taxing the body’s ability to heal tissue, weakening the immune system and changing the body’s inherent fright and flight reaction. Nutrient rich foods and supplements, healthy sleep, an active lifestyle and exercise are thought to be extremely important to a healthy heart and blood vessels. Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 135 systolic and less than 85 diastolic (135/85). High blood pressure is a pressure greater than 135/85 systolic/diastolic. The top number is called systolic pressure and the bottom number is called diastolic pressure. The top number is the measure of the highest pressure exerted in the arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest in between the heart beats. One in five Americans has hypertension (high blood pressure) which is the leading cause of stroke and cardiovascular disease. African-Americans are more prone to high blood pressure than Caucasians. Hypertension can cause problems in pregnant women. Women with normal blood pressure can experience elevated blood pressure during the last tri semester. Men often develop hypertension younger than women who are more at risk after menopause. Make choices that support healthy blood pressure and body weight. “Lifestyle modifications including exercise and dietary changes to achieve an ideal body weight are the first approaches to achieve a healthy blood pressure.” Holistic Primary Care Spring 2006 Vol. 7, No.1. Reduce the risk for stroke and congestive heart failure with preventive steps. Managing normal blood pressure is easier than controlling high blood pressure and its ramifications. Let’s talk about Normalizing Blood Pressure. CHOCOLATE: You’ll be glad to know chocolate helps blood vessels! The Netherlands Prevention Foundation in a Dutch study on the health benefits of chocolate reported that older men who ate cocoa products (equivalent to 1/3 of a solid chocolate bar per day (whether as drinks, icing, pudding, etc.) had lower blood pressure and reduced the incidence of death by 50%. Archives of Internal Medicine. February 2006. “Cocoa beans contain flavanols, which are thought to increase nitric oxide in the blood that improve the function of blood vessels.” Yahoo. News February, 27, 2006. www.archinternmed.com. CALCIUM and VITAMIN D: “German investigators found that 8 weeks of supplementation with 600 mg of Calcium b.i.d. (twice a day) and 400 IU of vitamin D b.i.d. lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 144 to 131 mmHg.” Those who were supplemented with calcium alone showed only a small drop in systolic blood pressure. Many elderly people are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D “plays an important role in normalizing vascular smooth muscle function.” Summary in Contemporary OB/GYN September 15, 2001 based on research article J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86:1633-1637. MAGNESIUM: “Cardiovascular diseases-heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmia (irregular heartbeats) and hypertension-lead the list of disorders associated with hypomagnesemia (low magnesium.” Geriatric Times January/February 2002. Various lines of research have established a connection between low magnesium (hypomagnesemia) and an extensive inventory of disease states. In an eight week study “magnesium supplementation lowered blood pressure in hypertensive patients, and this effect was greater in those with higher blood pressure. The results supported the usefulness of increasing magnesium intake as a lifestyle modification in the management of hypertension.” POTASSIUM: “Research that looked at 30,000 doctors found that those who ate diets rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium had lower blood pressure than the men who ate few of these mineral-rich foods. (bananas, potatoes and oranges…) ” Energy Times February 2002 (Cir. 1992:Vol. 86:1475-1484) Coenzyme Q10: Coenzyme Q10 is found in the mitochondria of all cells and is involved in the synthesis of ATP which is needed for energy. Coenzyme Q10 helps prevent cellular damage to the heart and vessels. CoQ10 deficiency is seen in patients with high blood pressure. “The clinical benefits are mainly due to its ability to improve energy production, antioxidant activity, and membrane stabilizing properties.” J Assoc Physicians India. 1998 March;46(3):299-306. “Coenzyme Q10 has potential for use in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension…”* J. Cardiovasc Nurs. July 2002;16(4):9-20. Garlic: Garlic has been used since the time of the pyramids over 2,500 years before Christ. It is thought to help reduce blood pressure, plaque build up in blood vessels, clotting, LDL (bad cholesterol), and high triglycerides. Hawthorn Berry: Hawthorn berry is thought to help decrease blood pressure and support muscle contractility and heart beat. Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo, which has been used since ancient times, is thought to increase circulation, have antioxidant properties, and help prevent damage from free radicals. Prevention is the BEST Answer. There is not a cure. Control Your Blood Pressure Now Before It Controls You | ||||||||||
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