High blood pressure is
just that: The pressure of blood flow through the arteries is higher than it
should be; and that pressure consistently remains higher.
A blood pressure gauge
(sphygmomanometer) registers two readings. The first and higher one is the
systolic; the second and lower one is the diastolic.
The diastolic pressure
occurs just before the heart beats, and is less important for determining blood
pressure. But the systolic pressure reveals the pressure built up as the heart
pumps blood out of the heart into the aorta (and hence through the arteries).
High systolic pressure indicates that the cell walls are hardened and/or
plaques are forming in the arteries, which are narrowing the passageways.
Symptoms
There may be no
symptoms; but if they occur, they may include headache, difficulty in
breathing, blurred vision, rapid pulse, or a feeling of dizziness.
Overweight, a ruddy
complexion, and apparently robust health may be only outward manifestations in
a man 50 or 60, who may have systolic pressure as high as 200 or more.
Causes
The hardening and
clogging produce changes in the arteries, resulting in hypertension that is
caused by aging, emotional stress, food, overheating, and heredity. Tobacco is
another cause of hypertension, as is the taking of oral contraceptives.
Drinking coffee or tea, drug abuse, and high sodium intake are other causes.
Hypertension can result
in coronary artery disease, enlargement of the heart, or strokes. The acute
infections (such as tonsillitis, scarlet fever, and typhoid fever) or focal
infections from tonsils or teeth sometimes lead to Bright’s disease (a kidney
disease), which is accompanied by high blood pressure. Sudden attacks of
convulsions in pregnant women (eclampsia), and other kidney diseases of
pregnancy, usually cause high blood pressure.
Primary hypertension
(about 90% of the cause) is not caused by other diseases. Diet is an extremely
important factor in producing high blood pressure.Women have hypertension less
often than men until menopause is over; then, soon after, they have it as often.
Heavy snorers are more
likely to have high blood pressure than silent sleepers.
How to get rid of Hypertension (Blood
pressure)
Proper
diet
I.Only drink distilled water. Another
quote from Dr. Whitaker: “Drink 15 glasses of water a day. Almost all the blood
pressure medications mimic the effects of increased water intake. “They usually
do that by thinning the blood. Drink water and it will do it naturally.
II.Eat a high-fiber diet of vegetables,
fruits, nuts, and whole grains. Eat oat bran; it appears to be very best type
for the purposes you have in mind. For oil, take 2 teaspoons flaxseed oil
daily.
III.Eat a diet rich in potassium (mostly
fresh fruits and vegetables) because it helps the body get rid of excess
sodium. Eat potato peelings soup (the potassium is richest just under the
peeling of the white potato). Only eat unsalted natural foods.
IV.Raw garlic is a vasodilator and
normalizes blood pressure, whether it be too high or too low. If you take a
commercial garlic preparation, make sure it has a dosage equivalent to 4,000 mg
of fresh garlic.
V.Include supplemental calcium in your
diet.
VI.Grapespeed extract contains oligomeric
proanthocyanidins (OPCs) and tends to lower high blood pressure, which can
cause heart disease.
VII.Tomatoes contain the compound
gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which reduces blood pressure and helps
strengthen the heart muscle. There are number of other vegetables (including
garlic, onions, and celery) which also contain GABA. (The herb, valerian,
contains valerenic acid which inhibits an enzyme that destroys GABA in the
body. So also drink this herb.)
VIII.Eating 4 stalks of celery has been shown to lower blood
pressure measurably.
IX.Broccoli has 6 chemicals that reduce
blood pressure. Carrots contain 8 compounds that lower it.
X.Antioxidants help prevent
artery-clogging plaque from being deposited on coronary artery walls. Foods
with it include asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes,
oranges, grapefruits, and peaches.
XI.Apple pectin tends to lower blood pressure.
Useful and helpful herbs to use.
1.Hawthorn extract can dilate (widen)
blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries. It has been used as a heart
tonic for centuries. Make a tea from 1 tsp . Of the dried hawthorn herb, per
cup of boiling water, and drink up to 2 cups daily.
2.Research studies also show that kudzu
contains puerarin, which decreases blood pressure 15% in lab animals and in
humans. Puerarin has 100 times the antioxidant activity of vitamin E, and helps
prevent heart disease and cancer.
3.Saffron contains crocetin, which
lowers blood pressure. Make a tea of it or use it in your cooking.
4.Fennel contains 10 compounds that
lower blood pressure. Oregano has 7; basil and tarrago have 6.
5.To reduce blood pressure, make a tea
from either the seed or herb of yellow dock
and drink it.
6.Research findings reveal that black cohosh tends to lower blood pressure. Cayenne also lowers it.
7.Dozens of studies, especially in
Germany and Russia, have found that the major constituents of valerian root, the valepotriates, is the cause of its lowering of blood
pressure,. Unlike many other herbs, valerian root has no side effects, even at
rather high doses.
8.Here is a formula for high blood
pressure: Mix 2 parts each of chamomile and peppermint. Combine with 1 part each
of fennel, anise, caraway, and milfoil, steep 1 tsp. in ½ cup boiling-hot water. Take 1-1 ½ cups daily,
in mouthful doses
Recommended nutrients to take
I.Antioxidant-rich
vitamins include C, E, folic acid, and the carotenoids. Many
studies have shown that as consumption of these nutrients increases, risk of
heart attack falls by up to 40% (and cancer risk drops 50%)
II.Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (1,000-5,000 mg) to
maintain the health of blood vessels and improve the potassium ratio by helping
to excrete sodium.
III.Vitamin E (gradually increase monthly to 400 IU) to decrease the need for
oxygen, thus improving heart function.
IV.Lecithin is rich in the B vitamins
choline and inositol, which decrease blood pressure, by dilating blood vessels
and preventing fatty deposits in the arteries.
V.Too little Vitamin D may contribute to high blood
pressure. A 10-year study of patients 40-60 years of age showed a connection
between low blood levels of the vitamin and higher blood pressures. Each day
take 400 IU.
VI.Taurine, an amino acid, has been used to lower blood pressure (at 6 g per
day)
Foods and other things to avoid
1.Habitual overeating, even of good food,
will lead to hypertension. A person does not tend to overeat on healthfully
prepared natural foods.
2.Excessive protein food, sweets, rich
pastry, and desserts must be omitted; but the reduction in quantity of all
foods is especially important.
3.Do not use salt! Stopping it is
essential for lowering blood pressure. Read the labels. Many foods contain
sodium. Look for “salt” sodium,” “soda,” or “Na” on the label. Also avoid MSG
(monosodium glutamate), preservatives, meat tenderizers, baking soda,
saccharin, soy sauce, diet soft drinks, and softened water. Excess sodium
causes fluid retention, which exerts pressure on blood vessel walls and thus
increases hypertension.
4.Do not eat meat; and do not eat canned
vegetables, Eliminate all dairy products; for they are high in sodium.
5.Do not eat any animal fat, grease, unsaturated
fat, butter, margarine, or nay product containing them. Avoiding all of them
will also lower hypertension.
6.Do not eat chocolate, alcohol,
avocados, aged cheeses, or yogurt.
7.Avoid more than 400 units of vitamin D
daily. Do not take supplements containing the amino acids tyrosine or
phenylalanine.
8.Do not take antihistamines.
9.No late meals. Do not eat later than
several hours before bedtime.
10.Stress, fear, anger, and pain increase
blood pressure. Exercise helps reduce the effects of stress.
11.Noise raises blood pressure. Eliminate
loud and sudden noises.
12.Smoking is dangerous. Chemicals in tobacco
can tighten your arteries, raising your pressure; it can also damage your lungs
and other organs.
13.Do a pulse test in order to
ascertain offending foods you are allergic to.
Hypotension (Low blood Pressure)
The pressure at which
the blood travels through the arteries is lower than normal, which means the
blood is not circulating through the body as efficiently as it should.
This is one “disease”
which people are thankful to have! Low blood pressure is generally just some
thing to live with. Blood pressure readings below the average range of 110/70
to 140/90 are normal for some healthy people and are often considered a
blessing.
However, low blood
pressure can become a problem when blood flow to the brain is reduced to the
extent that dizziness or fainting spells are experienced.
Symptoms
There are generally few
symptoms which will tend to alert you the problem. There may be headache,
shortness of breath, dizziness, inability to concentrate, or digestive
disturbances. There can be low energy and dizzy feelings when you stand up fast
from a lying down or sitting position, fainting, blurred vision, palpitations,
inability to solve simple problems and slurring of speech.
Causes
In some instances, low
blood pressure is due to an impoverished diet, the existence of some chronic
wasting disease, or some other condition that needs treatment on its own
account. Also it can be a symptom of a different problem (such as
hypothyroidism)
Hypotension can be
caused by prescribed drugs, kidney disease, anemia, low blood sugar, food
allergies, dehydration, adrenal exhaustion, malnutrition, underactive thyroid,
diabetic nerve damage that disrupts blood pressure-controlling reflexes, or a
debilitating disease. Continuing to take diuretics (to increase urination) when
no longer needed can initiate low blood pressure symptoms.
Acute hypotension
(sudden drop in blood pressure) results from injuries with heavy blood loss or
physiological shock, such as a heart attack.
How to get rid of Hypotension
1.Treatment, if needed, should be aimed
at locating and eliminating the problem of the symptom of hypotension.
2.Drink one 6-oz. glass of beet juice
and eat one serving of beets, 3 times a week to enliven lagging blood pressure.
Other favorites for raising blood pressure include dandelion greens, dandelion
tea, ginger root, or skullcap tea with a pinch of cayenne.
3.Take vitamin C (1,000-3,000 mg), to
bowel tolerance, and eight glasses of water each day. Also vitamin B12.
Vitamin E is important (100 IU, gradually increased to 600 IU).
4.Eat garlic; it tends to normalize
blood pressure. Raw garlic is a good friend, whether you have high or low blood
pressure.
5.Ginger tea helps those with low blood
pressure. Ginseng helps normalize blood pressure, both high and low. Sage
invigorates and stimulates suprarenal glands. Rosemary is a general invigorator.
Thyme invigorates and helps recovery from physical exhaustion. Winter savory is
a nervous system invigorator. Hawthorn normalizes blood pressure. Lily of the
valley is a heart invigorator. Camphor tree stimulates respiratory and cardiac
activity nervous centers.
6.Obtain adequate rest at night.
7.You may want to do the morning
temperature test to determine whether you are hypothyroid.
0 Comments