How To Treat High Or Low Blood Pressure

Definition of High Blood Pressure

One disturbing fact about high blood pressure is that people can have it for years and not be aware of it. The National Heart Association estimates that about 30% of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure and that one third of them are unaware of it.

When you have your blood pressure taken it is reported in two numbers, as 120/80 for example. The first number is called the systolic and the second is the diastolic. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have issued its set of guidelines for the interpretation of these numbers.

•Normal – below 120/80 mmHg

•Prehypertension – Systolic pressure between 120 and 129, diastolic pressure between 80 an 89.

•Stage 1 Hypertension – Systolic pressure between 140 and 159, diastolic between 90 and 99.

•Stage 2 Hypertension – Systolic over 160 and diastolic above 100.

In the initial stages of high blood pressure it is not uncommon to experience no symptoms at all. Over time symptoms may include nosebleeds, dizzy spells and headache.

Many times there are no obvious causes for high blood pressure. What we do know is there are certain risk factors associated with developing the condition. These include age and heredity, smoking, excess weight and having a diet consisting of high sodium intake.

NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

You should always work very closely with your doctor if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. They may want you to take medication to control it. If you do not treat high blood pressure it can cause damage to your organs, heart attack and stroke. You should also explore natural remedies and lifestyle changes with your physician.

(CoQ10) COENZYME Q10

Recent studies suggest that this is effective in treating high blood pressure. In one study systolic pressure was reduced by 17.8 mmHg and another showed it to be reduced by 6.1 mmHg. These were viewed as significant reductions by researchers.

GARLIC SUPPLEMENTS

Recent studies have shown that garlic supplements have the ability to lower both systolic and diastolic pressure. Patients with mild cases of high blood pressure have been the most successful. These supplements have the ability to thin down blood and may interact with prescription drugs. It is therefore advised that this be done only under the supervision of your primary care provider. Due to the blood thinning abilities garlic supplements should be discontinued in the weeks prior to and after any type of surgery.

HAWTHORNE

Studies show that this has the capability to significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic pressure. It has been long used by herbal practitioners and has not shown any interaction with prescription medication.

FISH OIL

Additional research is needed on this. There have been some preliminary studies that show it can produce moderate effects. Fish oil contains an acid called DHA that is thought to be responsible.

FOLIC ACID

This is a B vitamin that is needed for the formation of red blood cells. Limited studies suggest that it can lower blood pressure in some people.

DASH DIET

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute along with the National Institute of Health both promote the DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). Studies have shown that this diet which includes fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, nuts and beans can reduce blood pressure in as little as two weeks. If you are interested in doing further research I would suggest that you visit their websites for detailed information.

If left untreated high blood pressure overtime can present serious health problems. These are some of forms of natural remedies that you can do further research on. Others include biofeedback, yoga, aerobic exercise and Ayurvedic Medicine. Some of these also offer important forms of stress reduction which can also be beneficial.

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Our heart pumps blood around our body through arteries which is a network of tubing. Each time our heart pumps it forces blood through these arteries and into smaller blood vessels called capillaries. The force of blood against the walls of arteries is called Blood pressure. When the heart compacts and forces blood through the arteries our blood pressure goes up and when the heart relaxes it goes down. Blood pressure is measured using a device called sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure measurement is usually written as 140/90 mmHg. The upper number, is known as the systolic pressure which shows the pressure in our arteries when our heart is forcing blood through them, and the bottom number, is termed as the diastolic pressure which shows the pressure in our arteries when our heart relaxes. Upper number can be anywhere from 90 to 240 and the below number can be anywhere from 60 to 140. Mercury is the unit to measure Blood pressure, which is written as: mmHg. Every person has a different blood pressure and it can be change in the same person during the day and night. Blood pressure level of 130/80 means (130 over 80) usually consider as normal BP level. Less than 120/80mmHg Bp level is consider as Low Blood Pressure while more than 140/90mmHg is consider as High Blood pressure. In both the situation you should consult your doctor and according to their advice you can take Blood Pressure Drugs.

Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension is persistent abnormally low blood pressure. It occurs when we are asleep or if we relax. When blood pressure becomes too low there is insufficient blood flow to the brain and other vital organs, light-headedness or fainting may occur. Postural (also known as orthostatic) hypotension is a common type of hypotension, in which suddenly standing leads to light-headedness and fainting. Common symptoms of hypotension may include: tiredness, general weakness, light-headedness and fainting, blurred vision, dizziness, palpitations, confusion, nausea and temporary loss of consciousness. In case of underlying disorder, such as a heart condition is suspected then you may be advised to go to hospital for tests and treatment. High blood pressure is very common mainly South Asian (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) origins are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other ethnic groups. Common symptoms are headache that lasts for several days,         nausea,         dizziness,       drowsiness,    blurred, or double vision,          nosebleeds,    irregular heartbeat (palpitations), or          shortness of breath. It can be treated or prevented by making changes to our lifestyle, such as exercising more regularly, eating a healthier diet and cutting back in our consumption of alcohol. Blood Pressure Drugs are also available that can help lower our blood pressure.

ABCD approach of Blood Pressure Drugs is recommends by the British Hypertension Society (Williams et al, 2004) where, A – ACE inhibitor or ARB, B – beta blocker, C – calcium channel blocker, D – Thiazide diuretics. For different groups different combinations are recommended by the doctor. In current time, most blood pressure lowering medicines do not cause a drop in blood pressure when we stand up. Doxazosin which is an Alpha-blockers, are the only type of medicine that may cause a decrease in our standing blood pressure. We should have our standing blood pressure checked if we are taking doxazosin and we feel dizzy or faint when we stand up. Unfortunately, there are some side-effects from antihypertensive medications are relatively common. However, if we cannot cope with the side-effects of our medication, we should come back and discuss the options with a health-care professional before we stop taking it.

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