How To Treat High Or Low Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the arteries each time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is highest each time the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure, and is the high number in your reading. The diastolic pressure measures the pressure in between beats, when your heart is at rest. Your blood pressure is lowest while sleeping and although it varies some during the day, it remains close to the same. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your systolic pressure rises to 140 or above, or if your diastolic pressure rises to 90 or above, this is considered high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and an alarming one-third of those don’t even know they have it. It’s no wonder this condition has long been called “the silent killer”.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. And when it exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times. If you don’t have high blood pressure by age 55, your chance of developing it at some point in your life is 90 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Although high blood pressure can occur in both children and adults, it is most common in those over age 35, and is most prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. Although many people get high blood pressure as they get older, it is not part of the aging process! Proper diet, exercise and lifestyle changes can help in prevention and lowering of blood pressure.

Commonly Prescribed Medication for High Blood Pressure.

In 90–95 percent of cases, research scientists don’t know what causes high blood pressure, but fortunately they know enough to have developed both drug and non-drug products to treat it effectively.

A wide variety of medications are available to medical professionals for treating high blood pressure. Although other classes of medications are sometimes prescribed, the most commonly prescribed can be broken down into five different classes of medications that work in different ways to lower pressure.

· Diuretics (water pills) work in the kidney to get rid of excess water and sodium.

· Beta-Blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels to cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force.

· Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which would otherwise cause vessels to narrow.

· Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) block the action of angiotensin II.

· Calcium Channel Blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax.

As of June, 2005, there didn’t appear to be much global agreement among medical experts worldwide in terms of recommended first-line therapy for treating high blood pressure. It is important to note that in June, 2006, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Hypertension Society have come to an agreement within the UK, and have issued new guidelines, including important changes to help guide primary care physicians in determining first-line therapy. A major change is that Beta-Blockers, which have been shown to be less effective in preventing strokes and more likely to cause diabetes, are no longer recommended as routine treatment for the majority of people with high blood pressure. Instead, ACE Inhibitors (or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers if there are side effects) are now recommended in the UK for most people, with some exceptions, before trying other classes of medication for hypertension.

As with any medication, there may be side effects from taking ACE Inhibitors, and some should not use them at all, including black people of any age. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, also in June, 2006, indicated an increased risk of birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester, adding to the known risks during the second and third trimesters. While most people can tolerate ACE Inhibitors, some may experience side effects such as cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Rare, but more serious side effects include kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

Very similar to ACE Inhibitors are ARB medications, and depending on the individual’s particular health issues, a doctor may switch between the two, and may sometimes prescribe both. The most common side effects with ARBs are cough, elevated potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, abnormal taste sensation (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Compared to ACE inhibitors, cough occurs less often with ARBs. The most serious, but rare, side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

On January 19, 2007, Rush University Medical Center reported findings that ACE Inhibitors and ARBs prevent people from getting diabetes, and that diuretics and beta-blockers increase the chance that a person becomes diabetic. The authors pointed out that more studies are required to determine whether new-onset diabetes leads to as many heart attacks, strokes or death, as long-standing diabetes. However, their data suggests that the differences between antihypertensive drugs regarding the risk for new-onset diabetes are real and are significant. Melaleuca offers a natural high blood pressure remedy called ProStolic™ which interacts with a natural body enzyme much like the ACE Inhibitors and ARB medications to relax blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow. As a comparison, it might be helpful to understand how the ACE and ARB class of drugs react, as well as how the non-drug hypertension remedy ProStolic™ formula reacts with the body.

In Part 2 of our Blood Pressure Research Report we will discuss the ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers, Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure and benefits of Bioactive Casein Hydrolysate Tripeptides VPP and IPP.

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High blood pressure is a main cause of death in the United States today and not in itself but because it drastically raises your risk of developing a number of life bullying conditions including such things as cardiovascular disease, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. In Canada, it has been estimated that 25% of men and 18% of women have high blood pressure. Many are not aware of the problem. Of those who are, less than one-third receive sufficient treatment to control their blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms: –

• Lightheadedness

• Fast Heart Rate

• Increase in Blood Pressure

• Fluttering Heart

• General Weakness

• Cannot Sustain an Erection

• Headache

• Impotence

• Chest Pain

• Confusion

• Fatigue

It will also be seen that lifestyle plays an important part in both preventing the condition and also in providing the basis of natural remedies for high blood pressure. Here bearing in mind such things as the link between high blood pressure and exercise and next a high blood pressure diet in the middle of other things mean that for many people lowering high blood pressure simply entails adjusting their lifestyle.

High Blood Pressure Treatment: –

*Healthy Weight: – Being heavy weight can make you two to six times more likely to develop high blood pressure than if you are at your attractive weight. Even small amounts of weight loss can make a big difference in helping to prevent and treat high blood pressure.

*Reducing salt intake: – Often, when people with high blood pressure cut back on salt, their blood pressure falls. Cutting back on salt also prevents blood pressure from rising.

* Avoid Alcohol: – Drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. So to help prevent high blood pressure and, if you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink to no more than two drinks a day.

*Reduce Stress: – Stress can make blood pressure go up and over time may contribute to the cause of high blood pressure. There are many steps you can take to reduce your stress. The article on easing stress will get you started.

*Potassium: – Eating foods rich in potassium will help protect some people from rising high blood pressure. You probably can get enough potassium from your diet, so a supplement isn’t necessary. Many fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, and fish are good sources of potassium.

*Magnesium: – A diet low in magnesium may make your blood pressure rise. But doctors don’t advocate taking extra magnesium to help prevent high blood pressure the amount you get in a healthy diet is enough. Magnesium is found in whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dry peas and beans.

*Fish oils: – Large amounts of fish oils may help reduce high blood pressure, but their role in prevention is unclear. Taking fish oil pills is not optional because high doses can cause unpleasant side effects. The pills are also high in fat and calories. Of course, most fish, if not fried or made with added fat, is low in saturated fat and calories and can be eaten often.

*Garlic: – There has been some evidence to suggest garlic’s effect in lowering blood pressure in addition to improving cholesterol and reducing some cancers. Further research is being conduct to fully assess garlic’s potential health benefits.

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