Imagine the blood supply is like the plumbing in the house with all the taps and faucets turned off. If the water pressure is turned up then eventually some joints will start leaking or even burst. The body needs pressure to push the blood around the body but if it is too high then there is increased risk of injury.
A person who knows he has high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, should stick with the doctor's advice. However, there are many natural aids and techniques that can bring the blood pressure down to a healthy level as well. The doctor should be told of any changes that are made to the lifestyle.
The Silent Risks Associated with High Blood Pressure
The American Heart Association [1] state that a person with hypertension may not detect any symptoms. The damage being caused may not be noticed until it becomes critical. The high blood pressure can be silently creating permanent damage to the heart, brain, eyes and kidneys.
The blood vessels stretch under the pressure and become at risk of rupture. Strokes and aneurysms are the result of complete failure of the vessel wall in this way. Erectile dysfunction, vision loss, memory loss, fluid in the lungs and angina can result.
Before they burst, the blood vessels can suffer small amounts of damage or tearing. These tears create scar tissue and the scars can cause blockages by catching materials that attempt to pass by in the blood. Cholesterol and plaque in the blood can be caught by the tissue making the blood vessel narrow and even block completely causing heart attacks or strokes.
The gathering of material may occur in one place and then break off and travel through the vessel to another location and block the blood flow. The narrowing and blockage will cause the heart to work harder to pump the blood around the body. The extra work can damage the heart and cause it to fail.
Life Choices That Affect the Blood Pressure
The risks of permanent damage through high blood pressure are very high but there are many simple changes to life style that will greatly reduce the blood pressure and reduce the risk of it getting high in the first place.
Eat a better diet
Eating healthily greatly gives the body everything it needs to fight disease and keep the body working efficiently. Particularly helpful are: fruit, vegetables, whole grain, high fiber, low fat, beans, lean meats, and oily fish. Avoid saturated fats, salt and excessive sugar.
Get regular exercise
Even a brisk walk for 30 minutes 5 times a week can have a significant effect and help the body maintain a good blood pressure. Regular exercise will also strengthen the heart and manage the weight and stress levels.
Bring weight down to acceptable levels
The medical profession have issued guidelines to show when the weight is putting a strain on the body's systems. Reducing weight can reduce the blood pressure as well as improving the general health.
Manage Stress
Stress in itself does not cause high blood pressure - but when under stress people tend to eat 'comfort foods', smoke, and drink more, all of which risks high blood pressure.
Stop Smoking and Avoid Secondary Smoke
Apart from the risk of cancer and other lung diseases, smoking causes a build up of fats in the arteries which can cause high blood pressure.
Take Prescribed Medicines
If the blood pressure is high then it is important to take any medicines that are prescribed by the doctor. Healthy living and natural remedies will stop a person getting high blood pressure in the first place - but once there is a problem, the natural methods should be used in conjunction with the medicine to bring the blood pressure back down.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure. Alcohol is toxic to the body so keeping drinking down to a minimum will help the body maintain itself without the added work of having to repair the damage done by the alcohol.
Breakthrough Method of Slow Breathing
In April 2001 The Journal of Human Hypertension announced a breakthrough in the natural treatment of high blood pressure [2]. In summary it states that a simple breathing exercise of 15 minutes a day brought down the blood pressure of even the most difficult to treat patients.
Margaret A. Chesney, PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine states:
"When you're not breathing deeply, your body doesn't properly rid itself of carbon dioxide. Excess carbon dioxide makes your system acidic so your body compensates by upping sodium levels, which in turn can raise blood pressure." and she continues:
"The heart rate speeds up, arteries constrict, blood pressure, blood sugar and respiration increase and gastrointestinal activity decreases."
The exercise is performed by a simple cycle of long, slow, deep breaths - ensuring that the diaphram below the chest is used as well as the expansion of the rib cage. By sitting quietly in a comfortable chair listening to calming music, away from stress and disturbance, the exercise is stated as having incredible results.
Foodstuffs That Lower Blood Pressure
Many foods have beneficial effects on blood pressure. and so can be included in the diet to help bring it down naturally [3]. Note that excessive supplements should not be taken as well as medicine and so it is important to inform the doctor when taking them.
- Garlic - This can thin the blood in the same way as aspirin. Simply having a little more in the food is safe but any excess may interfere with prescribed drugs.
- Hawthorn - Traditional herbal practitioners use hawthorn to treat high blood pressure.
- Fish oil - as well as being part of a healthy diet it has been shown to directly reduce blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure is extremely dangerous for the body and so it is important to lower it by choosing a healthy life style or perhaps living well so that it does not get high in the first place to put the health at risk.
For further advice on lowering blood pressure see the US Department of Health and Human Services document: Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure
- Source: The American Heart Association - Prevention and Treatment of High Blood Pressur e
- Source: The Journal of Human Hypertension - Breathing Control Lowers Blood Pressure
- Source: Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure
Dave Corby - Dave Corby is Director of Engineering Software for a large American inspection company.
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