Hypertension, known as high blood pressure is a major medical condition affecting approximately 600 million people worldwide. The medical definition of high blood pressure is: increased peripheral resistance to the arteries. Untreated high blood pressure eventually causes health problems, such as heart disease. Because blood pressure and cardiovascular disease are connected, increased blood pressure is highly associated with higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and death.
How is blood pressure (BP) measured?
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. If the heart pumps more blood and cardiac arteries are narrow from cholesterol plaques, etc., the higher blood pressure is.
Blood pressure readings
Systolic blood pressure (SBP)
This is the top number of a blood pressure reading and it measures the amount of pressure that blood exerts on the arteries when the heart is beating.
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)
This is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading and it measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. An elevation in the diastolic pressure is of great concern because this is when the heart is supposed to be at rest. So if it’s elevated, this means that the heart is not resting during the time period it should be.
Stages of blood pressure readings
Normal blood pressure:Less than 120/80
Pre-high blood pressure:120-139/80-89
High blood pressure:140-159/90-99
Advanced high blood pressure:160 and above/100 and above
Causes of hypertension
There is no known exact cause of high blood pressure in approximately 90% of individuals. This is known as primary or essential hypertension. With the specific cause of high blood pressure being unknown, there are risk factors that contribute to the development of this medical condition.
Uncontrollable factors of developing hypertension
Age
As we age, the older we get, the greater tendency we have in developing high blood pressure. This is due to arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries.
Alcohol intake
The intake of more than one to two drinks of alcohol per day tends to raise blood pressure in those who are sensitive to alcohol.
Birth control pills
Oral contraceptives have a tendency to raise blood pressure in women.
Ethnicity
African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians. They even develop high blood pressure at a younger age and because of this they have a tendency to develop more severe complications sooner in their life.
Gender
Males have a greater tendency of developing high blood pressure than women. This likelihood varies according to age and among various ethnic groups.
Socioeconomic status
It has been determined that high blood pressure is prominent in the less educated and ones of a lower socioeconomic class. People who reside in the southeastern United States, both Caucasian and African American, are more prone to develop high blood pressure than residents of other regions.
Controllable factors of developing hypertension
Obesity
Obese people have a greater tendency in developing high blood pressure and are than people who are within a normal body weight. Also, the manner in which a person’s body accumulates body fat plays a significant role. For example, people who gain weight around their abdomen tend to have a greater tendency in developing high blood pressure and other health conditions.
Sodium intake
There are some people who have a high sensitivity to sodium (salt) intake and as a result their blood pressure increases significantly when they use it salt. It has been determined that Americans take in up to 10-15 times more salt than they need. This is because Americans eat a lot of fast foods and processed foods that contain high levels of salt. Also, there are many over-the-counter medicines also contain large amounts of salt. So it is imperative to read food and medicine labels to know the salt contents.
Inadequate exercise
A sedentary lifestyle greatly contributes to the development of obesity and high blood pressure.
Medications
Certain drugs, such as amphetamines (stimulants), diet pills, nicotine (all tobacco products) and some medications used for cold and allergy symptoms such as pseudoephedrine, tend to raise blood pressure.
Stress
Stress can raise blood pressure
Symptoms of hypertension
High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages. But some symptoms associated with high blood pressure may include dizziness, headache and/or nosebleeds.
How hypertension silently kills
Hypertension is known as the silent killer. This is because a person can have high blood pressure for years without any warning signs whatsoever, and if left uncontrolled it could result in serious health problems that include damage to major arteries in the eyes (resulting in blindness), in the heart (resulting in heart failure or heart attack), in the kidneys (resulting in kidney failure), and in the brain (resulting in stroke). Unfortunately overtime, if left untreated, high blood pressure can even result in death from its damaging effects.
Hypertension typically develops over many years, and some medical researchers believe that it will affect nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected by a simple check- up that includes blood pressure readings. Unfortunately there are many people who are aware that they have high blood pressure and don’t do anything about it because they are either in denial and/or they may not feel ill. This is not very wise and could cost someone their life!
Natural treatment remedies for hypertension
Take control of what you can control
Obesity, stress level, inadequate exercise, intake of foods high in sodium, usage of medications, tobacco products, and alcohol intake are things we have control over.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Research studies have been conducted and suggest that CoQ10 significantly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
Garlic
Garlic has been proven to lower blood pressure but because it interacts with several other drugs it must be supervised by a healthcare professional
Hawthorn
This herb is frequently used by herbal practitioners to successfully treat high blood pressure.
Fish oil
Some fish oil supplements contain DHA (Docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), and there is evidence that DHA is the ingredient that is capable of lowering high blood pressure.
Folic acid
Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. Therefore it is capable of lowering blood pressure in some people by possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.
Medical research continues to put forth great efforts in the medical condition that is silently killing people all over the world. Millions of dollars are spent yearly in health care costs surrounding the damaging effects of high blood pressure. These costs are unnecessary and can be avoided! Listed above are only a few natural remedies for treating high blood pressure. Your health is your responsibility and you have the right to choose naturopathic practices. However, all natural remedies need to be supervised by a healthcare practitioner. If your prefer a naturopathic healthcare provider in the Nashville area there are alternative medical practitioners available: Nashville Integrated Medicine offers health coaching by looking at the total you, and the Centre Energique provides holistic medicine and utilizes conventional medical practices as needed.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, why not work together with a healthcare provider to control it! In the long run it just may save you your life!
Knowledge is power!
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