Herbs for High Blood Pressure
This article is a quick review of the effective role played by herbs for high blood pressure treatment.
Although no scientific studies have actually conclusively proven that herbs for high blood pressure have a direct role in lowering hypertension, they are showing some true promise. The two herbs used to remedy this condition that are coming out in front include garlic and hawthorn. Both of these types of blood pressure herbal have been successfully prescribed by herbal specialists and alternative practitioners to their patients for many years. It is believed that they encourage the proper functioning of the circulatory system.
Some physicians believe that herbs for high blood pressure are a complement to traditional Western medicine. They recommend that patients with high blood pressure consume at least three or four cloves of garlic per day. While many people are turned off by the odor of garlic, garlic supplements are an alternative to smelly breath. Most grocery stores as well as health food stores sell a variety of brands of garlic.
Doctors recommend that patients choosing to take garlic supplements choose one that is an enteric-coated tablet. An enteric coated form of garlic to best encourage the proper absorption of Allicin. Allicin is the ingredient in garlic that is believed to be responsible for lowering blood pressure. Always follow the directions closely that are on the label of the type of garlic supplement you choose to buy
As far as blood pressure herbal, the herb hawthorn works best when it is taken along with vitamin C. Both of these items help to increase the dilating action of the blood vessels, which allows the blood to flow through freely because the arteries and veins are as open as they need to be.
When an individual’s blood pressure measures anywhere from 140 to 159 in regards to their systolic pressure and in the range of 90 to 99 for diastolic then this is classified as mild to moderate hypertension. At this point blood pressure herbal is a good idea. If garlic, vitamin C and hawthorn do not do the trick then turn to other blood pressure herbal options such as supplements of the mineral calcium and magnesium.
Calcium’s unique ability to improve hypertension has been borne out in some research studies. However it is not significant enough to work alone. Calcium plays a vital role in the contraction of muscular tissues and therefore is beneficial to the health of the heart and the blood vessels. Magnesium works in concert with calcium to make the walls of the blood vessels more elastic as well as to relax the muscles that are found there. Magnesium also increases the efficiently of other essential minerals in the bloodstream which include both potassium and sodium.
Other blood pressure herbal options that are being studied for their effectiveness at lowering blood pressure include coenzyme Q10 which helps to encourage normal blood pressure levels and a selection of fish oils that are composed of the essential fatty acids that support a health heart and circulatory system.
High Blood Pressure vs Garlic
Milk protein may be the answer to lowering high blood pressure in some people; however, it isn’t the only alternative. In fact, did you know that making something as natural as eating garlic apart of your regular diet can actually reduce blood pressure and help you manage your hypertension?
Garlic is a vegetable that is extremely beneficial to the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. It is considered to be a natural remedy for high blood pressure that has significant, positive effects when made part of a daily diet. Studies have found that by eating a single small garlic clove per day, a person can effectively manage their hypertension.
In fact some clinical studies have found garlic to decrease the systolic blood pressure by as much as 20 mm Hg to 30 mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure by as much as 10 mm Hg to 20 mm Hg in participants.
For instance, one 12 week study concluded that participants with high blood pressure who ingested a single clove of garlic per day had significant reductions in their systolic and diastolic blood pressure by the end of the study.
In addition, studies have also been conducted on testing the effectiveness of garlic powder taken in the form of a supplement for controlling blood pressure. These studies also found a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in participants who suffered from mild hypertension.
How does garlic lower blood pressure? It is believed that garlic can effectively lower blood pressure because it reduces spasms that occur in the small arteries. It also slows the pulse rate and modifies the rhythm of the heart. In addition, garlic can relieve gas in the digestive tract, numbness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Thus, garlic has been used as a herbal remedy as an effective method for treating various health problems aside form hypertension including infection, inflammation and heart disease.
Moreover, research has found that there are three chemicals found in garlic that are exceptionally helpful in treating high blood pressure. These chemicals are alliin, allinase, and allicin, and are particular effective for improving blood circulation.
How can you add garlic to your daily diet to manage your blood pressure? The following are two recommendations:
1. Eat fresh raw garlic cloves – you can eat a single raw clove of garlic per day with a meal or by itself. You don’t need to eat an exceptionally large clove, a small one should suffice. Just make sure the clove is fresh, as dried garlic no longer contains the properties that are beneficial for health.
2. Take garlic supplements in capsule form – This is often the preferred method, as most people don’t enjoy chewing on a raw piece of garlic. Herbalists recommend taking 300mgs of garlic capsule supplements three times daily (I.E. 3 capsules per day). Note: Be sure to read the instructions on the back of supplements before taking them.
If you decide to take garlic supplements, keep in mind that you should only do so under the supervision of a health practitioner. The reason is because garlic can thin the blood and can interact with other drugs and supplements that are prescribed for blood thinning such as Trental (pentoxifylline) and Coumadin (warfarin), aspirin, gingko, and vitamin E. Furthermore, it is often recommended that those who will be undergoing surgery should stop taking garlic as treatment a few weeks before and after surgery.
If you think garlic is a remedy you would like to try as treatment for managing your high blood pressure, be sure to talk to your doctor first for recommendations.
Your Guide On High Blood Pressure Diagnosis
As a person ages, he tends to fall in the trap of certain diseases and disorders. The most common of all the disorders is high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure or hypertension is termed as a lifestyle disease, meaning the unhealthy lifestyles are the biggest culprit for this disease.
Changing lifestyle patterns and increasing stress and tension in everyday life has brought down the normal life expectancy rate of a man. So, it becomes very important for everyone- be it a 30+ or 50+ lot- to diagnose the level of blood pressure regularly. The periodic blood pressure readings help you administer your health condition well on time and avoid further degeneration of your body.
Herein, you should know that just a single reading of your blood pressure won’t help you in diagnosing your high blood pressure problem correctly. A minimum of three readings, a day is important to diagnose the extent of your high blood pressure suffering.
Besides this, there are several other ways by which you can diagnose your hypertension. The record of your family history is one of the best ways of diagnosing high blood pressure. A person’s family history provides crucial clues. A whole physical examination of the patient’s body can also be an evidential support for diagnosing hypertension and the related disorders.
Apart from them, there are several tests that are a sure shot method to diagnose the presence of high blood pressure. One of the most commonly done tests includes Electrocardiogram or ECG. ECG includes a plethora of tests. They are insulin test, urine test, blood cell count, cholesterol test, blood composition test and lipoprotein test.
If your hypertension problem is more severe, then you need to undergo a much higher level of diagnosis. In such cases the most common test that is performed is Renal scintigraphy. Coupled with it, the Ambulatory blood pressure is also monitored in the patient.
At times, acute high blood pressure can instigate chest pain in the patient. So the best way to diagnose the effect that high blood pressure is causing on the chest is through x-ray.
There is set of other less conventional tests as well which can be followed while diagnosing high blood pressure and the related problems. You can get these tests done with the help of a naturopathic physician. The name of some of these test are urine testing, test for levels of stress hormones (adrenal) in the body, test for allergies and sensitivities with WBC count.
All these tests done on time can save you from the more aggravated effects of high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure Treatments Guide
If you have high blood pressure, you will have to take action to treat it. If ignored, hypertension can lead to very serious health problems including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. So what high blood pressure treatments are the most effective? Find out what works best to keep blood pressure under control.
Healthy lifestyle is the best way to lower your blood pressure
No drug can ever help you to win a battle against hypertension for good. The best they can do is to give a temporarily relief. However, by changing your lifestyle habits you can keep the problem under control.
There are 3 major aspects of your life that affect your blood pressure:
- Exercise
- Diet
- Stress management
Making your heart beating slightly faster than normal from time to time is very important. This doesn’t mean you will have to go the gym every day. Many everyday things count as exercise – house chores, gardening, walking your dog or playing active games with your children are good examples. Walking is the best exercise, even 15 minutes a day will do wonder. Most important you should do some exercise every day.
Another essential thing you will have to evaluate is your diet. Do you like souces, pickles and pre-cooked meals? Than you will have to cut it down, because all of the above are extremely high in sodium and sodium leads to hypertension. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet, remove your salt shaker from the table and you will feel much better as your blood pressure lowers.
Every time you stress out, your pressure jumps up. And if stress is a permanent part of your life it can constantly keep your readings high. Don’t ignore stress; there are many effective ways to deal with it. For example, you can enroll in a stress relief class or take a yoga or Tai Chi class, listen to relaxation music. Try to find time to do things that you enjoy.
Hypertension medication
When it comes to high blood pressure drugs, you should never get one without consulting a doctor. If a particular medicine works well for your friend it doesn’t mean it will suit you. Most hypertension drugs are prescription drugs, so the only way to get them is to visit your physician first and ask for prescription.
Medication used to control blood pressure includes:
- ACE inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers
- Beta-blockers
- Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Alpha-blockers
- Diuretics
In the past a lot of hypertension medications were unsafe and had side effects. Luckily they improved in recent years, so modern drugs that help to lower your blood pressure are more effective and safe.
Alternative high blood pressure treatments
If you don’t trust conventional drugs and prefer alternative medicine, there are several treatments that can help you.
Natural herbs is also a very popular treatment. Most effective are Hawthorn and Ginkgo Biloba. Several studies have shown that garlic also helps with hypertension control. Garlic thins the blood (reduces its ability to clot). Garlic supplements work just as well as fresh garlic.
Among the alternative therapies, most common are acupuncture and magnetic therapy.
Acupuncture relaxes your body and releases some of the strain on the heart. There is no hard scientific proof that acupunctures works, but many people who tried it, swear that it helped to decrease their blood pressure.
Treatment with magnets can also help. Copper and iron bracelets reduce the effects of blood pressure, but scientists don’t know how and why. However, this treatment is painless and safe, so it is worth the try.
There are many ways to treat high blood pressure. You should never ignore it, because this condition doesn’t just go away unless you do something to control it.
High Blood Pressureâ??s Destructive Diseases of the
You may know that high blood pressure can cause the heart to become enlarged through years of overwork. But did you know that the disease called hypertension â?? the technical name for high blood pressure â?? can also do some serious damage to the arteries?
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
One type of hypertension is called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) because it is a condition where the pressure on the pulmonary artery is too great. This becomes an area of concern when pressure is above 25 mmHg. Normal pressure on the pulmonary artery is 14 mmHg. In PAH the inside of the arteries becomes narrower because the muscles along the wall tighten up. The arteries can also become thick from the increased muscle mass in the arteries due to their â??workout.â? When this happens the thicker walls create a narrower passage way for the blood flow and blood pressure increases.
The pulmonary arteries can also form scar tissue. This narrows the artery even more. Blood clots can cause further blockage and make blood flow difficult. All of the factors that narrow the arteries can also cause them to harden.
As time goes on without treating PAH, the right side of the heart is forced to work harder. Eventually it becomes so weak that it completely fails. The number one cause of death for people with PAH is heart failure. PAH is either inherited or comes about as the result of other conditions such as chronic lung disease, blood clots in the lungs or heart disease which can be caused by other types of conditions such as hypertension or high cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is another condition of the arteries brought about by high blood pressure among other diseases and conditions. The risk of developing this hardening and narrowing of the arteries is increased with age. If you have a close relative with the condition you are also at greater risk.
Basically, atherosclerosis starts because of a buildup of plaque in the arteries by damage to the arteryâ??s lining. High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol all contribute to damaging the artery walls. When plaque builds up it can lead to blood clots that narrow the arteries even more. With increased blood pressure on the arteries and the clots, there is a greater chance of heart attack or stroke.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is when the arteries leading to the heart become hardened and narrower. There can be different types of CAD, the most common being angina and heart attack. Angina is a condition of chronic chest pain because the heart is not getting enough blood. A heart attack is the result also of the blood not making its way to a portion of the heart. Complete heart failure which can result in death happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body.
To treat CAD, it is recommended that blood pressure is kept in check. High blood pressure adds to the strain on the arteries and the heart. A healthy diet and lifestyle will reduce the chances of developing CAD and other diseases or conditions of the arteries. Learn how to reduce your blood pressure to a healthy level by reading this special report: …visit naturalblood-pressure.blogspot.com
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My Friend for many years Frank Mangano is an active member of his community who works diligently providing assistance to senior citizens and probing as a health advocate to discover new and innovative ways to promote well being. Find out how you can reduce your blood pressure naturally: By Clicking Here For More Info on the â??The Silent Killerâ?
3 Alternative Medicine High Blood Pressure Relief Options
According to information provided by the American Heart Association around 1 in 3 of all Americans are today suffering from high blood pressure. Of this figure approximately 1/3 of these people do not actually know that they are suffering from this particular disease. However, for those that are there has been a move by more people to search for an alternative medicine high blood pressure relief options, rather than relying solely on prescribed medications.
This move to alternative medicine seems to be part of a wider movement for people to understand and take more control over their own health. Allowing people a better chance of preventing illness.
However, it is important to remember that many alternative options have not been through the same thorough testing that pharmaceutical drugs have to go through by law, and so some of the claims have be looked at closely.
Also, it is never wise to start taking an alternative medicine without first consulting your doctor to ensure that there will be no interactions with other medication you may be taking, and that the alternative is appropriate for you.
There has been research carried out on a number of alternative natural products that have shown promise in relieving high blood pressure, including garlic and ginseng, but this article will look at some other alternatives:
1. Fish Oil
There have been a number of studies carried out that point to the benefit of fish oils reducing high blood pressure. Research carried out in Western Australia found that a weight-loss diet combined with daily fish consumption is highly effective at lowering blood pressure, triglyceride and increasing good cholesterol.
Also, a study carried out at Harvard found that supplementation with fish oils each day will reduce blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. The most improvements where identified in individuals with atherosclerosis or raised cholesterol levels.
The fish oil effect on hypertension seems to be related to the dose used, and whether a person has hypertension or raised cholesterol.
2. Folic Acid
Folate is found in the Vitamin B group and is vital for our bodies to form red blood cells. This particular acid may be beneficial in helping people to lower high blood pressure.
According to a researchers at a conference on high blood pressure in the US, young women who consumed more than 800 mgs of folate per day reduce their chance of suffering with high blood pressure by nearly a third, when compared to women who took less than 200 ug/day.
3. Hawthorn
Traditional herbal practitioners regularly use this particular type of alternative for high blood pressure treatment.
A randomized controlled trial was carried out in the UK on people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. During the trial some of the people were given 1200mg of hawthorn extract each day whilst the others only received a sugar pill (placebo) instead for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16-week trial it was found that high blood pressure levels were reduced in those who were taking the hawthorn extract.
It is important that you should discuss any alternative treatment you are considering taking with your doctor.
Continue reading if you want to discover the alternative medicine high blood pressure relief options available and to sign up for our free newsletter.
High Blood Pressure – Can Lifestyle Changes Really Control High Blood Pressure?
Whenever you are first diagnosed with high blood pressure or you see various television stories talking about blood pressure, it seems they always speak of changing your lifestyle in order to better control the disease. But exactly what lifestyle changes will help? Do these changes actually make a big difference? As you might suspect, lifestyle changes can most definitely help in reducing high blood pressure levels. Let’s take a look at some of the most helpful changes you can put into action.
Diet
Undoubtedly, changing your dietary habits will have one of the biggest effects on improving blood pressure levels.
- Eat more whole grains and cut down on white flour products.
- Eliminate saturated fats and use virgin olive oil. This tip alone has shown a reduced need for hypertension medications in a past study.
- Include more fresh fruits and vegetable in your diet. Foods like bananas, oranges, melons, carrots, celery, mushrooms, broccoli and others may help in lowering high blood pressure.
- Add more oily fish such as salmon into your diet. The omega-3 fatty acids that are contained in fish are very beneficial to good heart and cardiovascular health.
Salt
Reducing salt intake is another proven lifestyle change that lowers blood pressure. Did you know that we should consume less than one teaspoonful of salt each day? That is approximately 2,400 mg.
Many people will use a salt substitute at home and that’s a great idea. The problem though is in the bigger picture. Roughly 75% of the salt intake in your typical American diet comes from foods eaten outside of the home, typically fast foods and processed foods. If you have doubts about this you can simply look at the sodium levels on the package labels. I’m not picking on McDonald’s, but you have enough sodium in one quarter-pounder to last the entire day. And that’s not even counting the salty fries!
Exercise
This is a lifestyle change that can also go a long way in reducing high blood pressure levels. It’s also one that is the most difficult changes to start.
There have even been studies that have shown moderate exercise to control hypertension to the point where high blood pressure medicines were no longer needed.
Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine
By now I am sure everyone knows you should not smoke. Cigarette smoking and good health just don’t mix. Reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption will also lower blood pressure levels as well as provide other health benefits for years to come.
Weight Loss
With nearly one-third of American adults being overweight or obese, it’s easy to see why high blood pressure is at record levels. Several studies have proven that by losing weight and reducing sodium intake many people with hypertension have been able to reduce or eliminate blood pressure medications.
These are only some of the major lifestyle changes that can help reduce high blood pressure. There are several others as well, but the important point is to asses where you currently are and begin making change in the areas you need to. By doing so you begin getting high blood pressure under control.
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Devising Your Own High Blood Pressure Diet
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is almost a certainty that your doctor has advised you to begin adhering to a high blood pressure diet as a way to control your hypertension. If you are also overweight, your extra pounds could be a factor in increasing your blood pressure; so your high blood pressure diet may be a low-calorie diet as well, at least until you lose the unwanted weight. If weight is not an issue, your high blood pressure diet will not be a calorie-restricted one.The Basics Of A High Blood Pressure Diet
A high blood pressure diet demands that you cut back on or eliminate some foods, while increasing your intake of others. Salt is a prime culprit in creating high blood pressure, so you should be consuming no more than five grams of salt per day. You will have to start paying attention to the sodium in the packaged and canned foods you buy, because many of them are notorious for their high salt content. Go for the low-salt or no-salt versions. You can learn to season your food with herbs and spices; they are the secrets to many a brilliant culinary career.
You doctor is going to tell you that, as a part of your high blood pressure diet, you will have to lower or stop your consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and high fat foods. Fresh fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids–salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines–are healthy choices which will give your body the”good fats” it needs. For more info see http://www.lower-highbloodpressure.com/High_Blood_Pressure/ on High Blood Pressure.
If you absolutely cannot live without meat, choose white meat chicken or turkey, baked or roasted with the skin removed. High fiber whole grain cereals and baked goods; potassium-rich fruits like bananas and prunes; beans; fresh fruits–especially blueberries and citrus fruits; vegetables including spinach, broccoli carrots, avocados, and celery; low-fat dairy products; unsalted nuts and soy products; and flaxseeds are all ingredients n a well-balanced high blood pressure diet.Getting Help From Exercise
Your diet, if you want to maximize its hypertension-reducing benefits, should be accompanies by a consistent exercise program. Walking, cycling, swimming, or treadmilling between one-half and three-quarters of an hour every day can cause an additional decrease in blood pressure, but to achieve any results, the exercise must be aerobic, and it must be done regularly. You high blood pressure diet will work on its own, but may need the extra boost provided by regular exercise to get your blood pressure back into normal range.
Cutting Back on Sodium is Good for High Blood Pressure â?? Donâ??t Cut Back on the Good Stuff at the Same Time Though
It is a generally accepted medical fact that by adjusting the nutrients in your diet (such as sodium etc) that you can actually positively influence incidences of high blood pressure.
Organisations throughout the world recently have been issuing guidelines about reducing levels of salt in our diet and it appears that the general target has been to try and cut in half our daily sodium intake from 3,500 milligrams per day to between 1,200 and 2,300 mg a day.
The danger with this is that in our enthusiasm to cut back on our sodium which has a detrimental effect on high blood pressure, as a side effect we cut back on other nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and potassium which actually have a more beneficial effect on our blood pressure.
So it would appear that the concept of eating a healthy well-balanced diet is what we should be aiming at and I know this may sound as a statement of the obvious but all that it requires is a little bit of careful forethought and planning.
It is certainly not beyond the majority of folk and is a target we should all be aiming at if we are serious about dealing with high blood pressure.
What is it about high blood pressure that makes it a problem and when ignored so lethal?
Tragically, as most sufferers have yet to be diagnosed, the majority of high blood pressure sufferers are unaware of their condition.
The majority of sufferers of high blood pressure, if undiagnosed go years without being aware of their condition, the so called â??Silent Killerâ?.
There are certain signs that can be a bit of a give away with regards to high blood pressure and these should not be left unattended if observed.
Some of the following can be found to be included as symptoms: Dizziness, Ringing in the Ears , Blurred Vision, Depression .
Though the above can indicate high blood pressure it has to be emphasised that they might just as easily indicate other associate conditions.
OK, we have all heard the term high blood pressure but what exactly does it mean?
Well, if we are to go back to basics then the bodyâ??s major tissues and organs are supplied and fed with blood pumped to them from the heart via a network of hose like vessels called arteries.
For about ninety percent of sufferers of high blood pressure, there is no single cause to be found and as such this type of high blood pressure is termed â??Primary (Essential) High Blood Pressureâ?.
In the majority of cases where the cause of the high blood pressure can be traced directly to one particular failing organ or cause then it is not uncommon for the associate problems to be treated successfully where this â??Secondary High Blood Pressureâ? is not the direct cause of the associate high blood pressure.
In less than 10% of the incidences of high blood pressure diagnosed, the diagnosis falls into the category known as â??Malignant Hypertensionâ?. This can quite often be discovered by accident or through an associate medical test such as an eye examination whereby an Optician can detect abnormalities through the effect they have on the eye.
High Blood Pressure and Dizziness â?? Whatâ??s the Real Story?
High blood pressure and dizziness what’s the real story? Well ironically dizziness in relation to blood pressure probably has more in common with low pressure than actually high blood pressure.
That being said it could be a serious problem and in many ways the fact that you’re suffering from dizziness and potential drops in blood pressure are probably more important than the levels to which the blood pressure drops to so it is extremely important to get to the bottom of it if it is indeed a regular occurrence.
If you are suffering from dizziness and have correspondingly have been diagnosed with high blood pressure then it could indicate a whole series of events, all of which will need to be investigated by your doctor or healthcare practitioner. This last point cannot be stressed too heavily enough as there are too many occasions in relation to medical conditions where people place too much emphasis on common folklore or old wives tales as opposed to getting the correct medical advice from experts.
If you suffer from high blood pressure then by all means listen to other sufferers and people in general but don’t ever make the mistake of ignoring the advice of professionals – it could be fatal to be the last mistake you ever make.
I make no apologies if I sound too dramatic but high blood pressure is serious and as such has to retreat it as such.
Back to high blood pressure and dizzy spells however. These could be as a result of the number of things none of which in isolation could be that serious but they could be little indicators of potentially something more serious further down the line.
Usually dizzy spells occur as a result of changes in your blood pressure from moving from low blood pressure to high blood pressure namely when you first get up in the morning as it is a known medical fact that your blood pressure is usually lowest at night and rises sharply upon waking. Conversely you could suffer dizzy spells when your blood pressure drops sharply as a result of dehydration, blood loss, allergic reaction, postural hypotension, namely some people suffer from dizzy spells when they change posture if they have been in one position for a long time. The dizzy spells could be brought about by what is called postprandial hypotension; this is usually an occurrence that affects older adults with high blood pressure or what could be best described as autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and basically occurs after meals.
Lastly in certain cases dizziness could be caused by neurally mediated hypotension and by this I mean this usually occurs in young people in these usually calls because of a miscommunication between the high and the brain which leads to dizziness and nausea painting as a result of standing for long periods.
Whatever the reasons, if you are experiencing any dizziness or any form of light-headedness on a regular basis then you need to see your doctor as soon as you can. It might not be anything serious at all but itâ??s much better for them to make the decision rather than you.