High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the measure of the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries – the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When the heart contracts to pump out blood, the peak of contraction is called systolic pressure. After pumping, the heart relaxes and pressure drops to its lowest point just before a new beat. That lowest point is called the diastolic pressure.
An individual’s blood pressure is always expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. For example, normal blood pressure for adults is considered to be about 120/80 millimeters of mercury. Generally, blood pressure above 140/90 is considered to be high for adults, and blood pressure under 90/60 is considered to be low.
High blood pressure is caused when a person’s blood pressure is elevated. Left untreated, high blood pressure will gradually continue to rise even higher over the years, causing the heart to overwork itself to the point where serious damage can occur. Untreated high blood pressure also places other systems and organs at greater risk of damage that could lead to dysfunction or failure.
How does high blood pressure develop?
Your heart pumps blood through all the body's arteries, large and small. The smallest of these arteries are called capillaries. As you know when the heart pumps blood, the blood is enriched with oxygen and nutrients that travel to all the organs of your body. The blood then returns to your heart through the veins.
Certain nerve impulses cause your arteries to dilate (become larger) or contract (become smaller). If these vessels are wide open, blood can flow through easily. If they're narrow, it's harder for the blood to flow through them, and the pressure inside them increases. Then high blood pressure may occur. When this happens, your heart becomes strained and blood vessels may become damaged. Changes in the vessels that supply blood to your kidneys and brain may cause these organs to be affected.
Your heart, brain and kidneys can handle increased pressure for a long time. But don't be fooled. Because prolonged high blood pressure is what causes stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure to occur.
Low Blood Pressure
Hypotension is another way of saying the person has low blood pressure (under 90/60). Usually, borderline-low or slightly low blood pressure readings produce no symptoms and require no treatment. Low blood pressure can be a sign of good health in some people with no symptoms (e.g., athletes), indicating that their hearts, lungs and blood vessels are well conditioned and in good working order. However, it may also be an indication that the body is unable to properly regulate blood pressure. In these cases, low blood pressure may require treatment.
While there are a number of forms of low blood pressure (hypotension) that require medical diagnosis and treatment, the two most common are orthostatic hypotension and neurally mediated hypotension (NMH).
Orthostatic hypotension
Also called postural hypotension, orthostatic hypotension is a condition that people are more likely to develop as they get older. Therefore, it is often found in elderly patients and often complicates the treatment of essential or isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly. Orthostatic hypotension is characterized by the body's inability to quickly regulate blood pressure after changes in position, so people feel temporarily light-headed after standing up. People who suffer from this condition are counseled to change position gradually: sit before standing, and stand before walking.
Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH)
Also known as neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) is a condition in which the body does not regulate blood pressure well, especially when the person is upright. The condition often develops in young patients without heart disease who have hypotensive symptoms. It is thought to be a result of a communication problem between the brain and the nerve sensors that control blood pressure and heart rate.
In some cases, NMH is temporary and not serious. For example, a person may faint after seeing blood, hearing bad news, getting an injection or other situations. The person becomes pale, clammy and has nausea and/or an uncomfortable feeling in their stomach.
In other cases, NMH is more serious than orthostatic hypertension. People have great difficulty or even an inability to stand up for long periods of time. Other symptoms include dizziness, weakness, sweating, blurring of vision and near-fainting.
The usual symptoms of low blood pressure are lightheadedness or fainting. The basic causes of low blood pressure include:
- Certain nerve or endocrine disorders
- Prolonged bed rest
- Decreases in blood volume due to severe bleeding (hemorrhage) or dehydration
Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is generally considered ideal. Levels higher than this increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. If you have unusually low blood pressure, have it evaluated.
The best way to treat any type of blood pressure is by identifying the problem followed by proper treatment options. One must take into account that there may be several risk factors associated with blood pressure. These factors include:
- Food allergies.
- Heavy metal toxicity.
- Nutrient deficiencies.
- Insulin resistance.
- Other possible underlying causes of hypertension such as thyroid disease, adrenal problems, etc.
As is the case with any type of treatment, the goal is to eliminate the problem, or at least decrease it to the point the problem does not affect the person's livelihood. The basic plan of action is to learn of ways to alter your life in such a way to enable healing to occur. Such ways include exercise, diet, and supplements.
While considering diet there are foods you can eat while there are foods you can't eat. There are certain foods that lower blood pressure, or at least help you in that direction. Here are some suggestions for a high blood pressure diet:
- Decrease salt and increase potassium in your diet. Balance between minerals is the most important response. If it does not help, do not restrict sodium completely.
- Increase fiber - take aim for at least 2 servings of vegetables per day, preferably more.
- Decrease the amount of sucrose/refined sugars in your diet.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Eliminate trans fatty acids and all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats from the diet.
- Go for foods that are rich in potassium, including fruits, vegetables (including leafy green vegetables), nuts/seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
- Grains and grain products: 7-8 servings per day.
- Vegetables: 4-5 servings per day
- Fruits: 4-5 servings per day.
- Low fat or fat free dairy foods: 2-3 servings per day
- Meats/fish/poultry: 2 or fewer servings per day.
- Nuts/seeds/legumes: 4-5 servings per week
- Fats/oils: 2-3 servings per day.
- Sweets: 5 servings per week.
- When combined with low salt, the diet is even more effective.
Besides having a good diet, you also need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. The following are suggested nutrients you should add to your daily regimen to give you the proper amount of nutrition your body needs:
- High potency multivitamin. This will be an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and microminerals which are essential for cardiovascular health, blood vessel integrity, blood sugar control, and more.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CO-Q10). Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that plays a role in providing good health to the cardiovascular system and has been shown to have a significant effect on blood pressure.
- Minerals: Magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Increasing these minerals has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hypertension.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids . Shown to reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension.
- Other nutrients such as vitamins C and E, and amino acids taurine, arginine, and l-carnitine are also effective in the treatment of high blood pressure.
Besides eating the right foods and taking vitamin supplements, you can also help your cause by consuming certain amounts of garlic. Garlic is an extremely safe herb that lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and lowers clotting.
Another approach to health and treating blood pressure is the use of homeopathic treatments. Just what is a homeopathic treatment like? You will receive a remedy, often as a pill that you allow to dissolve under your tongue. Don't put anything else into your mouth for 30 minutes before and after taking your remedy. Homeopathic remedies may be sensitive to other chemicals, which may result in a relapse of symptoms. Avoid the following:
- Coffee, by itself or in products.
- Toothpaste and peppermint.
- Cigarettes.
- Camphor, menthol, aromatic oils, or any other strong-smelling substance. Also avoid any products that may contain these substances.
- Dental work, especially high speed drilling.
- Over-the-counter medications.
- Electric blankets.
After taking your remedy, you may notice some changes. It's likely that you will experience a feeling of well-being and optimism after taking the remedy. You will start feeling much better and start having faith in the treatment program you engaged in. However, it's possible that your symptoms may get a little worse for a short time. That means the remedy is taking effect, and your symptoms will then start to improve.
The main question people ask when dealing with blood pressure, especially high blood pressure is how to prevent it. The best way would be to address the areas that cause the problem and work to eliminate those causes. This way you are preventing hypertension or any other ailment that causes high blood pressure.
A healthier nutrient-rich high fiber diet, regular exercise, maintaining optimal body weight, eating right, and taking supplements on a regular basis, are the best ways to prevent high or low blood pressure.
