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Although a lot of research has been done on high blood pressure, the best way to treat it medically remains a mystery to doctors. The medical profession continue to perform studies, test drugs and try different treatments on individuals while patients have to go through the process of finding out with their doctor what works best for them.
Why is that? Surely with all the research which has been done, they have found the medication which will cure the problem?
What is being shown in all the studies is that hypertensive disease (high blood pressure) is not a simple phenomenon with one cause and one cure. It is brought about by a number of different processes - metabolic, genetic and environmental, which together create the condition. Working out which factors are at play in any one individual (and finding out how to treat them) is therefore a complex business and difficult for doctors to pin down. And new drugs are being frequently released onto the market for this condition too – so this all adds to the complexity..
So you can't expect to be given a one drug fits all solution on your first visit to the doctor after finding out you have the condition. Some exploration about what is best for you is likely to be necessary. You may be given one blood pressure drug for a few weeks to see if it is right for you and then something else to try if it does not suit you.
And while you should always consult your doctor if you have hypertension (or any other health issue) many doctors now believe that lifestyle changes are the best way to treat it, especially if you have a mild case. So don't be surprised if your doctor simply wants you to lose weight, take more exercise and change your diet a bit rather than have you take a hypertensive drug.
Copyright 2006 Janice Elizabeth Small
Many people think that high blood pressure is a natural part of getting older. But it does not have to be that way. When you lower high blood pressure, you can cut the risk of heart disease and stroke in half or more. That may seem hard to believe. After all, you can have high blood pressure and still feel great. It is like when you blow up a balloon too much, you put too much pressure on a structure that is not built to take it. It pops. That is what high blood pressure does to your arteries. Under extra pressure, the plaque may rupture. As it breaks lose, it turns into the stuff clots are made of, and your risk of heart attacks and stroke rises. If your kidneys are not working right, they can produce hormones to tighten the blood vessels, constricting the arteries, and putting on the pressure. Stress can be another common cause of increased constriction of the blood vessels. Here are some tips that you can consider to take off the pressure.
1.Reduce Fat Intake
Most people's daily calories come from fat. To lower the high blood pressure and get your cholesterol down, it is recommended to get your fat consumption down to 10 percent of calories to reverse heart disease. Get into the habit of checking the labels on processed food, they will fill you in on the fat content.
2.Get Active
Physical activity lowers the high blood pressure. If you are not doing anything, start to do something physical. Just accumulate 30 minutes of activity a day. This need not be marathon running. You can walk, ride an exercise bicycle, work in the garden, or mow the lawn.
3.Up The Antioxidants
High blood pressure is caused, by part, by a shortage of disease-fighting antioxidants in your system. Free radicals, compounds that antioxidants disarm, block your body's production of nitric oxide and prostacyclin, both of which relax blood vessels to help keep blood pressure down. You can get antioxidants through your diet by eating foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, such as carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
4.Drop Some Pounds
Being overweight can contribute to high blood pressure. A weight loss of just 5 to 10 pounds can actually make blood pressure medication unnecessary in some cases.
5.Add The Potassium
Low potassium intake can also increase blood pressure. Get it from your diet such as fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly bananas and potatoes.
6.Lower Stress
Stress can get your heart pumping and your pressure rising. As stress raises your heart rate and blood pressure, hormones may make the coronary arteries constrict. The combination of reduced blood supply and greater demand for blood can lead to a heart attack.
7.Cut The Salt
As you get older, your system becomes more sensitive to salt and hangs on to it longer. Consuming 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams a day puts you in the low-salt and high-health range. So check those nutrition labels when you shop and look for no-salt or low-salt products.