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High blood pressure is one of our most common health problems and is steadily increasing in most modern societies. Knowing that you have this condition can be very disturbing, especially if you don't fully grasp what's behind it and the implications for your future health. But when you understand what's going on inside your body you'll be better able to cope with it and to find effective options for treating it.
The heart pumps blood throughout the body to supply vital organs and functions with oxygen and other nutrients. Blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of our blood vessels as blood circulates throughout the body. Blood pressure readings are always associated with two numbers; the higher one is called systolic and the lower is diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is the force of the blood when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the pressure at rest between heartbeats. Both numbers are important but doctors tend to look more closely at systolic pressure as people begin to age and their blood pressure starts to increase.
In a healthy circulatory system blood flows relatively easily through relaxed, flexible and unrestricted blood vessels. Under these ideal circumstances blood pressure tends to measure around 120 systolic over 70 diastolic. However, blood pressure will increase whenever there is something that restricts blood flow or makes it harder for the heart to pump. This could be in response to strenuous activity, for instance, when the muscles need more blood. This is entirely normal and blood pressure will return to normal when the body rests.
However, there are many other, unhealthy circumstances that can cause blood pressure to rise. Fatty deposits called plaque can build up in the arteries, usually caused by a poor diet. These build-ups obstruct blood flow, just like blocking up a water hose, and increase the pressure and load on the heart. Another thing that can cause the heart to work harder and increase blood pressure is excess weight.
There are many things that can cause your blood pressure to rise but when the increase becomes consistent above a certain level you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure is usually considered to start at 140 over 90, although many doctors consider anything over 130/80 to be a potential risk and they refer to it as pre-hypertension.
So let's say you have hypertension. What are the risks and how are you going to lower your blood pressure? The first part of the answer is easy. If not treated and controlled, hypertension can lead to many serious health problems. These include heart disease, kidney disease and even eye damage including blindness.
The heart and circulatory consequences are easy to explain. Constant high pressure against your blood vessels can lead to arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This condition will contribute to further pressure on the heart. The combination of hardened and partially blocked arteries can eventually trigger a heart attack. Or, plaque can break loose from within an artery and cause a blockage elsewhere in the body. The result is often a stroke.
The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated and it's even easier to prevent. Most experts agree that the vast majority of cases of hypertension will respond well to positive lifestyle changes. And if you make such changes early enough you will prevent high blood pressure in the first place.
Forearmed with the knowledge of what poor quality food can do to your arteries you are more likely to eat a healthy diet. Being aware of the extreme load placed on your heart by being overweight may help you stay active and fit and to keep an eye on your weight. Maybe even more important than weight alone is your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a fair indicator of the ratios of fat and muscle in your body. A healthy BMI is 25 or less.
It's important to take your blood pressure seriously and keep it in check with a healthy lifestyle. The only other alternative with high blood pressure is to use powerful medications. These are usually effective at dropping your blood pressure but at the cost of numerous unpleasant side effects. The choice should be easy. Forewarned is forearmed.
With the recent well-publicized problems that have been associated with certain prescription drugs, and the trend to take more proactive care of our own bodies, there has been an ever-increasing move to identify more natural ways to relieve health problems. This is also true when someone has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. But, is there evidence of a natural medicine high blood pressure relief option?
Today in most industrialized countries a large part of the population will have elevated blood pressure. This is particularly true in those who are past middle age, and indulge in a number of the factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure, like smoking, eating diets high in fat or high in salt and suffer from a lack of exercise.
Some medical researchers believe that the number of people who will be suffering with high blood presure in 2025 will be close to 1.56 billion, with most of the growth happening in countries as they become "westernized".
In many cases high blood pressure is caused by the body's blood vessels becoming clogged. Unfortunately this clogging can put stress on to a person's heart which makes it beat harder in order to push the blood around the body. Eventually if left untreated a person may find himself or herself either having a heart attack, a stroke or kidney failure may occur.
There are a variety of different natural medicines available usually provided to you as supplements through a local herbal practitioner or you may go to a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner instead. You may even find that your doctor is able to suggest natural medicines for high blood pressure, which may suitable for you to use.
However, wherever you source the product from it is important that you discuss the approach you are considering adopting with your doctor before proceeding. They will be able to identify any interactions the product may have with any medication you may already be taking.
There are a number of natural approaches and preparations that have researched and used for hundreds of years to help relieve high blood pressure, these include; garlic, passion flower, lemon balm, valerian, hawthorn and gingko biloba.
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There have been several different randomized controlled trials using garlic supplements. In 3 of these trials it was found that systolic blood pressure was significantly lowered and in 4 it was shown that the diastolic blood pressure had lowered significantly. The researchers concluded that garlic powder could potentially be used in a clinical setting to help relieve mild high blood pressure.
In general the main aim for any high blood pressure treatment would be to reduce the elevated blood pressure to healthy levels to stop further damage to the body, and to develop a plan that keeps the blood pressure levels at those levels. Many natural substances may help to alleviate high blood pressure, but if there is a need to lower hypertension swiftly to stop further damage then often the most appropriate approach is through prescription medication.
Once the blood pressure is under control, then a person may want to consider natural alternatives to the blood pressure medication and discuss their wishes with their doctors.
So, no one natural medicine high blood pressure relief option is going to be a cure-all. It is important that a person's lifestyle is assessed for high risk factors, and they these are the areas that are focused on to alleviate future problems.