Hypertension guide

Hypertension can cause atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis causes high blood pressure. Whilst they are different conditions, the prevention and natural treatment for each of them is similar. This article describes the relationship between the two conditions and how to prevent them.

The relationship between atherosclerosis and hypertension

Atherosclerosis affects the smooth muscles inside of the arteries causing them to lose elasticity. The arteries also become narrowed or blocked. This constricts the blood flow and raises blood pressure. Hypertension is a symptom of something wrong inside our bodies.

The development of atherosclerosis is thought to begin with damage being caused to endothelial cells or surface cells lining the inside of our arteries. The smooth muscles are underneath the endothelial cells. There are several factors that can cause endothelial damage, one of which is hypertension - which is...

A risk fact or heart disease, heart attack and strokes

Atherosclerosis can cause blood clots that can stop the blood supply to a vital organ, such as:

when the heart is affected, tissue is damaged or destroyed causing sudden heart failure or death; andwhen the brain is affected, brain tissue is destroyed or impaired, which can lead to stroke, paralysis, functional impairment, coma or death.

Prevention and reversal

Hypertension and atherosclerosis can both be prevented and to some extent reversed by making some simple lifestyle adjustments. These are;

#1. Have a healthy diet:

A balanced healthy diet aimed at reducing hypertension, such as the DASH diet, is also effective at preventing the development of atherosclerosis. Such a diet is effective because it eliminates several the dietary causes of atherosclerosis. These are:

high cholesterol levelshigh saturated fat contentinflammation of the arterieshigh amounts of oxidation agentshigh content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and low content of high density lipoprotein (HDL)

#2. Regular exercise:

As little as 30 to 40 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging or swimming, can lower systolic pressure by between 4 and 8 points and the benefits last for almost 24 hours.

Research shows that this type and amount of daily exercise, especially in middle age, has health benefits that last into old age. The reason for this is that regular exercise reduces inflammation of the arteries, which can cause hypertension and atherosclerosis.

#3. Lose weight:

There is a direct correlation between being overweight and having hypertension. Systolic pressure can be reduced by between 5 and 20 points for every 20 pounds of excess weight that we lose.

Furthermore, slimming down to our natural body weight reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis because our systolic pressure will be much nearer to normal.

#4. Quit smoking:

Smoking raises blood pressure by causing the smooth muscles in our arteries to become less elastic. Smoking can also cause endothelial damage leading to the development of atherosclerosis.

#5. Reduce alcohol consumption:

Limiting alcohol consumption to one unit a day does not appear to have any harmful effects. However, consumption above this level can cause weight gain that leads to hypertension. Long-term heavy consumption can cause organ damage and might also cause endothelial damage leading to the development of atherosclerosis.

These simple lifestyle changes can protect you from the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension. They can also lower your high blood pressure naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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If you have high blood pressure, you are responsible for having the condition. It is your body. The responsibility for doing something positive about your hypertension rests with you. This is something you cannot delegate. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do that will make a big improvement in your condition. They could even reduce your high blood pressure to normal levels naturally.

Here is a simple plan for regaining responsibility for your hypertension:

# 1. Accept responsibility for your hypertension:

Although you might be predisposed to the condition, you did not catch it from someone else. You have hypertension because of some poor lifestyle choices you made in the past. You cannot change what has happened, but you can do something about the future.

# 2. Understand that hypertension is not an illness:

Even though your doctor treats it as if it were, having high blood pressure is not an illness. It is a vital body sign, just like your temperature and your pulse. If either or both your systolic and diastolic pressures are elevated, your body is signalling that there is something wrong. Treat the cause and the symptom will go away.

# 3. Tackle the cause of your hypertension:

This is easier than it sounds and is something you can do. Many of the causes of high blood pressure can be traced back to a combination of six poor lifestyle choices. They are:

having a poor dietleading a sedentary lifestylebeing overweight or obesesmokingalcohol consumptionstress

You have the power to improve each of these six areas of your lifestyle. Here is how:

Improve your diet:

A healthy balanced diet that is low in sodium, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates and high in fresh fruits and vegetables will help to reduce your hypertension. A diet based on these principles, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension has been shown to reduce systolic and diastolic pressures to normal levels in as little as two to three weeks for patients whose condition was moderate, it takes longer in more severe cases.

Become more active:

Simple cardiovascular exercise, such as fast walking, jogging, cycling and swimming, over a sustained period of 30 to 45 minutes a day, has been shown to reduce systolic pressures by as much as some prescription drugs. The most convenient way to exercise is to build it into your daily schedule.

Combining regular daily exercise with a healthy balanced diet:

has been shown to be as effective as, or more effective than, prescription drugs for people with moderate hypertension; andwill help you to...

Lose weight:

Most people who are overweight or obese have high blood pressure. Whereas few people with normal body weight suffer from the condition.

There is a direct correlation between being overweight or obese and having hypertension. There is also increased risk of heart disease, of having a heart attack or of having a stroke, each of which can be fatal.

Quit using tobacco products:

Using tobacco products indirectly elevates our systolic and diastolic pressures. It does this in two ways:

By releasing adrenalin into the blood stream. This restricts the arteries causing our blood pressure to be elevated. This is a self-defence mechanism for when we face danger, but we do not need to create the situation artificially; andBy causing plaque deposits in our arteries which restrict the blood flow and elevates our blood pressure.

Using tobacco products is also a factor that increases the risk of heart disease, having a heart attack or of having a stroke.

Reduce alcohol consumption:

While alcohol consumption of one unit a day for women and two units a day for men can have some benefits because of the relaxing effect, consumption above these levels is harmful. In particular, it can lead to weight gain, obesity and organ damage. Each of which can cause hypertension.

Furthermore, heavy alcohol consumption can be a cause of atherosclerosis, which is a cause of high blood pressure.

Learn to relax:

Stress is known to cause hypertension. Taking 30 minutes out each day to relax is a good antidote to stress and will help to lower your high blood pressure.

# 4. Monitor your progress and involve your doctor:

If you make the lifestyle improvements suggested above, you will see a downward trend in your systolic and diastolic pressures. Monitor these for a period of 14 days and plot the results on a spreadsheet or graph paper. Send the results to your doctor. He or she can then review the management of your condition based on the data you have collected. Repeat the exercise periodically.

One outcome is that the dosage of your prescription medication could be reduced while achieving the same effect. Over time, you could be weaned of the medication.

The improved lifestyle choices outlined above will help you to lower your high blood pressure naturally. However, none of this will happen if you do not regain responsibility for reducing your hypertension.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally.  http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Exercise is a great way to lower our high blood pressure naturally. In our modern, high pressure compartmentalized lives, exercise is something we do at the gym or health club. Our bodies are designed to be active, which is why a sedentary lifestyle often leads to hypertension. There is a simple form of exercise most of us can do at any time and anywhere we choose. It is walking and it is the best form of exercise for us.

Recently published long-term research carried out for the British Heart Foundation shows that:

brisk walking for thirty minutes a day, five days a week is enough to protect the heart from inflammation that can lead to heart disease and hypertension, andit is never too late to start exercising and reap the benefits.

Walk your hypertension away - the super exercise

Walking is a low impact form of exercise: Unlike running or jogging, there is little stress on the knees, ankles and tendons of the foot. That makes it ideal for those of us who are overweight and not used to taking regular exercise more demanding than operating the TV remote control.

Walking can be a good form of cardiovascular exercise: The aim is to walk briskly so that our heart rate increases. Depending upon our age, the ideal rate is between 110 and 120 beats per minute. Keeping up this pace for about thirty minutes each day strengthens our hearts, lungs and arteries. A healthy cardiovascular system results in lower blood pressure.

Walking relieves stress: When we are happy our body releases endorphins. These negate the effect of the adrenaline released by stress. Adrenalin puts us into "fight or flight" mode, that is when nature intended is to have higher blood pressure. Exercising also releases endorphins and reduces your stress levels. This is one way in which walking helps to lower our high blood pressure.

Walking aids weight loss: Walking increases our metabolism. That means our bodies covert our food into energy more efficiently. Having a higher metabolic rate makes it easier for us to lose weight by burning up the energy stored as surplus fat on and in our body. Losing weight is an excellent way to reduce hypertension.

The benefits of walking are long-lasting: cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking for half an hour can reduce our high blood pressure by between 4 and 9 points, which is as effective as some prescription hypertension medications but without the side effects. Because the benefits of exercise last for almost 24 hours, it is important to exercise regularly.

Walk your hypertension away - make full use of your exercise time

Walking is natural. We need no special equipment, other than a good pair of shoes. We do not have to concentrate on doing the exercise, we just do it. That means, subject to ensuring our safety, we can use the time to do other things such as practising vocabulary for a foreign language we are learning or listening to a personal development program or an audio book on an mp3 player. At the same time, we can also relax our eyes by focussing on objects in the middle and far distances. We are only limited by our imagination.

Walking your hypertension away is a great way to reduce your high blood pressure naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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It is well-known that high blood pressure is associated with increased risk of having a heart attack and having a stroke as well as developing heart disease. The results of new research suggest that men with hypertension are 62 per cent more likely to die from prostate cancer than those with the lowest risk. The evidence points to lifestyle factors in developed countries being a significant factor in this increased risk.

The link between high blood pressure and prostate cancer:

The Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer (MeCan) project involved 300,000 men from Sweden, Norway and Austria. Of those involved, 6,673 were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 961 died from the disease.

The research did not find any link between health conditions including high blood pressure, obesity and high levels of fats and sugar in the blood, which all fall under the 'metabolic syndrome' umbrella, and the chances of being diagnosed with the disease, just its outcome for those that already suffer from it. However, these metabolic factors were found to lower a man's chances of survival.

Dr Christel Haggstrom, from Umea University, Sweden, who lead the research, said: "When we looked to see if the metabolic factors are related to an increased risk of getting or dying from prostate cancer we found a relationship with death from the disease and high blood pressure."

She went on to say: "the high incidence in Western Europe and North America suggests a link to the lifestyles or environment in developed countries." (Source: Nursing Times.net accessed 24th October 2012)

Lifestyle factors in lowering high blood pressure:

Lifestyle improvements are an important part of successfully managing hypertension. The two most important lifestyle elements are diet and exercise.

# 1. Diet: To help lower our high blood pressure to normal levels, we should follow a healthy, balanced and calorie controlled diet that is:

primarily plant-based;includes a variety of fruits and vegetables including green leafy vegetables;high in fibre;low in fat; and islimited in the amount of refined sugars.

An example of such a diet is contained in the Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (Dash diet). In addition, we should drink adequate fluids each day.

# 2. Exercise: We should aim to take thirty to forty-five minutes of cardiovascular exercise, such as brisk walking, running, or swimming each day. Exercising in this way has been shown to reduce systolic pressure by between 4 and 8mm of mercury. Furthermore, the benefits last almost a whole day.

The combination of exercising in this way and a healthy, low-fat and calorie controlled diet is that we lose weight naturally. Shedding the excess weight is an excellent way of reducing hypertension.

Lifestyle and prostate cancer:

In their paper "Nutrition and Prostate Cancer", researchers from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, reported on an eleven-day study where men followed the Pritikin program. The Pritikin program includes:

a diet that is high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains and very low in fat. It is the same type of diet that is recommended for people with hypertension.This diet is used in combination with 60 minutes of daily exercise.

These are the same lifestyle improvements recommended for lowering high blood pressure naturally.

The researchers noted that serum IGF-I, an insulin-like growth factor, decreased by 20 percent after following the program for 11 days. Higher IGF-I values are associated with higher risk for various cancers, including prostate cancer.

This reduction in IGF-I, and therefore the reduced risk of developing cancer including prostate cancer, was brought about by the combination of following a healthy, low-fat, plant-based diet and taking regular exercise. (Source: UCSF Medical Center "Nutrition and Prostate Cancer" accessed 24th October 2012).

These research findings can be summarised as follows:

There is a strong link between hypertension and survival rates for prostate cancer.The type of diet recommended for people with high blood pressure combined with taking regular exercise reduces the risk of developing cancer, including prostate cancer.

High blood pressure can be lowered naturally by a combination of a healthy, low-fat, and calorie controlled diet combined with regular exercise. These lifestyle improvements also increase a man's chances of surviving prostate cancer.

© Robert Reddin

Robert Reddin suffers from hypertension. He lowered his high blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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No matter how well we manage our high blood pressure, there will be times when our readings shoot up to alarming levels. Usually, such events are linked to stressful episodes. Occasionally, we are the architect of our own misfortune. Fortunately, there are natural and safe ways to rapidly reduce our hypertension. This article describes three such ways.

Our bodies evolved to develop a physiological response to stressful situations when we might have to defend ourselves or flee. We need our blood pressure to be elevated in these situations to give us the extra energy we need. Once the threat has gone, our readings return to normal. For many people, modern life, however, is almost continuously stressful.

Here are three ways we can relieve the stress and lower our high blood pressure:

# 1. Put the kettle on:

Make a pot of tea in the traditional way. Boil the kettle, warm the pot and put in the tea. Green tea is best. Let the tea brew and then sit back and enjoy a cup of delicious tea.

How does making a pot of tea relieve stress?

You cannot hurry making a pot of tea in the traditional way. A watched never boils! So, there is nothing for your to do but relax while you wait for the kettle to boil.

There is not much you can do while the tea is brewing, so you might as well continue relaxing.

Take your time drinking your cup of tea. Savour the aroma and the flavour as well as the taste. By the time you have finished your tea, you have been relaxing for 15 to 20 minutes.That will allow time for the adrenalin in your body to disperse, lowering your high blood pressure.

In another 30 minutes or so, the angio tensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and antioxidants in the green tea will have entered your system. The ACE inhibitor prevents your arteries and blood vessels from constricting, which reduces your hypertension even further.

# 2. Take some exercise:

Do some cardiovascular exercise for 30 to 45 minutes. Walking, cycling, rowing, running and swimming are all good forms of exercise. Your aim is to elevate your heart rate slightly. This type of exercise causes your body to release endorphins, which make you feel happier. It is also a good way to release tension and anxiety.

Exercise is a double win way of reducing your hypertension quickly.

First, just by exercising, you are releasing the tension and anxiety that were causing you the problem. That will result in fall in your readings.Secondly, the effects of your workout become apparent about half an hour after you have finished.

A drop of 4mm/Hg or more in your systolic pressure can be expected. What is more, that benefit lasts for almost 24 hours.

# 3. Deep relaxation:

There are several ways you can relax, which will be beneficial. For best results, try simple meditation or other forms of deep relaxation. Guided meditations are commercially available in MP3 format as are some deep relation tracks.

Thirty minutes of meditation or other deep relaxation will reduce your hypertension with a bump! The deeper you are relaxed, the better the results are likely to be.

Reduction in systolic pressure of between 5 and 13 mm/Hg are achievable using deep relaxation techniques. The benefits last for a few hours.

Each of these methods will soon lower your high blood pressure. The best natural way to reduce your hypertension quickly is to use all three in combination.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Hypertension and stress are facts of nature. Nature intended stress to be a short-term experience to set our bodies up to deal with potential or actual danger when it causes the high blood pressure needed to fight or flee. Modern working and lifestyles, however, are often continuously stressful and can lead to persistently elevated blood pressure levels. Our bodies do not react well to these conditions.

The relationship between stress and hypertension:

The human body responds to physical or mental stress by releasing a surge of hormones including adrenalin, in preparation for a "fight or flight" response. These hormones constrict the walls of blood vessels, the result is a faster heart rate and elevated systolic and diastolic pressures.

Once the cause of stress is resolved, heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressures return to normal.

Although short-term stress alone might not cause chronic hypertension, some stress-related lifestyle behaviours caused by our continuously stressful modern working and lifestyles do lead to persistently high BP readings. For example, stress often leads to:

overeating, especially unhealthy foods;being overweight;smoking;increased alcohol consumption;overuse of caffeine; andpoor sleep habits.

Each of which can contribute to hypertension.

Controlling hypertension:

Controlling hypertension is a lifelong activity simply because our BP changes almost from minute to minute and is influenced by so many factors. Hypertension can progress as we get older simply as part of the ageing process. Treatments that worked earlier in life may need to be adjusted over time to maintain our readings within normal levels.

Regardless of whether stress is a direct or indirect contributor to our hypertension, stress reduction techniques can help lower high blood pressure.

Stress is a product of our modern working and lifestyles. If we are to successfully manage our blood pressure within normal levels, we must address the cause or causes of our anxiety, tension and pressure whether they be mental, physical or both.

10 Tips to reduce stress:

Allow sufficient time for getting too and from work; and, if your work involves travel, plan your journey and build in rest breaks;Organise your work schedule to allow adequate time to complete the task in hand;Allow some time for relaxation during work breaks;Focus on finding solutions to problems;Avoid negativity in life and adopt a positive attitude;Spend quality time with your family and friends;Exercise regularly;Take up a hobby - relaxation can be active as well as passive;Improve your diet; andGet plenty of quality sleep.

Adopting these ten tips will reduce your stress levels both at work and in your lifestyle. When you have resolved the causes of your stress, your high blood pressure should return to normal levels naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally.  http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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If you have hypertension, managing your high blood pressure naturally is easier than you may think. In fact, it is simple - if you know the fundamentals. It has to do much with your lifestyle choices.

First steps in managing your high blood pressure naturally:

Hypertension is a symptom that something is amiss with your body. You only have one body and it will respond for good or for ill depending on how you treat it.

# 1. Know your height and weight: You need an accurate measurement of your height and your weight. From this data you can soon see by how much you are overweight and what your body mass index is. A BMI of more than 30 means you are obese and it is time to take serious action. A BMI of between 24 and 29.9 means yo are overweight.

# 2. Know your systolic and diastolic pressures: Invest in a home digital blood pressure monitor. Monitor your pressures for a week. Take readings at the same time each day and under the same conditions. On waking and before having anything to eat, drink or smoke is the best time.

You have now set your baseline data. Now you need to...

Make these simple lifestyle changes:

Lifestyle change # 1 improve your diet:

Move quickly to a healthy balanced diet and keep to it. The Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH diet) is proven to reduce hypertension to within normal levels in as little as three weeks. There are several modestly priced Kindle ebooks on the DASH diet available from Amazon.com. You can download free software to read the books on your PC if you do not have a Kindle reader.

Lifestyle change # 2 take regular exercise:

Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking for 30 to 45 minutes each day, that raises your pulse to about 120 can lower your blood pressure by as much as 4 points. The benefit lasts almost 24 hours.

Recently published results of a long-term study by the British Heart Foundation shows that just two and a half hours of this type of exercise a week suppresses the inflammation in the body which contributes to heart disease and hypertension.

Lifestyle change # 3 lose weight:

The DASH diet is calorie controlled. A by-product of it is that you will gradually lose weight. Being physically more active will help you lose weight even faster. This will reduce your risk of having heart disease, a heart attack or even a stroke.

Lifestyle change # 4 quit smoking:

Smoking tobacco products constricts your arteries. That makes your heart work harder to pump blood around your body, resulting in raised systolic and diastolic pressures. Overtime, smoking will cause your arteries to fur up. This compounds the problem.

Lifestyle change # 4 cut down on the booze:

Ideally, you should cut out alcohol altogether. However, there is evidence that a maximum of one unit a day for women and two units a day for men may have beneficial effects. It is thought that these small quantities can aid relaxation. Be aware that drinking more than the recommended limits can contribute to your high blood pressure.

You should drink about eight glasses of water a day. This will stop you dehydrating and will ensure that your arteries and blood vessels retain their elasticity. That will help reduce your hypertension.

Set goals and monitor your progress

Having set your baselines, you need to:

weigh yourself regularly - say once a week, and keep a record.Measure your blood pressures for several consecutive days, and keep a record. Repeat the measurements every two weeks.

You should see a noticeable reduction in your weight and a downward trend in your blood pressure readings. Give yourself a reward when you have reached a suitable weight and your BP is within the normal range.

If you have hypertension, these lifestyle changes make it easy to manage your high blood pressure naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here! if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Hypertension, like our temperature, is a vital sign telling us something about our body. It is telling us that something is amiss. Yet, paradoxically, we have come to view the vital sign as an illness that has to be treated by medication. We do not view a fever in the same way; we treat the cause of the fever. We need to change our mindset about high blood pressure.

We need to discard the notion that hypertension is an illness or disease that can be cured by taking medication. Even if the medicine does lower our high blood pressure, it is treating the symptom not the cause of our condition. It is the underlying cause that must be treated otherwise it will persist and that could be critical to our health.

Unlike a fever where the cause can be quickly identified and suitable treatment prescribed, there are many potential causes of hypertension. Your doctor does not have the time to test for each possible cause until he or she finds the real reason for your condition. It is easier and quicker for them to prescribe medication to reduce your high blood pressure and to give general advice about diet, taking more exercise and losing weight.

"The doctor has given me a pill, so I must be ill" is the wrong way to view your condition. Instead, we should be working with our physician to identify the real cause of our condition and to be safely weaned of the medication we have been taking.

The starting point is our lifestyle. We need to follow the DASH diet for a couple of weeks at least and to take regular exercise. This will help us lose weight at a steady and safe rate. During this time we should be monitoring and recording our own blood pressure every day. We should also keep a log of our diet, exercise and weight. If our high blood pressure is on a downwards tend during this time, we know that the underlying cause of our problem was most likely caused my deficiencies in our diet which we have corrected. With this information, we can help our doctor plan the best course of treatment for us.

If, despite improving our diet and becoming more active, our condition shows no sign of improvement, we have the evidence to show our physician. He or she can then test for other possible causes of our hypertension, such as heart disease, renal failure, chronic stress or severe atherosclerosis. This will take time as each possible cause will have to be tested. During this period, it is important to maintain our lifestyle improvements as these will have a positive benefit on our overall health.

Having hypertension is like being in a box. There are more than 300 ways of getting into the box, but we can only get out the way we got in. It is our responsibility to help our doctor find how we got into the box and to assist him or her in planning the exit that naturally returns our high blood pressure to normal levels.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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There is a correlation between our hypertension and the amount of alcohol we consume. The relationship is not straightforward and can differ between men and women and between the races. This article examines that relationship and looks at what it means for individuals.

The research:

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials in which alcohol reduction was the only intervention between active and control groups found that:

alcoholic beverage reduction lowered systolic and diastolic pressures,with a dose-response relationship.

To put it another way, the less alcoholic beverages consumed the lower the subject's BP readings.

Additionally, an older, randomized controlled crossover trial found that after an alcohol-reduction induced drop in BP readings, the resumption of baseline alcohol intake increased pressures back to pre-study levels.

That is to say, reverting back to the pre-trial levels of alcohol consumption caused the subject's BP to revert to the readings before the trial began.

The findings:

Taken together, the studies show that hypertension associated with alcohol drinking may be reversible with dose reduction or abstinence.

Gender and race differences:

The association between hypertension and light-to-moderate drinking, that is up to 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women, is more complicated.

A study of 66,510 light to moderate drinkers found that among women (but not men), there was lower hypertension prevalence compared to abstainers. This finding was also confirmed by another large-scale study.

Racial considerations complicate the picture even more. Relative to abstinence:

black men who are low to moderate drinkers have a higher risk of developing hypertension than black women and Caucasians of either gender; andAsian men are at higher risk than non-Asian populations.

Alcohol and secondary hypertension:

Alcohol induced high blood pressure is thought to be the most prevalent form of secondary hypertension. This is borne out by the findings a Japanese study, which found alcohol consumption to be the cause of high blood pressure in 34.5% of men and 2.6% of women.

Does red wine really lower high blood pressure?

The popular view is that red wine is beneficial for cardiovascular health and for reducing hypertension. This view has been refuted by several studies.

For example, a study of healthy men showed that daily consumption of greater than 3 alcoholic drinks per day, either as red wine or beer, for 4 weeks resulted in similar increases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate. while de-alcoholized red wine was no different to abstinence with regard to blood pressure.

This finding implies that ethanol is the chemical responsible for blood pressure elevation, regardless of the beverage.

Certain red grape varieties are particularly high in antioxidants and so too is the wine made from them. It is likely, that any benefits there are from drinking red wine come from the antioxidants.

What does this mean for an individual?

Some alcohol intake seems to be beneficial for overall health. Thus, light drinking of any type of alcohol should not be discouraged, but alcohol consumption should be limited to one unit a day for women and two units a day for men.

For people with hypertension, reducing alcohol consumption or abstaining can help to lower your high blood pressure to normal levels naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally.  http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Hypertension is commonly caused by dietary and lifestyle factors. These are the first to be reviewed when our BP readings are consistently elevated. First line defence techniques such as improving our diet and becoming more active are beneficial. They are, however, only part of the picture. What is often overlooked is the effect of our thought patterns on our blood pressure.

As a Man Thinketh, So He Becomes:

James Allen's famous aphorism - as a man thinketh so he becomes - says that our dominant thoughts affect our well being, for good or for bad. Our subconscious mind hears our "chatter" and tries to make those thoughts our reality. If we are worried, for example, about out our job security or keeping up the mortgage repayments, then our subconscious mind interprets our anxiety by releasing chemicals into our blood that elevate out blood pressure. This is anxiety or stress related hypertension, which we sometimes try to alleviate through increased smoking unhealthy and drinking. We are, of course, only making our hypertension worse.

A study of psychology and hypertension carried out by the University of Padua, Italy confirmed that:

angerhostilityanxietydepression anddefensiveness

have been often associated with the development of hypertension (Semplicini and Realdi, University of Padua Medical School, 2009).

We can apply this knowledge to turn the problem around by:

changing what we think about, andusing relaxation techniques.

Recognizing the problem

Our anxiety is caused, at least in part, by the fear of the unknown. We do not know what is going to happen and we think we have no control over circumstances. If work fears are a cause of our hypertension, we can work to reduce or eliminate them. It might help to make an assessment of the likely impact of losing a job and try to plan for such circumstances.

Changing what we think about

Human nature is for our self-defense mechanism to engage. In the case of anxiety related hypertension, it is not uncommon for us to try to ignore the problem and hope it will go away. This is self-deception and can add further stress burdens, making our condition worse.

Just as with a dietary factor in our high blood pressure, it would be wise to recognize the problem and do something about it. Planning is a form of action. Taking positive action to reduce or eliminate the problem can be cathartic. So if anxiety is fuelling our high blood pressure, we can counter it by altering the predominant subject of our thoughts away from worrying to actively dealing with the cause of our concerns.

Relaxation

There are two types of relaxation - active relaxation and passive relaxation. Engaging in an activity or sport that you enjoy which is a break from your normal routine can be relaxing to both body and mind. Passive relaxation can be as simple as finding a peaceful place and quieting your mind for 20 minutes. This will immediately lower your blood pressure.

If you have anxiety related hypertension, recognize that defensive behaviour is more likely to harm you than help you. You should also do something about the psychological factors. It starts with acknowledgement and gets easier by taking positive action. There is a dynamic relationship between the nature of our predominant thoughts and our bodies especially our blood pressure.

Robert Reddin suffers from hypertension. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click Here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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There is an inverse relationship between our potassium intake and our hypertension. Research has concluded that low potassium intake contributes to high blood pressure. In contrast, people whose potassium consumption is at or near the recommended daily intake of 4.7 grams (4,700mg) have lower blood pressure. The main sources of our potassium intake is from fruits and vegetables, which is why having a healthy balanced diet is so important.

Many of us are aware of sodium restriction to manage our condition, but it was not until the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published in 2005, drew attention to the beneficial effects of potassium that people became more aware of how the ratio of sodium to potassium intake influences our blood pressure. One of the key recommendations from these guidelines is to consume potassium-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

These guidelines rekindled interest in the Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH Diet).

How effective is potassium at reducing hypertension?

In a meta-analysis of 32 trials, potassium supplementation was associated with a reduction in blood pressure of 3.1 and 2.0 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic) overall and 4.4 and 2.25 mm Hg in patients with hypertension.

The benefits of potassium on blood pressure were confirmed by the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in February 2001. Results showed that a diet containing 8.5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which provided 4,100mg of potassium, lowered blood pressure by 7.2/2.8mmHg (systolic/diastolic) in people diagnosed with hypertension, compared to a diet containing only 3.5 servings of fruits and vegetables (providing 1,700 mg of potassium).

Why we need potassium

Potassium has a role in the synthesis of proteins and muscle tissue. Potassium also works inside every cell to maintain the pH and act as an electrolyte, which is a molecule that transmits electrical activity between cells. Heart activity depends on potassium, as does muscle contraction. Because many bodily activities are controlled by muscle activity, potassium is essential for many normal bodily functions such as digestion.

Dietary sources of potassium

Many people in the "Western World" only consume about half of he recommended daily intake for potassium. A general improvement in our diet by adding more daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables will redress the balance.

Excellent sources of potassium include chard, crimini mushrooms and spinach. Very good sources of potassium include fennel, kale, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, winter squash, blackstrap molasses, eggplant, bell pepper, cantaloupe, tomatoes, summer squash, celery, romaine, lettuce, cauliflower, turnip greens, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, kale, carrots, beets, green beans, jackfruit, prunes, and papaya. Good sources of potassium include basil, grapefruit, cabbage, cucumber, leeks, garlic, onions, peas, plums, potatoes, sweet potatoes, grapes, turmeric, apricots, figs, kiwifruit, ginger root, oranges, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, avocado, banana, yam, yoghurt and goats milk. All meats, including red meat, chicken and fish such as salmon, sardines, cod, tuna and halibut are also good sources of potassium.

The best way of ensuring adequate potassium intake is to have a healthy balanced diet that is rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Especially if you have hypertension, having the recommended daily intake of potassium is an excellent to lower your high blood pressure naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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We've all heard of high blood pressure and hypertension, you may even know it by its 'street name' of the "silent killer", and for good reason. The consequences of having high blood pressure are all not good and include: heart problems, kidney disease and diabetes to name but a few. However the problem gets worse if you are in the third to a half of all patients that don't respond to normal drug treatments. This is what is known as "refractory" hypertension. Renal Denervation may be the solution.

Renal Denervation is a procedure that is not yet widely known, but it can be used to treat high blood pressure and more importantly refractory hypertension, if trials prove successful, such as those being conducted right now by Medtronic, it will certainly become a household name in years to come.

Over the last decade or so RDN has been evolving... It could in fact be a treatment option bordering on being a magic wand for all hypertension sufferers. It sounds complex and scary but is actually quite straightforward and can be performed by a trained medical professional in under an hour, depending on their level of training and expertise and which device they decide to use. The main thing though, is that it seems to work, reducing blood pressure immediately, and over a sustained period of time, which might just mean a single treatment could fix the problem in the longer term.

As a therapy RDN first appeared in clinical papers as recently as 1999 being written about by Michael Scherlag MD from Oklahoma and his co-workers. What their research said was that high blood pressure was caused by a faulty feedback loop in the nervous system. This loop started in the arteries that feed the kidneys, the renal arteries. Their theory was that if the nerves that line the renal arteries could essentially be 'electro-shocked', then the faulty messages they were sending would be stopped and the body would stop creating a high blood pressure scenario. Not too dissimilar to the way that a hyper-active thyroid is treated, it sends the wrong messages creating too much of the thyroid hormone, so we treat it to 'calm it down' and train it not to send that incorrect message out to the body.

Thus far there have been many papers showing that patients who have been treated with Renal Denervation have a lower heart rate, recover more quickly after exercise, have overall improved heart function, all assisting to improve the overall blood pressure of the patient in question, which is the ultimate goal.

Whilst still in its early stages of development and clinical trial, it is not yet approved by the United States FDA, but has been in use in Europe since 2010 and the rest of the world since 2007. Also, Renal Denervation is cost effective, this is obviously important when it comes to being adopted and developed, we all love cheap AND effective medical treatments!

Companies are now developing more and more sophisticated devices for applying renal denervation treatments, so it looks like it is really only a matter of time now, and hopefully not too much time, before high blood pressure is a thing of the past. Not ever developing high blood pressure will of course always be better, but if you find yourself with a hypertension diagnosis, it may well be that you need no longer worry...

This article was written by Andi Hill. To find out more about Renal Denervation go to this website http://www.whatisrenaldenervation.com/.

You can read more about the companies involved in developing the treatments, and the technology itself.

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Hypertension is one of the most common medical problems of the world population. It is very serious because it is silent and only recognized by lesions of the affected organs. It is a vascular disease of the whole organism and leaves "marks" in the affected organs: heart, brain, kidneys, blood vessels and vision.

There are two forms of treatment: with and without drugs.

The treatment without drugs is intended to assist in lowering blood pressure, and if possible avoid the complications and risks through changes in attitudes and ways of living, they are:

Reducing body weight by calorie controlled diet, replace fats of vegetable oils, sugars and to reduce the increase intake of fibersReduce salt, sausages, canned, preserved, cod, beef jerky and cheese snacksReduce alcohol consumptionExercising regularly 30-45 minutes, three to five times per weekQuitting smokingMonitor changes in blood fats (dislipemias), avoiding foods that increase triglycerides as sugars, honey, molasses, brown sugar, alcohol and high in cholesterol or saturated fats, lard, cracklings, whole milk, butter, cream, sausage, salami, ham, fried foods, seafood, kids, chicken skin, tripe, calf's foot jelly, egg yolk, beef fat, palm oil, cashew, peanuts, chocolate and ice creamManage stressReducing salt is very important for hypertensive black race, because in them is more severe hypertension and cardiovascular causes more accidents, requiring constant and periodic medical controlsAvoid drugs that raise blood pressure, oral contraceptives, anti-inflammatory, appetite suppressants, decongestants, antidepressants, steroids, ergot derivatives, stimulants (amphetamines), caffeine, cocaine and others.

Drug treatment aims to reduce cardiovascular disease and mortality in hypertensive patients. So far, the reduction of disease and mortality in patients with mild and moderate hypertension has been demonstrated convincingly with the routine use of drugs on the market. In severe hypertension and / or malignant, the therapeutic difficulties are far greater. The correct choice of medication to treat hypertension is a task of the physician.

In primary or essential hypertension, treatment is nonspecific and requires special attention by the physician. The secondary hypertension has no specific treatment, for example, surgery in tumors adrenal gland or drugs in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Drug treatment should observe the following principles:

The drug should be orally effective and well toleratedIt should allow the fewest daily dosesTreatment should be started with the smallest possible doses and gradually increased if necessary or combined with others, with minimal complicationsThe drug must be cost compatible with the socioeconomic conditions of the patient to allow continuity of careThe most serious problem in drug treatment of hypertension is that it may be necessary for life. Then we be convinced of the need for treatment is very important for the patient to have a permanent adherenceThe controls should be medical journals for the adjustment of drug dosages and monitoring the evolution of cardiovascular disease

Questions you can ask your doctor

What is high blood pressure?What level of my blood pressure?Should I check my blood pressure at home?What can happen to me if I do not treat high blood pressure?What are the side effects of treatment?

For the treatment of hypertension, you first need to change your lifestyle and using modern medications, such as Revatio or Zebeta (Bisoprolol).

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Researchers have been looking at the benefits of table beet juice for some years now with interesting results; sugar beets are different and almost all in North America are gene modified. This intensely colored antioxidant rich juice has been shown to improve stamina in athletes and to improve blood flow to the brain in the elderly among other properties.

More recently researchers have turned their attention to hypertension. In a study published in the American Heart Association's Hypertension Journal, British researchers at Queen Mary University in London administered 250 ml of beet juice daily to volunteers. The results showed the same benefit as taking prescription nitrate tablets. The very good news was that the group starting with the worst hypertension at study start, showed the greatest decreases.

Research is indicating that when the Sympathetic (stimulatory) nervous system is chronically over active, it plays a significant role in the development of hypertension, just as chronic insulin spikes are an enormous risk factor for diabetes.

This may explain what I've observed while working with those taking Equilib over the past decade. Clients with hypertension which varied in severity according to their level of perceived stress and/or anxiety often reported significant improvements in hypertension as their perceived stress/anxiety levels were reduced. Those with Essential Hypertension (i.e. of unknown cause) seemed rarely to report the same blood pressure reductions.

My belief is that these clients' reported manifestations of stress/anxiety and hypertension, were at least in part triggered by nutrient shortfalls which negatively affected the normal balancing acted done by the Sympathetic (excitatory) and Parasympathetic (inhibitory) nervous systems. Therefore the Equilib Nutrients hadn't cured or treated these symptoms, but rather restored needed nutrient levels to allow for normal self regulation.

In any case, trying 250 ml/day of beet juice seems a no brainer. Vegetables have a broad array of health benefits aside from effects on hypertension and for those who don't want to bother with juicing beets, dried beet juice is available. I would personally ensure the dried beet juice was either organic, or confirm it was not made from sugar beets. In the study, the effects started within an hour, increased over the following few hours and lasted at least 24 hours, so if it's going to help, you'll know quite quickly.

If on hypertension medications, I would certainly discuss this with your physician before starting, so that medications may be adjusted as needed depending on your response.

Take care of your heart.

All material and information presented is intended to be used for educational purposes only. The statements made about products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information s not intended to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in the article.

David Gilbert-Research and Implementation
http://www.evincenaturals.com/
800-361-1370
david@david-gilbert.com

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In lowering our high blood pressure naturally, the humble apple is often overlooked. Perhaps it is because it is such a common fruit that many of us do not give it a second thought. Apples have many health benefits. Of course we remember being taught as children that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, in reality, eating an apple a day can keep hypertension at bay.

How apples can help lower high blood pressure

It is important to eat the skin of the apple as well as the fleshy fruit. This is because the skin contains six times more antioxidants than the flesh. More importantly, from the perspective of hypertension, researchers from Nova Scotia Agricultural College, as reported in The Telegraph newspaper on 17 October 2012, discovered that the skin of an apple is significantly more effective at inhibiting the angio tensin converting enzyme (ACE) than the fleshy fruit.

Apple skin was also found to more effective, in the tests, than extracts of other well-known 'superfoods' including green tea, blueberries as well as plant extracts.

ACE causes hypertension by restricting the arteries. Apples are a natural ACE inhibitor.

Apples, antioxidants and hypertension

There is clear evidence from a study conducted by the Wolfson Medical Centre in Israel and reported in the journal Nutrition and Metabolismthat antioxidants have a beneficial effect in reducing hypertension. (Source: quoted in "How antioxidants ease hypertension" by Siski Green, saga.co.uk/health/news/how-antioxidants-ease-hypertension.aspx, accessed 17 October 2012)

In 2004, USDA scientists investigated over 100 foods to measure their antioxidant concentration per serving size. Two apple varieties - Red Delicious and Granny Smith were ranked 12th and 13th respectively.

Hypertension reducing vitamins and minerals

Apples are packed with vitamins and minerals that help lower high blood pressure. Apples are a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant and vitamin C is effective at reducing hypertension.

Apples are also a good source of potassium with 159 mg per 100gram of edible fruit and magnesium with 8mg per 100gram of unpeeled raw fruit (6mg if peeled). Both these minerals play an important role in lowering high blood pressure. Potassium also regulates sodium levels within our bodies.

How many apples should we eat?

A study from St. George's Hospital Medical School in London found that people who eat five or more apples a week have better lung function than those who don't. So, it really is a case of "an apple a day". (Source: Health Magazine, health.com/health/gallery/0,,20405639_3.00.html accessed 17 October 2012).

When it comes lowering our high blood pressure naturally, an apple a day really does keep hypertension at bay.

© Robert Reddin

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Blood pressure is the measure of force of blood that it exerts against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure, better known as hypertension, occurs when the pressure in your arteries becomes very high. As a result, too much of stress is placed on heart and the possibility of developing fatal cardiovascular problems increases. Some women already have hypertension before pregnancy, while some women can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. This condition is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can prove to be extremely harmful both for the baby and the mother. It is advisable to seek prescription medications for treating high blood pressure.

Complications as a result of hypertension during pregnancy

Women having high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to experience these complications:

: This condition can cause the separation of placenta from the uterine wall before birth. This might prevent your baby from getting enough oxygen and nutrients. The most common symptom of this condition is vaginal bleeding. If you experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, notify your doctor immediately.

High blood pressure can cause an early birth of child i.e. before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy.

: The condition of hypertension can cause a baby to weigh less than 5 pounds because it can narrow blood vessels in the womb. This might keep your baby away from getting enough oxygen and nutrients for required to grow.

Most of the women do not experience any symptoms of hypertension during pregnancy. Hence, it is important to monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure at every visit. If you have hypertension during pregnancy, you can manage it with regular physical activity, healthy diet and prescription medications. You should also quit smoking as smoking is considered harmful for people with hypertension. Amlodipine, an effective treatment for hypertension, helps in lowering blood pressure by acting as a calcium channel blocker. It is also a suitable treatment for patients who suffer from angina or chest pain. Amlodipine can be purchased in dosage strength of 5mg or 10mg. However, you need to consult a doctor to determine the most suitable dosage strength for you and whether it's safe for you to use during pregnancy.

The smooth muscles of the artery walls contract with the help of calcium. This calcium is transferred to the muscles though particular calcium channels. People who suffer from high blood pressure have narrow blood vessels due to which extra pressure is put on heart. Amlodipine helps in inhibiting these calcium channels due to which the calcium can move freely within these smooth muscles. This results in less contraction of arterial smooth muscles and the heart does not have to work harder. This medication does not cause many serious side effects. The common side effects are very mild and include headaches, nausea, tiredness, abdominal pain, fluid retention heart palpitations and exhaustion. For a quick and convenient way to get your treatment you can go through any of the licensed online clinics so that you can have a quick online consultation with a doctor or medical professional.

The development of high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause low birth weight, premature birth and placental abruption. Read this article find out how Amlodipine tablets, an effective treatment for hypertension, helps in lowering blood pressure. This article is written by Adelisa Neumark, webmaster and content writer at Healthexpress.eu, a leading online clinic in Ireland.

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Causes of High Blood Pressure

The Causes of High Blood Pressure explained. Simply put BP is the amount of force that the blood exerts on the of the vessels in the body. Its values fluctuate throughout the day based on several factors. When your BP stays elevated for a period of time, you are deemed to be suffering from hypertension. This is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to hardening of the arteries and other vessels (atherosclerosis).

It also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can result in other conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. A BP level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered hypertension. About 66% of people over the age of 65 suffer from hypertension. If your BP is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you suffer from pre-hypertension.

Pre-hypertension means that you don't suffer from hypertension yet but you are likely to develop hypertension in the future unless you adopt the healthy lifestyle changes described on this site. The exact causes of hypertension are not known but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development.

Age (Men: Over 55; Women: Over 65)Abnormal Cholesterol LevelsFamily History of Early Heart DiseaseFamily history of HypertensionTobacco Use or SmokingDiabetesBeing Overweight or ObeseLack of Physical ActivityToo much salt in the dietExcessive Alcohol consumption (More Than 1 to 2 Drinks per Day)StressGeneticsChronic Kidney DiseaseAdrenal and Thyroid Disordersand many more

Hypertension Symptoms

Are you suffering from Hypertension? Hypertension is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and many more health problems.

High BP Symptoms are not as notable as Low BP Symptoms and hypertension is commonly referred to as the silent killer. Due to this you can suffer from hypertension Symptoms for years before realising that you have the condition. During this time hypertension can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, vessels and other organs in the body.

Hypertension Symptoms and Signs may include:

HeadacheEpistaxis (Nose Bleed)BreathlessnessRinging in Ears (Tinnitus)Insomnia (Sleepiness)Feeling WeakFeeling SleepyConfusionFatigueProfuse SweatingVomitingLoss of LibidoBlurred Vision

Though these Hypertension Symptoms may appear in some patients, most patients experience no Hypertension Symptoms. Below is a Hypertension Table.

Normal: 90-120mmHg/60-80mmHgPre-Hypertension: 120-140mmHg/80-90mmHgHypertension Stage 1: 140-160mmHg/90-100mmHgHypertension Stage 2: 160-180mmHg/100-120mmHgHypertension Crisis: >180mmHg/>120mmHg

Although many people do have some of the Hypertension Symptoms mentioned above many do not have High Blood Pressure Symptoms at all so it is recommended that you know your blood pressure at all times. Whether you test it at home or go for a monthly test at your local physician.

Although many people do have some of the High Blood Pressure Symptoms mentioned above many do not have High Blood Pressure Symptoms at all so it is recommended that you know your blood pressure at all times. Whether you test it at home or go for a monthly test at your local physician.

For more information on High Blood Pressure Symptoms and How to Lower Blood Pressure visit http://www.normalbloodpressure.co.za/

Our website is there to provide you with all the information you need on blood pressure.

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There are many types of high blood pressure medications being produced by pharmaceutical companies. Two very popular types are diuretics and beta blockers.

For mild cases of hypertension, diuretics can be quite effective. The problem, however, is that they can deplete potassium from the body. And, with more serious cases of hypertension, they often have to be combined with another type of medication to be most effective. As a result, the first choice of many doctors are beta blockers.

Beta blockers fundamentally work by reducing the heart rate. The effect of this is to decrease the amount of blood that it is pumping through the arteries. And this lowers the blood pressure. This type of medication is especially popular for people who have already had a heart attack or stroke. It lowers the risk of another one.

Finding the right combinations of medicines is basically a trial by error affair. As a result, beta blocker medications are usually used in combination with diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or other types of medicines.

Beta blockers, as do most medications, will usually cause some side effects. One of the most common is cold hands and feet, especially in the winter time. Since blood is flowing through your arteries slower, your body will not warm up as fast. A simple solution is to either raise the temperature in your home or add clothing layers. If the cold really gets too extreme, however, let your doctor know and he will probably be able to adjust your medications.

Other common symptoms are swelling in various parts of your body such as your face, arms, legs, etc. Some patients, who are especially sensitive to beta blockers, will experience a severe, and potentially dangerous, slow down in their heart rate. Unfortunately, many people with high blood pressure have diabetes as well. If you have diabetes, beta blockers can raise your blood sugar levels. So you may have to monitor your glucose levels as well. The key thing is to not be shy about calling your doctor if your body starts to experience any radical changes.

Another important fact to note is that beta blocker based medications can often interact with foods. Especially acidic ones such as grapefruit juice. Your doctor can let you know which foods you should avoid.

To ensure that your heart rate and blood pressure stays within normal parameters, your doctor may suggest that you purchase a home blood pressure monitor and take period readings. Don't be intimidated by these machines as many of the modern ones practically run themselves once you get the cuff around your arm.

Find more about high blood pressure medications and other high blood pressure control techniques such as natural remedies for high blood pressure at our website.

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When our hypertension is confirmed, the first thing the doctor often does is to prescribe medication to control our condition. This is usually followed with general advice about losing weight, having a healthy diet and reducing our alcohol consumption. The recently published results of long-term term research in Finland suggest that far greater importance should be placed on simple lifestyle changes to lower or prevent high blood pressure.

The Finnish Hypertension Study

The study followed 9,637 men and 11,430 women aged between 25 and 74 who did not have hypertension. Their lifestyle factors were recorded and followed up over a 16 year period. The factors common to the study group were that they:

consumed less than six units of alcohol per week;exercised at least three times per week;consumed a variety of vegetables, including green vegetables, each day; andhad normal weight.

Of the study group, 709 men and 890 women developed the condition. What is significant is that the risk of developing hypertension among those having all four of the above healthy lifestyle factors is one third of the risk for those having none of the factors.

The results of the study were presented to the European Cardiology Congress in August 2012 by Professor Jousilahti of Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare

In developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, the lifetime risk of developing hypertension is now 90%. Six million Britons are prescribed medication to control their condition. There are 350 preventable strokes or heart attacks each day in the United Kingdom that are caused by hypertension.

Healthy lifestyle reduces hypertension as well as or better than drugs

A review of studies into drug treatment for mild hypertension, carried out by the charity Blood Pressure Association UK, found:

no benefit in taking medication to control mild hypertension; andmaking lifestyle changes not only lowers high blood pressure naturally, but could be more effective than taking medication in such cases.

Healthy lifestyle reduces hypertension

Although the participants in the Finnish study were healthy at the start of the study, the findings also showed that making lifestyle improvements naturally benefits those who already have hypertension.

The Finnish study and the review of studies into drug treatment for mild hypertension, carried out by the charity Blood Pressure Association UK, confirm that by improving four of our lifestyle factors, it is possible to reduce our hypertension to normal levels using natural methods.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally.  http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com/

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Symptoms

This disease is most often silent: the hypertensive patient has no symptoms or visible signs. It is therefore necessary to measure blood pressure regularly, only way to detect hypertension.

However, a subject can sometimes feel the warning signs that should alert:

Heart problems (pain, chest discomfort, angina pectoris)Kidney (urine or polyuria abundant; high frequency or frequency)Headaches (especially at night), ringing in the ears, nose bleedImbalances, fatigue, memory loss, eye disorders (dizziness, transient loss of vision, etc..)

The general practitioner can measure blood pressure during a consultation. It uses a sphygmomanometer, a device having an inflatable cuff, most often used to compress the arm (brachial artery) of the patient. It performs multiple measurements (at least two), lying and sitting positions, to determine the mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Based on the results and diagnosis, the doctor may suggest an appropriate treatment to reduce high blood pressure and treat the patient.

Self-measurement, performed by the patient himself, is also possible: it allows, always using a suitable apparatus, to confirm and control hypertension.

It can be recommended for some people, especially seniors, to check several times and at their home blood pressure, to avoid diagnostic errors related to certain bias (stress induced by the effect of "white coat" in particular).

Manage and treatment

Treatment of hypertension based on antihypertensive medication and improving the lifestyle of hypertensives.

Drug treatments are essentially aimed at reducing cardiovascular risks incurred, to better control and lower blood pressure (approaching normal values). Several classes of antihypertensive drugs are available (thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, inhibitors of ACE, ARBs or angiotensin II antagonists, etc..). The doctor may prescribe one or more additional drugs, depending on the situation of the patient, his age, history and risk factors, severity of hypertension, the cons-indications and possible side effects, etc..

In most cases, treatment against hypertension should be continued for life. Hypertensive individuals should generally associate this treatment with diet and lifestyle rules (appropriate diet, exercise, adequate and stable weight, etc..).

Prevention and control

The adoption of rules involved lifestyle modifications to prevent hypertension and cardiac and vascular disorders associated. A healthy lifestyle to prevent the development of hypertension and its risks is mainly based on:

A balanced diet and appropriate: it is particularly recommended to limit the intake of fat, salt and alcohol (harmful to the cardiovascular system) and promote fruits and vegetables (high in potassium). Alcohol can also reduce the effectiveness of drugs, it is strongly recommended to drink as little as possible.The practice of regular physical activity: it takes part in the fight against overweight and obesity, which are aggravating factors. Walking, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, running sports are recommended. (Nevertheless, efforts need to be moderate, and be tailored to your health. Talk to your doctor.)A stable body weight and relevance: weight loss, however small, can help reduce blood pressureStopping smoking, if that is the caseA lifestyle that promotes relaxation and reducing stress if possible

Read more information about causes and definition of hypertension in this article: http://www.tabletsmanual.com/wiki/read/hypertension
Also you must read description of medicines against hypertension - Zebeta (Bisoprolol)

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