Natural Treatment for High Blood Pressure

An astounding number of people have high blood pressure. According to the latest U.S. statistics, 30 million Americans have hypertension. That number does not reflect the sheer numbers of people who have not yet been diagnosed. Those without a good health plan may have hypertension for years before they ever know about it. Those facts are scary enough, without considering the numbers do not include the rest of the world.

Whether you are at risk for developing hypertension or are already dealing with high blood pressure, natural treatments can help you avoid or get rid of the problem once and for all.

Normal blood pressure - Systolic (top number) should be less than 120 and dystolic (bottom number) should be less than 80.

Prehypertension - Systolic: 120 -139 / Dystolic: 80-89

Stage 1 hypertension - Systolic:140-159 / Dystolic: 90-99

Stage 2 hypertension - Systolic:160 or higher / Dystolic: 100 or higher

Because blood pressure fluctuates according to recent stressors and environmental factors, high blood pressure is normally diagnosed after repeated testings of over 140/90.

Once you have been diagnosed with hypertension, your doctor may prescribe medication, but not every doctor takes that as a first line of defense. Some will encourage you to try to lower your blood pressure naturally and the majority will recommend that home remedies be included in your blood pressure lowering program, even if medication is prescribed. 

• An increased risk for stroke
• An increased risk for peripheral artery disease
• An increased risk of heart attack

The natural cure for hypertension is to follow the same steps involved with preventing the problem.  Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may be at risk for it. Once you know the risk, it is important to take precautions.

Factors that Increase Your Risk of Hypertension

• Age – An increase in blood pressure is now considered a normal part of aging. However, there is a difference between a “normal high” and a “too high” number.
• Obesity – Being overweight puts stress on the arteries and is a leading cause of hypertension.  If you are overweight, you need to lose weight. I f you are not, you need to follow a healthy diet and fitness plan to keep from gaining.
• Smoking - Smoking is a big contributor to high blood pressure. If you are hypertensive, you really need to stop smoking NOW.
• Drinking – Excessive drinking has the same effect on the arteries as being overweight and smoking.
• Stress – Long term stress takes a toll on the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of high blood pressure.
• Genetics – Hypertension often runs in the family line, regardless of race. However, high blood pressure seems to have a bias against those of African descent. Just being African puts you at a higher risk for high blood pressure.  Nobody can change their DNA, but knowing your risk is a good reason to follow a preventative program

The DASH plan, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is the first line of defense and treatment for high blood pressure. It is a healthy dietary plan that takes off weight and/or increases your overall health.

- low in saturated fat

- low in cholesterol

- high in dietary fiber

- reduced amounts of meats and sugars

-increased amounts of vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy

- reduced salt intake (usually no more than 2.4 grams of sodium per day)

Exercise

Regardless of whether or not you need to lose weight, just 20 minutes of exercise that elevates your heart rate can help to lower your blood pressure when done every day. Exercises may include walking, jogging, biking, dancing ... just about anything that gets your body moving and your heart pumping.

Weightlifting is not recommended for those with high blood pressure. It increases a person’s risk of death.

Supplementals

Garlic - eating two or three cloves of garlic a day or taking garlic supplements can help decrease blood pressure.

Fish Oil – The Omega 3s in fish oil contribute to overall cardiovascular health and have been shown to lower blood pressure.

Potassium – if you are taking a diuretic for high blood pressure, you may need to increase your potassium intake. You can add potassium to your diet by eating bananas or drinking low-fat milk. Coconut water is a low-calorie, non-fat way of getting your potassium.

Spicy food – Spicy food has actually been shown to reduce blood pressure. One remedy is to drink a cup of water with 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in it every day. If you can stomach it, it is worth a try!

The most obvious of treatments...

• Don’t smoke
• Drink only in moderation. While drinking a glass of red wine every day has been shown to be beneficial for the heart, if you have a problem with alcohol, you must avoid it altogether. A substance abuse program may truly be a life-saver.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Purchase a blood pressure kit and keep track of your blood pressure throughout the day. When your blood pressure is high, take a few minutes to relax.

De-stress

Meditation and relaxation lowers the blood pressure. If you are unsure of how to meditate, there are books and other media that can help you. Relaxation techniques can have a profound effect. Think about taking up yoga or Tai Chi.