What Causes High Blood Pressure

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.
Continue reading to discover more natural methods to help relieve high blood pressure and sign up for your free newsletter.
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.

There are high blood pressure signs you should be aware of, regardless if you are taking birth control pills or not. However, for most high blood pressure sufferers, recognizing signs can be easier said than done. The reason is because high blood pressure generally has no symptoms due to the fact that the basic warning signs associated with it are extremely vague.
Nevertheless, the following are the basic warning high blood pressure signs you should be aware of:
 Headaches
 Dizziness
 Nosebleeds
 Flushed face
 Fatigue.
As you can see, from the above list of symptoms, it is easy for someone to ignore or mistaken these symptoms as another problem. This is why high blood pressure is commonly known as “the silent killer”, because for those who don’t receive regular blood pressure checkups, it usually isn’t until one experiences the more extreme symptoms that he/she seeks medical attention.
The following extreme high blood pressure signs occur if high blood pressure (blood pressure is equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg.) has been persistent, severe and left untreated for a long time. The symptoms are usually the result of damage that has been done to the brain, eyes, kidney and heart.
They include:
 Severe unexplained headache
 Fatigue
 Restlessness
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Shortness of breath
 Blurred vision
 Chest pain or shortness of breath after slight exertion
More extreme signs include:
 Eye damage and loss of vision
 Organ failure - kidneys and/or heart fail
 Heart attack
 Stroke or a transient ischemic attack (better known as a mini stroke)
 Aneurysm
 Peripheral arterial disease
 Brian swelling - this is rare but can cause drowsiness and coma.
Note: if you are experiencing any of the above extreme signs visit your hospital emergency department immediately.
How can high blood pressure be treated?
First of all, regardless if you have high blood pressure signs or not, always have your blood pressure checked annually, and inform you doctor if you have a family history of hypertension, kidney failure, heart attack or stroke, as this increases your risk.
That being said, high blood pressure can be managed thorough lifestyle changes, but depending on the severity of the condition, some individuals may benefit from a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment.
Lifestyle changes -
Food - Limit and eliminate food products that encourage high blood pressure including, table salt, cooking salt, salty and processed foods, foods high in saturated fat, sugary foods and drinks, caffeine and alcohol.
Quit smoking - Nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to constrict, and increases blood pressure.
Exercise - Physical activity actually works to reduce blood pressure while inactivity increases blood pressure. Exercise is a great way to keep your body healthy and strong, and is a fantastic way to lose and maintain a good weight.
Lose weight - If you are exceptionally overweight or obese you are putting excess pressure on your heart. You must reduce your weight by incorporating regular exercise and healthy eating habits in your lifestyle. Avoid crash diets as these can only make your condition worse.
Medication - If your doctor feels you require medication to help control your high blood pressure signs, you may be prescribed medication to help relieve the stress that is being placed on your heart, organs and blood vessels including: diuretics (water pills), beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Alpha-blockers, etc.
Remember although medications can help, lifestyle changes are essential for controlling high blood pressure.
It is vital that you realize high blood pressure can go undetected for years and cause no symptoms while still damaging the blood vessels, heart and other organs. Therefore, if you suspect you have high blood pressure signs, are unsure if you do, or even if you don’t, always visit your health care provider annually to have your blood pressure checked. Monitoring your blood pressure, and taking action to control it when it’s high, is the only way you can protect yourself from the silent killer.

High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer” because in its initial stages there tend to be no signs or symptoms to show that someone has elevated blood pressure levels. Unfortunately, unless they have their blood pressure monitored on a regular basis, they only know they have it when certain high blood pressure symptons start to manifest if the condition begins to worsen.
The complications of high blood pressure can be grave, including an increased risk of a stroke, heart attacks, heart failure and kidney failure.
In some cases a person may not realize they have had high blood pressure for many years, and in mildly elevated blood pressure this may not lead to any lasting damage. The only real way of being able to diagnose effectively if a person is suffering from high blood pressure is by having it monitored on a regular basis.
Continue reading to discover how you can sign up for the free Banish High Blood Pressure newsletter, and learn new methods for lowering high blood pressure.
There are a number of ways this can be done either you visit your doctor or health professional and they will carry out the test or you can do it at home using a home blood pressure monitoring kit. However if you are looking to be provided with an accurate reading as well as ways of helping to treat the condition then the best thing you should do is arrange for regular readings to take place at your doctor’s surgery.
For those that do suffer symptoms with high blood pressure, or those where the blood pressure levels have reached a severe state then they may find that they suffer with the following symptoms:
1. Headaches (more than normal). This is because not enough oxygen is being able to gain access to your brain through the blood being pumped around your body. For many people this is because their arteries and veins have become constricted and so it makes it much more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body.
2. Dizzy spells - Again caused by insufficient oxygen being supplied to the brain.
3. Shortness of Breath
4. Blurred Vision
5. Nosebleeds
Unfortunately, many people really do not know if they have a problem, and so they risk damaging arteries and potentially damage to the major organs in the body. In fact, it is believed that up to a third of all the people who have hypertension are not diagnosed and are unaware they are suffering with the condition.
It is therefore essential that those people over the age of 40, who suffer from diabetes or other serious conditions including heart problems or if there is a history of high blood pressure in their family are made completely aware of what high blood pressure symptoms are. In this way they will be able to react much more quickly and seek their doctor’s advice if they think at any stage that their blood pressure has risen above what is considered to be normal.
Also, everyone should have their blood pressure monitored on a regular basis, even those that are not considered as high risk and are not showing any high blood pressure symptons.

Can you really add 10 years to your life with natural high blood pressure home remedies?High Blood Pressure- Referred to as the silent killer. High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when the heart pumps blood that is restrained by the narrower arteries. This deadly disease effects about 1 and 3 adults. Unfortunately, most adults are unaware that they suffer from the ’silent killer’. Remedy- To restore to the natural or proper condition. A remedy is a cure that relieves a disease or a disorder. Remedies have been around for thousands of years but just recently has research discovered the effectiveness of some natural home remedies.High Blood Pressure Home Remedies- In recent decades, high blood pressure has been one of the most discussed disease because of its fatality rate and its preventability. And everyday hundreds of people die because of the ’silent killer’. But simple high blood pressure home remedies have been recommended by most doctors yet are ignored because most sufferers think their medication is the only antidote.

Did you know that you can add 10 years to your life with these simple high blood pressure home remedies?Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure1. What You Eat- We recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. You should also be eating less total fat and saturated fat. Limiting your sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day has shown to be effective. To learn more please visit our website.

You will notice a healthier and slimmer you in weeks. And you have also just discovered one of the most effective high blood pressure home remedies around.2. Lose Some Weight- Do you know your body mass index (BMI)? You should because losing a few pounds will decrease your blood pressure and is helpful for preventing even cancer. Our report gives you simple easy Lifestyle tips to shed excess pounds in weeks.3. Be Active- You should start small and increase your daily physical activity. Try walking around the block and then the park. Your goal should be to eventually do about 30 minutes of physical activity per day. 4. Alcohol Intake- Though wine has shown to alleviate blood pressure; in most cases, alcohol can increase the blood pressure. Women should only have one drink per day and men should limit to two per day.5. Smoking Hardens Arteries- Did you know that smoking can cause plaque and hardening of the artery walls? You should seek a natural treatment to stop smoking today. Our company report recommends a simple and natural way (no drugs needed) to stop smoking.6. Sleep- How much sleep are you getting? Did you know that 8 hours of sleep will reduce stress levels drastically and reduce blood pressure? You can also find other stress reducers which will decrease the pressure on the artery walls.7. Taking Your Vitamins- Many vitamins have been shown to reduce blood pressure but vitamins C, E, B5, B6 and folic acid, which is also a B vitamin have been the most effective. These vitamins are needed by the body for proper functioning and flushing to the ‘body’s garbage’ which can be the plaque that settles in arteries. We also recommend a daily multi-vitamin.8. Fish Oil and Vitamin E- Studies have shown that consuming just a tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily lowered both blood pressure numbers by about nine points. If you are already taking E for your heart, taking fish oil at the same time will give you the benefits of both.A Treatment for Life

Don’t be a sucker and fall into the trap of just taking the pills and thinking you will be fine! You need to establish a lifestyle of habits that promote healthy living and lower your blood pressure. These 8 high blood pressure home remedies are a great start but this will not completely cure your disease. Nor will trying something this week and forgetting it by next!

Do you know the 3 most effective minerals you should be taking? Do you know what the greatest way to flush plaque from your arteries? Do you know what cheap cooking ingredient contains all the vitamins you need and costs pennies per ounce?

Learn everything you need to know about treating high blood pressure naturally and eventually get off of the medication by visiting our website today. If you are interested in a guaranteed to work natural home remedies for high blood pressure, please visit our website today and see why thousands are permanently curing their disease, shedding pounds and feeling 15 years younger. High Blood Pressure Home Remedies

You can lower high blood pressure naturally and become healthier, enjoy better sex and lose up to 30 pounds of body fat! That is like killing 3 birds with one stone! But how? By throwing away your high blood pressure medication.

But before your meds see the bottom of the garbage can, you should begin your hypertension natural treatment to normalize your blood pressure. In the process of this natural treatment, you will notice yourself feeling healthier, enjoying better sex and you will also notice your clothes feeling loser!

This article will show you why millions are choosing to lower high blood pressure naturally!Normalizing Blood Pressure Naturally by Eating Like a Chimp

The show called ‘The Truth about Food’ recently aired and supported my company’s lower high blood pressure naturally. The show made hypertension sufferers spend about 14 days in a zoo where they ate like chimpanzees. Their diet would consist of foods that chimps ate: fresh fruit, vegetables and some foliage.

Though very humorous, all participants reduced their high blood pressure dramatically, lowered cholesterol and lost weight. Some even lost 15 pounds in two weeks! And remarkably, high blood pressure numbers dropped by 10%. Cholesterol levels dropped 25% and an average of 10 pounds per participant was lost in 2 weeks.

This taught me something!High Blood Pressure can be Cured Naturally!

This funny show proved what two weeks could do to lower high blood pressure! Imagine what adding the right vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs and exercising could do? After the show, I went to my computer and reread our company’s High Blood Pressure Remedy Report and was astonished!

The show covered about 10% of things (dieting) that people should do if they suffer from high blood pressure! Here are a few other recommendations from our remedy report!1. Potassium- Duke Researchers found that getting more potassium could lower blood pressure by 20 points for high blood pressure sufferers.2. Calcium- The DASH diet (diet for high blood pressure sufferers) recommends Calcium and so do we! We recommend getting 1,250 mg of calcium a day for reducing blood clots and reducing blood pressure.3. What vitamins should you take? - Many vitamins have been shown to lower hypertension scores. These vitamins have been researched to be effective, vitamins C, E, B5, B6 and folic acid.Your Total Health!

Your body is one organism that works together to keep everything running at optimal levels. By suffering from high blood pressure, many other parts of your body are also suffering! Including your sex life (which is caused by blood circulation) and your weight.

By treating hypertension naturally, many of our customers have cured their impotence, lost body fat and felt years younger! Normalizing your score is simple because it can be done in days! However, by continually being conscientious about your high blood pressure, you can become the person you want to be in weeks or months!

To learn everything you need to know about lowering your high blood pressure naturally, please visit our website today! We offer a doctor-approved, research-based, step by step High Blood Pressure Remedy Report that has helped thousands! And due to overwhelmingly high success rates, we offer our remedy report 100% guaranteed for 6 months.

To say good bye to medications and hello to a new life, please visit us today!

If you have high blood pressure you are at risk for a heart attack or stroke. The amount of risk depends on how high your blood pressure is and how long it has been this way. Here is a range of blood pressures and how they rate:

Normal   120/80
Border    120/90 to 160/94
Mild     140/95 to 160/104
Moderate  140/105 to 180/114
Severe    160 plus/115 plus

Regardless what your blood pressure is, it is best to always watch your diet and become informed as to how you can maintain good health though out your body.

If you have high blood pressure, here is a high blood pressure recipe using natural products and foods. This recipe will not only help your high blood pressure but will improve your immune system.

High blood pressure responds well to natural remedies and methods. Many Alternative Practitioners recommend not using drugs for high blood pressure because they can be more dangerous to your health than the high blood pressure. High blood pressure drug side effects create an increase risk of heart disease.

A High Blood Pressure Recipe for Long Life

Here is a recipe to follow to lower your high blood pressure.

Use a good mineral supplement

Use Arjuna daily for good cardiovascular health

Exercise and lose weight

Reduce the fat you eat

Eat more fiber

Take a good fish oil supplement

Mineral Supplement for a high blood pressure recipe

The minerals calcium, potassium and magnesium have all been found to keep blood pressure low. These minerals and many more come from eating fruits and vegetables of all colors. Also drink fruit and vegetables juices alone or combined to get a strong dose of minerals that shoot quickly into your blood stream.

Eat as many fruits and vegetables in the morning until noontime. This helps your body to get rid of toxins that affect your overall health.

Add these foods to your diet for minerals: bananas, figs, cantaloupe, apricots, avocados, cherries, grapes, mangos, beans, and sunflower seeds.

Exercise and Weight loss for a high blood pressure recipe

If you are overweight than losing weight and getting it into your ideal weight gives you the most benefits for lowing your blood pressure. Get into a daily exercise pattern. A treadmill or daily brisk walk will give you great benefits for lowering blood pressure.

Diet for a high blood pressure recipe

Here are some of the things that you should add or eliminate from your diet.

Reduce that amount of fat that you eat. By eating less meat you decrease the amount of fat you eat. Also eating less dairy products will decrease the amount of fat your body has to process.

Eat more fiber. You can get fiber from fruits and vegetables and bran. Eat a vegetable salad with your lunch and dinner.

Add a good fish oil supplement

Use the India herb called Arjuna. This herb is good for your complete cardiovascular system. It an inexpensive herb and it makes plenty of sense to use it.

Master this high blood pressure recipe and watch your blood pressure go down. Once you get it down, refine this recipe for more results and better health.

High blood pressure is a common health problem of older age groups and even younger adults. It varies depending on the age, height, weight, and gender. In this busy stressful life, it is highly important for old and younger adults to have a systematic check of their blood pressure. High blood pressure can be controlled with medications, natural remedies and changes in diet and lifestyle.Most physicians and doctors are recommending pharmaceutical medicines or drugs to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. But there may be unpleasant outcomes when you continuously take pharmaceutical medicines. The good news is that high blood pressure or hypertension can be easily controlled with natural remedies and changes in diet and lifestyle.Having hypertension is one indication that you are living an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you can probably control your blood pressure and lead a healthier and happier life. The following guidelines provide you tips to control your high blood pressure:You can take steps to prevent or control high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. You can lead a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, following a healthy diet plan including fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods. Choose and prepare foods with less salt and sodium. Avoid or limit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Limit the intake of caffeine which is present in coffee, tea and sodas. Exercise or meditate to reduce your stress. This not only helps in lowering high blood pressure but also improves your general health. Relax yourself everyday at least for some time. Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and biofeedback are all relaxation techniques that can help lower blood pressure. Exercising at least for 30 minutes a day, can be one of the most effective natural remedies for high blood pressure. Drinking lot of water and getting enough rest or sleep are holistic and natural way of treating hypertension, besides taking natural medications.Diet change is one natural way of treating hypertension. Consume either raw or cooked garlic to help in lowering hypertension. Garlic, which contains a compound called adenosine which functions both as a muscle relaxant and as an aid in vaso dilation, helps in dilating the muscles of blood vessels, thereby avoiding blood clots and lowering blood pressure. Eat high-potassium diet, such as bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, skimmed milk, oranges, watermelon, soya beans, almond and spinach, to help lower your blood pressure.Fruits and vegetables are best sources of vitamin C, potassium and soluble fiber, all of which have an effect in lowering blood pressure. Fishes which contains omega-3 fatty acids can be a good diet for people who are experiencing hypertension. Omega-3 fatty acids have the ability to dilate blood vessels and significantly lower blood pressure. Food rich in calcium regulates the heart’s muscle contraction, making it easier for managing blood pressure. Many people have successfully treated hypertension with apple cider vinegar. It is rich in so many vitamins and nutrients that are thought to be helpful in lowering hypertension. Hawthorne berries can also be used to treat hypertension.Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective first step in both preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in controlling your blood pressure, your physician may prescribe blood pressure medications.

High blood pressure is one of the most deadly issues that hundreds of millions of people face across the world. The condition has left nobody and irrespective of race, religion and gender, high blood pressure can attack anyone, anytime. Though it is not a disease and just a symptom, its presence can make worry both; the patient and the health care provider. It is because high blood pressure can make many things adverse and in some worse cases, it can even damage any of vital organs in the body such as brain, heart and kidney. Let us look at foods to lower high blood pressure: Foods to lower high blood pressure would include edible items those are high in calcium, omega -3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, potassium, magnesium, etc. Calcium is found to have a great blood pressure-reducing effect. Foods those are high in calcium include dairy product such as milk, fresh cheese, yogurt, broccoli and cabbage, dry beans, fish like salmon, soybeans and tofu etc. Potassium can help bringing down the high blood pressure level. Clinical trials have indicated that when you consume foods high in potassium helps lower blood pressure. Vegetables rich in potassium include tomatoes, potato, cantaloupe, banana, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, avocado, and orange.Magnesium is proven to have dilating effects on the blood vessels and hence allows the blood to move easier. Foods rich in magnesium include avocado, spinach, almond, sunflower seeds, and barley.Ascorbic acid is also one of the foods to lower high blood pressure. It expands blood vessels and narrowed arteries, accordingly helps to lower blood pressure. Red cabbage, red bell pepper, citrus fruit (such as mandarin, orange, etc), kiwi, strawberry and potato all are rich in vitamin C.Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, particularly in trout, salmon and tuna fish and trout are now discovered to help the blood circulation. The presence of these substances prevents the blood to clump and form clots that might bring heart attacks. Flaxseed oils are also believed to be inhibiting the inflammation that forms artery plaques and poor circulation, therefore helps against high blood pressure.Foods to lower high blood pressure also include garlic since it is proved by several clinical studies. One should also take care of sodium as not among foods to lower high blood pressure since sodium affects blood pressure. Consume below listed foods to lower high blood pressure:

Many health care providers believe that just it is not sufficient to eat just foods to lower high blood pressure since hypertension also requires some other assistance. In addition to dietary alteration, lifestyle modification and some supplements such as Sarpagandha, Indian gooseberry, Rudraksha etc are also important to control the blood pressure. Yogasanas and pranayama also play good role.

Blood pressure is a measure of the force that the blood applies to the walls of the arteries as it flows through them. It’s normal for blood pressure to increase when you exert yourself, or when you feel stressed or anxious. But if your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal at rest, this is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

High blood pressure (hbp) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.

The most commonly used diuretic to treat high blood pressure in the UK is called bendroflumethiazide (bendrofluazide) - but there are others. For example, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, cyclopenthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, and indapamide. Diuretics work by increasing the amount of salt and fluid that you pass out in your urine. This has some effect on reducing the fluid in the circulation which reduces blood pressure.

They may also have a ‘relaxing’ effect on the blood vessels which reduces the pressure within the blood vessels. Only a low dose of a diuretic is needed to treat high blood pressure. Therefore, you will not notice much diuretic effect (you will not pass much extra urine).

The preferred treatment of choice for those suffering high blood pressure is usually a change of lifestyle. For those who are overweight, smoke, lead highly stressful lives or seldom exercise, sometimes this is the only wake up call they need. Once they make the necessary lifestyle adjustments, they will often find their blood pressure symptom restored to a more normal range.

Slightly raised blood pressure may not need to be treated so aggressively, but regular monitoring is important.If you have very severe high blood pressure, you may need to go to hospital for treatment. But it’s much more likely that you will be cared for by your GP and/or a nurse.

A recent study showed that they can be accurate, but sometimes are not. It usually is not possible to tell whether a particular machine is working properly. The cuff should inflate and fit snugly around your arm.

Diabetes considerably increases the risk of cardiovascular disease if hypertension is also present, so the targets for blood pressure control in diabetes are tighter.

High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it’s more common among people over age 35. It’s particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills.

It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure, too.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often characterized as the silent killer–and for good reason. Although it affects an estimated one in five North Americans, many people don’t experience any symptoms. As a result, less than one-quarter of sufferers actually receive treatment. Left untreated, however, it can severely damage the cardiovascular system, leading to death from stroke, heart attack or kidney failure. Most high blood pressure patients are candidates for medications, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. However, statistics show that of the 20 to 30 million individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure, less than half stay on their medication for more than one year. Moreover, 60 per cent of those who lower their medication do so because of side-effects. Given this information, the use of nutritional and botanical supplements, along with the adoption of a healthier lifestyle, can be of immense benefit in fighting this hidden killer. Lifestyle and Dietary Approaches

If you wish to either prevent or treat high blood pressure, changing how you eat, sleep, and respond to stress are very important considerations. In the eight-week DASH trial conducted by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 1997, 70 percent of volunteers who eliminated meat and sugar, decreased unhealthy fat intake, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption decreased blood pressure to below 140/90 mm/Hg compared to just 45 percent of those who only ate more fruits and vegetables. Individuals with high blood pressure should decrease sodium intake to approximately three grams per day and add at least four daily servings of foods rich in potassium (beans, spinach, melon, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, avocados). Decreasing sodium intake alone has reduced blood pressure by 8.4 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic. Moreover, alcohol intake should be reduced to less than two drinks per day. Research has shown that a shift from five to two drinks daily can decrease blood pressure by 8 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic. A structured exercise program is another important factor. In one study, an average weight reduction of 4.5 kg by individuals who were 10 to 65 per cent overweight led to a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after just six months. In addition, stopping smoking is a must for anyone diagnosed with hypertension.

Stress Management and Sleep

Those with high blood pressure need to employ stress management and relaxation techniques. This concept was investigated by Dr. D. Shapiro and associates from the department of psychiatry and bio behavioural sciences at the University Of California Los Angeles School Of Medicine. Individuals with a mild to moderate increase in blood pressure were given blood pressure-lowering medications and then divided at random into two groups. One group performed simple stress management techniques, while the other did not. Remarkably, 55 percent of those who employed stress-reducing strategies were able to remain medication free, compared to only 30 percent in the control group, as found after a one-year follow-up examination. A good night’s sleep is also important. Researchers from the University of Pavia in Italy found that high blood pressure patients deprived of sleep had significant increases in blood pressures and heart rates, especially during the evening. CoQ10, Magnesium and Fish Oil

Several supplements have proven to be of great value in the fight against hypertension. One is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone. One study of 18 patients with high blood pressure concluded that 100 milligrams of CoQ10 daily for 10 weeks lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 10.6 and 7.7 mm/Hg respectively. In addition to CoQ10, 480 mg of magnesium oxide daily for two months decreased blood pressure on average by 2.5 mm/Hg systolic and 1.4 mm/Hg diastolic over 24 hours in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension. (Those employing magnesium therapy are cautioned that this may lead to episodes of diarrhea.) Fish oils rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are also helpful adjuncts in the control of blood pressure. Individuals with mild increases in blood pressure were given either two grams of EPA and 1.4 g of DHA from fish oil (approximately 12 1,000-mg capsules of an 18 percent EPA/12 percent DHA mixture) or a placebo every day for four months. After only eight weeks, blood pressure was reduced by 6 mm/Hg systolic and 5 mm/Hg diastolic. Individuals wishing to try this high-dose fish oil approach should also increase vitamin E intake to 800 IU per day. Garlic and Reishi Mushroom

For those with mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure, garlic and reishi mushroom may be of value. The use of standardized garlic (Allium sativum) supplements at a dose of up to 900 mg per day for 12 to 16 weeks decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with moderate elevations in blood pressure. In fact, one study concluded that garlic supplements decreased standing diastolic pressure from 101 to 90 mm/Hg and systolic pressure from 171 to 150 mm/Hg after 12 weeks. Unlike garlic, the use of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum or Ling zhi in Chinese) in the treatment of hypertension is not well recognized. However, the conclusions of a recent trial suggest that it may be another helpful, natural, blood pressure-lowering agent. Fifty-five individuals on anti-hypertensive medications with moderate increases in blood pressure were given either 55 mg of concentrated reishi mushroom extract or a placebo, three times a day for one month. Unlike the 14 individuals in the placebo group, those taking the concentrated mushroom extract had a significant reduction in blood pressure. In conclusion, high blood pressure is a serious problem that affects one in four adults. It is important that individuals afflicted with this problem adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes quitting smoking, reducing stress, eating better, losing weight and increasing exercise. These changes, along with the judicious use of supplements and herbal therapies, can help combat this silent killer.

Alistrol Natural Supplement

Alistrol is a patented, proprietary blend of natural ingredients that have been used for centuries to help support healthy blood pressure. Use Alistrol everyday to help maintain healthy circulation and support cardio-vascular health. Time-tested for safety, the herbal extracts in Alistrol have no known side effects.

Studies confirm this unique blend of natural ingredients support healthy heart function. Helps maintain healthy arteries, helps support blood flow and central and peripheral vascular circulation. Furthermore, Alistrol helps maintain blood flow to the heart and supports healthy blood pressure in the pulmonary artery and all arteries in general.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the pressure of blood against the walls of the main arteries. Two readings, systolic (when the heart is contracting) and diastolic (when the heart is relaxing), are measured by a device that records pressure changes in millimetres of mercury (mm/Hg). Various factors–age, stress, diet, exercise–will affect the readings. The following chart shows a continuum of blood pressure values including both healthy and unhealthy states.

Blood pressure

Systolic

Diastolic

Ideal

Less than 120 mm/Hg

Less than 80 mm/Hg

Mild hypertension

140 to 159 mm/Hg

90 to 99 mm/Hg

Moderate hypertension

160 to 179 mm/Hg

100 to 109 mm/Hg

Severe hypertension

More than 180 mm/Hg

More than 110 mm/Hg