High blood pressure, also known medically as "hypertension," is a condition that takes place when your blood pressure reading is 140/90 or higher. It is known as the silent killer because there is no concrete cause for it to develop and you can have it for years and not even know. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, all natural remedies can be used to lower it.
Significance
High blood pressure comes with serious complications. You are more prone to suffer a heart attack, heart and kidney failure can take place and your risk for a stroke also goes up. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 73 million people in the United States have high blood pressure.
Function
Prescription medications like diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin coenzyme (ACE) inhibitors, vasodilators and alpha blockers are generally used as a first line of defense when treating high blood pressure. These may all be effective, but they can come with harmful side effects. Natural remedies are used as an alternative.
Diet
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a diet plan created to lower blood pressure and keep it maintained. It involves limiting your intake or saturated and total fats and keeping your intake of sodium to 1500 mg a day. When following this plan, your diet consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and high-potassium foods.
Exercise
Physical activity can help increase your range of motion, it can improve your circulation, and it can also help lower your blood pressure. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, you should aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Examples include walking, biking, gardening, playing tennis, swimming and stair-climbing.
Stress Relief
Stress and anxiety cannot necessarily cause high blood pressure, but they can exacerbate it and make it hard to cope with. Relaxation activities are used to help calm you down and keep your stress levels regulated. Examples include yoga, t'ai chi, muscle relaxation and guided imagery.
Identification
Dietary supplements are used as a substitute for conventional drugs. According to the Mayo Clinic, several of these can be used to lower your blood pressure. Examples include garlic, omega-3 fatty acids, cod-liver oil, calcium, coenzyme Q-10 and cocoa.
