How To Control High Blood Pressure and Prevent Unwanted Health Complications?
High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension is a chronic condition marked by an elevation in the systemic arterial blood pressure. BP is the pressure or force exerted by blood on the arterial walls. The blood pressure consists of two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure. It reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart is beating while pumping blood to the various parts of the body. The bottom number in the BP reading is the diastolic pressure. It reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats. The normal BP reading should be below 120/80 mmHg. BP between 120/80-139/89 marks a pre-hypertensive state and if BP readings shoot up to 140/90 mmHg or above, its hypertension or high BP.
The high BP triggers are: stress, emotional tension, heredity, high salt intake, high levels of C reactive protein, high alcohol intake, obesity, aging, physical inactivity, medications like amphetamines, diet pills, contraceptive pills, some cold and allergy medications etc. High blood pressure may or may not produce any symptom. Some of the symptoms of high BP could be profuse sweating, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, nose bleeding, chest pain, nausea, vomiting etc. High BP if not timely diagnosed or treated may lead to cardiac diseases, kidney diseases, impaired visions, cerebral strokes and atherosclerosis.
Ways to control high blood pressure:
1. Exercise daily without fail. This will help to lower bad cholesterol, burn calories and maintain a healthy body weight and will consequently lower high BP.
2. Limit the use of salt in food. Also do not consume salty, processed food. This will help you to control high blood pressure.
3. Intake of prescribed diuretics like Metolazone, Demadex etc, Beta-blockers like Tenormin, Lopressor etc, Calcium Channel blockers like Norvasc, Procardia etc, Direct Vasodilaters like Hyperstat, Nitropress etc and many other medications can effectively keep BP in check.
4. Relieve your stress by means of yoga and meditation.
5. Acupuncture and bio-feedback therapies can control high blood pressure.
6. You can take the dietary supplements of soy, garlic and fish oil to decrease high BP.
7. You can try out the following home remedies for controlling high blood pressure:
a) Consume 2-3 garlic cloves daily in the morning to lower blood pressure.
b) Eat watermelons in plenty.
c) Consume a blend of 1 tablespoon each of honey and fresh Indian gooseberry juice daily in the morning.
d) Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to a cup of lukewarm water and drink.
e) Consume fresh papaya daily on empty stomach.
Read about Herbal Treatment for High Blood Pressure. Also know Herbal Liver Cleanser.