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| HYPERTENSION |
Hypertension (high blood pressure) often goes unnoticed and
if left untreated, can rise to even higher levels; this can lead to other
ailments such as kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular
disease.This is a serious condition affecting over 50 million people in the US alone. Although the underlying cause of hypertension still largely remains unknown, the chance of developing high blood pressure is due to certain factors. When the cause is unknown we refer to primary (essential) hypertension, if the cause is known, we talk about secondary (treatable) hypertension. Heredity, gender, age, obesity, diet style, alcoholic consumption and inactive life style are the main causes. Blood pressure is the natural pressure caused by blood pumping through the arteries and veins in the human body. This pressure is measured in millimeter mercury pressure (mm. Hg) and is reported by two numbers. The top - or first number represents the number when the heart beats, pumping blood in the arteries (highest pressure). It is called the systolic reading. The bottom - or second number is the number when the heart is at rest between beats; this is called the diastolic reading (pressure drops to its lowest point). Every one experiences fluctuations in their blood pressure but hypertension is diagnosed when the blood pressure rises to levels that are potentially dangerous. Hypotension A reading too low (below 90/60) can also affect the health since it can lead to oxygen deprivation of the brain. Extremely low pressures are often the result of trauma, excessive blood loss or severe hydration. Any of these will cause the blood pressure to go as low as 60 / 40. |
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| Symptoms of high
blood pressure There are several symptoms that hypertension may cause: The most important thing is to lower the blood pressure to normal levels. 
To achieve this, you will have to get control of your blood pressure. First, let your physician determine if you have high blood pressure. This involves a complete physical exam and may include an ECG (electrocardiogram), echocardiogram and chest x-ray. Based on the findings, the physician will initiate a program with the goal of lowering your high blood pressure by adapting a healthier lifestyle. This will include, but is not necessarily limited to, exercising and losing weight, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, reducing stress. He or she may also prescribe medications (such as diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium, channel blockers and angiotension II receptor antagonists) and / or the use of herbal dietary supplements (botanicals). According to new studies, once your blood pressure rises above 115/75 millimeter of mercury (mm. Hg) the risk of cardiovascular complications starts to increase. Dietary Approach Actually this means a change in lifestyle; going on a crash diet only works for so long. Life-style plays a very important role in causing and maintaining hypertension. It is quite well possible to treat high blood pressure without drugs. A healthy diet, low in fat - and fat dairy foods, high in vegetables, fruits and fiber can lower the blood pressure in a short time. When using fats, use mono - saturated fats such as olive - and sesame oil. Other factors in a dietary approach are a healthy weight, foods low in salt (max. 2 grams of sodium / day)*, no - or moderate alcohol use. A well balanced diet should have all the minerals and vitamins the body needs. Combined with (moderate) exercise this can give astounding results. If necessary, herbal dietary supplements can be taken to lower blood pressure to safe levels. Hypertension and the Elderly Research shows that half of the persons of age 65 and over, will have hypertension. In many cases there is an isolated systolic hypertension or ISH (only the systolic blood pressure is elevated) but the diastolic pressure remains normal. This increases the risk of stroke and other conditions. Treating Hypertension with Herbal Dietary Supplements Hypertension & Botanicals There are several herbal dietary supplements (botanicals) that can have a positive effect in lowering high blood pressure. First, always consult your doctor before starting to use this, especially when you are already on medication aimed at lowering an elevated blood pressure. Contrary to the more than 100 synthetic drugs (most of them not very effective and with potentially serious side effects) used in controlling hypertension; these botanicals have no - or very few side effects. Phyllanthus species (P. Amarus & P. Urinaria) 
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) Bitterwood (Quassia amara) Soursop (Annona muricata) Anato (Bixa orellana) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Roselle (Hibiscus zabdariffa) Coffee senna (Cassia occidentalis) Trumpet tree (Cecropia palmata) Sweet broom (Scoparia dulcis) Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) Temulawak (Curcumin xanthorriza) *not everyone with hypertension is salt sensitive; about 30 to 40 percent of the population is sensitive to salt. If you have heart- or kidney problems in addition to high blood pressure, you should definitely avoid salt. |