How to Lower Your Blood Pressure

If your doctor has told you that you have blood pressure readings that indicate that you have prehypertension, there are several things that you can do for yourself to lower those readings. Prehypertension is a systolic pressure from 120 to 139, or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89. When the pressure gets to 140/90, it is considered hypertension.

Prehypertension doesn't likely put you at risk for nasty little things that real hypertension can cause, like heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure, but prehypertension blood pressure readings are an indication that you need to make some lifestyle adjustments that just might help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension.

The first thing that you should do is to adjust your intake of sodium. Your doctor will likely recommend a low-salt diet, but you need to become an avid label reader. When you read the labels on prepackaged or convenience foods, you will see a section that says "sodium." Sodium IS salt. Even if the food doesn't taste salty, it can still be loaded with sodium, because sodium is used as a food preservative. The fast food places serve nothing but food that is loaded with salt and fat, so they need to be avoided completely. Change your diet to include fresh fruits and vegetables, fruits and vegetables that have been prepared without a lot of salt, and whole grains.

Get off your duff and start a good (but sensible) exercise program with your doctor's blessing. You don't have to prepare for running a marathon, but you do need at least 20 minutes a day, three days a week of low-impact aerobic exercise.

Cut back on your intake of alcohol. Overindulging will raise your blood pressure.

Cut back on your intake of caffeine, as well. Coffee and tea are not the only things that contain caffeine. Sodas and chocolate are loaded with the stuff...READ the labels.

Learn Hypertension Medication - Without Side Effects

There is a world of different medication used to treat hypertension. In fact, you could spend days, even months trying to research them all. A few of the common drug medications used to treat hypertension are different groups of ace inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, diuretics (also called HCTZ), alpha blockers, beta blockers, and combination products (usually containing HCTZ and one other drug). Now the aim of anti-hypertensive drugs (drug medications used to treat high blood pressure) should be to lower blood pressure to <140/90 mmHg or lower for most patients.

One thing you must know is that all anti-hypertensive drugs have a side effect, that's a fact. So if your blood pressure isn't severe, it's in your best interest to use other ways to treat your hypertension. Changes in your lifestyle are the best hypertension medication. Lifestyle changes like, weight loss, lowering alcohol intake, decreasing sodium (salt), increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and cutting back on smoking. These lifestyle changes are enough to reduce mildly elevated blood pressure without any additional treatment. For those without the luxury of just making a few lifestyle modifications, the only other option left is drug therapy. Though all anti-hypertensive drugs have negative effects, there are a few out there with minimum.

Thiazides or ACE-inhibitors are the first line of treatments for hypertensive patients, because compared to other anti-hypertensive drugs they have minimum side effects. Some guidelines state that patients over 55 years and African American patients should start on calcium blockers or thiazide diuretics, while younger patients of other ethnicity should begin drug treatment with ACE-inhibitors. Thiazide diuretics are effective and much more affordable than other drug medications. Thiazide diuretics also include negative effects, like hypercholesterolemia, and impaired glucose tolerance with consequent increased risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. When taking any anti-hypertensive drug it is recommended to take low doses. There is clear evidence showing that low doses decreases the potential of any negative effects.

Thiazides have been combined with a potassium agent, but it isn't clear if this combination has an advantage over the use of low doses. However, diuretics in combination with potassium supplements or potassium sparers may show some favorable results. Serum potassium should be checked within 4 to 6 weeks of starting low-dose thiazide therapy. Beta-blockers are less effective compared to thiazides but can be used as an alternative or supplementary therapy to thiazide diuretics. Long acting dihydropyridine calcium antagonist drugs can be used for elderly hypertensive patients, but there is proof that long term efficiency and safety is lacking for many drugs in this group. Long acting dihydrpyridine calcium antagonists can be used as alternative therapy to thiazide diuretics or supplementary to other therapy, particularly in patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Short acting dihydropyridine calcium antagonists should be avoided, never use them, because there has been no study on how these can benefit you.

The Link Between Obesity and High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. This condition is widely described by medical professionals as "the silent killer" because most people don't even know they have it until it strikes a major organ system. Many people remain undiagnosed until hypertension is revealed by having their blood pressure taken during a medical or dental appointment. For those who do have symptoms, they include headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, a flushed face and fatigue. Hypertension that isn't controlled by medication, diet modifications and environmental/social conditions that produce high stress such as an extremely stressful home or job situation will result in stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure and kidney damage.

According to the Merk Manual of Medical Information, 2nd Edition, more than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure - many don't even know it! Hypertention is an equal opportunity destroyer, but it tends to affect African Americans in particular. It is twice as common among people who are obese than among those who are not. Severe, long-term hypertension that is untreated can cause swelling of the brain, chronic headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, sleeplessness, and coma.

An overweight or obese person will be advised by their doctors to lose weight. Even losing as much as ten pounds can lower blood pressure! For those who are suffering from obesity-related diabetes, a radical change of diet that greatly reduces fat content, stopping alcohol (way high in calories), stopping smoking, and increasing physical activity through yoga, pilates, walking meditation, and mild to moderate increase in aerobic exercise. Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure and the functioning of the heart.

In addition to these changes in personal and social environmental levels, doctors will most likely recommend medication to reduce high blood pressure. These include diuretics to eliminate excess water content in the body, an alpha or beta blocker, an ACE inhibitor, an angiotensin II blocker, or a calcium channel blocker. Your health care provider will fully explain all medication options to you. These drugs do have side effects that are generally not serious when compared to the havoc that untreated hypertension unleashes in the body.

For obese people with hypertension, the first front guard action is losing weight. Physicians dislike prescribing the drug phentermine or similar prescription drugs because has so many dangerous side effects, including fatal reactions and addiction to the drug. If phentermine is given, the patient must be very closely monitored by a health care provider to make sure the patient's use is not causing any serious medical problem.

For an increasing number of overweight and obese people, over-the-counter supplements are their answer to losing weight and keeping it off. Fortunately, illnesses caused by obesity are most often significantly reduced through weight loss and other medical protocol. It comes down to an obese person making a very serious personal choice: do I want to face chronic illness or even death, or do I want to lose weight?

Make your choice today, starting right now.

What Are the Best Antioxidants For High Blood Pressure?

Basically antioxidants are a dietary substance that can greatly reduce the risk of high blood pressure by fighting free radicals in the blood vessels. What's a free radical? Free radicals are another substance that cause damage to cells through oxidation.

Oxidative damage can lead to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and of course hypertension. Free radicals can damage the cells to the point that they are dysfunctional or die. Arteries become hardened and plaque builds up in veins. Blood pressure is increased when the heart has to pump the same volume of blood through stiffer vessels that are partially clogged. Obviously this puts a greater strain on the heart muscle as well as increasing pressure.

Enter the antioxidant that not only fights the free radicals but can repair the damage they do as well. It's rather like an apple that has been freshly sliced and exposed to the air. It will turn brown quickly (free radical at work) unless you dip it in vitamin C rich orange juice antioxidant) and then it will remain white.

So where do we get these antioxidants. The best and cheapest source is at your local grocers produce aisle.

Foods rich in antioxidants include tomatoes, broccoli and peppers. Almost any bright colored fruit or vegetable will also be good sources particularly blueberries, carrots, apricots and bananas and oranges.

It's important to note we are talking fresh food here not canned or frozen. Processed food loses a great deal of their nutrients and usually come with a megadose of sodium that offsets any benefit the food might have had in the beginning. Yes it is less convenient to prepare fresh, but don't fool yourself that just because you had canned carrots with dinner you were getting the antioxidants you need. You didn't.

A bonus for those of you who have a sweet tooth. Dark chocolate, not white chocolate or milk chocolate, is also rich in antioxidants.

So in short, the antioxidants are the good guys that help your heart and are abundantly available and the free radicals are the scourge of the vascular system. How many of the good guys do you have in your crisper or pantry at home right now?

Devastating Effects Of High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure also called hypertension, is elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries as indicated by the measurement of force applied to artery walls It has to be taken seriously. It is a serious disease, the cause of which is more or less unknown. What we do know is that left untreated, it can over time lead to serious heart disease and other vascular troubles, even death. Health professionals think that there are some genetic factors but as yet they cannot pin down the range of specific genes involved that cause high blood pressure.

Studies suggest that people suffering from chronic hypertension may come from autonomic nervous system that controls heart rate, blood pressure and the blood vessels. Hypertension is strongly associated with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. Obesity and insulin resistance are the main factors associated with it, in type 2 diabetes, the more common type. During the last decade, the number of Americans with hypertension has increased by 30%. Over 65 million Americans adults now are in this situation. Two thirds of Americans over age 60 have high blood pressure and women in that group have highest rates ,higher mortality rates and about 34% of African American men and women have this disease,. It may account for over 40% of all deaths in this group. Moreover, it is becoming more common in children and teenage

DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF HYPERTENSION

It is the reason why high blood pressure has been called the "silent killer". It has detrimental effects on many organs like kidneys, eyes. Hypertension is the primary cause of death in over 120,000 cases last year and contributes to 75% of all strokes and heart attacks and even more in African Americans. Research suggests that people with mild hypertension have three times more likely to have a heart attack as people with normal blood pressure and ten times the normal risk of stroke depending on its severity . It can also cause mental problems such as memory lost.

Fortunately, controlling blood pressure with the proper treatment can reduce or prevent those health complications. Healthy life style is a must for anyone with blood pressure 120/80mm Hg) and above in order to prevent serious complications of that disease. Healthy life style includes: exercise on a daily basis, normal weight, healthy diet, reasonable alcohol consumption, limited sodium intake, more potassium and calcium intake. If you want to naturally support healthy blood pressure function, there are some key natural remedies.Take action now for a longer and healthier life.

High Blood Pressure Cures - Lower Your Hypertension Score and Add 10 Years to Your Life

Did you know that there are well over 50 high blood pressure cures out there? Which ones work and which ones are hoaxes? Fortunately, with the avalanche of research out there, many sufferers are now finding simple yet effective ways to lower their score in days.

And with the rising cost of high blood pressure mediation and the miserable side effects that accompany most of the prescription drugs, more people are switching over to natural health treatments than ever before. In fact, there are many natural health doctors who are publishing studies where natural health patients are more likely to lower high blood pressure than prescription patients.

If you would like the healthiest way to lower high blood pressure, maybe it is time you consider throwing away your prescriptions and trying natural high blood pressure cures?

Why Natural Health Works?

Natural health is now one of the fastest growing treatments in America! Why? Because many people are sick of the side effects associated with most prescription medications and antibiotics. In the case of high blood pressure, you may be only tricking the high blood pressure monitor into thinking you are healthy. (And it could cost you your life!)

Therefore, many health conscious people are not reversing high blood pressure with health tips, nutrition tips, breathing tips, vitamin therapy, supplements and even herbs. In fact, most people who choose a natural cure over prescription are more likely to lose weight and feel better.

And the reason why is because there body is actually de-aging.

Fact! If you have high blood pressure, your body's age could be 10-20 years higher than your real age.

And here are some simple tips to lower your body's age, add 10 years to your life and also lower your hypertension. And you can do this at the luxury of your own home.

7 High Blood Pressure Cures that Work

1. Most experts agree that your diet is probably the most important aspect to lowering your blood pressure. We recommend a diet that is high in grains (whole), fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and dried beans. You should also lower your intake of red meats drastically. You should also be very aware of your sodium intake! Experts strongly recommend less than 1500 mg a day.

2. You should also consider supplements. There are a core of researched vitamins and minerals which are extremely important for having normalized blood pressure. One of the most important nutrients for your body when it comes to treating this disease is potassium. Duke Research has shown that you could lower your score by 20 points by getting 4700 mg of potassium a day.

3. Another micronutrient which your body may be lacking is magnesium. Because potassium and magnesium work together, it is also critical to get this important supplement. Most experts recommend 500 mg of magnesium a day for hypertension sufferers.

4. You should also be supplementing calcium. Because calcium helps prevent blood clots, it is extremely important that you find a quality supplement. Most adults are calcium deficient and don't even know it. You should aim to get 1250 mg of calcium a day.

5. Relax! De-stressing and meditating have been known to lower points in literally hours. One simple way to do this is by meditating. I use this time for praying with absolutely no background noise. Once you try this one you will be hooked. It literally is a highlight of my day. Besides, it lowers my blood pressure naturally in minutes.

6. There are numerous herbs you should be trying and many of them work differently on different people. However, I would like to introduce to you one of my favorites... garlic. Garlic is labeled the super herb because it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. You should begin supplementing today.

7. Education! Unfortunately, we live in the first generation who is allowing doctors to take care of our own health. This should never be because prescriptions can only do so much. We strongly encourage you to equip yourself with the knowledge of 50+ researched high blood pressure cures. You can find them in this Hypertension Remedy Report.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg...

A Natural Cure that Out Performs Prescriptions

How To Get Rid Of Hypertension

High blood pressure or hypertension is known as the silent killer because most people don't know they have it and they can die without warning. It was listed as a primary or contributing cause of deaths in the United States. One in five Americans has hypertension or high blood pressure. This is very alarming as this disease is a traitor that can rob you of your life anytime without warning. You need to know how to get rid of hypertension before anything serious could happen to you.

To get rid of hypertension you should know the categories of blood pressure readings. Hypertension is a medical condition when the blood pressure is elevated or the blood travel through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. The normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower, when your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher you have a hypertension. Any blood pressure reading in between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg is a pre-hypertension stage. However, in people with diabetes and with kidney disease a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher is already considered a high blood pressure or hypertension.

Can you tell if you have hypertension? Although some people experience drowsiness, headaches and blurred vision, the general population with hypertension has no symptoms and not aware that they have hypertension. This is the reason why most strokes due to hypertension have no signs before it occurred. It is important that you monitor you blood pressure regularly especially if you have hypertension in the past. To get rid of hypertension you should check your blood pressure to prevent stokes. Hypertension can damage your blood vessels causing strokes, heart attack and kidney failure.

There are preventive measures that you can do to get rid of hypertension and mostly it has something to do with your lifestyle. There are modifications in your lifestyle that you need to do to lower your blood pressure or get rid of hypertension. Some of these changes include:

• Weight Loss. Being overweight is not encouraged if you have hypertension.


• For smokers, you have to stop smoking as this will increase your risk of other diseases brought by hypertension like heart attack and strokes.


• Watch what you eat to get rid of hypertension. Reduce your salt intake. Salt or sodium aggravates your hypertension.


• Fruits and vegetables high in potassium are recommended to lower blood pressure.


• Have a regular exercise this will lower blood pressure and improves blood flow.


• Limit or avoid alcoholic drinks. If you cannot avoid it limit it to 1-2 drinks a day.


• Avoid stress and try to relax, there's nothing better than a stress free life.

Common Blood Pressure Medications For Stage 1 Hypertension

The National High Blood Pressure Education Program is an association that consist of professional, public, voluntary and federal agencies. This association has established guidelines with regards with the type of common blood pressure medication to be used to control your high blood pressure.

There a huge number of drugs available that are used as common blood pressure medications (Antihypertensives). Each of the different medication has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Below are the association guidelines for common blood pressure medications to be used. Bear in mind that the actual drug that your doctor prescribed might be different due to the complexity of individual situations.

If you have stage 1 high blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)

If your systolic pressure (top number) ranges from 140 to 159 or your diastolic pressure (bottom number) ranges from 90 to 99, or both your top and bottom numbers are in this range; you have stage 1 hypertension.

Diuretics might be the first type of medication that your doctor might ask you to take. Diuretics are also called water pills. This drug works by getting rid of excess water and sodium from your body. This will effectively lower your blood pressure. This drug together with a move to a healthier lifestyle might be sufficient to control your blood pressure.

There are mainly three types of Diuretics available in the market. One of the first choices among the three is usually a thiazide diuretic. Thiazide diuretics are chosen over the other two as they usually have fewer side effects as compared. Moreover, they are able to prevent other conditions such as stroke and heart failure to a certain extent. High blood pressure can often result in such undesirable conditions.

Diuretic could be the only common blood medication that you need to take. However, under certain conditions, your doctor might recommend taking another medication. Complement your medication together with a healthy lifestyle in order to effectively control your high blood pressure.

Some of these choices include:

Calcium channel blockers: Stops calcium from entering both the heart and blood vessel muscle cells. This allows the cells to relax and thus lowering blood pressure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These works by eliminating the production of a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. Thus, they keep the blood vessels relaxed.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers: Enlarges blood vessels by preventing a hormone called Angiotensin from affecting vessels.

Beta blockers: Lowers blood pressure by lowering the total amount of nerve signals going from the heart to the blood vessels.

Complementing one of the medications from the above list with Diuretic might be helpful in lowering your blood pressure at a faster rate. Thus, probability of developing complications from high blood pressure is lowered.

Another point is that by taking two medications instead of one might allow you to consume a lesser amount of each drug. This might work to reduce the side effects experience and could possibly allow you to lower costs. The choice of medication used in the combination depends on individual condition.

Foods to Eat to Help Lower Your Blood Pressure Quickly

Foods to eat to lower your blood pressure quickly are readily available and cheap. A trip to the produce aisle is really all you need to do.

The food we use to fuel our bodies determines how well the body will perform. Unfortunately, for most Americans it's like pumping leaded gasoline into a car that runs on unleaded. The car will start and it will run for a period of time but ultimately the engine will be ruined.

Our obsession with salt, fatty red meat and a fast lane lifestyle has created a disease that kills over 50,000 people per year. What's really sad is that high blood pressure is preventable and reversible naturally, without medication, yet so many either don't know how or simply ignore the changes they need to make.

First of all, the fastest way to lower blood pressure, and I mean immediately, is exercise. Thirty minutes or more of brisk walking can shave 2 to 4 points from your pressure and the effect can last up to 22 hours.

Now on to the food that can lower blood pressure by 20 points inside of two weeks.

Bananas: Nature's idea of fast food; it's portable, requires no utensils, and if your careful no napkin is needed. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium (something most HBP sufferers are deficient in) and dietary fiber. Eat at least one a day.

Blueberries: An outstanding source of aggressive antioxidants that block plaque from building up and reverse other damage done by free radicals. Eat 1 serving (half cup) per day.

Garlic: Not only does it protect you from vampires, the amazing garlic lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol. In addition it interferes with the creation of blood clots. It is also believed to be a defense for colon and stomach cancer. Eat at least one clove per day. This might best be achieved using a garlic supplement.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes produce lycopene a particularly effective antioxidant. They are also a good source of fiber. If you can eat half a medium tomato a day, that's great. Otherwise just have tomato juice during the day.

Water: Dehydration is becoming an increasing problem in the U.S. Water flushes the body of waste and also softens the arteries allowing them to dilate properly. Drink at least 5 glasses of water daily.

Salt: Just say no to salt. Take the shaker off the table. American's eat 6 times the amount of salt that the body needs.

If you can stick to these tips for two weeks you will see a significant decrease in your blood pressure. If you can manage some exercise it will be even greater as exercise not only does the body good but burns off the hormones created by stress as well. Your heart will thank you!

High Blood Pressure at Night Only - What Could Be the Risks?

People treat their health as a very precious thing by doing their best to maintain a healthy body, mind, and emotions. But sometimes we are unaware that certain things we do may post a great danger to our health. Some of us may enjoy doing things that make us happy such as smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and eating foods high in sodium and cholesterol without knowing that they can harm our body.

Some factors like heredity can also contribute in acquiring several diseases. There are also certain problems encountered that can lead to stress and depression, which can disturb the normal life pattern. These are only some of the factors that can result to the primary type of hypertension. The secondary type on the other hand, is caused by an abnormality in different organs leading to the increased pressure in the blood.

Hypertension can happen at day and there is also high blood pressure at night only.

High blood pressure also known as hypertension is a condition in which a blood exerts too much pressure on the blood vessels. When this happens, there would be a slow movement of blood. Therefore, it would take a long time for some systems and organs of the body to be oxygenated. This could lead to further damage of some of the major body organs such as heart, brain and kidney. High blood pressure at night only is most probably connected with the risk of having heart attack or stroke.

This may lead to a very serious and fatal attack that if not prevented may lead to death. An increase in blood pressure at night may be due to the level of the loudness of noise within the surroundings that sometimes even the sound of snoring can bring about fluctuation in the blood pressure especially if you are very sensitive enough. Sometimes, people may experience conditions such as the Restless Leg Syndrome at night because they might not be comfortable of resting and being still for long hours of sleep. This syndrome can eventually lead to hypertension

Constant monitoring of of your condition and reading is a very important method of prevention. People often take their maintenance medication at night because of the great risk of having hypertension at night only. But regardless of the time hypertension occurs, it is most important to take a step in making our body a healthy one. A stress -free life combined with healthy eating habits and lifestyle can help a person a lot to survive and live peacefully.

Causes of High Blood Sugar Other Than Diabetes

The presence of high blood sugar, notably high values above 150 or so has always been connected with the presence of either type I diabetes or type II diabetes. In some cases, pre-diabetes also tends to cause high blood sugar levels. But is this all it? Is the presence of high sugar an indication that the person may be suffering from diabetes? Well, the answer seems quite perturbing to the mind. No, diabetes is not the only reason for the presence of high blood sugar levels.

Some of the other causes of high blood sugar levels are cases when a person may be undergoing an abnormal health condition. When multiple disorders affect a body, then some of them may tend to affect the insulin receptivity of the cellulose and molecules in the human body thus rendering the sugar produced with no place to go. These excess sugar molecules are the reason for the high blood sugar during fasting tests. Other reasons include pregnancy and the time of delivery. At these times, it has been found that the cells of the body In a woman may be undergoing a rapid transformation in a period of highly charged molecular activity, which tends to sometimes produce high sugar.

Another potential reason for the presence of high sugar is the intake of inappropriate food in non symmetrical quantities. For example, intake of food having a high amount of sugar causes high blood sugar, but may not necessarily be a cause of diabetes, of either types. This elevation in the blood glucose levels, though, tend to have an equally noticeable symptom as diabetes. Some of the symptoms seen are frequent urination, especially during the nights, blurry vision, thirst or weight loss. This may also lead to elevated heart risks.

Treat Hypertension - Can You Treat Hypertension Without Using Prescription Drugs?

A huge percentage of the American population suffers from high blood pressure, and in the vast majority of cases, their condition is treated with powerful prescription drugs. With that said, this trend seems to be changing as more and more people begin looking for alternative treatment options. The driving force behind this is the fact that most hypertension drugs carry the risk of side effects, as do most prescription drugs.

Before we go any further, I must just point out that the purpose of this article is not to convince you to ignore your doctor's advice, but instead, it's to inform you that you can indeed treat hypertension without resorting to potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals. In fact, there are several ways in which to treat high blood pressure effectively, just as millions of other people have done.

Of course your first step would be to get your blood pressure taken, or alternatively, you can take your own blood pressure at home if you have the equipment. Many people don't even realize they have high blood pressure, even when they experience the symptoms. These would include things such as unexplained nose bleeds, persistent headaches, and frequent spells of dizziness. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's not to say you do have high blood pressure, but it certainly does warrant a checkup.

If you want to treat hypertension without drugs, then you'll first need to acknowledge the fact that there will be a few lifestyle changes required on your part. For example, if you smoke, you need to kick the habit straight away. You'll also need to take to good look at your diet, and begin focusing on eating more healthy foods and less junk food. Regular exercise is also something you'll need to start doing. This doesn't mean you have to do any hardcore workouts, but it does mean you have to work your muscles at least three or four times each week

Stress is another thing you'll need to address if you want to treat hypertension without drugs. While stress may not actually cause high blood pressure, it certainly contributes. Here again, diet and exercise can do much to reduce stress levels, but you may also want to include some meditation, or even some yoga.

How to Measure Blood Pressure

Many people have digital blood pressure measuring devices in their homes today. These devices have become relatively inexpensive. A cuff is put onto the arm and inflated. As it deflates, the blood pressure (and usually heart rate as well) are measured. The results are usually displayed on an LCD screen. Many of these digital measuring devices even come equipped with memory so that users can keep track of blood pressure readings on different days and at different times of the day for comparison purposes.

You will see these digital measuring devices in many doctor's offices, as well, but there are also many doctors who prefer having blood pressure measured the old-fashioned way, using a cuff, a column of mercury, and a stethoscope, because they believe that it is more accurate. When this method is used, the person who is taking the blood pressure listens for Karotoff sounds. After the cuff has been inflated, they place the stethoscope on the brachial pulse. Then they slowly deflate the cuff and listen. While watching the mercury lower, they note the pressure when they first hear the Karotoff sounds (systolic pressure) and the pressure when they can no longer hear the Karotoff sounds (diastolic pressure).

Blood pressure is determined by the pressure in the veins and vessels when the heart beats, versus the pressure in the veins and vessels when the heart rests between beats. Readings are expressed as systolic pressure (when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (when the heart rests between beats). If a reading is 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, the reading is expressed verbally as "120 over 80" and written as 120/80.

A reading of 120/80 is considered optimal for people under the age of 55. Any reading that is above 140/90 indicates a blood pressure reading that is too high, and the patient should see the doctor.

What Role Do Hormones Play in Hypertension?

Hormones are chemical substances which are produced in an organ (usually a gland) and are transported by the blood to another target organ where they excite their activities. Some of the hormones are transported through a duct to their target organs while others pass directly into the blood stream.

Hormones are produced in order to help perform certain specific function for the body, but when certain things go wrong with their production or their discharge process there could be problems. Some hormonal activities therefore have been known to contribute to the development of hypertension. Some of the hormones cause hypertension through their direct effect on blood vessels while others cause hypertension indirectly.

1. Pituitary hormone: The pituitary gland otherwise known as the master gland regulates the activities of other glands by producing hormones which act on these glands. One of such hormones is the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) which regulates the production of corticosteroids by the adrenal cortex. When there is a fault in the regulation process the corticosteroid could produce excess of its substances such as the mineralocorticocoids e.g. aldosterone which is known to retain sodium and subsequently fluid. Excessive retention of fluid by this hormone eventually leads to hypertension.

2. Thyroid hormone: The thyroid gland produces thyroxine which helps to regulate the body's metabolic processes. Over stimulation of the thyroid gland by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland leads to excessive secretion of thyroxine. This eventually brings about hyperthyroidism; and one of the known effects of hyperthyroidism is hypertension.

3. Adrenal hormone: Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a major hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla. It exerts action similar to that of the sympathetic nervous system. It causes vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels. When there is a problem with the kidneys the regulation of this hormone is altered thereby bringing about its excess production. This in the long run leads to hypertension.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and the Diet Pill Connection

PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension) is unfortunately reaching epidemic proportions in this country. A once rare problem is becoming much more prevalent. (Higher pulmonary artery blood pressure causes the heart to work a lot harder to pump sufficient quantities of blood into the lungs. The heart becomes weaker and weaker over time and eventually may fail.) The question has been why.

Researchers have recently determined that the blame for this sudden increase in PPH can be laid at the feet of appetite suppressing drugs like Dexfenfluramine, Aminorex and Fenfluramine. These are the main ingredients in appetite suppressants that you might recognize by the names of Phen Fen, Redux, and Pondimin.

The pressure in the pulmonary artery increases to unacceptable levels that are 30% to 50% higher than normal. This causes subtle changes in the small blood vessels in the lungs. As the small blood vessels shrink in size, resistance to blood flow increases, and it is a lot harder for blood to flow through them. As a result, the blood "backs up" and the pressure increases.

People who suffer from PPH experience several different symptoms like shortness of breath, feeling fatigued, constant pain in the chest, and dizziness. Diagnosing PPH is a rather long elimination-of-other-causes process that can be frustrating to both the doctor as well as the patient.

Because of the connection having been made by scientists and researchers between PPH and appetite suppressants, there has been a great deal of litigation initiated and there will likely be a great deal more to come in the future. There are websites on the Internet where you can read about this litigation and, if you need to, become a part of it. There is no cure for PPH, but early diagnosis and treatment can prolong the life expectancy from a scant 36 months to more than 10 years.

Do You Need Blood Pressure Medicine?

There are millions of people in the United States who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure), and often they need to rely on medicine to keep their blood pressure regulated. But it is not always necessary to end up on drugs for the rest of your life, especially if you know how to control your blood pressure through your diet and exercise program, as well as by living a healthy lifestyle. When you know how to control your diet, get enough exercise, and get rid of the stress in your life, you have a much better chance of never knowing the troubles of hypertension, and you will probably never need to take high medicine.

Controlling Hypertension Without Blood Pressure Medicine

Did you know that there are ways that you can control high blood pressure, without having to resort to taking medicine? There are many things that you can do to lower your blood pressure and maintain it at a healthy level. But you do need to have a little bit of willpower, because if you want to treat hypertension without blood pressure medicines, you are going to have to make a few lifestyle changes. The first lifestyle change will be in your diet, especially if you are overweight.

Being overweight is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure, and this is a problem that we can all do something about and not need to take medicines. It is important to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet, and since they go hand in hand, you need to get plenty of exercise too. Some of the foods that you should be adding to your diet, if you are not already eating them, are whole grains, low or non-fat dairy, lean red meat, poultry, fish, and of course, fruits and vegetables.

Here is another diet tip that will help to keep you from being on medication: cut out the salt. Sodium can greatly increase blood pressure. Although we do need to have some sodium in our diets, we really do not need any more than about 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily, or less. It is also not a good idea to eat too many processed foods. Not only are they not all that good for you in the first place, many of these meals are absolutely loaded with sodium and have very little in the way of nutritional benefits.

And remember not to add too much salt to the foods you prepare yourself. There are loads of other spices and seasonings that you can use that taste just as good, if not better and they are a whole lot better for you than sodium. Try using pepper or garlic instead. Believe it or not, garlic tastes even better on a turkey sandwich than salt does, and it is actually excellent for controlling blood pressure, without the need for medication. If you find that taking away salt is just too much of a change, do it gradually. With each meal, try using less and less salt, and in no time at all you will be eating a healthy diet with just the right amount of sodium.

Changing your diet is just one of the things that you can do to treat hypertension without using medicines. Another lifestyle change you may want to try is cutting back on alcoholic beverages, although studies have shown that it is actually quite healthy to have a glass of wine daily. Just remember not to go overboard-one glass is plenty. If you are normally a heavy drinker, it is a good idea to start tapering off, and if necessary, seek out treatment for alcohol addiction. After all, if you truly want to be healthy, you need to take every step possible to make sure that you are doing everything you can for your body.

Another excellent way to avoid hypertension and taking medication is to not smoke. If you are a smoker, now is as good a time as any to give it up, and there are many stop-smoking aids available that it is becoming easier and easier for people to quit the habit forever. Other steps you can take to maintain healthy blood pressure is to do your best to eliminate stress from your life, a major contributor to high blood pressure. Another good idea is to check your blood pressure regularly, which you can do at many pharmacies, or you can even buy your own testing kit to use at home.

Forget Blood Pressure Medicines... Eat Healthy to Avoid Hypertension

The best way to stay healthy, including maintaining healthy blood pressure, is to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet that is loaded with all of the things that everyone should be getting. By this, we mean proper nutrition. We all need to have certain nutrients in our diets, and there are three macronutrients that we need, not only to be healthy, but for our survival. These macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. There are many diets out there that incorporate all of these macronutrients, and one that is recommended by many health organizations, including the American Heart Association, suggests that a healthy diet consist of 55% good carbohydrates, 15% good fats, and 30% proteins.

In order to get the protein we need, many people use protein supplements, which not only provides protein, but also all kinds of other vitamins and nutrients. And getting the proper amount of protein and other nutrients can often lessen the need for blood pressure medicines.

Homeopathic Hypertension Treatment - No More Drugs!

One of the most common sense ways to use a homeopathic hypertension treatment is through a diet filled with fruits and vegetables. It is now completely evident and very well documented that eating natures' delights is not only delicious, but the real method to solving so many of our health issues. In a society filled with obese and "satisfy me now" individuals, it is no wonder high blood pressure is such a huge issue. We are bombarded with advertisements for foods that have no nutritional value, and actually cause many of these hypertension issues. It is essential for us to realize the value of proper diet, understanding that not only will we be much more healthy, but will be more energized without the risk of hypertension.

Traditional exercise (aerobic and competitive) is fine for homeopathic hypertension treatment and will have many benefits to the individual. However, the best overall method for alleviating hypertension is the practice of Yoga, both hatha (physical) and meditative. Huge physical and psychological benefits occur while using various Yoga techniques. When practicing hatha Yoga with proper focus and effort, tremendous stress relief happens. Following that up with even a little meditation does wonders for the heart, as combining the physical and mental aspects of Yoga do wonders. For years it has been known that Yoga lowers blood pressure and slows down the heart rate. This slower heart rate obviously will ease the hypertension scenario with each individual.

When there are so many ways to solve hypertension without the use of drugs, why would anyone use them? Many of us are basically living by the quick fix, which drugs are supposed to do. Well, that just has no chance as drugs just don't work. Putting the wrong ingredients in your body creates a hotbed for serious illness. The only benefits of using drugs are the benefits the pharmaceutical companies get from the huge cash gains. Do things the right way. Create the habits necessary for your success, including the diet and Yoga ideas above. Virtually any homeopathic hypertension treatment far exceeds any drug treatment that is available, and keeps you healthy and strong.

Lower Blood Pressure Foods to Cure Hypertension and Avoid Heart Attacks

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is rightly called the 'silent killer'. It is the leading precursor of heart attacks which are the leading cause of death in most of the Western World.  Yet there are no noticeable signs, no symptoms to warn you. You don't know what your blood pressure is until you get it checked.

People die from its effects without knowing what it was that was killing them. And almost all heart attacks could be prevented. Starting with controlling blood pressure and keeping it at the ideal 115 over 75. Your risk for heart attacks goes up as your blood pressure goes up from there.

At 140/90 and up your alarms should be screaming at you; you could have a heart attack at any time. Your doctor will likely put you on beta blockers or other types of blood-pressure reducing drugs to avoid a calamitous heart failure ending in him having to find another patient to replace the vacancy you left.

So how did your blood pressure (BP) get to be high in the first place? And how do you lower your blood pressure naturally, without expensive drugs that come with nasty side-effects?  Start with lower blood pressure foods.

To begin with, high blood pressure correlates very highly with being overweight and being sedentary. It stands to reason. When you put on weight your body has to add more veins, arteries and capillaries to supply blood to the additional area. Your heart has to work harder, raise the pressure, to pump through all the extra tubes.

So the first lower blood pressure foods would be diet foods. Anything low-calorie, high fiber and/or in lesser quantities. Get your weight down to the recommended range for your height and frame.

Yes, it's easier said than done. Who said it was going to be easy? So what are you going to do? Wait until your first heart attack before you get Serious about controlling your weight? Take a look at the mortality tables. Your chances of surviving your first heart attack aren't all that good!

It's time to get serious about losing excess weight.  Ever hear the expression, "As serious as a heart attack!."?!  So the first approach to lower blood pressure foods is to find foods that help you lose weight.

The second step is to avoid the artery-cloggers: saturated fat and trans-fats. That means avoid animal fats, butter, oily cheese, pork in any form. Avoid tropical cooking oils (palm and coconut oils). Avoid bakery foods since they don't have to label their products. Most buy their oils for price, not health.

Replace these fats and most carbohydrates with fruits and vegetables, use only olive oil and salad oils with less than 2 grams of saturated fat per tablespoonful (no higher than 14% of the oil.) So lettuce and tomatoes are lower blood pressure foods. So are most salads and non-starchy vegetables.

Salt (actually, the sodium in salt) is a factor in high blood pressure for about 1/3 of the cases. So lower your salt intake. Use lemon juice and herbs instead. It is a good idea to get yourself a home blood pressure monitor and take your own pressure daily, say, in the morning before you get up.

That way you can watch your blood pressure coming down and see what tends to lower it and raise it. You can discover which foods are lower blood pressure foods for you and which are no-no's!

For more information on lower blood pressure foods, how to have normal range blood pressure and avoid heart disease, follow the links below...

A Proper Diet For Hypertension

Hypertension is usually controlled with a combination of drugs and some special diets; this is because drugs alone do not really help the patient achieve all the needed relief. Since the condition is incurable, the patient is placed on a carefully planned nutrition devoid of the ingredients that aggravate the disease.

When the right type of food is given to the sufferer, he/she would least experience some of the complications; and the rate of relapse is minimized. Diet is of importance in the management of hypertension because if the right drugs are prescribed and the right type of exercise is adhered to, and the patient does not eat the right type of foods, he/she is likely to get little or no relief from the condition.

The proper diet for the hypertensive patient should therefore have less sodium. Sodium is known to retain fluid; it should be reduced but not completely eliminated from the diet since it still has some roles to play in electrolytes balance. It should rather be reduced to about 4gm per day.

The food should also be natural and not artificial because of the fact that artificial foods have a lot of chemical additives that make the individual's health condition worse. Canned foods should not be eaten due to their high sodium content as well.

A proper hypertensive diet should also contain little or no spices which act as stimulants due to the fact that stimulating the patient would lead to extra adrenaline discharge and further elevation of his/her blood pressure.

Foods containing caffeine should also be eliminated from his food regimen. Coffee and strong tea must not make the list. Alcoholic beverages must not be taken as part of the meal or after the meal.

Saturated fats should not be included in the food as they increase the cholesterol level of the blood and worsen the already existing atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis as the case may be. Red meats and fatty meats like pork should generally not be included in the meal.

While planning the meal therefore, you should remember that foods with a stimulating effect; foods with the ability to retain fluids and foods with artificial additives do not actually help the patient; rather they worsen his condition. Once you have this at the back of your mind, you will be able to come out with a natural diet best suited for him/her.

The diet for hypertension should contain protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, water and fats in their right proportion. In other words, he/she should eat balanced diets so long as they do not contain those forbidden items.

High Blood Pressure Acupuncture - Treating Hypertension Non-Traditionally

An alternate method to treat the serious cardiovascular condition is the high blood pressure acupuncture. Actually, the acupuncture is the most common form of complimentary health care treatment used to reduce high blood pressure.

This type of health care is a conventional Western form of treatment that has been proven to be very successful. In fact, the success has warranted more interest in incorporating these techniques into the regimen of treatment options available to patients.

High blood pressure acupuncture is a drug-free solution that utilizes the body's innate physical, energetic and psychological ability. Experts declare that the acupuncture is more aggressive than any single- drug therapy or life-style modification.

The experience and treatment is primarily based on Chinese medicine commonly referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Chinese medicine treats high blood pressure in two specific ways. One of the techniques is to actually treat the symptoms and the other is to treat the patient as a whole.

To treat the symptoms of high blood pressure, the acupuncture experts will puncture direct points as soon as the diagnosis of hypertension has been made. Certain acupoints are stimulated by the needles causing the elevated blood pressure to descend.

However, in most cases, the patients pre-existing or concrete conditions are not taken into consideration. Such acupoints targeted are the Renying (ST9, Zusanli (ST16), and Shaoshang (LU11). In order to treat a patient as a whole, the acupuncturists must use extreme caution.

Specifically, the process is challenging in that it is based on differentiation of syndromes. Clinical aspects of individual cases, such as signs and symptoms, including the pulse conditions and the tongue appearances need to be analyzed. This, in turn, would determine the type and nature of that particular case in order to choose an appropriate method to treat it.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and high blood pressure acupuncture identifies hypertension as having four main types of syndromes:

o "Excessive liver- yang syndrome" is characterized by clinical phenomena such as dizziness, headache, flushed face and eyes, bitter taste in mouth, and restlessness. According to TCM, this type of syndrome is the result of excessive liver yang.

o "Yin-insufficient yang-excessive syndrome" is characterized by clinical phenomena such as headache, dizziness, dry mouth, hot feeling in the palms and soles, palpitation, and rapid pulse. This is due to excessive liver yang while the liver yin is insufficient.

o "Yin- insufficiency syndrome of the liver and kidney" is characterized by dry and uncomfortable feeling in the eyes, dizziness, weakness of waist and legs, sleeplessness, red and dry tongue with little coating, and thin and taut pulse. This is due to insufficiency in both kidney and the liver yin.

o "Yin and Yang insufficiency syndrome" is characterized by dizziness, palpitation, tiredness, pale tongue with white coating, tinnitus, and taut and thin pulse. This is due to insufficiency of both yin and yang of the body.

What Causes High Blood Pressure and How Can it Be Cured?

High blood pressure affects over 70 million Americans alone and doctors have dubbed it the "silent killer" because it alone causes millions of deaths every year without the victims or anyone else seemingly realising it. In this article I'll tell you what causes high blood pressure and how it can be cured.

The "Mechanics"

You know intuitively that pressure of a liquid inside a pipe rises when you constrict it - for example, when you do the gardening and water the grass with a hose, if you grip the hose tightly then the water pressure rises and you can increase the distance you shoot the water.

The same thing happens in your body. When the arteries narrow or "constrict" then your blood pressure rises. Over time this results in damage to your cardiovascular system.

What Causes The Narrowing?

Your arteries narrow for a number of reasons. They will do this normally as a result of the ageing process, for instance.

Lack of cardiovascular exercise can cause them to narrow.

But more commonly, what we eat affects the state of our arteries and how wide they are. For example, if you eat too much salt then your arteries will narrow. Or if you don't eat enough potassium-containing foods then your arteries will also narrow.

There are a number of factors but the wrong diet has the biggest causative effect on your arterial narrowing and your blood pressure.

Drugs

Some people turn to drugs. If you do this then your doctor will struggle to find a good combination out of 4 drugs to get the desired effects. The reason for this is that he will give you two drugs in a pair combination as each drug will fight the other's side effects.

Ultimately, you will still get a raft of side effects such as frequent urination. Some of these drugs are even banned in some countries - for example beta blockers are banned in the United Kingdom as they can cause Type II diabetes.

Natural Methods

If your lifestyle contributes to your high blood pressure then it follows that small changes can cure it. As mentioned earlier, the key one is diet but there are also other tiny changes you can make that will lower your b.p. For example, taking a simple supplement may be all that is required to get you into the healthy zone once again.

Five Ways To Fight The High Blood Pressure Gout Connection

There are many things that gout can do to your body, but you may not realize how far reaching some of the effects might be. Some who have gout have problems with high blood pressure, and gout can make that problem even worse. There are even some times when high blood pressure gout problems are one in the same. There are some things you can do to lower your blood pressure while trying to treat your gout and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Your high blood pressure gout connection might not be obvious to you at first, and you may not think that one has anything to do with the other. However, if you have both, you should at least consider they are related. High blood pressure can be dangerous, and is not something that you should ignore. Some of the most common things that you may have to deal with in regards to having high blood pressure are kidney failure, heart attack and disease, congestive heart failure, and many problems and complications with heart values and arteries. Because all of these are life threatening, it is important to find ways to keep it under control.

A healthy lifestyle can help keep your high blood pressure gout problem under control in some cases. Here are five things you can do.

- If you are carrying around extra weight, you want to see if you can lose some of it. Even ten pounds in loss can make a positive dent in your blood pressure. Losing weight is also great for those with gout, so this lifestyle change can have great benefits all around.

- Exercise is good for the body, can eliminate many problems, and can even help you feel better each day. This is also something anyone with high blood pressure gout should do. If you have problems with exercise because of your gout, talk with your doctor about which exercises would be the best for you and your overall medical condition.

- Those who smoke, drink, or chew tobacco should stop. Both are bad for gout and for high blood pressure, so eliminating them can greatly improve health. You may have a hard time quitting right away, but don't give up. You'll thank yourself later.

- Watch your diet if you have high blood pressure gout problems. You should eat a lower purine diet, and you should also be sure that you watch your sodium levels. Sodium is found in many foods, but you can now find reduced sodium versions of many of them. This will help lower your blood pressure along with lowering the amount of uric acid in your body.

- Some people should eliminate some caffeine from their daily routine. Some studies suggest that caffeine in coffee has no affect on high blood pressure, but it does when it comes from a can of soda. No one is really sure why. If you drink a lot of soda, go for caffeine and sugar free, and if you think caffeine might still be a problem, lower the amounts you get from coffee as well.

Life and Death Symptoms of Cortisol Hormone Imbalance

When cortisol, a hormone produced in the adrenal glands is not produced properly, there could be different effects on the individual. Hypercortisolism or hypocortisolism can progress and become life-threatening so immediate detection and treatment is important. Find out more about the symptoms of cortisol hormone imbalance to know the right methods of approach.

Hypocortisolism

Hypocortisolism is a disorder wherein the adrenal glands which are located above the kidneys cannot produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. The adrenal glands may fail slowly due to poor circulation or immediately such as in the case of trauma or hemorrhage. The rate of symptom manifestation will depend on the pace of adrenal gland failure.

The condition is also known as Addison's disease, chronic adrenocortical insufficiency, primary adrenal insufficiency or adrenocortical hypofunction. The cortex of the adrenal glands produces 3 kinds of hormones. Cortisol is included in the glucocorticoid hormone type which helps maintain proper glucose levels, suppress the immune response and help the body respond to stress.

Three main symptoms of cortisol hormone imbalance include loss of appetite, fatigue and muscle weakness that slowly get worse over time and profound weight loss. Other symptoms are darkening of the skin or hyperpigmentation of skin folds, lips, nose, lining in the mouth, creases of the palms, nipples and areola and joints like elbows, knees and knuckles, development of scars, lightheadedness, orthostatic hypotension or fainting when suddenly getting up from a lying or sitting position, craving for salty foods, trembling or shakiness due to low blood sugar, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, difficulty concentrating, depression and irritability.

Hypercortisolism

Hypercortisolism a disease that occurs when the body produces excessive cortisol. Most commonly, the problems results from taking anti-inflammatory steroid medications for disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Cushing's disease is the second most common cause wherein the pituitary gland produces excessive ACTH hormone which is responsible for the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Other causes of symptoms of cortisol hormone imbalance include adrenal gland or pituitary gland tumor or the presence of other tumors in the body.

The problem is also known as Cushing's syndrome causing symptoms such as central obesity, acne and skin infection, backache, headache, buffalo hump or fat accumulation between the shoulders, abnormal facial hair growth, impotence in males, ceasing of the menstrual cycle in women, mental changes, weakness, unintentional weight gain, moon face described as being red, round and full, purple marks on the abdomen, breasts and thighs and thin skin that is easily bruised. More symptoms of the disease include fatigue, high blood pressure, red spots on the skin, skin flushing, muscle atrophy and bone pain or tenderness.

When It Becomes Life-Threatening

Symptoms that develop slowly may not be noticed immediately until Addisonian crisis or adrenal crisis occurs. This condition occurs from a stressful event like trauma, surgery, dehydration or severe infection wherein the body cannot produce enough cortisol to combat stress. Addisonian crisis is considered to be a life-threatening situation requiring fast treatment.

A person can die from shock due to extremely low blood pressure. Symptoms of the complication include severe vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration, confusion, restlessness, fearfulness, severe weakness, light-headedness, feeling of fainting, sudden pain in the stomach, legs and lower back, high fever, total loss of consciousness and pale face and lips. Hormone levels need to return to normal via surgery, hormone replace therapy and other dire measures.

Hypertension: 6 Good Habits to Lower Your High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is often the result of our lifestyle choices over many years. It comes as little surprise that as we get older we are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure. It is that condition which increases the risk of having a stroke, developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Our poor lifestyle choices have become deeply ingrained habits, but a habit is only a learned behaviour that we can change or replace.

Mental ropes

Habits have been likened to the strands in a rope. The longer we have had the habit, the more strands and the stronger the rope. This is a mental rope with which we tie ourselves to our habits. The mental restraint is very strong. Captive elephant calves are tethered by a rope they cannot break. As they grow bigger, they are still tethered by the same rope. When they are full grown, although physically they are capable of breaking the rope easily, the mental strands of the behaviour they learned in infancy are so strong they cannot do so.

We must break each strand in the mental rope of our habit if we are to unlearn that behaviour and replace it with healthier lifestyle choices.

Dieters understand that they cannot change their eating habits over night. It takes time to acquire the habit of healthy eating. Some experts say it takes a minimum of 38 days of unbroken healthy eating to acquire the new habit and even longer to reinforce it.

There are plenty of things we can do to set us on the path to making healthier lifestyle choices and help reduce our hypertension - maybe even prevent it from developing.

Here are 6 good habits to cultivate:

#1. Reduce your sodium intake:

We have been taught for generations that a table is not properly set unless there is a cruet set. The mustard pot might be empty, but never the salt and pepper cellars! We need to unlearn the habit of adding salt to our food at the table. It is generally accepted that we get enough naturally occurring sodium in our diet without the use of salt. If more is needed it can be added at the cooking stage. Adding more salt at the table will cause our blood pressure to spike to alarming levels.

#2. Quit smoking:

The effect of sodium is immediate and direct. Whereas, with smoking, the affects are indirect and long-term. Smoking constricts the blood vessels which raises our blood pressure because our heart has to work harder to pump blood around our bodies. Giving up smoking is probably one of the hardest habits to unlearn and may take the longest to achieve as we have to be weaned off the addictive constituents in tobacco.

#3. Reduce the amount of sodas we drink:

Sodas are sugar sweetened carbonated drinks. Soda has no nutritional value but is full of sugar and additives. These help us to pile on the pounds, particularly as we like to have a soda with our burger and fries or bucket of popcorn or even a pizza delivered to our door. Some experts have suggested that we consume a maximum of three standard glasses of soda a week. Replace your soda with a glass of water, which helps to keep us hydrated and lowers our blood pressure, or green tea which is known for its beneficial effect on our condition.

#4. Get some exercise:

Our bodies are designed to be active. 30 to 45 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercises each day, such as brisk walking, will soon reduce our hypertension. The effect will last for almost 24hours. We need to learn the habit of taking daily exercise, so make it fun. Our general health will benefit from taking regular exercise, so we can expect to improvements in other areas as well.

#5. Healthy balanced diet:

We should aim for a healthy balanced diet that is low in sodium and fat and moderate in sugars. The easiest way to cultivate this good habit is to eat five portions fresh fruit and vegetables each day. At least one portion should be a green leafy vegetable. This will ensure we get all the nutrients we need while avoiding the added sodium and fat found in processed foods.

We should learn to eat a potion of oily fish per week and a portion of white fish. Bake, grill or poach the fish, but avoid frying. Lean white meat should be preferred to fatty red meat.

#6: Relax:

There is a direct relationship between our mental state and our hypertension. We need to learn to relax. Turn off the cell phone, computer, and television and sit in a comfortable chair and relax for a while. Some people find baroque music relaxing, others prefer to quiet their mind for 20minutes or so. Whichever is your preferred method of relaxing, it is important to take time out for yourself each day.

Acquiring these six good habits will take time. By making each of them a part of your daily life, you will unlearn your bad lifestyle habits and acquire good ones that will help lower your high blood pressure and keep it down.

Natural Treatment For High Blood Pressure - 6 Effective Home Treatments

High blood pressure or hypertension is the result of elevated pressure in the arteries. The disease can lead to heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and even death if not treated properly. There is no known cause for this condition, yet there are many factors that contribute to its development. Treating hypertension is not limited to medications as there are many natural treatments for high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, nearly one- half of the people who have high blood pressure don't even know it. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institution (NHLBI), about 50million adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure.

Specifically, by the age of 55, approximately30% of White American men and 20% of White women will have high blood pressure. More over, about one- half of Black men and more than 40% of Black women have hypertension by the age of 55. It is recommended that people who are in high risk of developing the disease receive blood pressure readings as frequently as possible.

Although medication is the most common treatment for high blood pressure, natural treatments such as meditation and diet have a significant effect. Any natural treatment for high blood pressure may help prevent or lower hypertension, according to some to some health professionals.

A healthy life- style consists of a low- calorie and low- fat diet as well as natural supplements and exercise. These components help lower your blood pressure, helps you loose weight, and promote an overall healthy body.

Natural treatment for high blood pressure should include food therapy, herbal therapy, juice therapy, vitamin and mineral therapy, relaxation and meditation therapy, and yoga.

o Food Therapy

Increase ingestion of potassium and magnesium

o Herbal Therapy

Increase ingestion of garlic. Eat up to three or four cloves of garlic everyday.

o Juice Therapy

Ingest an eight- ounce blend of part celery juice and one part carrot juice and one part water. This is to be taken at least once a day.

o Relaxation and Meditation Therapy

Meditate for at least twenty minutes twice a day (using recommended meditation techniques).

o Vitamin and Mineral Therapy

Ingest the following vitamin, mineral and herbal regimen: 500mg of calcium twice daily, 400mg of magnesium twice daily; one tablespoon of flaxed oil and 400 international units of Vitamin E a day.

o Yoga

Two yoga poses, the Corpse and the Knee Squeeze are especially effective against high blood pressure by improving blood circulation.

Causes of High Blood Sugar

One, who is having high glucose levels in the blood, is suffering from a condition called "hyperglycemia". In order to treat this condition, it's crucial that you know what causes this condition. Herein, you will be introduced to the causes of high blood sugar levels.

If you are diabetic, one of the primary conditions that can result in the expansion of hyperglycemia is disregarding the insulin that is required for proper body functioning. Moreover, the same results can occur if you take oral prescription that aids in lowering blood sugar levels.

Many individuals suffer from the effects of high glucose levels due to infections in their body. Practically, any type of infection can result into high blood sugar level; though some infections that surround yeast and similar organisms in the body tend to result in higher sugar levels in the body.

The choice of one's diet plays a pivotal role when it comes to how much glucose is flowing through the bloodstream within the body. Individuals who consume food items rich in sugar and carbohydrate content may find an elevation in their sugar level.

People high on stress and tensions may also experience hyperglycemia.

Individuals who decrease the amount of workout as per their daily schedule, and are engaged in stress loaded activities also show signs of high amounts of glucose. Individuals experiencing the harmful effects of high glucose level are prone to emotional stress and nervousness. This may be an account of one's professional, personal, and similar types of problems and complications.

The following symbolizes some of the symptoms that one may experience while suffering from high blood sugar. 

o Frequent Urination

o Increased fatigue.

o Higher carvings for food

o Blurred vision

It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet, to avoid all hazardous effects associated with high sugar levels.

Salt Sensitivity - A Medical Condition With Big Risks

The human body needs salt in order to function. How much salt is enough? The American Heart Association recommends 2,3000 milligrams of salt a day for healthy adults. That's ONE TEASPOON of salt. People who are extremely salt sensitive should eat less.

Many Americans are eating way too much salt and putting their health at risk. If you're overweight, have cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure you should cut back on salt. A 2001 Indiana University School of Medicine study, "Salt Sensitivity, Pulse Pressure, and Death in Normal and Hypertensive Humans," details the health risks associated with salt sensitivity.

The results of the 25-year study were announced in a February 2001 NIH News Release. In the release Dr. Myron Weinberger, Director of Indiana University's Hypertension Research Center, is quoted as saying, "Salt sensitivity increases the risk of death, whether or not a person has high blood pressure."

Weinberger thinks this finding has implication for all Americans. Older Americans, African Americans, and those who come from salt sensitive families are more apt to become salt sensitive. Salt sensitive people are more apt to develop high blood pressure as they age, according to Weinberger, and he describes America as a "salt abundant" environment.

How do you live in this environment?

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services says you check every food label for sodium. Remember, this number is for one serving. Make sure you check the serving size because this is where food processors may cheat. Let's use canned sauerkraut as an example.

The sauerkraut contains 175 milligrams of salt per serving. When you look at the serving size, however, it's a mere two tablespoons. If you eat two servings of saurkraut (about half a cup) you're eating 700 milligrams of salt. Add a salty hot dog, a salty bun, and salty condiments and you've probably eaten a teaspoon of salt.

The NIH also wants you to look at the Percent Daily Value number. This number tells you if the product is high or low in salt. You should choose food products with the lowest percentage and salt free products. Be on the lookout for foods that contain surprise salt - soda pop, seasoned pepper, lemon pepper, and others.

Since there's no test for salt sensitivity you'll have to devise your own. Start by watching for symptoms: swollen hands, knees, and feet, bulging leg and ankle veins, droopy eyelids, "chipmunk cheeks" (puffy, swollen cheeks), shortness of breath, and weight gain. Some salt sensitive people also get headaches.

Keep a salt diary for two weeks. Record every meal and snack in your diary and their salt contents. Compare your salt intake with medical symptoms. Report any symptoms of salt sensitivity to your physician. Your physician will be able to determine if you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is going up or you have high blood pressure your physician may prescribe a diuretic.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to take the salt shaker off the table and eat a low salt diet. The American Heart Association has posted tips for reducing sodium on its Website. Here are the tips and comments about them.

* Cook without salt. This is really hard if you're making soup, but you may balance the lack of salt with flavorful ingredients, such as mushrooms.

* Substitute spices and herbs for salt. Fresh herbs are best, though dry herbs will work. Citrus juice and zest also add flavor to foods.

* Buy low fat milk, cheese and yogurt. Cheese contains lots of salt, so use small amounts in your recipes. You want just enough to taste the cheese, not be overpowered by it.

* Choose unsalted nuts and seeds for snacks. Better yet, keep carrot sticks, celery sticks, jicima sticks, and cut up fruit on hand for snacking.

* Avoid salty seasonings: bullion, soy sauce, steak sauce, Worstershire sauce, meat tenderizers, and MSG. You'll find salt free soup stock on store shelves, but check the fat content before you buy these products.

You may also limit restaurant meals, which are usually high in salt. Many of these meals are made with processed foods. An article on Mayo Clinic's Website, "Processed Foods: Why So Salty?" tells why these foods are salty. Food processors use salt to enhance flavor, increase sweetness (like sprinkling salt on melon), decrease the dryness in foods, and mask metallic and chemical aftertastes.

It's okay to eat out occasionally, but don't make it a habit.

Being salt sensitive doesn't mean you eat alfalfa the rest of your life. On the contrary, you may eat delicious meals. All it takes is careful planning and shopping. Salt sensitivity is serious business, so make it your business to eat less salt and get regular checkups.

After a while you won't miss the salt and you'll taste the true flavors of food. Bon appetit!

Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson

Normal Range Blood Pressure - What is it and How to Achieve It

What is normal range blood pressure? What can be considered healthy? You'd think that there would be a range considered "normal" and that anything outside of that is either too low or too high. The reality is quite different.

High Blood Pressure

The easiest place to start is to realise what is high blood pressure. In most countries this is considered to be anything over 140/90 mmHg.

So does that mean that anything below this figure is either normal or low? Not quite.

Prehypertension

In fact, there is an additional zone called "prehypertension" which is between 121/81 and 139/89 mmHg. If you lie in this range then even though you are not classified as "high", you are still at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease than you would otherwise be if it were lower.

Best Blood Pressure

Really you should be thinking not in terms of "normal" but in "best". The best figure to have for your bp is between 115/75 and 120/80. This is really the ideal bp where it is not too low but at the same time you have minimized your risks. This should be everyone's target.

How To Reach The Ideal

Drug companies, their lobbyists and doctors will tell you that drugs are the way. Recently in the UK, the media made a big story of a study that recommended that everyone over 55 should take blood pressure lowering drugs. They are trying to position them as the next big thing since statins. Quite frankly, this is irresponsible advice.

The side effects from such drugs are debilitating and well known. These drugs are not easily tolerated and are often prescribed in all sorts of combinations in a failed effort to control side effects.

This is all needless because natural methods alone such as changing your diet, taking supplements (e.g. taking herbs for bp), getting a little exercise (not much) and looking at your stress levels are sufficient to bring you down to 115/75 without using any drugs whatsoever.

High Blood Pressure Remedy - Are Berries Berry Good For Your Hypertension?

"This will eventually kill you!" echoed in my head as the doctor continued his spiel on high blood pressure. As he continued on, I began to think of my family and what would happen to them if I died. And finally, I remembered thinking "Is my life in its final years?"

It is crazy the details we remember during the turning points in our life. The good news is my customer who wrote this to me is high blood pressure-free and as he puts it, "the healthiest he has ever felt". But just how did he do it?

And why did he choose to a natural high blood pressure remedy instead of the popular traditional medication?

Natural or Synthetic?

The 'silent killer'! That is the nickname given to high blood pressure because it takes over 50,000 lives each year and that is a pretty generous figure. If you include cardiovascular related diseases you could probably double that figure. But, if you consider how many people suffer from this killer; this figure is reasonably low.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about 65 million Americans over the age of 20 have high blood pressure. That's about one in three adults in the United States. And only about 63 percent of those with this disease are aware that they have it.

But if you are aware, should you choose a natural treatment or a synthetic treatment? Unfortunately, most people choose the synthetic treatment because this is suggested by your doctor. And even more unfortunately, some people pop a pill and completely forget to watch their diet, exercise and regularly watch their score. But do you have to choose the over-priced medication?

No! Almost 90% of sufferers could cure their high blood pressure naturally but are unaware of this. This is what physician and nutrition expert Dr. McDougal stated, "Today over prescribing and overuse of mind-altering drugs are doing far more harm than good in our society." Many times, only a few simple lifestyle changes are needed and not an over-priced pill with dangerous side-effects.

Here is one of the numerous ways to lower your score. BERRIES!

One High Blood Pressure Remedy- Berries

Why are berries the newest natural health rave? Because they are everything a healthy body needs: low calories, high Vitamin C and high water-soluble fiber. Next time you are out in the town, notice how many juice shops are popping up on almost every block. There is a reason behind this and it has to do with the miraculous power of berries.

Here are 5 high blood pressure remedy tips that will drop points in weeks.

1. Four cups of fruit. Nutrition experts recommend at least 4 cups of fruit each day. A better tip would be to take 2 cups of strawberries or blueberries each day and the rest is your choice.

2. Stock up. Stock up when berries are in season. Freezing fresh fruit is always going to save you lots of money in those long winter months. June and July are a good time to stock up.

3. Strawberries. A cup of strawberries contains only 53 calories. Strawberries are rich in calcium, magnesium, folic acid and potassium. Research has proven that magnesium and potassium are two essential minerals in lowering your pressure.

4. Blueberries. A cup of blueberries contains only 83 calories. Blueberries are rich in Vitamin C, minerals, lutein, phytochemicals and anthocyanosides (antioxidants). As you might have guessed, research has also concluded that these berries could also lower the risk of this disease.

5. Five Fiber. We recommend to our customers to get four to five servings of fruit a day. This will be difficult for most people, but if you work up to it gradually, you'll find it's not much of a problem. A glass of orange juice at breakfast, a banana (high in potassium) for a snack and about 16 grapes as an after-dinner treat gets three servings down.

If you get 5 servings of water-soluble fiber (fruit), you will notice a change in your health and you will see it when you test your pressure.

More Natural High Blood Pressure Remedies

What minerals should you be taking? What vitamins are essential to lower your score? What should be on your plate tonight? What should be in your glass right now? What tea should you drink? Why might chocolate help? Are you getting enough oxygen through breathing?

Learn the answers to these questions and everything else you need to know about high blood pressure by visiting our High Blood Pressure Remedy website. Our guaranteed, step-by-step report has helped thousands naturally drop stages in weeks.

High Blood Pressure Reduction Solutions - Is Diet, Exercise and Weight Loss Enough?

Do you have high blood pressure or doctor diagnosed hypertension? If you do I want to share with you my unique discovery about lowering blood pressure naturally with out the use of hypertension medication. Both you know and know that the true cause of high blood pressure is not known; it is quite obvious that that both the medical and pharmaceutical companies know how to treat the symptoms through a prescription for medication.

Next most "natural" solutions to controlling, reducing or eliminating this condition involve lifestyle changes. This include but would not be limited to diet and exercise. The benefits to good eating habits and exercise are numerous. Obviously one of the by products is weight loss. Well really what I mean is fat loss because it is the fat you truly want lose.

The exercise forces the heart to beat less but with more strength and the good diet prevents plaque build up along the arteries. Exercise may also help with building muscle and that in itself will help to burn off excess fat. So between diet and exercise you lose fat, build muscle and have more energy. What if your blood pressure is still too high? What do you do now?

Take a deep breath and relax. What ever you do keep your cool things will work out.

I went through this period of frustration and finally discovered that my high blood pressure was in part to do with my internalization of stress. For example, many years ago when I was in high school my father was diagnosed with colon cancer. I thought I had things under control until I got very sick a day or two later. Fortunate for us he survived it was able to live for another twenty five years.

My point here is that you may be holding your stress in your body with out knowing it and it shows up as high blood pressure. Yes you may think this is little bit "out there" but take a quick look at your surrounding environment. Are you happy with where you are? Are you happy in your work or relationships?

So you might be losing weight, feeling energetic and strong. This is a good start. Your next step is to clarify your thoughts and feelings as they do have a strong influence on your blood pressure levels.

For example I know my blood pressure levels used to spike anytime I got angry. I discovered this by accident after going through a nasty e-mail exchange with a friend mine. I just happened to realize that I had lost my cool and after I fired that last e-mail back I took my blood pressure. It jumped from 120/82 to 165/ 93 in very short period of time.

My solution was and still is deep breathing exercises. It is simply amazing the drop in blood pressure I receive after going through 10 to 15 minutes of deep breathing relaxation exercises with music!

I do include some visualization with this breathing technique with music. This made the process more enjoyable. I simply pictured the heart pumping blood through open and wide arteries. It worked for me.

I use this little technique when I get into stressful situations and it helps me keep peace of mind.

All I do is breathe in for three and breathe out for three. When I do this I have a saying that I repeat to myself: "arteries open wide, blood moving freely". At the same time I picture my heart pumping blood to very wide and open blood vessels. It may be corny to you but it works for me. Give it a try. What do you to have to lose?

Hypertension Prescription Medication: What the Prescription Drug Companies Do NOT Want You To Know!

You or a loved one suffers from the 'silent killer' of High Blood Pressure or Hypertension. Unfortunately, you are dealing with a very deadly disease that kills almost 60,000 Americans every year. Fortunately, you know that you (or a loved one) have High Blood Pressure and you are doing something about it! Information is one of the most important tools you have for not allowing High Blood Pressure to take your life!

Before you begin treating your high blood pressure with hypertension medication, it is important you know what you might be getting from the medication. And like some things, high blood pressure prescription drugs have their good and their bad!

What Prescription Drug Companies Don't Want You To Know...

1. Diuretics: Though diuretics relieve your body of water and sodium (decreasing blood pressure), did you know diuretics will literally drain your body of precious nutrients that keep the body healthy. ISN'T THERE A BETTER OPTION?

2. Beta Blockers: Beta Blockers create a slowing of the heart thus relieving pressure. However, common side-effects include: fatigue, cold hands/feet (poor circulation), dizziness, dryness of mouth/eyes/skin and asthma like symptoms. NO THANK YOU!

3. ACE Inhibitors: ACE Inhibitors inhibit the formation of angiotensin II which relaxes the arteries thus lower the blood pressure. Unfortunately, common side-effects include loss of taste, skin rash, raspy cough, and sometimes kidney failure. NEXT!

4. Alpha Blockers: Alpha Blockers relax muscles and keep blood pressure down. But get this, Alpha blockers's common side-effects are headaches (migraines), nausea, fatigue, weight gain, pounding heartbeat, and raise bad cholesterol and in some cases cause of heart failure. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

5. Vasodilators: Vasodilators are usually a last-resort medication and have severe side-effects. Side-effects include: chest pain, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, fluid retention (edema), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flushing, headache, nasal congestion and excessive hair growth. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS THAT?

6. The Cost: Did you know that millions of people spend hundreds to thousands of dollars alone on these medications? That is why health care is a multi-billion dollar industry! IS THERE SOME CHEAPER?

Thousands of People Cure Hypertension Naturally and Permanently

I was shocked to find out that the hypertension prescription medications were worse than the disease of high blood pressure. But is there a better way? Yes! In fact, there is a cheaper, more effective (not a prescription band-aid), more permanent and more natural way to make your blood pressure plummet. Our natural cure for high blood pressure has helped thousands save their lives from the deadly disease of hypertension. What would you give to end the worrying, give you and your family peace of mind, make your blood pressure plummet, and get your life back? Thousands of dollars? Hundreds? How about a fraction of what it would cost for one prescription of HBP medication? Take a minute to see what others have said about our 100% risk-free, money-back guaranteed remedy report. Please don't wait another day to treat your hypertension problem!

Lower Your Blood Pressure Today Website

Bringing Down Your High Blood Pressure Naturally

According to an editorial in the Lancet, the risk of getting high blood pressure or hypertension as it is called in the medical community, is greater than 90 percent. Now, one in three people in the US has hypertension.

The new revised food pyramid of what is a supposed to be healthy diet, some breed of high grain, low fat food combination, has been scientifically proven to be a poor choice for hypertensive risk or even if you have high blood pressure already.

Over a decade ago, in 1998, ground breaking research showed that nearly 2/3 of people who had high blood pressure were also insulin resistant. In other words, high blood sugar and hypertension walk hand in hand.

In that study, they also found that if you were not the type where your blood pressure would drop overnight while you were sleeping, you were also at risk for cardiovascular problems. Eating a high grain diet that converts to sugar in the blood, further increases diabetic risk, and also has the potential to increase blood pressure. If you are the type of person who has hypertension because of your blood sugar levels, then getting your blood sugars normalized will also bring your blood pressure within normal ranges.

Because both blood pressure and blood sugar difficulties can potentially have no symptoms at all, it is a good idea of have both checked regularly after the age of 40. It is interesting to note that there are around 100 drugs that are prescribed for people with hypertension and in the July 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, it was reported that despite the number of drugs available and the current knowledge of hypertension, no real progress has been made to control it in the population. Also in the June 2003 study by the British Medical Association, 97 percent of the people taking hypertensive medication had suffered side effects, strong enough to be deemed significant. That suggests that you have 3 chances out of 100 to have no side effects if you choose to take medication for your hypertension.

There is another way. Lifestyle changes have been shown to normalize blood pressure in around 85 percent of people who have hypertension. The first and biggest strategy is to begin to normalize your weight. Once you begin to adopt healthier eating patterns you can begin to adapt these twelve strategies to beat your high blood pressure.

Begin to walk. Work up slowly so that you can walk for longer and longer distances. You can even work up to power walking where you walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day. Brisk aerobic exercise increases oxygen levels so that your heart works more efficiently. Keep trying to increase your speed and your distance so that you are increasing your strength and stamina.

Take time to breathe deeply. Sit in a chair with your back straight. Breathe as deeply as you can for five or ten minutes. Stress hormones elevate a kidney enzyme called renin which actually raises blood pressure. By slowly deep breathing and expanding your belly you exhale all the tension out of your body. Adding qi gong, tai chi or yoga to that deep breathing is another great stress buster.

Add more potassium rich foods to your diet. Naturally potassium rich foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, whole grains, meat, poultry and fish. You need to watch the amount of animal protein that you eat because eating too much causes your body acid levels to rise which actually depletes potassium levels. Highly potassium rich foods include, bananas, oranges, apricots, strawberries, avocados, halibut, broccoli, tuna, parsley, spinach, potatoes, squash, Brussels sprouts, crimini mushrooms, kidney beans, eggplant, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, chard, bell peppers, dried prunes, raisins, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbage.

It is important to read food labels to reduce sodium intake. By becoming a label reader, you will become more aware of how much salt is in prepared foods. Better yet, buy as little processed food as possible. Among those people with high blood pressure certain demographics are salt sensitive. Because there is no specific test to show which individuals are sensitive to salt it is important to be aware of how much salt you are using and reduce it as much as possible.

Add a half an ounce of dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa to your diet. Dark chocolate contains flavanols which add elasticity to blood vessels. More elastic blood vessels can lower blood pressure.

Ask your doctor about adding Coenzyme Q10 to your daily regimen. CoQ10 is an antioxidant that has been shown to lower hypertension and improve energy production.

Add one alcoholic beverage to lower your blood pressure. Studies show that ¼ to ½ a drink per day will reduce blood pressure more than no drink at all. One drink per day has been shown in studies to lower risk of heart disease and is protective of the heart. Any more is detrimental.

Caffeine has been shown in studies to cause hypertension by tightening blood vessels. This can actually accentuate the effects of stress and raise blood pressure. By using decaf coffee, tea and other beverages, you are less likely to have a spike in blood pressure if you become stressed.

Try hibiscus tea. Participants in a study that drank 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily had a significant decrease in hypertension over a six week period. The drop in blood pressure was consistent with results that would have been obtained by using a blood pressure medication. It is the phytochemicals in the hibiscus that are responsible, so look for teas that list hibiscus near the top of the list of ingredients.

If you work more than 41 hours per week you risk adding hypertension to your list of health complaints by 15 percent. People who work overtime a lot are too tired to exercise and eat healthfully. These tough economic times not only add stress to your daily life, they add overtime, too. Try to rest and eat well as often as possible.

If you have hypertension and you are on medications, studies show that you can lower your blood pressure further by breathing deeply and slowly while listening to soothing music for 30 minutes per day.

If you snore loudly, maybe it's time to get it checked out. People who snore loudly, generally have additional sleep apnea. Many apnea sufferers also have high aldosterone counts. Aldosterone is a hormone that can boost blood pressure. Studies show that at least half of all apnea sufferers have elevated blood pressure.

By adopting healthy strategies and lifestyle choices, you can lower your blood pressure while being monitored by your health care professional.