How to lower blood pressure naturally

High blood pressure is scary because it is associated with heart attacks and strokes that have cut short the lives and health of numerous people. But are all hypertensions bad and dangerous? The truth is that there can be big differences, sometimes not so much because of the figures, which is what we best measure, but because of how each person reacts to high blood pressure.

Discover the hidden cause of hypertension

With the punctual measurement of the sphygmomanometer figures are obtained but behind them there is a person, some experiences and an environment that can guide the problem caused by the device: unconscious response to a feeling of threat, contained aggressiveness, chronic stress, fear of losing control, feelings of guilt, vulnerability, maladjustment… All these psychological conditions are They can occur in a sustained or punctual way, at certain times of the day or in the face of certain situations or experiences.

Sometimes, to determine this situation and observe the voltage variations throughout the day and in different situations, it can be very useful. monitor with Holter, which is a small electronic device that records and stores the patient’s cardiac electrocardiogram for at least 24 hours.

This can help uncover a power surge that occurs before a situation that the person considers innocuous or not related to it. In addition, it provides guidance on how the hypertensive person manages their fears, or on the meridians related to fear and hypertension, such as the kidney, whose energy is associated with water, salt and stressful situations.

A very widespread and hidden problem

In Spain, the incidence of hypertension (AHT) in adults is approximately 35%, and reaches 40% in middle ages and more than 60% in those over 60 years of age. In total, it affects more than 12 million adult individuals. and is considered a public health problem. It also affects 3% of children, although they often have high blood pressure due to the stress they experience in the office.

95% of diagnosed cases are classified as idiopathic Hypertension, that is, that it is not known what produces it. To a large extent it is due to the type of diet, obesity, inactivity, stress… It is believed that certain family and professional environments, noise and physical and psychological threats, sometimes not apparent, can also cause it.

The pressure is also increased by genetic factors, but these may in turn be familiar situations of stressful environments, ways of being familiar inherited and repeated in the family environment.

The hypertension many times it does not give symptoms: It is detected when measured with the tension apparatus. For this reason, it is important to ask the patient how he lives the fact of having hypertension, if he knows what risks he runs and how he can control it.

It has been shown that many of the interventions that change lifestyle and reduce blood pressure have broader health effects: they not only reduce the number of strokes and heart attacks but also improve the well-being of patients.

Basic measures to prevent hypertension

In some cases medication may be necessary, but hypertension often resolves with Changes in lifestyle:

Control the weight. Many hypertension problems are reduced simply by losing a few kilos. The greater the weight, the greater the impulse force the heart needs to get blood to all the organs of the body.Follow a proper diet, balanced. A vegetarian diet, with plenty of vegetables, fruits and legumes, and mainly monounsaturated fats, such as those in olive oil, is a great option. In general, vegetarian diets contain more potassium, complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, fiber, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, and less saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined carbohydrates.Do not smoke and do not drink or drink in moderation. One of the most important risks of hypertension are strokes or embolisms. This risk is greatly increased by smoking, as it hardens the arteries.Practice physical exercise regularly and disciplines that promote body awareness (yoga, tai chi, etc.).Reduce stress with the help of rest and relaxation techniques.Reduce salt. Many of the drugs prescribed to control high blood pressure are diuretics. The increased salinity of the blood causes fluid retention and raises blood pressure.Take omega-3 and coenzyme Q10 supplements.

The basic recipe for any patient suffering from hypertension is to modify their lifestyle. This is what is really important. Not only in patients with mild hypertension, but also in those with higher figures. Especially in more serious cases, the effectiveness of lifestyle changes is even more evident.

No alcohol or salt

It has been said that alcohol is a good vasodilator and therefore lowers blood pressure. But its effect is the opposite, since it increases it, as has been shown in all studies. Consuming alcoholic beverages outside of meals has a greater effect on high blood pressure than drinking during a meal, but what really works to lower it is don’t drink them

The ideal potassium/sodium (K/Na) ratio is probably closer to 5:1. Most fruits and vegetables have a K/Na ratio of at least 50:1. Therefore, a simple way to improve the quotient is to consume more fruits and vegetables. What really works is not only the total suppression of salt, but to observe and not eat foods that contain it in preservative or added form.

Move and relax to lower stress

Exercise is recommended for patients who need to reduce blood pressure, which also has a favorable effect on stress, lipid levels, diabetes, weight, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

It is recommended practice between 20 and 60 minutes of some resistance exercise 3-5 days per week, with a maximum oxygen consumption of 50 to 85%.

Tai chi has also been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure. Lto relaxation, meditation, deep breaths, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation exercises, autogenic training, directed imagery, hypnosis, and stress management have a moderate effect on lowering blood pressure.

The mechanisms underlying these methods are not well understood. It seems that slow breathing triggered by reciting a mantra or rhythmic breathing has an impact on cardiovascular control mechanisms.

The effects of living a lifestyle that combats blood pressure

A recent analysis has shown the usefulness of different interventions in lowering blood pressure values.

On average, exerciseor aerobic exercise on a regular basis lowers blood pressure by 4.6 mmHg.Eliminate alcohol consumption it decreases 3.8 mmHg.Limit salt intake 3.6mm Hg.

Tension can be controlled when getting up or after relaxing and observe differences. If they exist, then a Holter monitor can be performed –a blood pressure measurement for a whole day– to see what environmental influences may be modifying the blood pressure.

Medical treatment with diuretics is the most widely used to treat most patients with uncomplicated hypertension. If it is not controlled, others are usually used. It is important to read the side effects of the products, observe yourself and discuss them with the doctor to get a good understanding of the action of the medication. It is also necessary to consider the possibility of suppressing them if with other factors the tension is well controlled.

three natural remedies

Garlic, hawthorn or hawthorn and olive leaves have traditionally been used to treat hypertension.

Garlic (Allium sativum). It is recommended to take an average of two cloves of raw garlic a day, as a culinary seasoning to make it more pleasant. You just have to be careful with its adverse effects, which, apart from its effect on the breath, can include sweating and dizziness, irritation of the mouth, esophagus and stomach, nausea and vomiting. Allergic reactions are rare, but garlic increases the risk of bleeding if taken with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.Hawthorn or hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) it is widely used by physicians for the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Although it is considered a cardiovascular tonic, its hypotensive effect is mild. It is usually combined with dandelion leaf and valerian. The dose of the hawthorn leaf with flower is, in general, 2 to 3.5 g/day in an infusion or herbal tea, or the equivalent dose in tincture.Olive leaves. Among its compounds, oleoeuropein gives it antihypertensive properties due to its peripheral vasodilator, spasmolytic, coronary dilator and antiarrhythmic properties. Flavonoids, triterpenes and potassium salts produce a diuretic effect. For the infusion of the leaves, if possible, the new shoots or shoots of the olive tree are chosen. Prepare one tablespoon per cup and infuse for ten minutes. Three or more cups are taken a day before meals.

Instead, some contraindicated plants in hypertension are tobacco, licorice, ephedra, coffee and ginseng, which can raise blood pressure.

complementary treatments

Acupuncture is useful in the treatment of mild and recent-onset hypertension by virtue of its properties to balance the body. Eight to ten sessions are recommended over a two-month period to determine if hypertension responds to acupuncture.

According to homeopathic principles, hypertension reflects the overall state of health of the individual and is therefore amenable to treatment. The homeopathy efficacy It depends on the age of the person and the duration of the disease. A non-specific general remedy selected by an experienced therapist is the most appropriate way to treat hypertension.

Sometimes they are used the following homeopathic medicines:

Is used argentum nitricum when blood pressure increases with anxiety and nervousness. Sometimes it is indicated Aurum metallicum in serious people who are focused on the profession and the achievements. It is often useful calcarea carbonica in people with high blood pressure who tire easily and have poor stamina.