Hypertension: The Silent Killer

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is the heart laboriously working to pump blood throughout the body often leading to plaque buildup and hardening of the arteries. Ultimately, arterial build up can led to stroke, heart attack/failure, eye damage, and/or kidney failure. According to a featured article on Hypertension (Nov. 2001) published in Southern Medical Journal, hypertension seems to be a polygenic and multifactorial disorder with importance placed on the interplay of several genes and the environment. Further, blood pressure levels are correlated commonly with “genetic background, environment, or lifestyle habits."               

                                                                                       

Hypertension is a serious health problem in the United States and is often referred to as the “silent killer” according to the American Heart Association who reports approximately one in three Americans lives with hypertension. Unfortunately, one-third of those living with hypertension are unaware they have it and exacerbate this health condition by engaging in risk associated activities like smoking, excessive drinking, inactive lifestyles, weight gain, and eating too much salt. Other risk factors can include being African American, pregnancy, women taking oral birth control pills, stress, and some medications.

While many individuals are unaware of having hypertension there are some signs and symptoms to be alert to including headaches, blurred vision, nose bleeds, and dizziness according to the Mayo Clinic. Many of these symptoms present themselves when hypertension becomes potentially life threatening.

     There are several prevention and treatment methods and recommendations presented in Southern Medical Journal’s Hypertension article, which are lifelong processes and include:

• Maintaining weight for your height and gender
  • Loosing even 10 pounds of excess weight can reduce blood pressure in a significant number of overweight individuals with hypertension.
  • Weight loss lowering blood pressure can also reduce concurrent risk factor like diabetes and dyslipidemia

• Moderate alcohol intake
  • Alcohol intake needs to be less than one ounce of ethanol (e.g. 2-12 ounce beers) a day and less for those who weigh less.
  • Those withdrawing from heavy alcohol consumption may experience a substantial increase in blood pressure going down after about three days.

• Exercise
  • A regular exercise program will assist with weight loss, functional health, lower blood pressure, and reduce cardiovascular risks.
  • Inactive individuals run a 20-50% increased risk for hypertension and associated health problems.
  • Please make sure to consult with a Physician before starting an exercise program especially if you have a serious medical condition.

• Sodium Intake
  • Reducing sodium intake is favorable for a host of health conditions including hypertension.

• DASH-Diet
  • Web MD recommends the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)-Diet, which reportedly can reduce high blood pressure within two weeks. Click here to read more about the DASH-Diet

• Relaxation
  • Emotional distress often raises blood pressure and finding ways to relax while not scientifically proven to lower blood pressure is a helpful tool in dealing with daily concerns.

• Smoking/Tobacco Use
  • For the usual reminder why smoking is not good for your health click here.

• Prescriptions
  • In cases where lifestyle changes aren’t enough your doctor may prescribe one of many pharmaceutical prescriptions, which can be decreased or eliminated once lifestyle changes take hold.

              Dr. Emily Kane, a graduate in both Naturopathic and Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine recommends and highlights hydrotherapy treatment process for hypertension. Her extensive list includes hot baths, peroxide baths, constitutional hydrotherapy, and alternating hot cold footbaths. To read Dr. Kane’s article click here. Please not that research also recommends against hydrotherapy in some hypertension cases because of the seriousness and progression of this condition. To find out if you have or are at risk for hypertension please check with you Physician and check your blood pressure regularly.

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Comments

[Stephen Iacob]

I have high blood pressure. I have done all the diet and several other methods of natural therapies with no luck. The prescribed medications work great. I guess I have to do it this way. Oh well, it was somewhat fun trying.

[Alex Elfman]

I too have high blood pressure and didn't know a thing about it. I started getting some mild headaches. I went to the doctor and the told me about it. They said I should try adjusting my diet and start taking meds. They told me that I should not use saunas while I have high blood pressure. I'm happy to say that with my new diet and meds I have normal blood pressure. The time I've spent in the sauna has now equaled 20lbs. I'll credit a little to the diet change but most to my carbon fiber sauna.

[Brian Williams III]

Both Stephen and Alex are doing exactly the same thing I did. I used the meds and diet thing and after six months my blood pressure went down to regular levels. I did keep up my diet and work outs but I quit the meds. I have maintained the regular levels for another six months. This may not work for everyone but it has for me.