In the United States it is estimated by the American Heart Association that 30% of all adults suffer from high blood pressure. Because there can be no symptoms in the initial stages almost one-third are not even aware that they have it. People can have high blood pressure for years and not know it. Nearly 30% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure and of those over one-third are unaware that they have this condition. These numbers come from the American Heart Association. When your doctor takes a blood pressure reading it is reported as two numbers. The first, or the upper number, being systolic and the second or lower number being called the diastolic number. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have issued the following guidelines for interpreting these numbers. * Normal Blood Pressure is below 120/80 mmHg * When systolic pressure is 120 to 129 and diastolic pressure is 80 to 89 this is defined as prehypertension. * Stage 1 hypertension is systolic 140 to 159 and diastolic between 90 and 99. * Stage 2 hypertension is when systolic is higher than 160 and diastolic is over 100. Symptoms of high blood pressure may include dizzy spells, headache or nosebleeds. In the initial stages it is very common to experience no symptoms at all. While in most cases there is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure we do know that certain factors such as smoking, being overweight, high sodium intake, age and heredity can contribute to the risk of developing it. WHAT ARE SOME NATURAL REMEDIES FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure it is important that you work with your doctor. He or she may want you to take medication to control it. If left untreated it can cause complications such as heart attack, stroke and damage to you organs. Lifestyle changes and natural remedies should also be explored and dicussed with your physician. COENZYME Q10 (CoQ10) There have been studies that have concluded that a supplement called CoQ10 may help to reduce blood pressure. One 12 week study showed that 84 people with systolic hypertension reduced their systolic blood pressure by an average of 17.8 mm Hg. This was a double blind placebo based study. These people were given a 60 mg dose of a CoQ10 supplement twice a day. Another study done at the University of Western Australia it was concluded that systolic pressure was reduced by an average of 6.1mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 2.9 mm Hg. This was viewed as a significant reduction. GARLIC Garlic supplements have shown the ability to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In patients with mild cases of high blood pressure theses supplement have shown success. These supplements should only be taken under the supervision of a qualified health professional. Similar to aspirin these supplements have the ability to thin one's blood and reduce clotting. They can also interact with other prescription drugs, vitamin E and gingko. It is suggested that these supplements be discontinued in the weeks before and after any type of surgery. HAWTHORN Hawthorn is often used by herbal practitioners to lower high blood pressure. Studies have shown that it can significantly lower diastolic blood pressure without herb-drug interactions. FISH OIL There have been preliminary studies that show fish oil can have a moderate effect on blood pressure. It contains an acid called DHA which is thought to be the ingredient that affects blood pressure. Further research is needed. FOLIC ACID Folate is a B vitamin that we all need for the formation of red blood cells. There have been limited studies done that shows it can reduce blood pressure in some people. DIET If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure changing your diet is an important part of controlling it. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institutes of Health promote the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. The DASH diet includes fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, beans and nuts. Studies have shown that the DASH diet can reduce blood pressure in as little as two weeks. If you would like to learn more about this diet I would recommend visiting either or both of their websites. In conclusion, high blood pressure can lead to very serious diseases. It is important to work with your doctor to control it. These are some of the natural remedies that have been shown to help people. Other natural remedies would include biofeedback, yoga, aerobic exercise and Ayurvedic Medicine. Some of these can be an important form of stress reduction which can also be very beneficial.
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