Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure (Hypertension) refers to the increase in the force which the blood exerts over the arterial walls. The heart pumps blood at a certain pace. Increase in the pace pushes the blood with increased force. This in turn increases the blood pressure, from the normal ideal range, which is 120/80mm Hg
Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading, that is, in between beats when your heart is resting to fill up with blood.
Systolic blood pressure is the higher number in a blood pressure reading, that is, the force of blood in the arteries when the heart beats.
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
Typical symptoms of high blood pressure are tinnitus or ringing sensation in the ear, headache, abnormal heart rhythms, dizziness, confusion, nose bleeds, shortness of breath, pain in the neck, weakness, palpitations, difficulty in breathing, pain in the heart region, fatigue, nervous tension and frequent urination. Complications of increased blood pressure are coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest, stroke, renal (kidney) failure, arrythmias (abnormal heartbeats) and so on.
High Blood Pressure Causes
High blood pressure due to unknown origin is referred to as Stage 1 hypertension, primary or essential hypertension. Presence of any underlying condition, such as renal problem or tumor results in secondary hypertension or Stage 2 hypertension. Certain factors that contribute to high blood pressure are pregnancy, high levels of stress, lack of exercise, faulty style of living, thyroid dysfunction, excessive smoking, hormonal changes in women, intake of caffeinated beverages, hardening of arteries, use of illegal drugs, high fat or low fiber diet, obesity, high intake of salt / sodium in the diet, diabetes, use of medications such as decongestants and birth control pills, genetic factors, congenital defects and renal abnormalities.
Treatment for High Blood Pressure
Though lifestyle and diet play a vital role in the treatment of hypertension, medications are usually prescribed. A qualified medical practitioner would recommend diuretics or ‘water pills’ to some individuals. Diuretics help in the elimination of water and salts, thereby decreasing the volume of blood. Besides this, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and rennin inhibitors may be given.
Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure remedies involve certain simple techniques to keep a check on the blood pressure are:
- Reduce High BP with Papaya: Take a fresh papaya on an empty stomach, on rising from bed.
- Reduce High BP with Amla Juice: A tablespoon each of honey and Amla (Indian Gooseberry) juice proves beneficial in the treatment of hypertension.
- Reduce High BP with Cayenne Pepper: Mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in half a glass of warm water. It helps to decrease the blood pressure.
- Reduce High BP with Basil Leaves: Eat two leaves of neem with four basil leaves and four teaspoons of water. Take it on an empty stomach for a week.
- Reduce High BP with Garlic: Garlic is highly effective in the maintenance of blood pressure. Chew a clove of garlic on rising.
- Reduce High BP with Coconut Water: Coconut water is rich in potassium salts. Drinking 1 cup of coconut water a day can be helpful to lower the sodium levels in the body and control blood pressure. You may need to guard against excessive intake of coconut water especially if you have diabetes as it has concentrated sugars.
- Herbs for High Blood Pressure: Herbs maybe used to treat high blood pressure. It is important to know that they can have serious side effects with large doses. These herbs should not be taken on your own without consulting a doctor. High blood pressure herbal remedies use these herbs – coleus forskohlii, hawthorne, mistletoe, rauwolfia,
Tips for High Blood Pressure
Avoid alcoholic beverages. Maintenance of a healthy body weight proves effective in high blood pressure control. Monitoring blood pressure daily is recommended. It is a good idea to have a blood pressure monitoring machine at home. Practice yoga, meditation, breathing exercises to decrease stress levels.
High Blood Pressure Diet:
Guidelines for Eating Right for people with High Blood Pressure:
Limit salt in the diet. Do not add top salt, other than salt used in cooking. Avoid refined, processed foods or foods with preservatives namely bottled, canned, ready-to-eat instant foods. Check food labels and avoid food products saying “preservatives” or “sodium benzoate” in it. Foods that lower blood pressure are home cooked foods, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has proved beneficial in lowering hypertension.
