Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Natural Hypertension Cures- 5 tips to help get you off your medication
As we age, hypertension becomes a more pressing problem. The older we get, the more medication seems necessary to through the day. What's worse is that health insurance often won't cover necessary expenses, leaving your wallet lighter and blood pressure higher. Is there any way to get off the pill-popping treadmill?
The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled naturally. Remember, though, that the following suggestions should only be applied under a doctor's supervision. Do not attempt to decrease your medication without your doctor's consent. With that disclaimer out the way, here are the top 5 tips for controlling your hypertension naturally:
1. Ease up on the salt
It's likely that this was the first bit of advice that your doctor gave you when you were diagnosed, and for good reason. Salt causes water retention, which thickens the blood and increases blood pressure. Unfortunately, salt is in just about everything that has been processed, even candy, so checking the label is mandatory. If you are going to use salt, consider low-sodium salt, celery salt, or high mineral sea and rock salts. Even then, though, use it sparingly.
2. Go natural
Of course, another option is to stick to natural, unprocessed foods that don't need to come with labels or added salt, such as fruit and vegetables. Eating a diet rich in natural foods will also assist you in losing weight, which has been shown to drastically reduce hypertension. According to studies, even a moderate amount of weight loss (as little as 5%) can produce significant results.
3. Tone up
Regular exercise is another great way to encourage weight loss. While scientists appear to be at odds regarding whether exercise is good or bad for those with high blood pressure, yoga has been given a clear thumbs up. It doesn't raise your heart rate, like aerobic exercises do, and it isn't nearly as strenuous as weight training. Instead, it has been shown to stabilize blood pressure through a series of fluid movements and calm breathing.
4. Take some time out
If you do nothing else, consider taking a few minutes out of your day to simply relax. Researchers have concluded that this action alone might be enough to treat hypertension affectively. Meditation may sound complicated or new age, but it can actually be simple and even fun if done correctly. Regularly practiced, it reduces your blood pressure as it decreases the constriction of the blood vessels.
5. Slay your vices
As you already probably know, anything that constricts your arteries is going to exacerbate your hypertension. Three main culprits are coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes. Scientists have discovered that these, at least temporarily, increase blood pressure. While it isn't yet clear how they affect blood pressure in the long run, they come with a host of other health problems as well. It's probably best just to give them up.
Hypertension is a very serious problem that is affecting more people at ages as young as 20. It has been estimated that one in every three adults suffers from this silent killer, which often results in strokes, heart failure, and heart and kidney disease. Applying these tips will help you control your blood pressure and possibly get you off your medication for good! Even if your blood pressure is normal, following the lifestyle above will decrease your risk dramatically. In fact, it could save your life.
About the Author
Did you find these tips on controlling blood pressure naturally useful? You can learn a lot more about how to cure your hypertension naturally while having fun here!
Labels:
alternative medicine
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