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| HYPERTENSION. |
Hypertension (high blood pressure) often goes unnoticed and
if left untreated can rise to even higher levels and can lead to other
ailments such as kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular
disease.Although the cause of hypertension still largely remains unknown, the change of developing high blood pressure is due to certain factors. When the case is unknown we refer to primary (essential) hypertension, if the cause is known, we talk about secondary (treatable) hypertension. Heredity, gender, age, abesity, diet style, alcoholic consumption and inactive life style are the main ones. Blood pressure is the natural pressure caused by blood pumping through the arteries and veins in the human body. This pressure is measured in millimeters mercury pressure (mm Hg) and is reported by two numbers. The top number represents the number when the heart beats, pumping blood in the arteries (highest pressure). It is called the systolic reading. The bottom number is the number when the heart is at rest between beats; this is called the diastolic reading (pressure drops to its lowest point). Every one experiences fluctuations in their blood pressure but hypertension is diagnosed when the blood pressure rises to levels that are potentionally dangerous. Hypotension a reading too low (below 90/60) can effect the health also since it can lead to oxygen deprivation of the brain. |
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| Symptoms of high
blood pressure: There are several symptoms that hypertension may cause: Treatment of Hypertentension: The most important thing is to lower the blood pressure to normal levels.  To archive this, you will have to get control over your blood pressure. First, let your physician determines if you have high blood pressure. This involves a complete physical exam and may include a EKG (electrocardiogram), echocardiogram and chest x-ray. Based on the findings, he or she will initiate a program with the goal of lowering your high blood pressure by adapting a more healthy lifestyle. This will include, but not necessarily limited to, exercising and losing weight, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, reduce stress. He may also describe medications and / or the use of dietary supplements (botanicals). Dietary Approach: A healthy diet, low in fat and fat dairy foods, high in vegetables and fruits, can significantly lower the blood pressure in a short time. Other factors in a dietary approach are a healthy weight, foods low in salt (max 2 grams of sodium / day), no - or moderate alcohol use. Hypertension and the Elderly: Research shows that half of the persons of age 65 and over, will have hypertension. In many cases there is a isolated systolic hypertension or ISH (only the systolic blood pressure is elevated) but the diastolic pressure remain normal. This increases the risk of stroke and other conditions. Hypertension & Botanicals: There are several dietary supplements (botanicals) that can have a positive effect in lowering high blood pressure. |