We are obsessed with cholesterol nowadays and with a good reason. It plays a major role in developing conditions that lead to cardiovascular diseases, from heart attack to stroke. Nobody needs to be reminded how deadly these illnesses have become in a modern world, with governments intent on preventing a lifestyle that takes us down that path. Health care systems record ever increasing numbers of fatalities and hospital stays related to disorders that stem from inadequate blood circulation. And since cholesterol is at the center of the processes that accumulate into heart attack or stroke, medical professionals and patients have turned to solutions that promise to tackle it head on.

Niacin might not be a magical cure that saves our civilization, but it is tiny little vitamin that is worth looking at for people who are interested in more natural ways of meting out a blow to their cholesterol levels. Also known as vitamin B3, it has been effective not only in reducing the amount of bad cholesterol but also raising the level of the so-called good cholesterol, or HDL. Its effect on helping clear out plaque from the arteries is exactly what is needed to give patients an effective treatment. It is by clogging these blood transporting channels that cholesterol contributes to the breakdown of the system and its undesirable consequences. Niacin has been shown to have a role in slowing down or stopping these processes.

Some people suggested that taking niacin together with statin, another substance that has cholesterol-lowering quality, might produce an even better result. A study that was designed to test this hypothesis in scientific conditions proved the proponents of this treatment wrong. Apart from increasing the complexity and costs of the therapy, subjects who took both substances were at a greater danger, albeit marginally, of suffering from a stroke than those who only consumed niacin. The conclusion was that treatments need to be simplified.

Conventional doctors have warmed up to vitamin B3 as a way to target high cholesterol, but some reservation remained. First, if taken in large doses and for an extended period of time, it can be toxic to a human body. It requires care and caution from patients, even though it is a diet supplement and sold without a prescription anywhere. Second, it has produced mild side effects even when taken in moderation, resulting in symptoms such as hot flushes, nausea and queasiness. Unfortunately, quite a lot of patients have complained about this sort of reactions. There is also something possibly much more important, which has to do with a patient psychology more than treatment effectiveness or safety. Niacin might be seen as a replacement for changes in lifestyle that are necessary to avert unwanted consequences of cardiovascular problems. Taking a pill looks like a much less complex activity in comparison to eating better food, doing regular exercise or quitting smoking and other destructive habits. Its availability as a diet supplement also creates an urge to circumvent medical advice, which is never a good idea.

Managing our high blood pressure is challenging, especially for those who are recently diagnosed as having hypertension. We must accept that there is no “cure” for our condition. That means stepping up to the challenge of managing our condition. Where should we start? The starting point may surprise you.It is….

Accepting responsibility

For very many of us, we are used to visiting our doctor’s office or the pharmacy to get a cure for our ailment. We have abdicated responsibility for our treatment to the physician and pharmacist. Our health is too important to do that, we must be responsible for our health and that includes managing our high blood pressure. I say “managing” our condition because there is no cure for hypertension only management. That means we must…

Modify our diet

We have all heard and read the healthy eating advice. Now is the time to put that advice into practice. In doing so, we are going to have to change our dietary habits, which will take time. Some diet companies say it can take as long as 38 days to permanently change our eating habits. So, do not try to build Rome in a day. The dietary advice is simple:

• reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. Work towards cutting out additional salt altogether
  cut down on the high fat highly processed foods and snack foods
• eat a variety of fruits and vegetables of all colours
• choose lean white meat instead of fatty red meats
• eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of white fish, the other being an oily fish
• grill, bake or poach your food in preference to frying
• cut back on sodas and caffeinated drinks and try to drink about two litres of water a day

Having a healthy balanced diet is a great start to managing our high blood pressure, but we need to do more….

Get active

Building physical activities into your daily schedule is the best way to take exercise. Walking is the most natural form of exercise. Walk a little bit further and a little bit faster than you normally do. Do this for at least thirty minutes in total every day. Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. These simple forms of exercise are very effective at helping to lower your high blood pressure.

As a natural consequence of having a healthy balanced diet and being more physically active, you will…

Lose weight

Being overweight contributes to our hypertension and can also lead to the development of life threatening conditions, particularly if associated with a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. Losing excess weight is an effective way of reducing our hypertension.

Reduce alcohol consumption

There is a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol we consume and our blood pressure. Although there may be some health benefits in moderate alcohol consumption, the more we drink, the higher is our hypertension. Sticking within the recommended weekly consumption guidelines will help to manage our condition within safe limits. We must also…

Quit smoking

There are many general health benefits to quitting smoking. Although smoking tobacco products does not directly cause our hypertension, indirectly it does make a significant contribution. Few people can give up instantly, most need to be weaned off “the weed” over a period of time. The beneficial effects of doing so for managing our high blood pressure are worth the effort.

Monitor your condition

When it comes to managing hypertension studies have shown that those who regularly monitor their blood pressure at home do a better job of it than those who do not. You should keep a record of the readings you take and show them to your doctor. This will help him or her make a more informed clinical judgment about your condition.

Modifying your lifestyle as suggested above is the key to effective management of your high blood pressure.

Hypertension is a medical condition that affects many individuals; apart from conventional medication people have sought alternative medication to help lower blood pressure levels. Some of these include natural remedies, herbal medication and alternative treatments.

Today alternative treatments for various diseases, apart from conventional medication have become popular among many. There is interest nowadays for alternative treatments to lower blood pressure. This trend is understandable, since many regular medicine used to lower pressure posses side effects that are undesirable. Some of the side effects include allergic reactions, nausea, impaired judgment and sleepiness which in some cases have resulted to life threatening accidents.

Most alternative treatments used to lower blood pressure cure this condition without a person experiencing the unwanted effects. Many people will not see symptoms which suggest they are suffering from hypertension, the condition manifests itself initially quiet unnoticed. Too much stress can result to hypertension; however, tension, anxiety and stress are not similar to hypertension. An individual is diagnosed by a doctor when their blood pressure is above 240 mmHg, at the same time blood pressure diastolic may rise above 120mmHg. When these finding’s are diagnosed, then it leaves no doubt.

When an individual suffers from symptoms like regular headaches, he may be suffering from malignant hypertension, which can result to various health problems including heart attacks, kidney failure. If a patient is suffering from diabetes, high or low blood pressure can cause serious problems to them. The reason for this can attributed to the fact that diabetes usually weakens the arteries and heart walls, in this case, hypertension can lead to more complications which are fatal.

Hypertension can not be said to be an illness by itself, but can progress to serious organ damage. If the patient does not lower blood pressure to controllable levels they are at risk to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease and eye sight problems. In pregnancy hypertension cannot be ignore since if brings about complications to the pregnancy and can even cause a miscarriage.

There several things a patient can do to reduce pressure of blood, for one they should change their lifestyles.

For patients who are fat:

• They need to begin exercising regularly.
• Avoid using excess salts in their diets.
• Consume plenty of green vegetables and fruits.
• They should try taking up yoga and eliminate all sources of stress from their lives.
• If your job is too stressful think of switching to a less stressful job and moving to a less noisy neighborhood.

It is very possible to reduce pressure of blood without the use of pharmacological medicines. For example, a lot of patients have found more relief through using hawthorn. Research has revealed that many patients suffering from type two diabetes who have used hawthorn for about sixteen weeks showed a significant lowering in their DBP.

Alternative treatment used to lower pressure of blood is popular, but be warned it can be more harmful if ignorantly done. To lower blood pressure using herbal medicine is not safe when used by amateurs. So seek more information before deciding on alternative medication to lower blood pressure.

High blood pressure is one of the most serious risk factors for coronary disease, kidney disease, stroke and heart attacks. It has no symptoms of its own, earning it the nickname of the “silent killer.” Treating hypertension has become a multi-billion dollar a year industry, headed up by pharmaceutical companies that offer expensive pills and medications with serious side effects. In many cases, hypertension can be controlled naturally through lifestyle changes, diet and natural supplements.

Managing your blood pressure naturally requires a commitment to healthier living, which is more difficult – but in the end far healthier and more effective – than taking a daily pill for the rest of your life. If you’ve been prescribed medication for hypertension by a doctor, be sure to keep taking it and discuss what you’re doing with your doctor so that he can keep an eye on things and re-evaluate your need for medication on a regular basis. For some people, even adopting healthy habits and abandoning unhealthy ones won’t be enough to bring hypertension back to normal. Many others, though, find ways to manage blood pressure naturally without the use of medication with all of its side effects.

1. Exercise regularly to help lower blood pressure naturally.

Regular activity is one of the best ways to lower your pressure naturally. Exercise is effective in lowering pressure because it helps release nitric oxide, a substance that helps keep your blood vessels open. When you exercise, your heart pumps more blood through your veins, which stimulates the endothelial layer – the inner surface of your blood vessels – to produce more nitric oxide, which in turn keeps the blood flowing through your veins by keeping them wider and more able to carry more blood through your veins.

2. Substitute plant sterols for higher cholesterol animal fats.

Plant sterols are naturally found in nuts, beans, vegetables and whole grains – in essence, they are plant-based fats. Unlike cholesterol, fat from animal sources, plant sterols and stanols seem to help increase the good cholesterol in your blood, which helps lead to lower pressure naturally. Many herbal supplements include plant sterols along with other herbal substances that help lower your blood pressure.

3. Cut back on the amount of salt you use.

Sodium has been implicated in hypertension. One of the most important ways to lower blood pressure is to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet.

4. Eat a heart healthy diet.

Grains, vegetables, legumes, nuts and fruits are another natural way to lower your blood pressure. They contain substances that support the functions of your heart, liver, kidneys and digestive system, making them more efficient at using nutrients and disposing of waste, thus lowering blood pressure by reducing cholesterol and plaque buildup in your veins.

5. Take support supplements.

There are many dietary supplements on the market that help support your efforts to lower your pressure. They can be a valuable way of adding support nutrients to your daily intake. Talk to your doctor about which ingredients in herbal supplements can help lower your blood pressure naturally – and be sure to let him know about anything that you take so that he can monitor your blood pressure and adjust your medication if needed.

People want to know why their blood pressure is still high when they are on blood pressure medication. Many think that just taking blood pressure medication will fix the problem. Sometimes, maybe it does. However, if you stop taking the medication, usually the blood pressure goes back up. The problem isn’t fixed. Medications treat the symptoms and not the cause of high blood pressure. Too much sodium in the diet is one of the major causes of high blood pressure. This is why the doctor almost always recommends a low sodium diet to patients with high blood pressure or hypertension. You will need to lower your daily sodium intake to help lower your blood pressure naturally.

What is a low sodium diet?

A low sodium diet is limiting your daily sodium intake to 2000 mg (milligrams) of sodium or less per day. This is easier to accomplish if you know where most of the sodium comes from. Salt is the major source of sodium.

Salt is sodium chloride and is the main source of sodium in our diet. One teaspoon of salt is almost 2400 mg of sodium. In just one teaspoon of salt per day, you can easily go over your sodium allowed for the whole day.

Measure out a teaspoon of salt in your hand so you can see just how little a teaspoon of salt really is. For many this is a wake-up call. Most don’t measure salt, they just shake it on, not having a clue as to how much sodium they are really getting on a daily basis. This isn’t counting all the sodium in the other foods or meals for the day. When preparing meals, most cooks never measure salt. They just guess as they can always add more if needed. Over the years this can add up to more sodium than they realize.

There are 2 major sources of salt in the diet:

• Salt from the salt shaker.
• Salt from processed food.

The first step for a low sodium diet is to get the salt shaker off the table. Don’t cook with salt. Forget about using salt, period. It’s not easy but necessary for your health.

The second step is to eliminate processed food. Simply, think of processed food as any food that man has made. Actually, this is where most of the sodium in today’s diet comes from. Canned foods, (like soups and vegetables), boxed foods, (like quick dinners, cereals, crackers), condiments, frozen foods, deli meats or (any deli foods including salads), salad dressings, cheese, breads, snack foods pretty much all fast food and surprise, almost all low fat food is high in sodium. This list is just to give you an idea of where most of your daily sodium comes from. Even if you don’t use the salt shaker, there is so much sodium in processed food, it is easy to go over the daily sodium intake allowed.

So now what do you do?

You have gotten rid of the salt shaker, processed food, fast food, not eating out in restaurants (at least not often) and now you need to take the next step. You must learn to prepare your food from scratch. Prepare fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, fresh meats, etc.

Learn to season your food. Seasonings can also be a problem. Most folks don’t think of seasonings as being high in sodium, but most are very high in sodium. The first ingredient is usually salt and some seasonings can be almost as high in sodium as salt. Shop for salt-free seasonings and a salt substitute. Find seasonings that you like and use them. Be generous to increase flavor. This is important to enjoy a flavorful low sodium diet.

Lowering your daily sodium intake will help lower your blood pressure naturally.

A lot of people wonder what high blood pressure is. This question is no longer just limited to older people, as even the younger generation have started expressing their concern regarding this condition. Those with parents or relatives who have suffered from strokes and other heart problems realize the need to find out the causes of these health problems. Since inconsistencies in one’s blood pressure can lead to these problems, it is necessary to find out what exactly it constitutes.

A person’s BP essentially refers to the amount of pressure that the blood exerts as it flows through the veins for each time the heart beats. It is imperative that the flow of blood throughout the whole body be regulated, lest the arteries burst as a result of increased blood flow. When this force increases, a person becomes more prone to certain heart conditions. High BP is basically the condition wherein the heart pumps too much blood, beyond what the arteries are capable of accommodating. The normal blood pressure for an average person is 120 over 80. Anything above the numbers provided would mean that you are suffering from high blood pressure. It would be best to consult with your doctor in the event that you find out that yours is higher than it should be.

It is imperative for everyone to know what constitutes high BP, especially since no one is exempted for being at risk of suffering from heart problems and other health conditions that may be a direct result of it. If you want to save yourself from having to deal with any heart problems in the future, it is best to keep a close eye on your blood pressure. Those who are suffering from heart problems typically do so due to the lifestyle they have. The food you eat can have such a huge impact on your BP. If you eat food with very high levels of cholesterol, you are increasing your chances of suffering from such heart conditions. If you want to regulate your BP, then you should employ a sensible diet. Avoid eating too much foods that are high in fat and bad cholesterol. If you are already suffering from high BP, then it becomes even more imperative to be particular about the food you eat, especially if you don’t want the condition to escalate into something worse.

If you know what constitutes high blood pressure, including its major causes, it would be a whole lot easier for you to prevent it, as you can easily change your lifestyle. Being conscious of it will make it easier for you to avoid any health problems and other health conditions in the future. While it is a common notion that only older people suffer from high BP, everyone is actually at risk. In fact, some people have started suffering from high BP early on in life. If you want to protect yourself or if you want to find out if you are showing any signs of high BP, then you should start conducting tests for yourself. It is best to know as much as you can about the condition if you want to avoid it later on in life. You can conduct some research online to find out more or ask your doctor about it. Make it a point have an annual general checkup so that you can keep track of your health. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being conscious about your health if it means detecting high blood pressure before it is too late.

Nowadays, a lot of people are facing the problems of high blood pressure and hypertension. Perhaps, this is because of the fast-paced life and the all-round competition that is prevalent now. The stress caused due to such a competitive environment and a wrong lifestyle consisting of injudicious eating and lack of exercises may result in high blood pressure.

You should first understand that blood pressure is not a disease but is a lifestyle problem. This can cause many serious problems like heart ailments, etc. So, it is necessary that you should make a few changes in your lifestyle to avoid getting it or if you have already been affected by it, to bring it under control.

But, before that, you should know what high blood pressure is. When your blood-carrying arteries do not allow blood to flow smoothly, your heart is forced to work harder or exert more pressure to pump blood to all the parts of the body. This is what is called high blood pressure.

– The first thing you should do is to watch your diet. You should switch to a nutritious diet regimen. Fresh fruits, salads, foods made with whole grains and cereals should find more space on your platter than other unhealthy foods. If you are a meat-eater, you must choose only low fat meat. Most importantly, you must reduce your salt intake because salt has been found to increase blood pressure. You must also reduce drinking of alcoholic beverages, coffee, etc. because they may raise your blood pressure if you consume them more. Smoking is another habit that may cause immense damage to the arteries.

– You must take all steps to maintain the right body weight. Overweight and obesity are the main causes for high blood pressure. By following judicious diet and exercise regimens, you can guard against overweight and obesity. If you are already having high blood pressure, you should consult your physician because you may not be allowed to do certain intensive exercises. Most probably, you will be advised to go for a normal walk daily for about 30 to 45 minutes. Keeping your blood pressure under control is as important as burning your calories. You should strike a balance and choose the most appropriate exercises.

– You should have sufficient sleep during the nights. It has been proved that people who are not able to have a good night’s sleep are more likely to be affected by this problem. Even if you are not able to sleep, you should lie down, close your eyes, relax and rest. This will do a world of good to your health.

– Stress and anxiety are great enemies to high blood pressure. You should learn to manage your stress levels. Yoga, meditation and deep breathing may help you to bring your stress levels under control. In most of the cases, anxiety is caused due to a feeling of insecurity. You must learn to analyze things in the proper perspective. For tackling your anxiety, you should learn the technique of acceptance. This means, whenever you face a problem, you should be prepared to face the worst and try to improve upon the situation by taking appropriate action. If you can change the outcome, you should work towards it. If you have no control over the outcome, you should do your best and stop worrying.

The above tips may help you to keep your blood pressure at the right levels. They will also help you to maintain good health even if you already have the problem.

Diastolic blood pressure is the lower reading that you get when you take somebody’s BP. It is usually measured in ranges, depending on the individual’s age, sex, position and sometimes health condition.

It is the rhythmic expansion of the chambers of the heart at each heartbeat, during which they fill with blood. Ideally, the Diastolic pressure for a young adult should be around 60 – 85 mmHg, with 90 mmHg considered as borderline.

The reading could get a little higher as the individual’s age increases. This means that the diastolic blood pressure of a man of 60 years and above should be higher than that of a 40 year old, though the variation should not be too much.

High diastolic blood pressure occurs when the reading goes above 90mmHg and remains sustained on repeated checks. When the reading for a man of 40 years goes up to 95 or 100 and above, we can say that the reading is high.

In other word, with the elevated BP we can say that the individual has diastolic hypertension. The difference between this and primary hypertension is that there is a noticeable change in the walls and inside of the arteries in diastolic hypertension.

When the reading is high, and with the changes in the walls of the vessels, the individual is at risk. With such a high reading, the individual could be at the risk of developing a stroke or he could suffer from heart attack. Everything has to be done to prevent a further rise; and also to reduce the already elevated pressure to an acceptable level.

The individual should see the doctor who would in turn prescribe drugs that would help lower the elevated blood pressure. The prescribed drug regimen must be strictly followed if one hopes to get a positive result.

Other ways to lower it also include using a planned programme of exercise and controlled diet to improve the heart and the condition of the blood vessels. Some of the drugs would help to dilate the vessels, while others help to relax the vessels and reduce the frequency of the heart beats.

Certain diets are withdrawn to reduce the rate with which fats are deposited on the walls of the arteries and veins. With the combined therapy, it is easier to lower the elevated blood pressure and the individual could lead a normal life again and without much stress.

Oftentimes we are concerned with the feasibility of exercising when suffering from an ailment. For patients of high blood pressure (hypertension) this is of even greater concern, with questions surrounding their body’s ability to endure the rigors of this increased activity and the wisdom of subjecting it to this additional pressure. This need not be of concern. In fact if you’re suffering from high blood pressure, moderate to medium exercise can be one of the most effective ways of controlling it. Consider that the heart is a muscle and similar to all other muscles, it maintains or increases strength with regular activity and loses its elasticity with inactivity and age. Exercise not only improves your cardiovascular system but can help in lowering your cholesterol and maintaining a healthy body weight, both of which are contributors to hypertension.

Although it is unclear as to exactly how exercise contributes to a lowering of high blood pressure, one of the prevailing theories is that exercise (aerobic) reduces insulin and insulin resistance, two of the factors associated with the development of hypertension. It’s also undeniable that regular physical activity strengthens the heart, the stronger the heart the lower the amount of effort needed to pump blood thus decreasing the strain on your arteries and lowering your blood pressure. Research has continuously shown that cardiovascular diseases are more prevalent among those individuals who are least fit, with hypertension being 30% to 50% more likely to occur.

Exercise programs are slotted into two distinct categories: Aerobic and Anaerobic. Aerobic exercise strengthens and enlarges the heart muscle along with the muscles of the respiratory system. The end result being that your cardiovascular system is strengthened, while your stamina and overall strength is increased. The decrease in your heart rate will, by extension lead to a decrease in your blood pressure over time. Anaerobic exercise on the other hand is useful in building: strength, muscle mass and speed, while also increasing the metabolic rate and is deemed to be more beneficial to athletes.

All physical activity which increases your heart and breathing rate can be considered aerobic, including such everyday activities as: bicycling, walking, dancing, climbing the stairs, mowing the lawn, raking leaves etc. More formal and structured forms of exercise include: basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis and racquetball among others. These types of activities are suggested for persons who would be more comfortable in participating in team activities or who may benefit from the support and encouragement of others. Yoga, Tai Chi chuan or any other form of martial arts could also be beneficial. For the patients of high blood pressure (hypertension) it’s important to remember that the aim is to participate in moderate forms of exercise. Moderate implies that you must exert yourself a little without getting too out of breath.

Your choice of exercise should be one which you like to do and can be incorporated into your daily routine without too much difficulty. Doing so would insure its longevity. Varying your exercise regimen will also help in breaking the monotony and encourage you to continue. An adequate exercise regimen should consist of at least thirty (30) minutes of exercise three to five times a week, at least every other day. An alternative method as suggested by the Surgeon General is that “all adults should accumulate 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, if not all days of the week. The key words are “accumulate” and “moderate-intensity.” Accumulate means that you can do 10-15 minutes at a time and repeat that a couple of times throughout the day; for example, 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes at lunch, and 10 minutes around dinner. Moderate intensity is equivalent to feeling “warm and slightly out of breath” when you do it.”

The natural aging process increases the chances of getting high blood pressure but participating in some form of exercise can reduce this risk. A single workout may reduce your blood pressure for the whole day and exercising regularly, consistently keeps the pressure down. It’s a personal choice as to what type of exercise one should follow but whatever type you choose you should first consult your doctor and get his/her recommendations, particularly if you are taking medication for high blood pressure. Self monitoring (heart rate monitor) during exercise is also advised. If there’s discomfort in the chest, jaw or arm or you experience dizziness or severe shortage of breath, stop all exercises immediately and notify your doctor, if these symptoms persist call 911.

Foods for High Blood Pressure are commonly found in your kitchen. Hypertension is an illness that needs full attention. High blood pressure is caused by abnormal blood circulation that can block your arteries resulting to heart attack or stroke. Most people who are suffering from hypertension are not aware of its consequences and how to treat them. So if your blood pressure reached more than 140/90, then start paying full attention to this article. Hypertension can take your life instantly if you don’t follow a healthy diet.

Most doctors prescribe drugs that can be purchased online or your local drug stores to treat hypertension. But most people suffering from hypertension gave up on the idea of taking hypertension medicines due to lack of budget. There is no better way to treat hypertension but in a safe and natural way.

You may be surprise that you may already have the remedies or foods for hypertension. There is no need to worry about spending good amount of money for medicines.

Garlic
As surprising at it may sound, a common ingredient that we normally store in our kitchen and mix with our foods can actually treat high blood pressure. Garlic contains adenosine which helps relax our muscles. Both cooked and raw garlic benefits to this disorder. But raw garlic is more effective and works quicker compared to the cooked ones. It is also beneficial to those with weight problems for garlic have substances that helps reduces our cholesterol levels. To be able to take advantage of its benefit, take two tablespoons of garlic juice every day. Don’t worry about its smell; drinking garlic juice does not result to body odor.

Fruits and vegetables
Fresh Fruits and veggies also have properties that are helpful to people with abnormal blood pressure. According to researches, dieters who are following a vegetarian lifestyle have lower blood pressure. A fruit that contains vitamin C, potassium and fiber helps treat hypertension. One effective food for hypertension is by eating papaya with an empty stomach two hours before breakfast or any sold foods.

Potassium
Scientific studies have proven that people suffering with hypertension are the ones who are lacking in potassium. Potassium foods can help lower blood pressure. Foods that are rich in potassium are watermelons, tomatoes, oranges, spinach, milk, almonds, soya beans and banana. Sufficient intakes of potassium promote good blood flow.

Calcium
Researchers believe that another cause of hypertension is lacking of calcium. Calcium foods can be found in leafy veggies, spinach, Milk, etc.

Fish
Fish oils help maintain blood pressure. Regular consumption of fish will surely lessen your regular dose of medicines.

Hypertension or high blood pressure as it is also known is a condition that raises the pressure of the blood in the arteries. It is a condition that many people have. It is also been given the name as the silent killer as many people who have the condition are not even aware that they have it.

The affect that hypertension has on the body can be compared to a garden hose. For example, if you turn on the water and then squeeze the hose this will have the affect of causing the water to build up and create pressure. Hypertension can have the same affect on our arteries. If the condition is not identified and treated it can lead to a host of health complications.

There are many direct and indirect factors that lead to people getting hypertension. These include heredity factors where the condition runs in the family. Other causes can be linked to lifestyle factors such as being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking too much alcohol and not taking enough physical exercise. There can also be underlying health conditions such as constricting arteries or kidney disease.
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One way you can reduce the risk or control the condition is make positive changes to your lifestyle. These can include eating a healthier diet, cutting out smoking and drinking alcohol within the recommended levels. However, your emotional and mental state can also have a direct affect on the heart and conditions such as hypertension can have a serious impact. As part of a healthy lifestyle you can consider introducing exercises that help calm and relax your physical and emotional state. Two exercises that can help you with this are as follows:

Yoga:

Yoga involves many exercises that include stretching, breathing and meditation. Through these many exercises and poses you will help improve the bodies mobility and flexibility. Certain poses help to strengthen your muscles and back. The deep breathing helps to improve your cardiovascular health as well as calming and relaxing the mind. There are many forms of yoga. It is recommended that people at risk or who already have hyper tension avoid the more rigorous types of yoga and opt for the more relaxed ones.

Tai Chi:

This is a well known Chinese exercise that involves slow movement of the body in co-ordination with controlled breathing. It can help improve your flexibility and strength especially for the elderly. However, all ages groups can benefit from Tai chi. It has also meditative qualities that help relax and calm the body and mind.

If you have a medical condition always consult with your doctor first to ensure you are fit enough.

Everyone talks about hypertension. Many individuals, groups, communities, health Organizations and other bodies have shown concern and even written about Hypertension. Statistics shows that approximately 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure and this number is expected to increase to 1.56 billion people by the year 2025. That translates to about 1 out of every 4 Adults being afflicted with hypertension. In fact in the United States, recent estimates show that nearly one in three U.S Adults has high blood pressure and because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don’t know they have it. Unfortunately, many may have it for years without even knowing. With this alarming statistics, you will not hesitate to agree with me that there is a call for concern for individuals and groups to treat this case with all seriousness.

Hypertension simply means high blood pressure and in Medical terms a blood pressure of 140/90 is considered hypertension; where 140 is the systolic measurement and 90 represents its diastolic measurement. A person with hypertension has no explicit symptoms and that is why more than 30% of Individuals do not eve know they have it, which makes it even more dangerous and considered a Silent Killer. Nevertheless, extremely high blood pressure may lead to some symptoms such as Fatigue, dizziness, confusion (sometimes), Nausea, severe headaches, problems with vision, breathing disorders, irregular heartbeat. And in very severe cases, you can find blood in Urine after Laboratory analysis.

Causes
The causes of hypertension could be classified into:

1. Primary causes. These are the major risk factors of hypertension in which, even the secondary causes emerge from. These are,
• Fast paced lifestyle leading to Unhealthy diets.
• Lack of exercise
• Tobacco smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Alcohol consumption
• Stress

Under this category, we could have a physiological risk factor or cause of hypertension which is Age. An ageing Individual has more risk of getting hypertension than a younger one.

2. Secondary causes. These are causes due to the primary causes, most of which results from Tobaccos smoking and unhealthy diets. They include:
• Coronary heart diseases
• Stroke
• Atherosclerosis
• Arteriosclerosis
• Cancer
• Pneumonia
• Diabetes
• Renal failure
• Tumors
• Birth control pills
• High salt intake
• Injury/trauma
• Adrenal and thyroid problems
• Insufficient calcium potassium and magnesium consumption
• Vitamin D deficiency.

Due to its asymptomatic nature, hypertension cannot be clearly diagnosed unless if severe. Hence, a constant check of blood pressure should be done on a regular basis. Also, the more an individual is aging, the more the frequency of checking. The Sphygmomanometer is used to check for blood pressure. You need not wait until it gets to 140/90 before you conclude you have hypertension. Blood pressure between 120/80 to 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to indicate an increased risk of hypertension) and if you begin to discover such range in values reoccurring, then you will have to see a Doctor.

Treatment
Basically, drugs are used as well as a gradual change in Lifestyle. The major drugs used for the treatment of hypertension are as follows:
• Diuretics (furosemid, dichlothiazid, spironolacton).
• Inhibitors of Angiotensin converting Enzyme (captopril, enalapril, ramipril).
• Antagonists of angiotensin II receptors. For example Losartan.
• B-adrenoblockers (anaprilin, atenolol, thymolol).
• A-adrenoblockers (Labetolol, Carvedilol).
• A-, B-adrenorblockers (prasosine, terasosine).
• Calcium ions antagonists (niphedipine, amlodipine, Verapamil).
• Agonists of A2-adrenoreceptors of central action (clopheline, methyldopa).
• Sympatholytics (reserpin, Octadin).
• Direct vasodilators (molsidomin, hydralasin).
• Imidasolines (moxonidine, rilmenidine).
• Serotonin receptors blockers, for example Ketanserin.
• Monateril (calcium antagonists, A2-adrenoblockers).

So much drugs for hypertension huh! Do not worry about which drugs to use and how to use them. Leave that to the Doctor.

Prevention and conclusion
It is appalling to know that almost 90% of the causes of hypertension are due to our life style. This simply means, the power to reduce the occurrence of hypertension lies in our hands. Is there any need to list the ways of prevention? Glance through the already aforementioned causes once more and then deduce their direct opposites-and that would be the preventive methods of hypertension. Maintain a healthy Life to not just live or exist but to live well.