Hypertension: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Dietary Suggestions
A practical definition of hypertension is the level of BP at which the benefits of treatment outweigh the costs and hazards. Many factors may contribute to its development including renal dysfunction, peripheral resistance vessel tone, endothelial dysfunction, autonomic tone, insulin resistance and neurohumoral factors. There are two categories; systolic and diastolic. Optimal systolic BP is <120mmHg and optimal diastolic BP is <80mmHg. Normal systolic BP is <130 mmHg and normal diastolic BP is 85mmHg.
Important environmental factors include a high salt intake, heavy consumption of alcohol, obesity, lack of exercise and impaired intrauterine growth. There is a little evidence that stress causes hypertension.
SYMPTOMS
- High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Overtime, if untreated it can cause health conditions such as heart diseases and stroke.
- Early morning headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Irregular heart rhythms,
- Vision changes
- Buzzing in the ears.
- Severe hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain, and muscle tremors
Usefull Herbs:
- Amalaki
- Haridra
- Kutaki
- Vidang
- Pippali
- Motha
- Chitrak
- Patola
- Nimba
Arjuna
• Shows Hypolipidemic, Cardiotonic & Anti-oxidant properties.
Shuddha Guggul
• Shows Hypolipidemic properties and helps in reducing weight.
Triphala
• Acts as a mild Laxative & Improves Digestion.
• Improves circulation and has Cardio-tonic properties
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Herbal dietary supplements:
- Leafy greens- potassium helps your kidneys get rid of more sodium through your urine. Eg. Spinach, turnip greens, beet greens etc.
- Berries- esp. blueberries are rich in flavonoids which lower blood pressure. Strawberries and raspberries also help.
- Red beets- beets are rich in nitric oxide which help open your blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
- Skim milk and yoghurt- excellent source of calcium and is low in fat.
- Oatmeal- high fiber, low-fat, and low sodium.
- Bananas- rich in potassium.
- Seeds- unsalted seeds are rich in potassium, magnesium and other minerals.
- Garlic & herbs- contain nitric oxide which lowers BP.
Do’s:
- Get moving- 30-60 minutes of exercising is an important part of healthy living.
- DASH diet-
- eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Eating low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish and nuts.
- Eliminating foods that are high in saturated fats, such as processed foods, full fat dairy products and fatty meals.
- Put down the salt shaker- keeping your sodium intake to a minimum can be vital.
Don’ts:
- Cut back desserts and sweetened beverages, such as soda and juice.
- Avoid cigarette smoking.
- Limit alcohol.
- Stress less
