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High Blood Pressure
What is Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure is also referred to as HBP, HTN and Hypertension. There are two numbers associated with your blood pressure. Your blood pressure is a measurement of the force of your blood as it flows pushing against the walls of your arteries. The top number of your blood pressure (systolic pressure) is a measurement of the pressure when your heart is at work and beats, pumping the blood. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) is a measurement of the falling pressure when your heart is resting between beats.
These two numbers are read as the systolic pressure above and the diastolic pressure below.
• 120/80 or lower is considered normal blood pressure
• 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure
• 120 and 139 for top number, or between 80 and 89 for bottom number is pre-hypertension which can be a pre-cursor to HBP
Your blood pressure is not static. It goes up and down depending on your activity. It is usually lowest during sleep and goes up as your activity increases. It can also go up in reaction to stress and excitement.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
The problem with high blood pressure is that for most people there are no obvious symptoms, which is why it has been called the “silent killer”. But, hypertension has been related to strokes, heart failure, heart attacks and kidney failure.
Without obvious symptoms it is possible for high blood pressure to continue unchecked for many years. So, finding out if you have high blood pressure and then taking appropriate steps to keep it under control are important to your overall health.
Only your doctor can tell you whether you have high blood pressure. Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days before deciding that you have high blood pressure. A diagnosis of high blood pressure is given if Preventing High Blood Pressure
Can High Blood Pressure Be Prevented?
Many health problems people face can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices. To decrease the likelihood that you will develop high blood pressure you can take some simple steps:
• Stay physically active
• Eat healthy by limiting salt and focus your diet on vegetables, fruit and low fat foods.
• Take care to quit smoking and only drink in moderation
• Maintain a healthy body weight
Types of Drugs Prescribed to Lower Blood Pressure
One of the problems with taking medications for high blood pressure is that some of them can cause serious side effects in some people. Always consult your healthcare professional about the potential side effects of medications that are being prescribed for you and report any problems you are having. Never stop your medications without consulting your physician.
Diuretics
Beta-blockers
ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Alpha blockers
Combined alpha and beta blockers
Central agonists
Peripheral adrenergic inhibitors
Blood vessel dilators
Natural Treatment for High Blood Pressure
Now, the breakthrough in consumer electronics has made another choice available to you to help you lower your blood pressure. An FDA cleared biofeedback device called the RESPeRATE that you can use at home can lower your blood pressure by up to 36 points systolic, 20 points diastolic (top 10% reductions), with average reductions of 14/8 points. Research has proven that you can lower your blood pressure by learning how to pace your breathing. The question if you are breathing all the time without effort how come you can just slow your breathing down on your own? Any breathing technique you use like counting your breaths, reciting a mantra or consciously trying to slow your breathing all require effort. And if you have never meditated or tried to control your breathing you will find that it is difficult to do on your own.
Slow, effortless breathing is what is required to lower blood pressure. So, the RESPeRATE was created to guide you in that process. The RESPeRATE has a sensor attached to a strap that you place over your abdomen which automatically evaluates your normal breathing pattern and creates a melody which guides your inhalation and exhalation.
You use your body’s natural ability to regulate itself to an external rhythm allowing you to simply synchronize your breathing rate to the tones you are hearing through the personal headphones. The RESPeRATE is an elegant, affordable device that you can use even while on your present medications. |
