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High Blood Pressure
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The circulating blood within the human body exerts a force on the walls of the arteries and veins through which it travels, thus force the exerted by the blood on the walls of the veins and arteries in the body is known as blood pressure. The pressure generated is guided, controlled and regulated by a complex system involving may internal and vital organs such as the heart, the brain, the kidneys and the adrenal glands, of course the blood vessels, that is the veins and the arteries themselves play a large and important role in this regulation. Minute by minute fluctuation of the pressure in blood is not only possible; it is frequent and normally seen in all individuals. In a condition known medically as hypertension, this pressure does not climb down and remains high throughout the day, this is chronic hypertension and it is a serious condition in many people.
Two readings or numbers are used to record the blood pressure in an individual. When the heart contracts it is known as a systole, so a systolic pressure, which is the first number in a reading reflects the contraction of the heart and the sudden gush of oxygen laden blood into the arterial system for distribution to the tissues. When the heart relaxes or dilates, it is called a diastole, the diastolic pressure of blood, which is the lower number is thus a reflection of the relaxation or dilation of the heart. Using these two numbers, a normal range or pressure for most people has been calculated and thus in an average human adult, the systolic pressure is 120, and the diastolic is 80, this is written as 120/80, there is also a wide range around this two numbers and this numbers reflect only the usual blood pressure. During chronic conditions of hypertension however, the blood pressure averages very high systolic and diastolic ranges, thus a person can be said to be suffering from hypertension when the average blood pressure hovers around 140/90 or possibly higher, where two separate measurements have been undertaken.
The majority of sufferers from hypertension are afflicted with a type of raised blood pressure known as essential hypertension, this form occurs in an amazing 90% of afflicted patients, the underlying reason for the presence of hypertension in this case is unidentified. There are however some generalizations that can be made, gender is an important factor as a risk, for example men are more likely than women to develop hypertension. The other possible risk factors include any history of hypertension in the family, habits like smoking, medical conditions like obesity and a diet rich or abundant in sodium. As a demographic group African Americans are more prone compared to whites where the development of hypertension is concerned.
An immediate change in lifestyle and regular exercises are called for where a moderate condition of hypertension exist in an individual, which is in the ranges of 140 to 159 systolic and 90 to 99 diastolic in a person, such mild hypertension cases also require the consumption of supplements of calcium and magnesium by the patient. In those cases of people falling in blood pressure ranges above this mark, supplements must not be used on a self-prescribed basis and a doctor must be consulted under whose supervision the best means to combat hypertension will be planned.
The blood pressure reducing ability of the mineral calcium has been demonstrated in some studies conducted on patients. Because of its involvement and necessity in the contraction of muscular tissues, calcium forms an important part in the maintenance of blood vessels and the heart. The freer flow of blood is enabled because of the ability of another mineral supplement magnesium to relax the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels and thus aiding in their elasticity. Magnesium also engenders a much more positive effect on the blood pressure of an individual, by helping in the maintenance of two different essential mineral ions in the blood stream, namely the levels of sodium and potassium. When used as a supplement, the blood pressure in an individual is also effectively reduced through the actions of the mineral. Direct supplements of the mineral potassium are however largely not required, the simple expedient of including abundant fruits and vegetables in the diet is a sufficient and health giving measure in most patients.
After having used supplements of calcium and magnesium for about a month, should you find no changes in the blood pressure, abandon these mineral supplements, while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle, moreover in stead of these two minerals start supplementation using the vitamin C and the hawthorn herb as substitutes. The important role of both of these supplements is in that they increase the dilation of the blood vessels, that is they widen the veins and the arteries significantly. Another supplement to consider for use is the coenzyme Q10, this compound is essential in the maintenance of a normal blood pressure as an inadequate supply of this substance in the body is thought to be the cause behind blood pressure increases in more than a third of patients. Other supplements and products such as the oil of the flaxseed and a variety of fish oils contain the essential fatty acids in abundance and help in maintaining the circulatory system. Other supplements that can possibly help in this role are the amino acids. Utilized as a supplement, the amino acid taurine is believed to alleviate a high blood pressure through its action of normalizing the rise in nervous system activity accompanying hypertension in an individual. Elasticity and dilation of the blood vessels is another important role performed by the amino acid called arginine. To get the optimal results, these amino acids can be used combined along with a combination of other amino acids in an amino acid complex.
While monitoring the results carefully, a single month utilizing one of these homeopathic remedies at one dose on a daily basis will suffice in combating hypertension in the individual. The important thing to remember about any homeopathic medication is that where it induces a strong reaction from the patient or where it seems to having positive effects over some doses, the dosage must be stopped until symptoms reappear and require the use of the remedy again. This is so, because the positive effects of a single dose of one of these remedies may sufficiently suppress the symptoms of the disorder for several days to weeks in some cases.
One of the first steps in the alleviation of the condition is through exercises on a daily and regular basis; it is advisable to lose weight especially if you are obese. Blood pressure can increase in people even with a few extra pounds above their normal range or body type. The importance of regular and daily physical exertion cannot be overemphasized as an optimal strategy to combat hypertension; aerobic exercises or a daily walk must be included as positive factors for health. Include about ten servings of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, carefully follow and maintain dietary discipline, and include low-fat dairy products, the consumption of food items with a lot of salt or fat must be reduced or avoided altogether. As far as the more moderate form of hypertension is concerned a new study conducted on patients suggest that such careful dietary restriction can play even an alternative role or become positive and effective substitutes to prescription medications in terms of the treatment of hypertension in patients.
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