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Managing High Blood Pressure Medically & Naturally |
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Written by Tom Parker
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High blood pressure is a very serious condition. However, provided it is diagnosed early it can be managed in a number of ways. In this article I outline how improving your diet, improving your lifestyle and using herbal remedies can help you manage high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a very serious disease which can cause large amounts of damage to your body's vital organs. The first step is to diagnose whether or not you have high blood pressure. Although there are a number of signs you can look out for, the quickest and most accurate method is to go and see your doctor and get tested for high blood pressure. If this reveals that you do have high blood pressure the next step is to go about managing your condition.
The first step to combatting high blood pressure is by taking the appropriate prescription medication which your doctor recommends. Anti-hypertensive drugs are often prescribed to help reduce high blood pressure, often alongside alpha blockers and beta blockers. In emergency situations medication may be prescribed that lowers blood pressure suddenly, but this practice is very dangerous. Before you even consider taking any medication be sure to consult a trained doctor and seek advice.
Apart from medication there are a number of other solutions to high blood pressure. Improving your diet can help reduce blood pressure. A poor diet leads to the insides of your veins and arteries being coated in a layer of fat which increases the pressure of your blood. Eating more fruit and vegetables will help because they are high in fibre and contain lots of vitamins and minerals. High blood pressure can also be caused by chronic dehydration and as many of us know alcohol causes dehydration (hence why you often want another beer, then another beer etc). Therefore, drinking lots of water and reducing your alcohol intake will help keep you hydrated and reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Although it is a good idea to make positive changes to your diet, this is best done under the supervision of a trained dietician or your doctor. Make sure you consult with them before making any drastic changes to your diet.
Improving your lifestyle will also help lower your blood pressure. A daily exercise routine and/or yoga routine should help reduce your body fat and therefore lower your blood pressure. Before embarking on an exercise routine you take the advice of a personal trainer and have them forumlate an exercise plan for you. If you smoke, cutting down can yield positive results. Smoking releases chemicals into your body which make your blood vessels sticky and causes fatty deposits to collect in the arteries. Furthermore, smoking can cause your arteries and veins to shrink which will increase your blood pressure.
You can also try natural remedies which include aromatherapy, herbs and yoga. With aromatherapy you should choose oils which have a soothing effect and relax your muscles including rose, lavender and cypress. There are also a number of herbs which can help reduce your blood pressure including stinging nettles and lemon balm. Finally, yoga may help you relax and therefore lower your blood pressure.
In conclusion, you should first seek the advice of your doctor before attempting to treat your high blood pressure. If medication is required then they will let you know. However, making improvements to your diet and lifestyle, or even trying some natural remedies can assist you greatly in combatting high blood pressure.
You can find more great information on High Blood Pressure and how to treat it by heading over to http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/
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Last Updated ( Jan 20, 2008 at 10:52 PM )
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