What Is
High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing
against the walls of the blood vessels as the heart pumps blood. If your blood
pressure rises and stays high over time, it’s called high blood pressure. High
blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard, and the
high force of the blood flow can harm arteries and organs such as the heart,
kidneys, brain, and eyes.
Systolic
Pressure and Diastolic Pressure
The pressure of blood against the artery
walls when your heart beats is called systolic pressure. The pressure between
beats when your heart relaxes is called diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure is always given as two
numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they
are written one above or before the other -- for example, 120/80 mmHg. The top,
or first, number is the systolic and the bottom, or second number, is the
diastolic. If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over
80."
Your blood pressure changes throughout the
day. It is usually lowest when you're asleep, and it rises when you awaken. It
also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. So it varies throughout
the day.
High
Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
A systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or
higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher, is considered high
blood pressure, or hypertension. Hypertension is the medical term for high
blood pressure.
If you have diabetes or chronic kidney
disease, your recommended blood pressure levels are a systolic blood pressure
of 130 mmHg or lower, and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or lower.
High blood pressure currently affects nearly
1 in every 3 American adults.
Usually
Has No Symptoms
High blood pressure is often called "the
silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. Occasionally, headaches
may occur. Some people may not find out they have high blood pressure until
they have trouble with their heart, kidneys, or eyes. When high blood pressure
is not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to other life-threatening conditions,
including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. It can also
lead to vision changes or blindness.
As Mention above Mostly, people suffering
from hypertension they discover no symptoms. That’s why, this disease is also
known as a “silent killer”. However, some of the symptoms are:
- Face turns red
- Pain within chest
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty in breathing
- Irregular heartbeats
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Nosebleeds
- Headache
High blood
pressure can be controlled to a great extent by using home remedies. Let’s take
a look at these natural remedies for hypertension.
Remedies
for High Blood Pressure
1. Grapes
Grape is a
multi-vitamin fruit, which is a rich source of potassium and phosphorus. Eating
grapes on the daily basis helps in reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
2. Banana
Banana
contains potassium in high amount. It is a rich source of vitamin B6, vitamin
C, and magnesium. If a banana is consumed every day, high blood pressure can be
controlled. Along with banana, raisins, dried apricot, currants, orange juice,
spinach, sweet potatoes (baked), and winter squash also works wonder.
3. Celery
(Ajmud)
Add celery
in your diet. If a blood pressure patient eats celery along with one glass of
water on a daily basis, the results will be surprising. Eating celery will
lower the chances of hypertension.
4. Onion
Juice
Mix ½ tsp
each of onion juice and honey. Take this mixture 2 times a day for 1-2 weeks.
You will notice a remarkable improvement in your blood pressure. You can also
eat a raw onion as a salad.
5. Honey
Take half
spoon of honey and add half spoon of onion juice in it. Mix it and take it
twice a day in order to avoid high blood pressure.
6. Garlic
Take two
cloves of garlic and smash it. Swallow it. You can also eat garlic in a cooked
form. Raw garlic improves the blood flow and reduces the pressure on the heart.
If you can’t
eat the raw garlic, here is what you can do. Take 1 tablespoon of water and add
a few drops of fresh garlic juice in it. Drink it twice a day.
7. Basil
Take fresh
basil juice and add equal quantity of honey to it. Mix both the ingredients.
Drink it every day in the morning on an empty stomach.
8.
Coconut Water
Coconut
water will help to keep the body hydrated. Drinking coconut water on the daily
basis can control the high blood pressure. Along with the coconut water,
replace your vegetable oil with coconut oil. This will help a lot.
9.
Fenugreek Seeds
Take 2
tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and boil them in hot water for a couple of
minutes. Then, strain them and make a fine paste. Take this paste in the
morning on an empty stomach and in the evening.
10.
Cayenne Pepper
As cayenne
pepper is very spicy, it should be taken in a very low quantity. A pinch of
cayenne pepper is enough to control the high blood pressure. You can add it on
the fruit salad or in soup.
11.
Watermelon Seeds
Take two
tablespoons of dried watermelon seeds and crush them. Now, boil 1 cup of water
and add these crushed seeds to it. Let it steep for like an hour and then,
strain it. Drink 4 tablespoons of this water, daily.
12. Lemon
Drink lemon
water, every day. This will decrease the level of hypertension.
Note- Don’t
add sugar or any external sweetener to the lemon water.
13. Poppy
Seeds
Take melon
seeds and poppy seeds in equal proportion and store them in a glass jar or a
container. Take 1 tablespoon of this mixture with water, every morning and evening.
14. Curry
Leaves
Take 25-30
curry leaves and make juice by adding 1 cup of water. Drink it in the morning.
If you can’t bear the taste, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to it.
15.
Ginger
Take honey,
ginger and cumin powder in an equal amount, and mix them well. Consume this
mixture twice a day.
16.
Pickle Juice
Take 2
tablespoons of dill pickle juice every day.
17. Water
Drink 8 oz.
of water on the daily basis. This will control the blood pressure along with
other diseases.
18.
Chocolate
Yes, this is
absolutely true! A piece of chocolate can help you in lowering down your blood
pressure.
19. Fruit
Smoothie
Take ½ cup
of blueberries or strawberries, 1 banana, 1 cup of pineapple juice and 1/3 cup
of soy milk (unsweetened). Blend them with the help of a blender. Drink this
fruity smoothie to lower down your blood pressure.
20. Acai
Berry Juice
Consume acai
berry juice, each day. After a few days, you will notice that your blood
pressure is under control. You will be able to sleep well, and feel more energetic.
21.
Coriander
Take a fresh
bunch of coriander and a bunch of celery along with the roots. Boil them
together in the water and strain. Replace your drinking water with this
coriander and celery water.
22. Olive
Oil
Use olive
oil in cooking and on salads.
23. Soda
Water
When you
feel like your blood pressure is high, try drinking a glass of soda water. This
will lower down the high blood pressure.
24. Brown
Rice
Eat brown
rice. This will prevent high blood pressure and lower down the risks of getting
heart attacks.
25.
Apples
Apple
provides so many benefits to our health. Apple is high in zinc, and one must
eat an apple a day to avoid hypertension. This is one of the effective natural
remedies to lower high blood pressure quickly.
26.
Copper Container
Put a glass
of water in a copper container and leave it overnight. Drink this first thing
in the morning.
27.
Papaya
Papaya is
rich in zinc, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and contains multi-vitamin. Eat
papaya in the morning. This will provide many health benefits along with
preventing high blood pressure.
Note- After
eating papaya, do not consume anything for 2 hours.
28.
Indian Lilac
Take 2
leaves of Indian lilac and 4 leaves of basil. Add 4 tablespoons of water and
grind the leaves. In the morning, consume it on an empty stomach, followed with
a glass of water. Regular use of this remedy will help in curing high blood
pressure.
29. Mint
Leaves
Two
tablespoons of dried mint leaves can be consumed in order to prevent high blood
pressure. You can also mix it in the lemon water or sprinkle on salads.
30.
Gooseberry
Take
gooseberry every morning with honey. Gooseberry will control the blood
pressure.
31.
Broccoli
The
consumption of broccoli can lower the chances of high blood pressure.
32.
Carrot & Spinach
Drink
spinach and carrot’s juice on a daily basis to decrease the level of high blood
pressure. Drink it twice a day.
33.
Almonds
Soak some
almonds overnight and make a fine paste in the morning. Add this prepared
almond paste in a glass of lukewarm milk. Drink this daily. You can also drink
this almond milk at night, before sleeping.
34.
Beetroot
Beetroot is
a rich source of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and
sodium. The juice of beetroot can help a lot in controlling the high blood
pressure.
35. Raw
Cocoa
Raw cocoa is
rich in flavonoids, and a very good and natural remedy for high blood pressure.
It is the best defence against hypertension.
36.
Turmeric
Turmeric is
a really effective herbal remedy for hypertension. Consuming turmeric on the
daily basis can reduce the chances of high blood pressure.
37.
Rauwolfia
Rauwolfia
contains alkaloids, which helps to decrease the chances of high blood pressure.
It controls the nerve pathways and nerve impulses.
38. Yoga
Doing yoga
daily in the morning along with a healthy diet can help a lot in lowering high
blood pressure.
39.
Laughter Therapy
Laughter
therapy can help to control blood pressure. It relaxes the muscles and lowers
the stressed hormones. Also, it prevents heart diseases and improves the mood.
40. Cod
Liver Oil
Cod liver
oil capsules also help to control the high blood pressure.Cod liver oil is
derived from the liver of cod fish, which contains omega-3 in a high quantity.
Homeopathic
Remedies for High Blood Pressure
Homeopathic
remedies are natural remedies for instant and quick relief.
1.
Lachesis
Lachesis is
a very powerful and leading homeopathic remedy for high blood pressure.
Lachesis lowers down the borderline high blood pressure. This remedy can be
consumed in order to get instant relief in high blood pressure.
2. Amyl
nitrosum
Amyl
nitrosum is consumed when patient feels restlessness, and his/her face becomes
red due to high blood pressure. They start to sweat and feel a hot sensation.
3. Natrum
muriaticum
This
homeopathic remedy can be consumed when patient’s blood pressure is high due to
too much consumption of sodium.
4.
Glonoinum
This
homeopathic remedy can be given when patient complains about severe headaches
along with high blood pressure and dizziness.
Other
homeopathic remedies that can be consumed are Plumbum, Argentum nitricum,
Belladonna, Aurum metallicum, Natrum muriaticum, Sanguinaria, and Nux vomica.
If You
Have Normal Blood Pressure
If you don't
have high blood pressure (HBP), you can take steps to prevent it. Healthy
lifestyle habits can help you maintain normal blood pressure.
- Follow a healthy diet. Limit the
amount of sodium (salt) and alcohol that you consume. The National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute's DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension) eating plan promotes healthy eating.
- Be physically active. Routine
physical activity can lower HBP and reduce your risk for other health
problems.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Staying at
a healthy weight can help you control HBP and reduce your risk for other
health problems.
- Quit smoking. Smoking can damage
your blood vessels and raise your risk for HBP. Smoking also can worsen
health problems related to HBP.
- Learn to manage and cope with stress.
Learning how to manage stress, relax, and cope with problems can improve
your emotional and physical health.
Many people
who adopt these healthy lifestyle habits are able to prevent or delay HBP. The
more lifestyle changes you make, the more likely you are to lower your blood
pressure and avoid related health problems.
If You
Have High Blood Pressure
If you have
HBP, you can still take steps to prevent the long-term problems it can cause.
Healthy lifestyle habits (listed above) and medicines can help you live a
longer, more active life.
Follow the
treatment plan your doctor prescribes to control your blood pressure. Treatment
can help you prevent or delay coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney
disease, and other health problems.
Children
and Teens
A healthy
lifestyle also can help prevent HBP in children and teens. Key steps include
having a child:
- Follow a healthy diet that focuses on
plenty of fruits, vegetables, and, for children older than 4 years old,
low-fat dairy products. A healthy diet also is low in saturated and transfats
and salt.
- Be active for at least 1 to 2 hours
per day. Limit screen time in front of the TV or computer to 2 hours per
day at most.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If your
child is overweight, ask his or her doctor about how your child can
safely lose weight.
Make these
healthy habits part of a family health plan to help your child adopt and maintain
a healthy lifestyle.