Saturday, November 21, 2009

High Blood Pressure Can Be Treated Naturally

By Bart Forcey

At least one-third of all adults in the US are diagnosed with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The symptoms of hypertension include seemingly minor problems such as headaches and dizziness. Because of this many of these people never realize that they have an illness until it is too late. Fortunately, natural treatment for high blood pressure can be used to ward off high blood pressure before it has a chance to develop. This can be important if you have a family medical history of hypertension.

One substance that is naturally produced in the body, coenzyme Q10, has been shown in recent studies to reduce overall blood pressure. CoQ10 plays a major role in energy production within the mitochondria. Therefore, it energizes the heart and improves circulation. Consult a health care professional before taking CoQ10.

Garlic has long been used to treat high blood pressure. A natural blood thinner, garlic may negatively interact with other medication. Therefore, it should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional. Recent research has also been conducted on hawthorn. Hawthorn is a natural herb that naturally dilates the arteries and thus improves circulation. The studies show that this natural treatment has a mild affect on both the systolic and diastolic pressure.

Fish oil, although not approved by the FDA, has proven to have a mild effect on overall blood pressure. It is believed that the key ingredient in fish oil, DHA (docohexaenoic acid), lessens the symptoms of hypertension. The next substance that has shown to have an effect on the reduction and prevention of high blood pressure is folic acid or vitamin B9. This substance can not be stored in the body since it is water soluble. A consistent supply is needed to maintain cardiovascular health. It is believed that folic acid reduces homocysteine levels in individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Calcium, magnesium and potassium are three other popular minerals that offer natural treatment for high blood pressure. Calcium appears to have a mild affect, but more research is needed. Magnesium, during 12 trials, has been found to reduce diastolic pressure, but has no effect on systolic pressure. Potassium supplementation has undergone five trials. These trials have shown a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure.

One extremely important factor in reducing high blood pressure is diet. The National Institutes of Health has developed a diet specifically designed for reduction of high blood pressure is DASH. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet can also be low sodium. This version reduces the sodium intake by 1500 mg per day.

Many other natural remedies exist for the treatment of hypertension. Most of these treatments are lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise. Other treatments include autogenic training. This type of training explains how to control the inner functions through breathing techniques. This remedy is often used in conjunction with biofeedback. Finally, non-traditional medicines from India and China can work as natural treatments for high blood pressure.

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