Lower your blood pressure naturally with these four fast-acting remedies
High blood pressure or hypertension afflicts many who may not be aware of it. It is referred to as a silent disease among those without recognizable symptoms. It's estimated that around one in three Americans have high blood pressure (HBP).
Recognizable symptoms include heart palpitations and dizzy spells. People who are overweight, pre-diabetic, or diabetic tend to have higher blood pressures.
There are two readings of concern: Systolic is the upper or first number and is generally the higher. It measures blood pressure as the heart pumps. Diastolic is the lower or second number, which is generally lower. It measures blood pressure during the heart's rest points.
There are blood pressure reading devices located in several pharmacies and Whole Foods stores. This infographic will help you understand your readings. (http://www.bloodpressureuk.org)
Realize your readings will vary according to your emotional and mental condition or physical exertion level at the time you strap onto a machine. It's appropriate to measure often. Chronic high readings are cause for concern.
Speaking of mental and emotional conditions, meditation, hatha yoga, relaxation, and moderate exercise are always beneficial for HBP sufferers. It also helps to avoid stress or handle it better.
Some MDs are stepping out of the latest dangerous HBP drug protocol while endorsing older drugs and safer diuretics. (sciencedaily.com, source below)
Natural remedies should be the first option for HBP
Make sure to consult a health practitioner who is knowledgeable in both natural and allopathic medicines before getting off or mixing pharmaceuticals with natural remedies.Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been tested clinically to actually reduce both systolic and diastolic levels with people who have HBP. CoQ10 is renowned for increasing cellular energy and promoting heart health.
But two recent studies have demonstrated significant reductions with systolic and diastolic readings in three months or fewer from CoQ10. One study used 100 mg of CoQ10 twice daily and the other used 60 mg of CoQ10 twice daily. (altmedicine.about.com, source below)
Hawthorne berry is a traditional Chinese medicine tonic for the heart and cardiovascular system. It can be consumed as a tea, capsules containing extracts, or tinctures.
The following institutions and journals all agree that Hawthorne is as efficacious as pharmaceuticals for HBP and heart health issues without the side-effects of pharmaceutical meds:
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the June 10th 2009 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the February 18, 2009 issue of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the 2009 issue of the American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
Ginger is considered a wonder tonic in Ayurvedic medicine. It has also demonstrated blood thinning attributes as well as calcium channel blocking, which keeps calcium from entering the heart and adhering to inner artery walls that calcify and create blockages.
Some HBP pharmaceutical meds are calcium channel blockers with side-effects. Ginger taken in capsules or made into teas with thin ginger root slices are safe as long as you're not taking other blood thinners, even including aspirin. The UMMC recommends dosages of 75 to 2,000 mg with food daily, with a limit of 4,000 mg.
Nattokinase is extracted from natto, a Japanese food that few can consume with gusto. Nattokinase is an enzyme that tends to focus on clearing artery blockages. If one has bleeding problems and takes meds for it, beware.
Otherwise, it's safe and effective, especially if you get an extracted supplement that keeps natto's vitamin K2 intact. K2 transports calcium, which tends to be overly consumed, out of blood vessels and into bones where it belongs. This helps prevent calcification in the arteries and heart.
