Madanapalas - 5000 Years of Healing Wisdom at your Door

Tuesday 28 February 2017

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

                                   
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers. Usually the systolic number comes before or above the diastolic number. A reading of

119/79 or lower is normal blood pressure

140/90 or higher is high blood pressure

Between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number is called prehypertension.  Prehypertension means you may end up with high blood pressure, unless you take steps to prevent it.

             High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart attack and kidney fail.

                 Possible Causes for High Blood Pressure

While the exact cause of hypertension remains unknown, a few facts have been identified by health experts are: excess consumption of salt, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and genetic predisposition. Other factors that increase the odds are: cigarette smoking, binge drinking, obesity and stress. A recent study pointed out that processed or canned food and drinks might also be contributing to this increase.

How to Control High Blood Pressure

Over time, unaddressed elevated blood pressure can have catastrophic consequences on your health. So here's a checklist of things you can do to keep it under control:

1. Eat less salt:  Too much salt can cause a spike in blood pressure. While a vast majority of research shows that with a drop in sodium consumption you may say a drop in blood pressure, it can differ from person to person.

2. Stressful situations pump up the blood pressure so keep calm. Stress does elevate your blood pressure and for those suffering from hypertension, stress can also cause some kind of cardiovascular damage.

3. Exercise to stay fit and to keep your BP within recommended levels. Indians are used to snacking, especially on fried food and. So some form of exercise is recommended. (Belly fat may trigger high blood pressure)

4. Sleep! If you don't want to lose sleep over high blood pressure, then get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Studies have found that the fewer hours of sleep you get, the higher your blood pressure is.

5. Quit or reduce your alcohol intake. Quit smoking because nicotine is said to increase blood pressure.

6. Say goodbye to your caffeine fix. According to Mayo Clinic, caffeine can cause a short but dramatic increase in your blood pressure.


                             
High Blood Pressure Diet:


High blood pressure has a lot to do with your diet and lifestyle. So besides reducing your sodium intake it's important you check what you eat. And that's where we come in. Healthy eating can play an essential role in warding off high blood pressure. But many fear that a blood-pressure-lowering diet involves bland, unseasoned foods and deprivation. That's far from the truth.

                10 Natural Foods to Control High Blood Pressure

Here's a list of the top 10 natural foods that should be included in a high blood pressure diet:

1. Banana:

Bananas easy-peel fruits aren't just sweet and low in sodium; they're also rich in potassium which helps lower blood pressure. To incorporate more bananas into your diet- add it to your cereal, cake, bread, smoothies and milkshakes. Or try grilling or sauteing banana halves, and then top it with a scoop of frozen yogurt.

2. Spinach:

This green leafy delight is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with nutrients like potassium, foliate, magnesium - key ingredients for lowering and maintaining blood pressure levels.

3. Celery:

Medicine practitioners have used celery for reducing high blood pressure for ages! Research has shown that eating as few as four celery stalks a day can reduce high blood pressure. It contains photo chemical known as phthalates that relax the muscle tissue in the artery walls, enabling increased blood flow and, in turn, lowering blood pressure.


4. Oatmeal:

Eating a diet high in fiber & whole grains helps your body maintain a healthy blood pressure and oatmeal does just that! It helps reduce both your systolic and diastolic pressure. This low-sodium food can be prepared as a hot cereal and topped with fruit or used in pancakes. You can also add it to many baked goods.
  
5. Avocados:

The oleic acid found in avocados can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Avocados also contain potassium and foliate which both essential for heart health. It is rich in vitamins A, K, B & E and is loaded with fiber.

6. Watermelon:

It contains an amino acid called L-citrulline, which has proven to lower blood pressure. Watermelon is a heart health promoting food loaded with fiber, lynchpins, vitamin A and potassium. All these nutrients have blood pressure-lowering effects. Add this delectable fruit to your diet and wait for the magic to happen!

7. Beetroot:

This crimson root veggie is rich in nitrates, which is thought to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. Drinking glass of beet juice can yield a five-point drop in blood pressure, according to a 2012 Australian study. The effect might be even greater over the long term if they are drinking it day upon day. Yes, beetroot juice lowers systolic blood pressure in just a few hours.

8. Sunflower seeds:

Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E, folic acid, protein and fiber. Just a handful of sunflower seeds help to lower your blood pressure and promote your heart-health. They are also a great source of magnesium and they make a nutritious snack - but be sure to buy them unsalted in order to minimize your sodium intake.

9. Oranges:

This super rich vitamin fruit - is another food you must indulge in to lower your blood pressure. Opt in for glassful of orange juice or eat the whole fruit to load yourself with fiber and vitamin C. 

10. Carrots:

The cure for high BP might be one carrot away! Carrots are high in potassium and beta-carotene which have been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure. Carrot juice also helps maintain normal blood pressure by regulating heart and kidney functions.



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