Health for Body Mind and Soul

High blood pressure or hypertension is known as the silent killer because an individual may have the condition without any signs or symptoms. High blood pressure affects many organs including the heart, kidneys, and arteries.

High blood pressure is often a sign of an underlying abnormality. For example narrowing of the arteries which supply the kidneys or hyperthyroidism may result in high blood pressure, at other times there may not be a specific cause for this condition. An unidentified cause of high blood pressure is known as essential hypertension.

Treatment of high blood pressure may be burdensome financially, and require changes in diet and lifestyle, but if not adequately treated it may have long-term consequences such as cardiovascular disease (heart disease), kidney disease, and stroke (cerebrovascular disease).
According to the World Health Organization cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for more deaths than any other causes globally. In 2008 approximately 17.3 million deaths occurred from CVDs, of this number about 7.3 million died from coronary heart disease, and 6.2 million from stroke.

Hypertension impacts many aspects of health and health outcomes and life span. Individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure live an average of five years less than individuals without the condition. High blood pressure also negatively impacts survival and rehospitalization of patients with heart disease following discharge from hospital.

Preventing high blood pressure is much better than trying to cure it. Recommendations for reducing the risk, and treating hypertension which is supported by research findings, and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include:

Weight control.
Regular exercise.
Eating a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Limiting sodium in the diet to less than a teaspoon of salt daily, and increasing potassium (at least 4,700 mg per day) from fruits and vegetables.
Eliminate alcohol.
Reduce stress.
Check blood pressure regularly. New recommendations suggest that monitoring blood pressure on a regular basis gives a better picture of one’s blood pressure, as many people suffer from the “white coat syndrome” which causes blood pressure readings to be elevated due to stress of seeing a doctor.

Foods for High Blood Pressure

Apples – studies conducted in Japan show that those who eat apples regularly have lower blood pressure than the rest of the population (Pamplano-Roger, 2006).
Cabbage – contains minerals and trace elements such as a generous quantity of potassium. It also contains magnesium which promotes healthy blood pressure. Green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are great sources of magnesium.
Celery – although it contains a considerable amount of sodium, celery contains essential oils which are effective vasodilators (dilates blood vessels). Celery also has a diuretic effect which further aids individuals with hypertension.
Guava – high in potassium and low in sodium has hypotensive qualities.
Pear – rich in potassium, contains no sodium, and is a diuretic which helps to lower blood pressure.
Pomegranate – rich in potassium and low in sodium.

According to James Duke, PhD 1997), other foods and herbs that lower blood pressure include: garlic, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots,saffron, purslane, kudzu, valerian, fennel, basil, and tarragon.

There are several convenient blood pressure monitoring tools available such as the Omron Blood Pressure Wrist units which facilitates self-monitoring of blood pressure.

This website does not provide medical or legal advice. This website is created for information purposes.