Natural Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure – hypertension – is one of the most common afflictions affecting Americans today. In a society filled with high-fat diets, too little exercise, and stressful occupations, high blood pressure is common even in people under the age of forty.
People who suffer from high blood pressure are at a much greater risk for kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, endocrine disorders and artery dysfunction. In some cases, high blood pressure can be traced to a familial disposition, but it can still be avoided.
Patients with high blood pressure will most often experience strong headaches in the mornings, a ringing in the ears, and inexplicable giddiness.
Medical Treatment for High Blood Pressure
There are a multitude of different drugs on the market that are supposed to help patients cope with high blood pressure. Physicians may often prescribe some of these drugs in order to gain control over high blood pressure, but without a change in diet, exercise and living, these drugs may not produce the results for which they are intended.
Some of the most common drugs used for the treatment of hypertension are diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and calcium channel blockers. However, these might prove to be less than effective.
Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure
A patient who suffers from high blood pressure can make a significant effort by eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits help to rid the body of dangerous toxins that can cause high blood pressure, and vegetables will provide the body with adequate soluble nutrients.
The fruits most recommended for hypertension patients are oranges, apples, tomatoes and guava. Juices which contain 100% juice will also be effective. Pears, pineapples, muskmelon and raspberries can provide additional assistance, and should be taken in smaller quantities. Some holistic health professionals recommend a “fruits only” diet for a week following diagnosis of hypertension.
Vegetables should be eaten raw as often as possible, and cooked vegetables should retain the rind for maximum effect. Cucumber, carrots, onions, cabbages and radishes contain essential oils that are proven to help patients with high blood pressure.
Milk is an excellent addition to a hypertension diet, but should be less than 2% fat, and should be boiled only once, if possible. Cereals that contain whole grains are advisable, and oatmeal is one of the top foods for a hypertension diet. Salt should be limited as much as possible – in fact, no salt is ideal for high blood pressure, and patients should drink at least six glasses of water each day.
Exercise is extremely important for patients with high blood pressure, though highly strenuous activity should be avoided. Swimming, walking, and lifting light weights will help bring the heart back into good working condition without putting too much strain on the arteries.
