Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Treatment high blood pressure without medication

If you take medications for high blood pressure - you're rolling the dice on your life





Treatment high blood pressure without medication


If you take medications for high blood pressure -  you're rolling the dice on your life


The first medication to control high blood pressure was called sodium thiocyanate, created back in 1900. It's actually a compound mixture of salts and cyanide. It was found to dramatically reduce blood pressure, but also came with a price - life threatening side effects.

   Today, over 50,000 Americans die every year because of hypertension (high blood pressure). And now, more than ever, high blood pressure medications are being doled out to us like children touring a candy factory. These meds appear to have come a long way since 1900...but have they?

   Not cyanide, but...

   It's a drug called Nitropress® . It's a far removed cousin of the old sodium thiocyanate. And it too has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure...

   But some of the side effects of this injection drug are:

Confusion and tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Gasping for a breath - or breathing that stops altogether
Extreme light-headedness - even while horizontal
Fainting
Hyperventilating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and possible seizure
If you don't take this clearly dangerous injection, then you're safe...or are you?

   Fact is, there has never been a high blood pressure medication without dangerous side effects - and there never will be...

Where do you turn when the cure is just as deadly as the disease?

Warning: the following information can be shocking. If you have any reservations about knowing the truth regarding Big Pharma blood pressure medicines, please skip ahead to the next section

   You want to be able to trust that your health care professional has your best interests in mind...for you and your family. Truth is, Big Pharma plays a major role in how much "care" they can offer you.

   See, the medical industry is governed by the FDA and the pharmaceutical companies that produce the drugs designed to save lives. Looks good on paper...

   But the fact of the matter is there are Big Bucks to be made from suffering.

   And they know it.

   That's why they make the drugs that do - in fact - serve to reduce illness and diseases. That's the good news. The bad news is these medicines come with a price higher than their astronomical cost - dangerous, even life-threatening side effects. Especially when you take multiple drugs for multiple health problems.

   When they give you the warnings about drug interactions and possible debilitating side effects - pay close attention! They tell you this for a reason. All too many folks just like you regard these warnings as necessary disclaimers and go through life thinking it can't happen to them. Think again.

   Here are just a few things you need to worry about when taking the most common high blood pressure medicines:

==>  Diuretics -  these seemingly harmless "water pills" cause an increase in urination and are designed to lower blood pressure by eliminating excess water and salt in the urine. This makes it easier for your heart to pump. They carry the common names of Zaroxolyn and Esidrix. The problem is that they deplete your body of much needed nutrients that also flow out when you urinate. These drugs produce undesirable side effects like frequent urination, dehydration, lethargy, cramps and weakness. More serious (and dangerous) to your health are fever, sore throat, dizziness, blurred vision and arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat).

==> Beta Blockers - designed to block the flow of adrenaline, they can successfully lower blood pressure by opening the blood vessels for easier blood flow, and can reduce the speed and force of your heartbeat. Some common side effects are dizziness, feeling faint, and cold or swollen hands and feet.  In patients with diabetes, these can also "block" the warning signs of low blood-sugar levels. Less common, but all too real, are wheezing and shortness of breath. Beta Blockers can narrow air passages, making it difficult to breath. If you're taking Propanolol, Acebutolol, Metaprolol, Bisoprolol, or Nebivolol - you're at risk.

==>  Alpha Blockers - Flomax®, Cardura®, Uroxatral®, and Hytrin® are all Alpha Blockers. They lower your blood pressure by blocking chemical messages sent by blood vessels. They can also cause hair loss, runny nose, dizziness, pounding headaches, extreme weakness, weight gain, and can surge bad cholesterol, putting your heart at risk of failure. Also, a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by these medicines brings the warning against driving or "performing dangerous tasks" until you know how they will affect you.

==>Vasodilators - high blood pressure is marked by a contraction of the blood vessels, inhibiting blood flow and making your heart work harder to perform. So it makes sense to use a dilator to relax those smooth muscles and open up the passages. However, the usual problems are associated with their use - dizziness, headaches, nausea and vomiting. But these can also cause diarrhea, and loss of appetite (which they swear is temporary). More serious are the side effects they want you to see your doctor for: unusual change in appearance - rashes, skin tone changes - fainting, fluid retention, pain in joints or back, weakness, unusual bleeding, abnormal heart beat, mood changes, and weight gain. 
   Most of these drugs are prescribed together. Many times, one is prescribed to cancel out the dangerous side effects of another. Do you really want to put that kind of stress on your body?

    Seems not much has changed since that fateful day back in 1900 when the first high blood pressure "cure" was invented. At least , not until now...

   Luckily, you don't have to rely on a myriad of drugs to lower your blood pressure while altering your body's natural chemistry.


   You don't need drugs to treat and control your blood pressure. Putting that kind of stress on your body by taking in a handful of expensive chemicals that counter the side effects of the others is just ridiculous! Even if they were effective, they open you up to a whole list of additional side effects! Does it make sense to chemically alter your body like that?

   Back in 1900, they didn't know any better...today, we do know better. Why repeat the patterns of the past and expect different results? Isn't that the definition of insanity?

You don't always need prescription medications to lower your blood pressure. By making these 10 lifestyle changes, you can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure (a systolic pressure — the top number — of 140 or above or a diastolic pressure — the bottom number — of 90 or above), you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down.
Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure and keep it down.

1. Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline
Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you're taking more effective. You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.
Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general:
Men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters, or cm).
Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (88 cm).
Asian men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 36 inches (90 cm).
Asian women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 32 inches (80 cm).
2. Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it doesn't take long to see a difference. If you haven't been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks.
If you have prehypertension (systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89), exercise can help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension. If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels.
Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program. Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help.
But avoid being a "weekend warrior." Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn't a good strategy. Those sudden bursts of activity could actually be risky.
3. Eat a healthy diet
Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.
It isn't easy to change your eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet:
Keep a food diary. Writing down what you eat, even for just a week, can shed surprising light on your true eating habits. Monitor what you eat, how much, when and why.
Consider boosting potassium. Potassium can lessen the effects of sodium on blood pressure. The best source of potassium is food, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than supplements. Talk to your doctor about the potassium level that's best for you.
Be a smart shopper. Make a shopping list before heading to the supermarket to avoid picking up junk food. Read food labels when you shop, and stick to your healthy-eating plan when you're dining out, too.
Cut yourself some slack. Although the DASH diet is a lifelong eating guide, it doesn't mean you have to cut out all of the foods you love. It's OK to treat yourself occasionally to foods you wouldn't find on a DASH diet menu, like a candy bar or mashed potatoes with gravy.
4. Reduce sodium in your diet
Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. The recommendations for reducing sodium are:
Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less.
A lower sodium level — 1,500 mg a day or less — is appropriate for people 51 years of age or older, and individuals of any age who are African-American or who have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
To decrease sodium in your diet, consider these tips:
Track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.
Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.
Eat fewer processed foods. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.
Don't add salt. Just 1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices, rather than salt, to add more flavor to your foods.
Ease into it. If you don't feel like you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust over time.
5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol — generally more than one drink a day for women and more than two a day for men. Also, if you don't normally drink alcohol, you shouldn't start drinking as a way to lower your blood pressure. There's more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol.
If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.
Track your drinking patterns. Along with your food diary, keep an alcohol diary to track your true drinking patterns. One drink equals 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer, 5 ounces of wine (148 mL) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor (45 mL). If you're drinking more than the suggested amounts, cut back.
Consider tapering off. If you're a heavy drinker, suddenly eliminating all alcohol can actually trigger severe high blood pressure for several days. So when you stop drinking, do it with the supervision of your doctor or taper off slowly, over one to two weeks.
Don't binge. Binge drinking — having four or more drinks in a row — can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure, in addition to other health problems.

6. Avoid tobacco products and secondhand smoke
On top of all the other dangers of smoking, the nicotine in tobacco products can raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smoking throughout the day means your blood pressure may remain constantly high.
You should also avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling smoke from others also puts you at risk of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease.
7. Cut back on caffeine
The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is still debatable. Drinking caffeinated beverages can temporarily cause a spike in your blood pressure, but it's unclear whether the effect is temporary or long lasting.
To see if caffeine raises your blood pressure, check your pressure within 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee or another caffeinated beverage you regularly drink. If your blood pressure increases by five to 10 points, you may be sensitive to the blood pressure raising effects of caffeine.
Regardless of your sensitivity to caffeine's effects, doctors recommend you drink no more than 200 milligrams a day — about the amount in two cups of coffee.
8. Reduce your stress
Stress or anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what's causing your stress, consider how you can eliminate or reduce stress.
If you can't eliminate all of your stressors, you can at least cope with them in a healthier way. Take breaks for deep-breathing exercises. Get a massage or take up yoga or meditation. If self-help doesn't work, seek out a professional for counseling.
9. Monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor's appointments
If you have high blood pressure, you may need to monitor your blood pressure at home. Learning to self-monitor your blood pressure with an upper arm monitor can help motivate you. Talk to your doctor about home monitoring before getting started.
Regular visits to your doctor are also likely to become a part of your normal routine. These visits will help keep tabs on your blood pressure.
Have a primary care doctor. People who don't have a primary care doctor find it harder to control their blood pressure. If you can, visit the same health care facility or professional for all of your health care needs.
Visit your doctor regularly. If your blood pressure isn't well controlled, or if you have other medical problems, you might need to visit your doctor every month to review your treatment and make adjustments. If your blood pressure is under control, you might need to visit your doctor only every six to 12 months, depending on other conditions you might have.
10. Get support from family and friends
Supportive family and friends can help improve your health. They may encourage you to take care of yourself, drive you to the doctor's office or embark on an exercise program with you to keep your blood pressure low. Talk to your family and friends about the dangers of high blood pressure.
If you find you need support beyond your family and friends, consider joining a support group. This may put you in touch with people who can give you an emotional or morale boost and who can offer practical tips to cope with your condition.

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