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Understanding Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

5/16/2020

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Hypertension, or High Blood Pressure is one of the most common cardiovascular issues present in North America. A normal blood pressure reading in adults is 120 (systolic) / 80 (diastolic), and though this is the normal reading for a healthy adult, it is good to know that blood pressure can also change with age, often times a raise or change in blood pressure is common in individuals who are over 50. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for heart attach or stroke with many dietary and lifestyle factors linked to this chronic cardiovascular disease. Yet there is more to high blood pressure than meets the eye, it can be a far more complicated situation than simply being caused by lifestyle or dietary choices. Blood pressure is determined by mechanical movements in the body (cardiovascular, renal, circulatory), hormones, and environmental factors.
 
Please note that despite herbal medicine having many options for individuals with hypertension, severe hypertension (160+/115+) is considered a situation that requires immediate medical attention. In cases such as this a prescription medication may be necessary to achieve initial control. After which natural protocols can be implemented with the guidance of an appropriate practitioner.

Causes of Hypertension:

In more than 95% of cases, a specific underlying cause of hypertension cannot be found, and many factors can contribute to its development.  Factors such as kidney disfunction, issues with peripheral resistance vessel tone, endothelial dysfunction, and neurohumoral factors can all be less common causes. Besides these, there are also important environmental factors such as high salt intake, a heavy consumption of alcohol etc., the list below identifies the most common causes of hypertension.

  • Obesity
  • High sodium-to-potassium ratio diet
  • High sugar, low fiber diet
  • Diet high in saturated fats and low in essential fatty acids
  • Diet low in calcium and magnesium
  • Diet low in vitamin C
  • Low potassium intake
  • Stress
  • Sleep apnea (untreated, un-monitored)
  • Overt increase in estrogen (this can happen with certain prescription medications, environmental exposures, or pregnancy)
  • Certain prescription and non-prescription drugs (NSAIDS)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Various metabolic diseases
  • Primary aldosteronism
  • Renovascular disease
  • Long term corticosteroid therapy
  • Cushing syndrome
  • Thyroid disease
  • Parathyroid disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Genetics

Common Symptoms of Hypertension:

​Hypertension is predominantly asymptomatic, meaning it has no symptoms. Generally, an individual does not know they have high blood pressure until they are seen by their practitioner for a check up or an issue occurs. A blood pressure check taken yearly is advisable in adults. Though hypertension often has no symptoms, the most common are as follows:

  • Severe Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Vision problems/change in vision
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Blood in urine
Sensation of pounding or pulsing in your chest, neck, or ears

Complications Associated with Hypertension:

It is estimated that nearly 1 in 5 Canadians (4.6 million) have some form of hypertension, and over 103 million Americans suffer from the same malady. Untreated and un-diagnosed hypertension can lead to many different systemic complications. As pressure rises in arteries, these issues can branch out to cause systemic failures throughout the body. Some of the more common but serious   complications are as follows:
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Kidney damage
  • Ventricular arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Heart failure
  • Dementia
  • Change in vision/loss of sight/retinal damage
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Ventricle damage to the heart/Aortic insufficiency
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How to Check your Blood Pressure at Home:

  • Use a machine that has been validated, well maintained, and properly calibrated. Most electronic blood pressure cuffs sold by your pharmacist will be accurate.
  • Measure sitting blood pressure routinely, with additional standing blood pressure in elderly and diabetic individuals, or if you feel there are major fluctuations in blood pressure between sitting and standing (some fluctuation in blood pressure between sitting and standing is normal).
  • Remove any tight clothing from the arm.
  • Support the arm at the level of your heart.
  • Use a cuff of appropriate size (the bladder of the cuff must encompass more than two-thirds of the arm - Try it on before you buy it).
  • Take two measurements, 15 minutes apart.

Natural Suggestions for Hypertension:

​Thankfully there are many herbs, supplements, and lifestyle modifications that can be implemented to safely and reliably help with hypertension. If you are on medications please speak to your medical doctor so that dosage and blood pressure can be monitored as you make improvements.

Commonly Used Herbs:

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  • Garlic (Allium sativa) – Though this herb is excellent as a culinary herb, in therapeutic doses it is specific for hypertension. Some of its pertinent actions include its ability to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, and to help lower blood pressure. It is also a good detoxifier and is highly anti-inflammatory. It also is used traditionally to help lower the danger of thrombosis, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and to protect from heart disease and age-related vascular changes. Lastly, it helps to promote blood flow in arterial vascular disease.
 
  • Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) – Another culinary herb made powerful in therapeutic doses. Cayenne is considered to be a general cardiovascular tonic, an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic. It helps to stimulate proper circulation all the way from the arteries to the capillaries. Traditionally it is used to help regulate blood pressure, reduce platelet aggregation, and is used specifically in cases of poor circulation, varicose veins, issues with various types of hemorrhages, and atherosclerosis.
 
 
  • Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna/oxycantha) – This beautiful tree has so many offerings in regard to traditional herbal medicine. You can use the berries, flowers, or leaves. It is considered specific in helping to regulate blood pressure. Some of its actions include its ability to be a central nervous system sedative, relaxant, adaptogenic, cardio-restorative, cardio-protective, coronary and peripheral vasodilator, anti-arrhythmic, and cholesterol and mineral solvent plus diuretic. Regarding hypertension, it is used traditionally to help improve circulation and lower blood pressure. It is considered specific in cases of tachycardia and palpitations as it acts upon the electrical S node of the heart and helps to regulate and improve heart function without having the heart work harder. It is specific in angina, and valve diseases and insufficiencies, and heart disease.
 
  • Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) – Event the scientific name has the word cardiac in it, a very telling sign as to the traditional purpose of this herb. It is considered to be a nervous system sedative and tonic, and to also have cardiotonic and cardio sedative properties. It is also considered in cases of various cardiac arrhythmias and is also diuretic and anti-spasmodic. It is one of the most commonly used cardiac tonics and is excellent when stress is a main component in high blood pressure or if high blood pressure is due to hyperthyroidism.

Commonly Used Supplements:

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  • High Potency Multi Vitamin - Watch your labels and pay attention to chemical additives and non-medicinal ingredients – proper nutrition helps all systems function at their best.
  • Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids – Improves adrenal function, reduces blood-clotting tendencies, anti-inflammatory.
  • Vitamin E – Improves heart function. Vitamin E also acts as a blood thinning agent, use caution if you are taking prescription blood thinners. Use d-alpha-tocopherol form. Use emulsion form for easier assimilation and greater safety at higher doses.
  • Calcium and Magnesium – Best taken together, deficiencies have been linked to high blood pressure.
  • Potassium – If you take a cortisone or high blood pressure medication, take extra potassium to counteract depletion of this mineral.
  • Coenzyme Q10 – Improves heart function overall. Can be paired with Coenzyme A to work with CoQ10 to support the immune system’s detoxification of many dangerous substances.
  • Essential Fatty Acids  - Important for circulation and for lowering blood pressure and rates of inflammation in the body. Fatty acids include Black current seed oil, flax seed oil, olive oil, primrose oil etc.
  • L- Arginine – Shown to play an increasingly important role in heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • L-Carnitine, L-Glutamic Acid, and L-Glutamine – Transports long fatty acid chains. Working together, these components aid in preventing heart disease and to detoxify ammonia from the body.
  • Selenium – Deficiencies have been linked to heart disease.
  • Proteolytic enzymes – Aids in cleansing the circulatory system. Completes protein digestion.

Common Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications:

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  • Consume a diet that focuses on whole and unprocessed foods (whole ancient grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds…foods that do not come ready made in a box or package.
  • Follow a strict salt free/salt reduced (depending on your blood pressure) diet. This is essential for lowering blood pressure. Lowering your salt intake is sometimes not enough; eliminating all added salt from your diet is far more appropriate in moderate and high blood pressure.
  • Avoid food additives such as Monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, canned vegetables and processed canned goods (unless they are marked as salt/sodium free), commercially prepared foods, over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen (Advil or Nuprin), diet soft drinks and sodas, foods with mold inhibitors, preservatives, and/or sugar substitutes, meat tenderizers, softened water, and soy sauce.
  • Eliminate alcohol, caffein, and sugars completely.
  • Include fresh “live” juices in the diet. The following fresh juices are healthful: beet, carrot, celery, currant, cranberry, citrus fruit, parsley, spinach, and watermelon.
  • Avoid animal fats. Bacon, beef, bouillons, chicken liver, corned beef, dairy products, gravies, pork, sausage, and smoked or processed meats are prohibited in a hypertension reduction diet. The only acceptable animal foods are broiled whitefish, and skinless turkey or chicken, and these should be consumed in moderation only. Get protein from vegetable sources, grains, and legumes instead.
  • Avoid foods such as aged cheeses, aged meats, anchovies, avocados, chocolate, fava beans, pickled herring, sherry, sour cream, wine, and yogurt.
  • Get regular light to moderate exercise (ideally 30 minutes per day minimum)
  • Perform a relaxation exercise (deep breathing, meditation, prayer, visualization, relaxing bath with essential oils, etc. etc.)
  • Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day
  • Have your blood pressure checked regularly at home, invest in an electric blood pressure cuff and check monthly while you are working to lower your blood pressure. Once blood pressure is down, continue to check every four to six months.
  • If you are pregnant, have your blood pressure monitored frequently by your healthcare provider. Untreated hypertension in pregnancy can progress suddenly and pose a serious threat to both mother and child.
  • Reduce stress as much as possible.

References:

  • Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary – 21st Edition – F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia
  • Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine – 22nd Edition – Churchill Livingstone Elsevier
  • Prescription for Nutritional Healing – 5th Edition – Phyllis A. Balch, CNC – Avery Publishing, NY NY
  • Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements by Michael T. Murray, ND – Three Rivers Press New York 2001
  • Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Maxine Papadakis and Stephen J. McPhee – McGraw Hill Education Medical - New York 2015
  • Medicinal Herbs Quick Reference Guide Revision 7 by Julieta Criollo Doctor of Natural Medicine and Clinical Herbal Therapist- Self Published 2017
  • https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/01/more-than-100-million-americans-have-high-blood-pressure-aha-says
3 Comments

Best Herbs for Hypertension - World Hypertension Day (May 17th)

5/13/2020

14 Comments

 
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14 Comments

    Petra Sovcov is not a Medical Doctor (MD) nor a Naturopath (ND), she is a Clinical Herbal Therapist (CHT) and holds a Doctorate in Natural Medicine (DNM). The suggestions or recommendations made on this site  are not meant to be a substitute for advice from your MD, or as a substitute for any prescriptions you may be taking. Suggestions followed will be the responsibility of the reader, and are stated with the intention of interest and education only. If you have a health issue, please see your primary care physician (MD) first and foremost.

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