The Risk of Hypertension and Steps Everyone Can Take to Lessen Your Risk

High Blood Pressure, called Hypertension, can be caused by several factors, to include endocrine and renal factors. It can also appear with apparently no causes at all. We do know that certain factors can contribute to high blood pressure. These include stress, excessive salt and stimulant intake, cigarette smoking, being over weight, hardening of the arteries, hereditary, general toxemia, and glandular disturbances. Seeing this list we see that there are a lot of factors that we can control.

It is estimated that one in four Americans have high blood pressure. And of those cases only 95 percent have known causes. We can take steps to avoid having high blood pressure and if we are diagnosed with it, then there are holistic steps we can take to treat it. It is known as the silent killer, so it is very important to monitor your blood pressure at regular checkups. Having Hypertension can be asymptomatic. If symptoms occur they can be nosebleeds, headaches, flushed face, dizziness, fatigue, nervousness, insomnia, blurred vision, fluid retention and shortness of breathe. These are often symptoms that we over look and contribute to stress of other things in our lives. We need to make sure we have a current Blood Pressure Reading.

Let's first start by explaining what exactly blood pressure is. The dictionary defines blood pressure as: the pressure of the blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels, varying in different parts of the body during different phases of contraction of the heart and under different conditions of health, exertion, etc. If the pressure is too low, the blood may not reach certain areas of the body. If the blood pressure is too high, the heart and blood vessel walls may be damaged. So we see that low as well as high blood pressure can be bad for us. As in most things, we need to find a middle ground. Normal blood pressure is defined as 120/80 mm Hg. The first number (systolic) represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood to the body. The second number (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. It is measured in mm Hg, which is millimeter of mercury.

There are many things we can do to lower our risk of high blood pressure. We can modify our diet to have less salt, animal fats, caffeine; as in coffee, tea and sodas, and alcohol. We can include more whole foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables and whole grains and less refined foods. Since excessive weight is a known contributor we can see that modifying our diets in this way may also help us to lose weight and help in that area also. Regular exercise will help us lose weight and also help us to deal with the stress in our lives also. Relaxation techniques such as Yoga will also help us deal with the stress in our lives.

There are several herbs that will help us also. Garlic being one that has been big on the news for your heart health. It is also good for hypertension. Other herbs that are good are barberry, black cohosh, buckwheat, cayenne, garlic, hawthorn berries, lemon balm, onion, parsley, peppermint, red clover, skullcap, valerian and yarrow. Bran tea is also recommended for helping to reduce blood pressure. As with any herbal remedy seek the guidance of your doctor or Holistic Practitioner. Many herbs are very good for you, but some can interfere with drugs you are taking or have negative or allergic reactions. Always err on the side of caution.

Hypertension is a common disease in America. We need to keep the risk factors in mind and know that we can control a lot of the factors and reduce our chance of having it. We also need to keep in mind that it can be treated and with holistic protocols. Be sure to monitor your blood pressure, and as with anything else live a healthy life to reduce your chances.