Home Remedies For High Blood Pressure or Hypertension
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The high BP may be due to family history, poor lifestyle, excess consumption of tobacco, alcohol, sugar, or oily meals
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Overview
Blood is the major constituent of our body. The amount of blood in a human body depends on the size and weight of the individual.
On average human body contains nearly 5 liters of blood. Generally, women may have less blood compared to men.
But women's blood volume increases by nearly 50% during pregnancy.
Our heart continuously circulates blood by pumping blood in our body through nerves called arteries.
Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries.
The blood pressure doesn't remain constant, it changes throughout the day.
When the heart beats, the blood pressure is called Systolic blood pressure and when the heart rests between two beats, it is called Diastolic blood pressure.
The normal blood pressure level is less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic (written as 120/80 mmHg.)
At risk or prehypertension, the level is 120-139 mmHg systolic and 80-89 mmHg diastolic.
High Blood Pressure level is 140 mmHg or higher systolic and 90 mmHg or higher diastolic.
High blood pressure may result in some sudden health problems or heart problems.
Normally, people suffering from high BP don't show any symptoms until it is alarmingly high. If it rises to a severely high or life-threatening level, it may cause
- headache,
- nosebleeds,
- shortness of breath,
- chest pain,
- irregular heartbeat,
- vision problem etc.
The only way to keep safe is to keep checking your blood pressure level from time to time.
It is advisable to keep track of your blood pressure level from age of 18. Up to the age of 40, get it checked every 2 years or as advised by your doctor.
Be more careful at the age of above 40. Some pharmacies or chemist shops check BP for a minor fee
Or you may find some good BP checking machines and keep track of your BP at your home on regular basis.
Ignoring your blood pressure status or level for long may result in sudden and emergent attacks and you may have to be hospitalized immediately, in case your BP shoots suddenly and you are not aware.
- Family history. High blood pressure problems may pass on from parents to children.
- Poor lifestyle and lack of workout. The majority of people, who never do any exercise or workout, are likely to suffer from High BP with growing age.
- Excess consumption of tobacco, sugar, salt, alcohol, and oily snacks or meals.
- Overweight or obese.
- Age factor: with increasing age, the risk of high blood pressure increases.
- Stress- Stress is also one of the main reasons for High Blood Pressure
- Some other health ailments like diabetes, kidney problem, etc.
Remedy#1
- Mix the juice of a half lemon in half a cup of water and take this three times daily.
- Lemon and other citrus fruits like oranges and grapes contain vitamins, minerals, and other compounds which have powerful blood pressure-lowering effects.
- Crush 1 or 2 garlic cloves and take with water or milk. Garlic is good for controlling high BP and is also good for cardiovascular health because it controls cholesterol levels and reduces stickiness in the blood.
- Mix 1 or 2 spoons of glucose in a bowl of curd and take daily. In a search, it has been found that dairy-rich products improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels and reduce factors affecting cardiovascular disease risk.
- Walk for 30 minutes or work out with instruments like a cycle or treadmill. Go for aerobic or cardiovascular exercises.
- Avoid coffee but if you are a regular or habitual drinker of coffee then this may not harm you.
- According to research it has been found that coffee may only increase blood pressure in the short term
- There is no long-term association of coffee in increasing blood pressure in people who drink it regularly. Still, avoid it at the moment when you are feeling high BP.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol. if you must drink alcohol then restrict yourself to 1 drink (for women) and 2 drinks (for men). Sorry for being biased toward men (lol).
- Smoking is dangerous for BP and the heart both. Smoking narrows your arteries, causes blood clots, raises blood pressure and heart rate, and results in a heart attack.
- Reduce intake of salt, white sugar, and meals which are heavy to digest. Salt contains sodium which helps in holding water in our bodies.
- But excess sodium holds excess water, which may put more pressure on your heart and blood vessels, thereby increasing your blood pressure.
- Latest researches show that white or processed sugar is more harmful than salt, in raising blood pressure.
- Increase intake of gooseberry, apple, sweet lime, and papaya. These fruits are good for maintaining your blood pressure levels.
- Perform Shavasana or Corpse Pose under proper guidance. Lie down comfortably on a flat floor. See that there should be no disturbance and you should be completely in comfort.
- Keep your hands and legs wide apart in a relaxing position. Inhale and exhale slowly and comfortably and concentrate on your body parts starting from your toes to your head.
- Stay for some minutes and repeat this every day. This will lower your blood pressure slow by slow.
Remedy#2
- Add one spoon of Tea-leaves to one cup of water.
- Add to it four fresh leaves of Basil. Basil has a very good flavor and is rich in eugenol and other powerful compounds.
- Eugenol may help reduce blood pressure by preventing the movement of calcium into the heart and arteries, allowing blood vessels to relax.
- Add two fresh leaves of Neem. Neem, also known as Azadirachta Indica, can cause blood vessels to relax due to its antihistamine effects. This helps in lowering blood pressure.
- Add some amount of crushed fresh Ginger. Due to its immense medicinal properties, ginger has been used in India and China for thousands of years. It improves blood circulation and thus lowers blood pressure.
- Boil the tea for 3-4 minutes.
- Filter it in a cup or glass.
- Mix to it one spoonful of pure Honey. Honey is primarily composed of sugar. It contains many nutrients viz. calories, carbs, copper, and riboflavin.
- It contains nearly no fats, protein, or fiber. It improves blood fat levels, regulates heartbeat, and lowers blood pressure.
- Add to it the juice of half Lemon. Lemon, being a citrus fruit, has a powerful blood pressure-lowering effect. It is hydrating and tasty popular beverage used across the globe.
- Let it cool and drink it on empty stomach for a week
Remedy#3
- Skip meals for two weeks and only take fresh fruits.
- If you feel it is very difficult to skip meals continuously then take one day meal after one week. Then again continue to remain on fruits for another week.
- Also take an enema during these two weeks. Consult a doctor or nurse to perform an enema.
- Must stop enema after two weeks.
- Start your normal diet after two weeks beginning with simple and easily digestible meals.
Questions people ask about High Blood Pressure:
Health conditions that may cause high BP include:
Kidney disease, diabetes, long-term kidney infection, obstructive sleep problem, thyroid, a lupus-a condition in which the immune system attacks parts of the body, such as the skin, joints, and organs, scleroderma- a condition that causes thickened skin.
Medicines that cause high BP:
Contraceptive pills, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen naproxen, and cold and cough remedies.
Q. What is a normal blood pressure level by age?
A. Normal blood pressure levels by age are: (mm Hg)
| Age | Systolic Range | Diastolic Range |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn to 6 months | 45–90 | 30–65 |
| 6 months to 2 years | 80–100 | 40–70 |
| Children (2–13 years) | 80–120 | 40–80 |
| Adolescent (14–18 years) | 90–120 | 50–80 |
| Adult (19–40 years) | 95–135 | 60–80 |
| Adult (41–60 years) | 110–145 | 70–90 |
| Older adult (61 and older) | 95–145 | 70–90 |
Q. How do you feel if your BP is high?
A. Most often, blood pressure is a silent illness. Unfortunately, high blood pressure can develop even when no unusual symptoms are present.
High blood pressure can cause moderate to severe headaches, anxiety, breathlessness, nosebleeds, palpitations, or the sensation of pulsations in the neck.
Q. What should we do when BP is high?
A. Reduce your salt intake and adopt a generally healthy diet as lifestyle modifications to lower blood pressure, and drink less booze.
If you're overweight, lose weight, do regular exercise, reduce your caffeine intake, and give up smoking.
Q. Does high blood pressure make u tired?
A. It has been demonstrated that excessive daytime sleepiness or weariness, a symptom of high blood pressure sometimes, may serve as a potential warning indicator for cardiac events.
Another way that high blood pressure and fatigue may be related is through disturbed sleep.
Q. What foods cause high blood pressure?
A. These foods could cause a spike in blood pressure:
- bacon and hot dogs are examples of processed meats.
- foods with preservatives in cans.
- potato chips and pickles are examples of foods high in salt.
- items that are fried include chicken strips and french fries.
- fattening meats.
- Trans fat-rich foods include margarine and vegetable oil.
- regular salt.
A. At-home blood pressure lowering is not possible. In order to gradually lower their blood pressure, a person should adhere to a diet, exercise, and potentially pharmaceutical plan.
Dial a doctor's number if the person's blood pressure is greater than 180/120.
But according to research, the lemon beverage contains minute amounts of various nutrients like potassium and calcium that may help decrease blood pressure.
Both potassium and calcium can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Lemon water may help immediately return the reading to the usual range.
Q. What is stroke level blood pressure?
A. If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher and you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke-related symptoms, seek emergency medical assistance right away.
Numbness or tingling, difficulty speaking, or changes in eyesight are all signs of a stroke.
Q. Can lack of sleep cause high blood pressure?
A. Your blood pressure may rise the less sleep you get. Less than six hours of sleep every night may cause a more pronounced rise in blood pressure.
If you already have high blood pressure, getting inadequate sleep could exacerbate your condition.
Q. Can high blood pressure be cured?
A. Generally, high blood pressure cannot be cured. However, medication can lower excessively high blood pressure.
Making changes to a healthier lifestyle can help to regulate minor cases of high blood pressure.
Q. Is high blood pressure related to weight?
A. You are more likely to have high blood pressure if you are overweight or obese. In actuality, your blood pressure increases as you gain weight.
Even a 10-pound weight loss can lower blood pressure, and people who are overweight and already have hypertension are more likely to experience this benefit.
Q. Does high blood pressure make you shaky?
A. A sudden rise in blood pressure and heart rate brought on by stress can cause spasms and uncontrollable body movements.
Q. Does high blood pressure make you pee more?
A. According to a recent Japanese study, nocturia, or the urge to urinate at night, may be related to high blood pressure and salt consumption.
Q. Does high blood pressure make you angry?
A. According to a recent study, men with high blood pressure have a biased perception of other people's anger.
According to a recent study, men with high blood pressure have a biased perception of other people's anger.
Q. Is coffee good for blood pressure?
A. Even if you don't have high blood pressure, caffeine may produce a brief but significant rise in your blood pressure.
What precipitates this increase in blood pressure is unknown. Each person reacts differently to caffeine in terms of blood pressure.
Q. Do bananas lower blood pressure?
A. A banana a day helps to lower blood pressure. Potassium, a key mineral in decreasing blood pressure, is abundant in this fruit. The body's sodium levels are regulated by potassium.
Q. Is Eggs good for high blood pressure?
A. The American Journal of Hypertension claims that a high-protein diet, such as one full of eggs, can naturally lower blood pressure while also encouraging weight loss.
Q. Does lemon water help lower blood pressure?
A. A lemon beverage contains minute amounts of various nutrients that may help decrease blood pressure.
Both potassium and calcium can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Lemon water may help immediately return the reading to the usual range, according to research.
Q. Does not eating lower your blood pressure?
A. According to research, fasting can help people lose weight, control their diabetes, lower their blood pressure, and lower their cholesterol.
Q. Can drinking water lower your blood pressure?
A. Blood pressure can be improved by something as easy as staying hydrated by consuming six to eight glasses of water each day.
The human heart contains 73% water1, thus no other liquid is more effective at regulating blood pressure.
Q. Which fruit is good for high blood pressure?
A. Citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, oranges, and lemons, may significantly reduce blood pressure.
They include a wealth of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals, which may protect your heart by lowering risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure.
Q. Does aspirin lower blood pressure?
A. Aspirin was once thought to have little effect on blood pressure5, but recent research shows that taking it before night significantly lowers blood pressure compared to taking it right before waking up.
Q. Does walking lower blood pressure immediately?
A. By lowering blood vessel stiffness and allowing for easier blood flow, exercise decreases blood pressure.
Exercise has its greatest impacts during and right after a workout. The greatest impact on blood pressure reduction may occur immediately following exercise.
Q. Can garlic lower BP?
A. Yes. Garlic supplements lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 8.3+/-1.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 5.5+/-1.9 mmHg.
Q. When should I worry about my blood pressure?
A. Though the normal range of blood pressure is different for different age groups as mentioned above, If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, consult a doctor right away.
Q. Are there warning signs days before a stroke?
A. According to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be visible as early as seven days before an attack and necessitate urgent treatment to prevent serious brain damage.
Q. How long can you live with high blood pressure?
A. A blood pressure reading of 180/120 or greater, if untreated, increases the risk of mortality by 80% within a year, with an average survival rate of ten months.
Long-term high blood pressure that is not managed can also cause kidney disease, a heart attack, a stroke, blindness, and kidney disease.
Q. Can a thin person have high blood pressure?
A. Yes and the risks of cardiovascular disease are equivalent and high for the lean, overweight, and obese, despite prior research suggesting that high blood pressure may be riskier for thinner persons.
Q. Does belly fat cause high blood pressure?
A. An increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure has been associated with excess belly fat.
Q. What emotions cause high blood pressure?
A. When you're under stress, your body creates an increase in hormones.
By making your heart beat quicker and your blood arteries constrict, these hormones temporarily raise your blood pressure.
There is no evidence that stress alone causes persistently high blood pressure.
Q. How does high blood pressure affect the eyes?
A. Blood vessels in the retina can become damaged by high blood pressure.
The tissue layer at the back of the eye is called the retina. It transforms the light and pictures that reach the eye into the nerve signals that go to the brain.
Hypertensive retinopathy is the medical term for damage to the retina caused by high blood pressure.
Q. How does high blood pressure affect the brain?
A. High blood pressure can also result in blood clots forming in the arteries that supply the brain, obstructing blood flow and possibly resulting in a stroke.
One particular form of dementia can be brought on by narrowed or clogged arteries that reduce blood supply to the brain (vascular dementia).
Q. How does high blood pressure affect your behavior?
A. Compared to people with normal blood pressure, those who have hypertension are more prone to suffer from mood disorders such as anxiety and sadness.
It's possible to treat hypertension. You can lower your blood pressure by making lifestyle adjustments or by taking medication.
Q. Does sugar increase blood pressure?
A. Yes, in fact, sugar or diabetes is the head of the department of many other health problems and diseases.
Q. Does anxiety cause high blood pressure?
A. Long-term high blood pressure is not brought on by anxiety (hypertension). However, anxiety attacks can result in sharp, brief increases in blood pressure.
Q. Does chocolate raise blood pressure?
A. Caffeine, a stimulant found in chocolate, can momentarily increase blood pressure.
The caffeine in chocolate will probably cause your blood pressure to rise more than it would if your blood pressure were normal if you already have high blood pressure.
Q. Is chicken OK for high blood pressure?
A. If you have high blood pressure, eating chicken legs, breast, or soup may help.
Chicken breasts and chicken legs contain a protein that is broken down into peptides in the stomach (smaller proteins).
Similar to the blood pressure medicine ACE inhibitors, these peptides have blood pressure-lowering properties.
Q. What can I take in the morning for high blood pressure?
A. According to Ayurveda, honey, and water can work wonders to lower high blood pressure.
Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Dr. Vasant Lad recommends drinking a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of honey and 5 to 10 drops of apple cider vinegar in the morning.
Q. Is cheese good for high blood pressure?
A. Although cheese is a fantastic source of calcium and protein, it is frequently also heavy in salt and saturated fat.
This implies eating excessively could result in high blood pressure and cholesterol, which would raise your chance of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Q. What tea is good for high blood pressure?
A. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, drinking hibiscus tea can considerably lower blood pressure, especially when it is just a little bit raised.
Anthocyanins and other antioxidants found in hibiscus tea, according to research, may assist blood arteries to avoid deterioration that could cause them to narrow.
Q. How much water should you drink if you have high blood pressure?
A. Changing one's lifestyle is a crucial initial step in the treatment of high blood pressure.
You should consume eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day to reap the full benefits of drinking water on your health.
Chronic dehydration makes the body hold onto sodium, which contributes to high blood pressure.
Q. Does cinnamon lower blood pressure?
A. Cinnamon consumption decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.2 mm Hg and 3.9 mm Hg, respectively, according to a study of 9 trials including 641 people.
Q. What time of day is blood pressure lowest?
A. Typically, in the late afternoon and early evening, blood pressure declines. Sleeping at night usually results in reduced blood pressure.
Q. Can lack of sleep cause high blood pressure?
A. Your blood pressure may rise the less sleep you get. Less than six hours of sleep every night may cause a more pronounced rise in blood pressure.
If you already have high blood pressure, getting inadequate sleep could exacerbate your condition.
Q. What is normal BP for a 70-year-old?
A. As a general belief, the normal blood pressure level for people older than 60 years is 95-145 Systolic and 70-90 Diastolic but In 2017.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) modified their recommendations, urging people 65 and older to strive for blood pressure readings that are less than 130/80 mm Hg.
Q. What is stroke level blood pressure?
A. Blood pressure at the stroke level is 180/120 mm Hg or higher.
You might experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or stroke-related symptoms. Numbness or tingling, difficulty speaking, or changes in eyesight are all signs of a stroke.
Q. What is emergency treatment for high blood pressure at home?
A. There is no home remedy for a hypertensive emergency. Make a call to an emergency medical service and visit a hospital.
Q. What painkiller can I take with high blood pressure?
A. The most popular alternative painkillers for patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) are acetaminophen (Tylenol), while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) can cause blood pressure to increase.
Q. Can alcohol lower BP?
A. In some people, alcohol temporarily reduces blood pressure. But this result is typically fleeting.
Alcohol decreases blood pressure because it causes the release of many chemicals, including nitric oxide, or NO, which widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
Q. What exercises should be avoided with high blood pressure?
A. Exercises that demand quick bursts of activity or strain should be avoided if you have high blood pressure since they raise the risk of arterial rupture, heart attack, or stroke.
Sprinting, squash, weightlifting, skydiving, and SCUBA diving are all things to stay away from.
Stay Fit, Stay Happy
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