Hypertension Battle Plan

Heart disease is one of the biggest silent killers on a global scale. Having hypertension (or high blood pressure) means that the pressure at which your arteries pump blood from your heart to the rest of your organs and throughout your body is too great. This abnormal blood pressure is what puts stress on the heart and causes premature death.

A normal blood pressure reading for an adult is 120 systolic (when your heart pumps) /80 diastolic (when your heart relaxes). High blood pressure is divided into different levels:

• Borderline: 120-160/90-94 mmHg
• Mild: 140-160/90-104 mmHg
• Moderate: 140-180/105-114 mmHg
• Severe: 160+/115+ mmHg

Elevated blood pressure is a major risk factor for a heart attack and is generally regarded as the greatest risk factor for a stroke. Blood pressure typically increases as a result of stress or physical activity. In a person with high blood pressure however, it is elevated even at rest.

Here are ten common causes of hypertension

• Atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries): because the arteries are obstructed with cholesterol plaque in atherosclerosis, circulation of blood through the vessels becomes difficult. When the arteries harden, the blood is forced through a narrower passageway, which results with blood pressure becoming elevated.
• Alcoholism: excessive consumption of alcohol raises blood sugar levels and increases the production of free radicals, both of which damage the arteries. Alcoholics typically eat poorly, and consequently have vitamin and mineral deficiencies that cause poor cardiovascular health.
• Obesity: a diet high in animal fat, sugar, and salt, and low in fibre, essential vitamins and minerals, and essential fatty acids (associated with the typical Western diet) appears to be the main cause of hypertension. Obesity leads to excessive sugar in the blood, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis.
• Smoking/coffee consumption: lifestyle choices like smoking and consumption of coffee are known to cause hypertension. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that promote the release of stress hormones that elevate blood pressure.
• Stress: an inability to cope effectively with stress promotes atherosclerosis.
• One primary cause of hypertension is kidney disease. This occurs when the adrenal glands (small pea-shaped glands that lie on top of the kidneys) are triggered to secrete too much cortisol hormone, which elevates the “flight response” and increases blood pressure
• Soft water: exposure to lead in drinking water is associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Soft water is also low in calcium and magnesium, minerals that protect against hypertension.
• Excess Sodium: According to the American Heart Association, excessive levels of salt (or sodium intake of more than 1,500 milligrams per day) can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases—regardless of age, current health condition, and family history.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: Hypertension is often caused by a long-term sedentary lifestyle, in other words a lack of exercise, which leads to weight gain and undue pressure on the heart.
• Drugs: using recreational drugs — for instance, stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines and crystal methamphetamine — will put stress on the heart and arteries and cause damage.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Battle Plan

Facts you should know:

• Approximately one in four adults have high blood pressure (though most are unaware of it) , and more than half of all adults aged 65-74 years have high blood pressure.
• A physically unfit individual has an eight times greater risk of a heart attack or stroke than a fit individual.
• According to the US Surgeon General, “Cigarette smoking should be considered the most important risk factor for coronary heart disease.”

Signs and Symptoms:

Since blood vessels do not contain nerves, no symptoms are usually felt unless the disease is severe. High blood pressure is typically discovered as part of a routine check-up. A hypertensive crisis may be indicated by:

• Confusion, dizziness, emotional instability, fatigue, headache, insomnia, restlessness
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Coughing blood or nosebleeds
• Severe shortness of breath

Treatment and Prevention:

1) Diet

• A salt-free diet is essential for lowering blood pressure. Avoid MSG (monosodium glutamate), baking soda, canned vegetables, commercially prepared foods, over-the-counter medications that contains ibuprofen, diet soft drinks, preservatives, most sugar substitutes, meat tenderizers, and soy sauce.
• A high fibre diet and supplemental fibre are recommended. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in fibre and potassium, such as: apples, asparagus, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, aubergine, garlic, grapefruit, green leafy vegetables, melons, peas, prunes, raisins, squash, and sweet potatoes.
• Drinking the following juices are helpful: beet, carrot and celery, currant, cranberry, citrus fruit, parsley, spinach, and watermelon.
• Include seeded foods like brown rice, buckwheat, millet, and oats in your diet.
• Avoid saturated fats, margarine, and foods containing trans fatty acids or trans fats.
• Avoid processed foods – they elevate cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and risk for obesity and diabetes.
• Increase consumption of cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and halibut to at least three times a week. These foods contain omega-3 essential fatty acids that “thin” the blood and have numerous beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.

2) Lifestyle choices

• Smoking should be moderated, or preferably totally avoided, and alcohol should be kept to a minimum.
• Minimize consumption of caffeine.
• Weight loss reduces blood pressure and should be a primary goal for hypertensives that are obese or moderately overweight.
• Consistent aerobic exercise can prevent hypertension and lower blood pressure. Exercise is highly recommended because it reduces both stress and blood pressure.
• Exercise a minimum of thirty minutes, three times a week. Walking is a good exercise with which to start.
• Stress management techniques such as biofeedback, yoga, meditation, qigong, relaxation exercises, and hypnotherapy have all proved successful in lowering blood pressure.
• Learn how to control anger or express it appropriately.
• Avoid aggressive or passive behaviour. Be assertive, but express your thoughts and feelings in a kind way, as you would wish to be treated.

3) Recommendations

• A periodic cleansing fast can help detoxify the body. Fast three to five days every month.
• Drink filtered water only.
• Be careful that you do not overexert yourself during sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse can be dangerous for the hypertensive patient.

Word from David Sandoval: The Calcium Conundrum

“What if a common nutritional supplement that seems innocent on the surface, helped contribute to thousands of women’s (and men’s) untimely deaths each year. Well, this isn’t science fiction – it is scientific fact. The offending nutrient? Calcium.

You see, the use of calcium depletes the cells’ supply of magnesium, and magnesium helps us survive if we have a heart attack. In fact, most heart attack victims might survive if they have sufficient magnesium! Unfortunately, women have been convinced they cannot live without calcium – and now we find out that half of the deaths among women are due to heart attack. Could there be a connection?? We think so. So beware the calcium conundrum.”  David Sandoval (David is the CEO of Purium Health Products and Author of “The Green Foods Bible)

Love and light

Sparkling Energy “Transform your Health and Vitality”

To have access to free information and links to a range of superior nutritional products that I recommend please go to my website.

 

 

As a Raw Food Coach/Chef/Trainer I am experienced at enabling others to easily start the transformation to become conscious of healthier eating. People discover that adjusting their lifestyle can be both fun and easy and the outcome is often more energy and a greater capacity to self-heal. I am passionately involved with a movement to bring Non-GMO, Organic, Raw Vegan, wholefood supplements to the whole of my network and on into all of theirs too, so that others can benefit from having easy access to the healthiest foods in the easiest format.

To connect directly with me

Website

Email

Mobile: 07972 131666