Blood pressure measures the pressure it takes to close off the artery and the pressure of the artery at full size. If your blood pressure is higher than normal (140/90), your heart is working harder to force the blood through the arteries. The major cause is narrowing arterial channels caused by hardening of the arteries or by cholesterol plaques obstructing the arteries. Other common causes are water retention, stress, family history, obesity, kidney disorders, diabetes, the use of oral contraceptives, overactive thyroid, and adrenal tumors.
Common symptoms of high blood pressure include: you feel your head is going to blow off, you are getting headaches that are unusual for you, heart palpitations, easy sweating, dizziness, vision disturbances, and shortness of breath. It is important that you have a physical exam every year which includes taking the blood pressure. Many doctors no longer perform routine yearly physical exams on the medical plan, so make sure you request your blood pressure be checked whenever you are in the office. I make it part of my yearly physical check ups with my patients. It is my experience that the self help blood pressure units available in malls and some pharmacies are not accurate, giving readings that are falsy low.
The other research you may not be familiar with is the "white coat syndrome". Over 40% of those people currently on medication for high blood pressure only have high blood pressure in the doctors office! If we send these folks home with their own blood pressure units and have them take their blood pressure at various times of the day and during stressful situations , it is always normal! To find this out for yourself, I recommend that you purchase your own unit and learn to take your own blood pressure. I have my patients bring the unit in during one of their visits so that I may test its accuracy. If you are on medication and may not need to be, check with your physician, or naturopathic physician before stopping medication. It should be lowered gradually and monitored by a professional. It is surprising the number of people whose blood pressure comes down once off their medication and how their sense of well being improves.
Due to the many side effects of blood pressure medication, I try and lower the blood pressure using herbs such as ginkgo and garlic, and nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and CoEnzyme Q10. Most respond very well. If not, taking these factors along with the medication reduces the side effects and improves the sense of well being.
Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and stress management are also important treatments. Naturopathic physicians believe that salt is not a causative factor in elevated blood pressure. Some research indicates that it is a lack of potassium that is the culprit. A diet high in vegetables will give you plenty of potassium. If you want to supplement you must be monitored as too much potassium is dangerous. Potassium levels should be included on your routine chemistry blood test. I also recommend eating celtic grey salt to taste. If you crave salt you are craving trace minerals and celtic grey salt is loaded with trace minerals, whereas sea or table salt are not. It is available in some health food stores.
Take charge of your health and question if you really need that blood pressure
medication or are you just suffering from white coat syndrome!
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