High blood pressure (hypertension)

What you need to know

Lifestyle is the major factor in determining the risk of developing High blood pressure. Being overweight, smoking, too much caffeine, alcohol and salt, stress and not getting enough exercise all increase your chances. Diet also plays a very important role and anyone with even mild hypertension should be very aware of this.

The most useful Supplements:

In addition to a mega dose multivitamin and mineral there are many supplements worth taking.

Most useful (in alphabetical order with amounts per day)

Other supplements that could help include:

Bioflavanoids, Flaxseed oil, Lycopene,  Pycnogenol, Rutin, selenium

The most useful Herbs:

There are several herbs that can help:

Homoeopathy

The following homeopathic remedies could also bring relief, however it is advisable to seek professional guidance to assess your individual needs:

• Argentum nitricum
• Belladonna
• Nux vomica

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

The importance of eating a good balanced diet is crucial to the regulation your blood pressure, you should:

• Increase their intake of foods rich in Potassium (consult your doctor if you are already taking Potassium sparing drugs) - the best sources are dried fruits, soya flour, nuts, salads, vegetables, fresh fruit (particularly bananas) and fruit juice, muesli and other breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread and flour, white bread, eggs and Cheese. Interestingly, both instant and roasted coffees are very rich in Potassium, but don’t overdo it - too much caffeine is bad for your blood pressure
• Eat more fibre and complex carbohydrates - wholemeal bread, again, brown rice, dried beans, lentils, Oats, pasta
• Have more Celery, Garlic, Leeks and onions
• Cut down on saturated fats - in all Meat products, the skin of Poultry and full-fat Dairy products - but have more of the good mono and poly-unsaturated oils, especially olive, rapeseed, safflower, peanut and walnut.. Avoid coconut and palm oils, often present in products labelled ‘vegetable oil‘
• Throw away the salt and read the labels on every food package you buy - the average daily consumption of salt in the UK is 12gs and it shouldn’t be more than 4 or 5. Salt causes fluid retention, which pushes up the blood pressure, leading to strokes and heart disease
• Eat more oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, pilchards - they’re a vital addition to the diet. They reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of blood clots and are extremely heart protective

Other useful advice:

• You should also be doing at least three half-hour periods of exercise a week. You don’t need to train for a marathon; anything, which gets you mildly out of breath, like a brisk walk, will do. Gardening, energetic housework or a session of your favourite sport, appropriate to your condition, will also be fine.
• Natural therapies can play a major part in helping to reduce blood pressure. Nutritional advice from a naturopath, Aromatherapy, bio-feedback, meditation, Yoga, Acupuncture, herbal medicine, homoeopathy are all valuable.
• If you are already using conventional medicine to manage your blood pressure, please note that certain drugs may affect various nutrients in the body, eg Hydrazaline depletes Vitamin B6, Propranonol inhibits Coenzyme Q10, and Thiazide and loop diuretics deplete folic acid, Magnesium and Potassium.

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk). The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.