Last month was the month that my wife and I were blessed with our first child – a girl. The momentous and joyous day in the middle of summer came at the end of a healthy pregnancy with no real complications through the three trimesters. However, two days after we came back home from the hospital with our bundle of joy, we had to rush back again. This time for my wife, cause her Blood Pressure which usually stays below 100/70 had shot up to 160/100. Preeclampsia, is a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy. It usually happens in the last trimester. In rare cases, symptoms may not start until after delivery. So I guess my wife had what is called a postpartum preeclampsia. The seriousness of High Blood Pressure came knocking home. That’s why home remedies for high blood pressure exist, and really help.
In today’s fast paced world, one of the most common lifestyle diseases that plagues young and old alike is hypertension and high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is also known as Hypertension. Blood pressure, is the force of blood pushing through artery and veins, as it makes its way in the body. These veins and arteries have a capacity of pressure for the blood to flow. Anything more than the standard capacity can have effects that can be serious and even fatal. In the same way as high cholesterol is damaging, high blood pressure can also be a serious threat. It can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart diseases and a stroke. High Blood Pressure is also known as the silent killer as it creeps up on you without any tell tale signs or symptoms.
One of the most essential and critical step in preventing and treating high blood pressure is to have the right lifestyle choices. An alteration in your lifestyle can drastically help in reducing your blood pressure. While the most common remedy is medicines, to lower the blood pressure, the flip side is that you are likely to be taking the pills for life and become totally dependent on allopathic medicines. There are many ways and means to lower your blood pressure through a holistic approach to wellness.
Common causes that increase hypertension or high blood pressure
Some of the common causes that can be ascertained to an increase in high blood pressure are obesity, hereditary or genetic factors, excessive alcohol consumption, high salt intake, lack of physical exercise, stress, birth control pills, pain relievers, kidney ailments and adrenal disease. Weather also plays a role in elevating your Blood pressure. In the colder months the blood pressure is generally higher. And it is also known to be lower in the summertime. Why does cold or heat affect the blood pressure? Mainly because low temperatures cause your blood vessels to become narrow resulting in an increase in blood pressure as more pressure is required to force blood through the now narrow veins and arteries and vice versa when the weather is warm.
Like many other ailments that can be prevented through your diet, a little caution on what you eat can help you to maintain your blood pressure adequately. People who already suffer from high blood pressure or those who are on the borderline, need to work extra hard to keep it in check. There are many natural remedies for high blood pressure, non-medical ways of combating and keeping High Blood Pressure in check.
Home remedies for High Blood Pressure
Blueberry Juice
One of the great natural remedies for high blood pressure is having a glass of blueberry juice every day. Apart from being an excellent source of antioxidants, which helps to fight diseases like cancer, blueberries also help decrease blood pressure. The effects of blueberries are more evident in people with high cardiovascular risk, such as those who are obese. Hence a glass of Blueberry juice can be a good natural treatment for high blood pressure. Just add 1 cup of fresh blueberries to half a cup of water and add half a lemon juice and mix it in a blender.
Garlic
Garlic has natural antibiotic properties. It helps in relaxing your blood vessels as it increases the level of nitric oxide in your body. With the arteries dilated, it allows blood to flow freely and hence reduces blood pressure. Of course, the thought of munching on garlic can induce puke. Therefore Garlic water is an excellent natural remedy to regulate blood pressure. Garlic is also known to have antioxidant properties that protect the blood vessels. You can opt for garlic flavored water through the day. To make garlic water – peel and crush 1 clove of garlic and let it sit in a glass of water 6-8 hours. Ideally you should drink the water in the morning, before breakfast.
Olive-tree leaves
In addition, various types of tea such as hibiscus tea or olive leaf tea, seem to have excellent antihypertensive properties which help control blood pressure. Olive Tree Leaves are also known to be one of the natural cures for high blood pressure. This is because they have polyphenols that regulate blood pressure. They also help in providing a calming and relaxing effect, which helps to control anxiety. Place 2 tablespoons of ground olive leaves in a pan of water and boil it for 5-10 minutes. Let it cool down, strain and drink. Drink 3-4 cups of tea through the day.
Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus plant is a favorite among people who want to lose weight. But the plant has other benefits as well. Like, plant can also be used for high blood pressure treatment at home. Hibiscus possesses a rich composition of anthocyanins, that helps regulate blood pressure. For best results in reducing blood pressure, use the flower calyxes with darker colors. Darker colors mean more concentration of anthocyanins hence greater the effect against high blood pressure. Place the hibiscus calyxes (2 gms) in a cup of boiling water and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Then strain the mixture and drink once to twice a day, making sure you allow at least eight hours between each cup of tea. You can add a pinch of honey to reduce the bitterness of the Hibiscus tea.
Get Active
One of the best examples of high blood pressure treatment at home is to workout. It is the cheapest and the easiest home remedies for high blood pressure. You can do it in the comfort of your home, backyard or even your deck. Exercise is your most powerful buddy in the fight for health and reducing high blood pressure. You don’t have to break the bank and take up an expensive gym membership. You can include simple routines that will go a long way in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A regular walk, a short jog around the block will suffice. Just get active and keep at it on a regular basis.
Be Mindful
It is also important to calm your mind and release your stress. Regular meditation practice is also one of the home remedies for high blood pressure. Through meditation you can help manage hypertension. Simply sitting with your eyes closed and your body in a relaxed posture will calm your mind.
What to avoid?
Coffee
This might be bad news for all you coffee lovers. Unfortunately, Caffeine is one of the most common contributors to high blood pressure. Even though you would like to start your day with a cup of coffee, you may have to let the habit go. The good news is that there are some options of Tea that are mentioned above that you might want to switch to for your hot cup of morning starter.
Salt
This is another villain that leads to high blood pressure. Salt contains sodium and your body tends to hold extra water to eliminate or wash out the sodium and salt from the body. This additional need for water puts extra stress on your heart and the blood vessels resulting in a rise of blood pressure. So reduce salt which will in turn help you lower high blood pressure.
Stress
It does not just plague the elderly; the young are falling prey to this deadly devil as well. Stress can cause a sudden increase in your blood pressure levels. Your body releases a hormone called cortisol when you are stressed. This increases the heart rate and narrows down the blood vessels. So avoid stress. Take deep breaths and find solutions to your problems without the need of stress.
Alcohol
It is best avoided completely but limiting the alcohol consumption also helps in preventing high blood pressure. Consumption of alcohol increases your blood pressure levels. Keep off the bottle if you are suffering from hypertension or increased high blood pressure.
Smoking
It is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. The nicotine in the cigarette increases your blood pressure levels and heart rate narrows your arteries. It is also known to harden the blood vessel walls. It is another factor that brings stress to your heart and can result in a stroke. Hence, ditch the stick and adopt a healthy smoke free life.
Even though these home remedies for high blood pressure are useful and can complement high blood pressure treatment, you should consult your medical caregiver or a cardiologist, as they do not exclude the need to use the medication prescribed by your doctor.
FAQs
If you have high blood pressure without any complications, then the foremost thing to do is to calm down and lie down flat. Drop everything that you are doing and start to take deep breaths. By reducing stress, you will be able to bring down the blood pressure to some extent. If this does not work, call your medical provider immediately.
Milk is the answer. It is high in phosphorus, potassium and calcium. These three nutrients are linked to healthy blood pressure. Milk also contains Vitamin D, which promotes healthy blood pressure. However, use low-fat milk instead of full fat.
To stay adequately hydrated is one of the best ways to lower your blood pressure naturally. A lack of water results in your body retaining sodium. So drink water adequately. On the other hand, drinking too much water can result in an overload on the kidneys and the digestive system. High Blood Pressure makes the kidneys in a weakened state, so precaution is key.
The qualities of a Lemon are immense. It is known to be one of the best remedies for hypertension. It makes the blood vessels soft and flexible which in effect results in lowering the blood pressure level. The Vitamin C contained in lemon acts as an anti-oxidant and helps in removing free radicals from the body.
It’s always difficult to change what you eat, but that is your best bet. Try including food that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products in your diet. Cutting down on fat and cholesterol will also help in lowering your blood pressure.
