Hypertension is one of the most common lifestyle disorders that the world is struggling to cope with nowadays. One third of the population in United States of America is suffering from high blood pressure with adults in the age group of 20 years and above.
Blood pressure is the force that the blood flowing in the arteries exerts upon its walls. The force with which the blood flows in the arteries depends upon the cardiac output and the resistance offered by the blood vessels to it.
Theoretically speaking, the normal range of blood pressure is 120/ 80 mm Hg. A systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg and above and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg and above is considered to be high. A sustained rise in the blood pressure levels of a person is referred to as hypertension.
There are various stages of hypertension depending up on the blood pressure measurement. The normal limit of blood pressure varies from person to person depending upon the age, secondary diseases and association of other disease conditions.
CAUSES OF HYPERTENSION
Causes of hypertension include depend upon a variety of risk factors like age, sex, race, lifestyle etc. The causes of hypertension can however be classified according to the origin of the disease which may be primary or secondary.
PRIMARY HYPERTENSION
Primary hypertension is usually affected by the hormonal regulation of the blood volume by renin - angiotensin enzyme system.
SECONDARY HYPERTENSION
Secondary hypertension occurs associated with other health problems like kidney failure, Cushing syndrome etc. Other hormones like vasopressin and other genetic problems can also affect the blood pressure control at a primary level.
Other causes of hypertension include
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Aneurysm
- Oral contraceptive pills
- Kidney disease
- Phaechromocytoma
- Hyperthyroidism
SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTENSION
The symptoms of hypertension may vary greatly ranging from asymptomatic state in which there are no symptoms at all to others that occur depending upon the organ involved.
Common symptoms include:-
- Heart enlargement also known as cardiomegaly
- Aneurysm
- Damage to the blood capillaries supplying the eyes and the kidneys
- Palpitation
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Headache
HYPERTENSION ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA
As per Ayurveda, hypertension is also known as " Uccha rakta chap ". It occurs due to the vitiation of the Saman vayu (A type of the vata body energy) that circulates in the body and causes a rise in the blood pressure levels. Any blockage or hindrance in the flow of blood in the channels of circulation or the srotasa affects the blood pressure levels resulting in hypertension.
- Toxins that cause blockage in the circulation
- Poor nutrition
- Poor digestion
- Imbalance in the nervous system
- Physical and mental stress
- Low immunity
HOME REMEDIES FOR HYPERTENSION
Here are a few home remedies for hypertension that can help keep abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure levels under control. These can also prove to be very effective in patients dealing with initial stages of the disease also.
GARLIC CLOVES
Take 3 -5 garlic cloves and peel them. Take these garlic cloves with plain water on an empty stomach every morning on a regular basis for best results.
ASPARAGUS
Asparagus is very good for naturally controlling elevated blood pressure levels. It can be consumed in powder formulation or as a juice in the dose of 20 -30 ml daily for best results.
ALMOND OIL
A few drops of Almond oil can be added in a glass of milk for consumption on a daily basis. It is especially beneficial in high stress states to lower down the anxiety levels and palpitations.
SARPAGANDHA ROOT POWDER
Half a tea spoon full of Sarpagandha root powder can be very effective in the management of the high blood pressure levels in persistent hypertension.
This powder can be taken two to three times in a day.
GARLIC PASTE
1 -3 g of garlic paste can be taken twice daily with buttermilk as well.
ORANGE
Oranges are also a very healthy and delicious option which can be very helpful to control blood pressure levels. At least 50 ml of fresh orange juice should be consumed twice daily for best results.
AMLA+APPLE+CARROT MURABBA
A sweet recipe called murabba prepared from any of the above three fruits or a combination of both can be very effective in managing hypertension.
FLAX SEEDS
Consume 2 -3 g of flax seeds every day on a daily basis. These are immensely rich anti-oxidants that are considered to be very healthy in all hypertensive patients.
