Blood Pressure Problems
Taking the blood pressure is one of the most common and useful ways of measuring variations in someone’s health. It forms a standard part of an orthodox medical examination and is widely accepted as a barometer of stress. By measuring blood pressure, it is possible to tell how hard the heart has to work to pump blood round the body.
The measurement is taken by placing an inflatable cuff around the upper arm. This is then pumped up until it exerts enough pressure to stop the flow of blood in the arm’s main artery. As the cuff is gradually deflated and the blood begins to flow again, readings are taken on a gauge at two points of the heart’s pumping cycle. The first reading, of the systolic pressure, is taken at the moment when the heart actually beats (peak pressure); the second, called the diastolic pressure, is measured between heart beats (lowest pressure). The two readings are combined as a fraction with systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.
A normal measurement for an adult is about 120 over 80 (though blood pressure varies slightly throughout the day depending on what you are doing). However, systolic pressures of 100-140 and diastolic measurements of 60-90 are usually considered within normal bounds. Indeed, most doctors now regard a systolic reading of 100 plus a patient’s age as acceptable and would not necessarily be concerned by 60 year old with a systolic blood pressure of 160.
Abnormally high blood pressure is known as hypertension; low blood pressure is called hypotension. Both conditions may require treatment although hypertension is usually regarded as the more serious. High blood pressure is most common among the middle-aged (about one in 10 is affected), particularly men. It is an invisible disease and many people are completed unaware that they have it, although others experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or ringing in the ears.
Most cases of hypertension result from a combination of factors. Any one or more of the following can cause high blood pressure: being overweight, drinking too much, eating too much salt, insufficient exercise, hardening of the arteries, taking the contraceptive pill, smoking or hereditary factors. In rare cases, the cause may be a kidney disorder, and some pregnant women develop dangerously high blood pressure. If high blood pressure continues unchecked, it can contribute to serious conditions such as angina, heart attack, stroke, haemorrhage, or kidney complaints.
Low blood pressure can be as hard to detect as the opposite extreme. It mostly affects elderly people and is usually temporary. The symptoms, if there are any, include momentary giddiness or fainting on standing up suddenly after sitting or lying down.
When low blood pressure is persistent, it may be due to an under active adrenal gland.
THE ORTHODOX APPROACH
Before prescribing any medication, most physicians will offer advice on some necessary changes to your lifestyle in order to reduce hypertension. These might include reducing alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, losing excess weight, cutting down on salt intake, trying other methods of contraception instead of the pill, taking more regular aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, or cycling. If these measures fail to reduce your high blood pressure, drugs such as beta-blockers (which lower the heart rate), diuretics (which increase production and excretion of urine) or vasodilators (which enlarge blood vessels) may be prescribed. Nevertheless, these treat only the symptoms and not the underlying causes, so, unless the reason for the hypertension is cured by some other means, you will have to take the drugs indefinitely to be free from the symptoms.
THE HALE APPROACH
High blood pressure is a potentially dangerous condition leading to strokes and heart attacks. A systolic blood pressure above 180mmHg or diastolic blood pressure above 90mmHg may need drug treatment. However, unless your physician is very concerned, you may try complementary therapies, as they are often very effective and are drug free. Persisting high blood pressure or a persistence of symptoms associated with high blood pressure should be discussed with your complementary therapist so that orthodox drug treatment may be started if necessary. Symptoms include visual disturbance, persistent headaches, dizziness, or altered consciousness.
Complementary medicine can play an important role in reducing blood pressure. The Hale Clinic approach is to do this in conjunction with orthodox medicine. If high blood pressure is diagnosed, it is initially necessary to take pharmaceutical drugs in order to lower it, as in certain cases this can be a life-threatening illness. However, complementary treatments are also effective in reducing blood pressure and once your physician can see that the blood pressure is returning to normal, the orthodox medication can be reduced.
The Hale Clinic would advise any of the following treatments: homeopathy, healing, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and Ayurveda. These can be combined with the supportive treatments mentioned below, with particular emphasis on nutrition.
Homeopathy, again in conjunction with the Supportive Treatments, is also effective for low blood pressure.
HOMEOPATHY
High blood pressure rarely responds well to homeopathy alone: making changes in diet, taking more exercise, supplements, and adopting relaxation exercises are essential if treatments is to work. Low blood pressure, however, can respond well after three to four sessions. Treatment would be constitutional and would depend very much on the individual case. More about homeopathy...
HEALING
One spiritual healer at the Hale Clinic who works through a person’s aura (the electro-magnetic field that surrounds us all) claims to be able to reduce high blood pressure in one session and to normalize in about six. However, she points out that high blood pressure should not be treated in isolation; a number of other factors such as fluid retention, heart problems, stress, etc, may also need attention. More about healing...
ACUPUNCTURE
This ancient Chinese therapy regulates the balance between yin (the passive force) and yang (the aggressive force) in the body; an imbalance is believed to cause illness. In acupuncture theory; hypertension is caused by too much yang. A course of about six sessions should regulate the blood pressure rebalancing yin and yang by tonifying yin and eliminating excess yang. More about acupuncture...
SELF-HYPNOSIS
Hypertension s a classic symptom of stress, but hypnotherapists believe that a person suffering from hypertension can train themselves to relax in a few moments of quietness or meditation and to bring their blood pressure back under control. “I would certainly teach a patient suffering from high blood pressure relaxation, stress management and self-hypnosis techniques”, says one hypno-and-psychotherapist. “The trick is to adapt the techniques to a person’s character and lifestyle. As we work together, very often people react favourably to a certain concept that I might use and they can take that and adapt it for themselves at home. The best work occurs in the time between sessions as they learn how to use these techniques and gain confidence in their ability to control their blood pressure”.
AYURVEDA
According to the teachings of this traditional Indian medicine, high blood pressure is often caused by an excess of Vata, one of the three elemental forces, in the head. This presents itself in the early stages as insomnia, restlessness, anxiety or headaches. “Ayurvedic treatments are very successful in treating high blood pressure”, according to one practitioner. “Sarpaganda is a proven Ayurvedic plant. Many years ago, drug companies produced the tablet Serpasil using the alkasoid of this plant”.
After consultation, Ayurvedic preparations will be prescribed and dietary and lifestyle advice will be given. Panchakarma (revitalization) therapy can be highly successful. This may involve massage, a herbal steam bath and detoxification, and may be used in conjunction with shiro dhara oil therapy, in which warm oil is dripped on to the forehead and then massaged into the scalp. More about ayurveda...
SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS
Nutrition
As with a circulatory problem, a nutritionist’s first aim is to undo the damage to the arteries, caused by cell proliferation, which causes narrowing of the arteries and in turn attracts calcium and cholesterol. To do this, the nutritionist would recommend foods and supplements rich in anti-oxidants, particularly Vitamins A, C and E and selenium. He or she would also use fish oils and Vitamin E to make the blood thinner to that it flowed better. However, if a patient is already taking blood-thinning drugs, the nutritional treatment must be co-ordinated with their physician and taken slowly so that the blood is not thinned too dramatically or too quickly.
Chi Kung
This traditional Chinese exercise system is ideal when combined with other therapies. Practitioners report that those with high blood pressure get excellent results from adopting the principles of Chi Kung, because the exercises slow a person down, enabling them to achieve more with less effort.
Remedial Yoga
If you suffer from hypertension you should ensure that you do yoga with a qualified teacher and inform your doctor. That said, both high and low blood pressure can benefit from yoga’s asanas (Postures) and breathing practices. According to one teacher, “The system can relax and allow the body to balance of centre itself. More balanced or centre itself. More balanced breathing means better use of the diaphragm and that helps all functions of the body”. Yoga has a direct effect on the circulation of the blood, encouraging a free flow both to and from the heart.
SELF-CARE
Nutrition
A diet low in calcium and cholesterol and rich in Vitamins A, C and E, e.g. yellow/orange and green vegetables, oily fish, eggs, fruits, and whole grain cereal, is recommended.
TIPS
• Avoid fatty food. Eat only steamed vegetables for two weeks.
• As a relaxation technique, breathe in for two counts, out for three counts and concentrate on the rhythm.
• Make sure you sleep for at least six hours a night. During sleep is the only time the blood has a chance to purify; maximum purification means less pressure for the arteries and veins.
• Soak your feet in hot water for 10-20 minutes while covering your upper body with a blanket.
• Do 10 minutes of light yoga exercise every day.