Managing High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries persistently elevates. Usually, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms. However. long-term high blood pressure is a major risk factor for the following:
- Stroke
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart failure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Vision loss
- Chronic kidney disease
- Dementia
Blood pressure is classified by two measurements, the systolic and diastolic pressures, which are the maximum and minimum pressures, respectively. The ranges are:
- Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Prehypertension: Systolic between 120–129 and diastolic less than 80
- Stage 1 high blood pressure: Systolic between 130–139 or diastolic between 80–89
- Stage 2 high blood pressure: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90 mm Hg
Here are some natural home remedies that help manage high blood pressure.
1. Green Tea
- There is some evidence green tea consumption may help lower blood pressure, but this is insufficient for it to be recommended as a treatment.
2. Hibiscus Tea
- There is evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that this tea consumption significantly reduces systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
3. Beetroot Juice
- Consumption also significantly lowers the blood pressure of people with high blood pressure
4. Bananas
- Bananas contain loads of potassium and fiber. Increasing dietary potassium has a potential benefit for lowering the risk of high blood pressure.
5. Dark Chocolate
- Some researchers found that chocolate that has 70% cacao or greater contains more antioxidants (polyphenols and flavanols) than fruit juice, which reduces blood pressure
6. Garlic
- Allicin, the main active compound in garlic, is thought to be largely responsible for garlic’s blood-pressure-lowering properties.
Lifestyle changes are recommended to lower blood pressure, before starting medications.
- Maintain normal body weight for adults
- Decreased salt intake
- Engage in regular aerobic physical activity such as brisk walking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Consume a diet rich in fruit and vegetables
- Manage Stress
- Quit smoking
Effective lifestyle modification may lower blood pressure as much as an individual antihypertensive medication. Combinations of two or more lifestyle modifications can achieve even better results.