| Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects at least | | | | same article quoted above: "I don't like |
| one in three adults in North America and many other | | | | anti-hypertensive drugs because their side effects |
| developed countries. Even more alarmingly, it is | | | | are often worse than the high blood pressure they're |
| afflicting an increasing number of young people, some | | | | prescribed to treat." (his bolding) He goes on to say: |
| as young as 12 years old. So it's not surprising that | | | | "conventional physicians tend to prescribe |
| hypertension medications are among the 10 most | | | | anti-hypertension drugs any time blood pressure |
| frequently prescribed drugs. | | | | readings fall outside of so-called normal ranges. This is |
| With an issue of such importance, it's critical to get | | | | unjustified, and probably does more harm than good |
| the facts right and to keep things in perspective. | | | | in the long run". |
| Unfortunately, a number of myths have developed | | | | All categories of blood pressure drugs have side |
| around hypertension. Here are five of the most | | | | effects and these have been minimized by doctors |
| common and potentially damaging misconceptions: | | | | and the pharmaceutical industry. For example, some |
| Myth 1: High blood pressure increases your risk of | | | | hypertension medications can contribute to ischemia |
| heart attack and stroke. | | | | whereby tissues are damaged due to insufficient |
| Not necessarily. There is no direct connection | | | | blood supply. Others cause erectile dysfunction. Still |
| between high blood pressure and heart problems. In | | | | others can result in low blood pressure, which has |
| a recent article for the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch, | | | | implications just as serious as high blood pressure. |
| John R. Lee, M.D. writes: "heart problems (due to high | | | | These are only some of the potential dangers of |
| blood pressure) are not correlated with any specific | | | | blood pressure medication. See Dr. Lee's article for a |
| or absolute blood pressure reading; it is correlated | | | | more complete discussion. |
| with an observed rise in blood pressure from | | | | Myth 5. Lifestyle changes are not usually enough to |
| whatever the earlier blood pressure was". (italics | | | | reverse high blood pressure. Therefore, prompt drug |
| mine) | | | | intervention is advisable. |
| In other words, if your blood pressure is normally | | | | Exactly the opposite is true. The best way to |
| around 120/80 and rises to 140/90 your risk of heart | | | | maintain healthy blood pressure is always through |
| problems is about the same as that of someone | | | | lifestyle, including diet and exercise. If you are |
| whose blood pressure increases from 140/90 to 160 | | | | seriously overweight or out of shape, if you smoke |
| 90. It also means that if your blood pressure is a | | | | or over-drink, or if you're under severe stress, a |
| steady 160/90 and shows no sign of rising, it is not a | | | | positive change in these factors is bound to have a |
| sign of impending heart disease without other risk | | | | dramatic effect on your blood pressure, regardless of |
| factors involved. | | | | how high it is. |
| Myth 2: "Normal", healthy blood pressure is in the | | | | The problem is that many doctors have come to |
| range of 120/70. Pressure above 130/80 is either high | | | | believe that their patients are unlikely to make the |
| blood pressure or "pre-hypertension". | | | | changes needed. This is one of the reasons they |
| What is normal? For a long time the medical standard | | | | over-prescribe medications or intervene too quickly. |
| for high blood pressure was considered 140/90 and | | | | It's almost become a preventive measure for them. |
| this was further moderated by age. But suddenly the | | | | But the fact is that most people will make the effort |
| standard was changed. Now some doctors call even | | | | to improve their lifestyles if given the right support |
| 130/80 "high blood pressure" and many others | | | | (and especially if given accurate information about the |
| consider it "pre-hypertension". New medications to | | | | side effects and dangers of hypertension drugs!). |
| treat "pre-hypertension" are even underway! | | | | In the rare case in which your blood pressure fails to |
| The fact is that blood pressure varies widely among | | | | respond to lifestyle improvements it's time to look |
| healthy people and usually increases with age. Many | | | | beyond the usual suspects such as weight and diet. |
| things can increase blood pressure including | | | | There are several other areas that are rarely |
| over-the-counter and prescription medications, stress | | | | examined but which can wreak havok on your blood |
| and over-indulgence in alcohol. | | | | pressure. For example, are you suffering from hidden |
| Add to this the fact that blood pressure varies, | | | | stress? Some people have been chronically stressed |
| sometimes significantly, at different times of the day. | | | | for so long they don't even recognize it any longer. |
| Then there's the notorious white-coat syndrome | | | | It's become their "natural" state. |
| whereby the stress of a doctor's visit shows up as | | | | What about your breathing? Yes, your breathing! |
| high blood pressure while readings taken relaxing at | | | | Often together with high stress, people develop |
| home can be "normal". | | | | what some experts are calling "inhibitory breathing". It |
| These examples all go to show that just getting an | | | | constricts blood vessels by increasing muscle tension |
| accurate reading can be difficult enough, let alone | | | | and may also unbalance blood chemistry. A new |
| setting normal and abnormal levels for a wide range | | | | technique called slow breathing with music can do |
| of different people. | | | | wonders to lower blood pressure through breathing. |
| Myth 3. If you are hypertensive you must severely | | | | It just goes to show that there's more to lifestyle |
| restrict or eliminate salt (or sodium) from your diet. | | | | than you may think. If you are frustrated that your |
| Not true. Salt is unfairly blamed for causing high blood | | | | changes are not making a difference you may need |
| pressure. Salt, or sodium, is not the culprit. It's an | | | | to dig deeper. |
| imbalance of sodium, magnesium and potassium in our | | | | Conclusions: |
| diet that knocks our blood chemistry out of kilter and | | | | 1. High blood pressure is a serious condition that |
| thus contributes to hypertension. | | | | demands attention but there's no need to panic, |
| The problem is that many processed and junk foods | | | | especially if otherwise healthy. A significant and |
| are high in salt but deficient in magnesium and | | | | sustained rise in your blood pressure is of much |
| potassium. This is compounded when you add table | | | | greater concern than the actual numbers themselves. |
| salt to your already salty bacon at breakfast. | | | | 2. There is a wide range of healthy blood pressure. |
| But the answer is not to become paranoid about salt | | | | Watch out for white-coat syndrome and determine |
| but to eat whole, natural foods (and you can even | | | | your normal blood pressure in a relaxed state. Then |
| take that with a grain of salt!). Grains, vegetables, | | | | watch out for sustained increases from this level. |
| fruit, meat and fish in their natural state contain more | | | | 3. It's not about salt. There are no "evil" or "miracle" |
| balanced amounts of sodium, magnesium and | | | | foods! Eat a balanced and varied diet of whole, |
| potassium. Simply eating a healthy diet of whole | | | | natural foods. A modest magnesium supplement of |
| foods can have a dramatic effect on blood pressure. | | | | 300 to 400 mg might not be a bad idea either. |
| Hypertension is almost unknown among the few | | | | 4. If you are healthy and have no other risk factors, |
| remaining peoples that still eat in this way. | | | | take medications only as a last resort. Give lifestyle |
| Myth 4. Taking blood pressure medications is better | | | | at least a six-month chance. Don't ignore medical |
| than the alternative. | | | | advice but if your doctor is too rigid seek a second |
| Only in a minority of cases and as a last resort! | | | | opinion. |
| It's no surprise when you hear natural health gurus | | | | 5. Healthy blood pressure is maintained through |
| claim that drugs are worse than the disease. But you | | | | lifestyle. If your blood pressure is a problem then |
| really take notice when it's a medical doctor saying it! | | | | something is almost certainly out of whack. Look |
| That's exactly the case when Dr. Lee writes in the | | | | deeper if you don't find an obvious answer. |