Reduce Blood Pressure at All Costs? - 5 Hypertension Myths

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects at least one in three persons in North America and many other affluent nations. Worryingly, it is affecting a rising number of young individuals, including those as young as 12 years old. It's no surprise that hypertension meds are among the top ten most often prescribed prescriptions.

With such a significant subject, it's vital to get the facts straight and maintain everything in context. Unfortunately, a lot of fallacies about hypertension have emerged. Here are five of the most frequent and possibly harmful myths:

Myth 1: High blood pressure raises your chances

of heart attack and stroke.

No, not always. There is no clear link between high blood pressure and heart disease. "Heart problems (due to high blood pressure) are not correlated with any specific or absolute blood pressure reading; it is correlated with an observed rise in blood pressure from whatever the earlier blood pressure was," writes John R. Lee, M.D. in a recent article for the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch. cheval

In other words, if your blood pressure is generally about 120/80 and goes to 140/90, your risk of heart issues is roughly the same as if it jumps from 140/90 to 160/90. It also implies that if your blood pressure is a consistent 160/90 and shows no evidence of increasing, it is not a symptom of imminent heart disease without additional risk factors present.

Myth 2: "Normal," healthy blood pressure is in

the 120/70 range. High blood pressure or "pre-

hypertension" is defined as pressures more than

130/80.

What constitutes normal? For many years, the medical guideline for high blood pressure was 140/90, which was further tempered by age. However, the criteria were abruptly altered. Even 130/80 is now considered "high blood pressure" by some physicians, while many others consider it "pre-hypertension" by others. Even new drugs to treat "pre-hypertension" are being developed!

Blood pressure varies greatly among healthy persons and often rises with age. Many factors may raise blood pressure, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs, stress, and excessive alcohol use.

Add to it the fact that blood pressure swings, often dramatically, during the day. Then there's the famed white-coat phenomenon wherein the stress of a doctor's appointment shows up as elevated blood pressure while readings obtained resting at home might be "normal".

All of these instances demonstrate how difficult it may be to get an accurate reading, much alone determine normal and abnormal values for a diverse variety of individuals.

Myth 3: If you have high blood pressure, you

must drastically limit or remove salt (or

sodium) from your diet.

This is not correct. Salt is incorrectly attributed to high blood pressure. The culprit is not salt or sodium. An imbalance of sodium, magnesium, and potassium in our diet throws our blood chemistry out of whack, contributing to hypertension.

The issue is that many processed and junk meals are rich in sodium while being low in magnesium and potassium. This is exacerbated when you add table salt to already salty bacon for breakfast.

But the solution is not to become obsessive about salt, but to eat full, natural foods (with a grain of salt!). Grains, vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish have more balanced levels of salt, magnesium, and potassium in their natural condition. Simply eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods may have a significant impact on blood pressure. Hypertension is nearly unheard of among the few surviving people that eat in this manner.

Myth No. 4: Taking blood pressure medicine is

preferable to the alternative.

Only in the most extreme instances and as a final resort!

It comes as no surprise when natural health experts argue that medications are worse than the ailment. But when it's a medical practitioner stating it, you take note! In the same article, Dr. Lee says, "I don't like anti-hypertensive medicines since their adverse effects are sometimes worse than the high blood pressure they're given to treat." (he emphasizes) He continues, saying: "When blood pressure measurements go outside of so-called normal norms, traditional doctors are more likely to prescribe anti-hypertension medications. This is illogical, and it is likely to do more damage than benefit in the long term ".

All blood pressure medications have adverse effects, which have been reduced by physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Some hypertension drugs, for example, may lead to ischemia, a condition in which tissues are injured owing to inadequate blood flow. Others are responsible for erectile dysfunction. Others may result in low blood pressure, which has the same hazardous consequences as high blood pressure. These are merely some of the possible hazards of blood pressure medication. For a more in-depth explanation, see Dr. Lee's paper.

Myth 5: Changing one's lifestyle is frequently

insufficient to correct high blood pressure. As a

result, early pharmacological intervention is

advised.

The exact opposite is true. The best method to keep your blood pressure in check is to live a healthy lifestyle that includes nutrition and exercise. If you are extremely overweight or out of shape, if you smoke or over-drink, or if you're under severe stress, a positive improvement in these things is guaranteed to have a huge influence on your blood pressure, regardless of how high it is.

Many physicians have come to assume that their patients are unlikely to make the necessary modifications. One of the reasons they over-prescribe drugs or interfere too fast is because of this. It's almost become a precaution for them. However, most individuals will make an attempt to modify their lives if they are given the correct assistance (particularly if they are provided accurate information about the side effects and hazards of hypertension medicines!).

If your blood pressure does not react to lifestyle changes, it's time to explore beyond the traditional culprits like weight and nutrition. There are numerous more areas that are seldom investigated yet might harm your blood pressure. Are you, for example, suffering from concealed stress? Some individuals have been persistently stressed for so long that they no longer recognize it. It has evolved into its "natural" condition.

What about your respiration? Your breathing, that is! People often acquire what some specialists refer to as "inhibitory breathing" in conjunction with severe stress. It constricts blood vessels by raising muscular tension and may also cause blood chemistry to become unbalanced. Slow breathing with music is a novel approach that may help decrease blood pressure via breathing.

It only goes to show that there's more to life than meets the eye. If you're upset that your adjustments aren't working, you may need to delve deeper.

Conclusions:

1. Although high blood pressure is a dangerous disease that requires immediate care, there is no need to worry, particularly if you are generally healthy. A big and prolonged increase in your blood pressure is even more concerning than the exact figures.

2. There is a broad range of acceptable blood pressure levels. Keep an eye out for white-coat syndrome and find out what your typical blood pressure is in a calm condition. Then keep an eye out for persistent gains from this level.

3. It has nothing to do with salt. There are no "evil Consume a well-balanced and diverse diet of whole, natural foods. A little magnesium dose of 300 to 400 mg may also be beneficial.

4. Take drugs only as a last option if you are healthy and have no additional risk concerns. Give lifestyle at least a six-month trial period. Do not disregard medical advice, but if your doctor is too strict, get a second opinion.

5. A healthy blood pressure is achieved by a healthy lifestyle. If you have an issue with your blood pressure, something is probably likely wrong. If you don't discover an obvious solution, go further.

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