High blood pressure often has few symptoms and many people are unaware that they have it. But according to the American Heart Association, nearly 35 percent of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. A leading cause of heart disease, heart attacks and stokes, high blood pressure requires a doctor's attention. With your physician's approval, you may be able to lower your readings with a combination of diet, exercise and herbal supplements.
DASH Diet
The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and low-fat dairy products. This sensible diet is lower in fat and sodium than the typical American diet and features higher levels of potassium, magnesium and calcium. According to the Colorado State University Extension Service, individuals following the program saw blood pressure decreases that equaled or surpassed results achieved with antihypertensive medications.
Chiropractic
Not commonly associated with hypertension treatment, chiropractic can help lower blood pressure in some cases. According to a University of Chicago Medical Center press release, "a Chicago-area study [Journal of Human Hypertension (online); March 2, 2007] of 50 individuals with a misaligned Atlas vertebra (located high in the neck) and high blood pressure showed that after a one-time specialized chiropractic adjustment, blood pressure decreased significantly. The decrease was equal to taking two blood-pressure drugs at once."
Herbs
The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that garlic consumption may, among its many other cardiovascular benefits, "decrease platelet aggregation (helping blood flow more easily), and decrease blood pressure." To obtain these benefits, UMM recommends a standardized 400-mg supplement 2 to 3 times per day.
Hibiscus tea may lower blood pressure. According to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, results of a study published in the journal Phytomedicine (2004) indicate that 3 cups of hibiscus tea taken daily lowered blood pressure in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults.
Hawthorn leaves, berries and flowers provide cardiovascular health benefits. Memorial Sloan Kettering reports "hawthorn causes direct dilation of smooth muscle in coronary vessels thereby lowering their resistance and increasing blood flow."
High blood pressure is a serious condition. Speak to your doctor before changing, stopping or supplementing any high blood pressure medications she may have prescribed.
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