| Description: Elevated blood pressure.
Cause: May be caused by stress, medication, or various health conditions.
Useful Supplements: Calcium, Coenzyme Q10, Fish Oil, Magnesium, Taurine, Vitamin C.
Useful Herbs: Garlic.
Herbs to Avoid: Licorice.
Further information: Hypertension or high blood pressure affects about 20% of people in the United States. High blood pressure is defined as a reading greater than 140/90 mmHg.
High blood pressure often has no symptoms. However, it can increase the risk of other problems such as heart disease. Regular blood pressure checks are the best way to monitor and watch for any change.
Many things can cause high blood pressure, including some medications, frequent alcohol intake, smoking, excessive salt intake, obesity, pregnancy, and many diseases.
In some cases, high blood pressure can be treated by lifestyle changes. In others, medications may be necessary.
Stress is a common cause and exacerbator of high blood pressure.1 Avoiding stressful situations may help lower blood pressure.
Regular exercise can lower high blood pressure.2 Other healthful lifestyle changes include weight loss3 and stopping smoking.4
Several dietary changes may also help combat high blood pressure. In many cases, hypertension is caused by excessive salt intake.5 Elimination of salt usually leads to lower blood pressure.6 In some people, however, complete elimination of salt actually causes an increase of blood pressure.
A vegetarian diet usually prevents high blood pressure.7 This is probably due to the high Potassium8 and fiber9 intake associated with such diets.
Other foods which increase blood pressure include alcohol,10 coffee, and sugar.11
Food allergies may contribute to hypertension in some people.12 Elimination diets may help find the food causing problems.
The following herbs and supplements may be helpful in the treatment of hypertension:
Calcium is sometimes effective in treating high blood pressure.13 It is most effective in cases where the systolic reading (top number) is elevated but the diastolic reading (bottom number) is normal. Calcium should not be taken by anyone with kidney stones without a doctor’s approval.
A deficiency of Coenzyme Q10 is often associated with hypertension. When a dose of 50 mg is taken twice daily, blood pressure drops noticeably.14
The fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in Fish Oil, may lower blood pressure.15
Magnesium appears to ease hypertension.16 A dose of up to 500 mg daily appears effective.
The amino acid Taurine has been shown to reduce blood pressure in both animals17 and humans.18
Vitamin C has also been reported to lower blood pressure.19
Garlic lowers blood pressure.20 It is generally not powerful enough, however, to be used as the sole treatment of hypertension.
References:
1Jeoung D-U, Dimsdale JE. The effects of caffeine on blood pressure in the work environment. Am J Hypertension 1990;3:749–53.
2. Kukkonen K, Rauramaa R, Voutilainene E, Lansimies E. Physical training of middle-aged men with borderline hypertension. Ann Clin Res 1982;14(Suppl 34):139–45.
3Alderman MH. Nonpharmacologic approaches to the treatment of hypertension. Lancet 1994;334:307–11 [review].
4Narkiewicz K, Maraglino G, Biasion T, et al. Interactive effect of cigarettes and coffee on daytime systolic blood pressure in patients with mild essential hypertension. J Hypertension 1995;13:965–70.
5Stamler J, et al. Findings of the international cooperative INTERSALT study. Hypertension 1991;17(Suppl I):I-9–15.
6MacGregor GA, et al. Double-blind study of three sodium intakes and long-term effects of sodium restriction in essential hypertension. Lancet 1989;ii:1244–7.
7Margetts BM, et al. Vegetarian diet in mild hypertension: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ 1986;293:1468–1471.
8Cappuccio FP, MacGregor GA. Does potassium supplementation lower blood pressure? a meta-analysis of published trials. J Hypertens 1991;9:465–73.
9Rossner S, Andersson I-L, Ryttig K. Effects of a dietary fibre-supplement to a weight reduction programme on blood pressure. Acta Med Scand 1988;223:353–7.
10Potter JF, Beevers DG. Pressor effect of alcohol in hypertension. Lancet 1984;i:119–22.
11Rebello T, Hodges RE, Smith JL. Short-term effects of various sugars on antinatriuresis and blood pressure changes in normotensive young men. Am J Clin Nutr 1983;38(1):84–94.
12Grant ECG. Food Allergies and migraine. Lancet 1979;i:966–9.
13Bucher HC, Cook RJ, Guyatt GH, et al. Effects of dietary calcium supplementation on blood pressureCa meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA 1996;275:1016–22.
14Digiesi V, Cantini F, Bisi G, et al. Mechanism of action of coenzyme q10 in essential hypertension. Curr Ther Res 1992;51:668–72.
15Morris MC, Sacks F, Rosner B. Does fish oil lower blood pressure? A meta-analysis of controlled trials. Circulation 1993;88:523–33.
16Patki PS, Singh J, Gokhale SV, et al. Efficacy of potassium and magnesium in essential hypertension: a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study. BMJ 1990;301:521–3.
17Abe M, Shibata K, Matsuda T, Furukawa T. Inhibition of hypertension and salt intake by oral taurine treatment in hypertensive rats. Hypertension 1987;10:383–9.
18Fujita T, Ando K, Noda H, et al. Effects of increased adrenomedullary activity and taurine in young patients with borderline hypertension. Circulation 1987;75:525–32.
19Trout DL. Vitamin C and cardiovascular risk factors. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53(suppl):322S–5S.
20Silagy C, Neil AW. A meta-analysis of the effect of garlic on blood pressure. J Hypertension 1994; 12:463–8.
|
