Hypertension

In measuring a person’s blood pressure, the
physician takes two readings; the high and
the low. The highest pressure the heart
produces as it pumps blood into the arteries
is called the systolic pressure. The low
reading, called the diastolic, is a measure of
the pressure that remains in the arteries just
before the next heartbeat takes place.
The average normal blood pressure in a
young adult is one-twenty over eighty
(120/80); that is 120 millimetres for the
systolic pressure and 80 millimetres for the
diastolic. It is important to realize that no
fixed value exists for the blood pressure
and that the standard figure of 120/80 is
really the average of a fairly wide range.
The normal range for blood pressure in a
healthy young adult is 90 to 140 for the
systolic and 60 to 90 for the diastolic.
Therefore, persistent readings above 140
systolic and 90 diastolic actually indicate
hypertension or high blood pressure.
Many factors may cause high blood
pressure. Overeating, with resultant obesity
is a common cause, as well as hereditary
factors. Hypertension may also be an
unwanted side effect of drug treatment for
other diseases. Stress and business exertion
is a factor in high blood pressure.
Infections such as tonsillitis, and typhoid
fever, sometimes lead to kidney disease,
which may cause high blood pressure.
The main effects of high blood pressure
involve the heart and blood vessels.
Hypertension is one of the major risk
factors in the development of coronary
thrombosis (also known as myocardial
infarction or heart attack) as well as
coronary artery disease. It is also an
important factor in the development of a
STROKE, whether caused by brain
haemorrhage or blood clots in the blood
vessels of the brain.
It is strongly advocated
that the best way to prevent or control
hypertension is by going back to Nature in
terms of dietary intake and socio-
psychological life styles. To keep the
pressure down, one must control appetite
and maintain weight at normal or slightly
below normal level.
For effective control of blood pressure, the natural remedy being suggested
consists of natural extracts of herbs such as
Viscum album, Allium cepa, Allium sativum
and Verbena hastata.