It is estimated that no less than 600 million people worldwide are affected by hypertension. Described as a ‘silent killer’ hypertension causes 5 million premature deaths each year (World Health Organisation) and the numbers are rising.
There are two kinds of hypertension: primary hypertension, which cannot be attributed to any one thing, and secondary hypertension, which is attributable to some other illness in the body. Both are equally threatening, and wield the same damage on the body such as: cardiovascular disease (angina, stroke, heart attack or atrial fibrillation).
Commonly treatment is two fold: lifestyle and medication. Lifestyle changes include: stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating more healthily, getting more exercise, and more rest. Medications include ACE inhibitors to make the walls of the blood vessels relax and widen, Calcium channel blockers to widen the blood vessels, Diuretics to trigger hormonal changes and Beta Blockers to reduce the work of the heart during physically stressful times. Unfortunately the effectiveness of these treatments whether administered separately or together varies, ranging from good to poor. And of course, there is a double-edged sword when medication is used: its positive effects being offset by its negative.
But hypertension can be treated in another way, a way that has been clinically proven to achieve consistently good results, often eliminating the disease altogether while effecting other positive side effects that promote increased health and greater well being. It is the practice of meditation.
In the past 30 years there has been extensive research on the effects of meditation on health, and there is no longer any doubt about the positive effect it has not only on the spirit, but on the mind, and the body also. Meditation changes a persons brainwave frequencies and by doing so, changes the bioelectrical activity of their brain and the commands that it sends to the rest of their body.
When meditating, a person may have more endorphins released into their system causing them to feel ‘high’, they might also have an increase in the neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) that are associated with positive mental states, their brain might also give the signal to release more melatonin, and DHEA (anti ageing and rejuvenating hormones) into the blood stream and all of these are extremely beneficial to physical and mental well being.
When one feels mentally well it cannot help but have a positive effect on ones physical well being. Likewise, ones physical well being will have a positive effect on ones mental well being. Through practiced meditation, the mind body connection becomes positively symbiotic. There is consistent positive feedback between the two that, in time, will result in a person not only reducing their blood pressure, but improving their overall physical and mental well being.
For more information on meditation, how to meditate for better health, and easy ways to achieve a meditative state please visit: http://www.positivemindstates.com/AboutMeditation.htm
About Me — I have spent many years in the study of personal development. Diagnosed with leaukemia 11 years ago. I used the power of meditation, autosuggestion and visualization to heal myself. I knew I could do this because I realised it was the way I was using my mind in the first place that made me ill. For four years prior to the illness I had been performing in a piece about ‘blood going bad’. I literally focussed my brain on that negative suggestion – not realising that I was manifesting it in my body. This was a right of passage that taught me about the importance of focusing my mind on what I wanted, not on what I did not want. Our mind is the most precious resource for creating the life we want and whatever way we work it – works!For more information on Mind Power please visit my site: http://www.positivemindstates.com
