Blood pressure problems? Before you commit to taking prescription medications for life, let me share with you some of my observations.
Medication for blood pressure problems can be a life saver, no doubt about it. But there are several natural/holistic approaches that may decrease or even eliminate the need. These are certainly worth trying. If you are already on a prescription medication, it’s best if you first have a medical physician that will cooperate with your attempt at some of these remedies.
I’ve always coached my patients to use this line when communicating with their MD – “Thank you doctor for your advice, but I’d like you to work with me as I pursue a more natural solution to my problem.” Don’t expect agreement with what you want to do, but do demand cooperation. Don’t be afraid to switch doctors if need be.
Firstly, are you exercising everyday? This is a priority! Now before you run off and give up on my advice prematurely, you’ll be happy to learn that my opinion of what constitutes exercise is different than most. I believe there is ample benefit from simply doing things like walking, biking, swimming and dancing. You don’t have to sweat bullets! You don’t have to pant, gasp for breath, or even be in pain the next day. In fact I’ll go so far as to say that if you’re sore after any exercise, you’ve done it to hard.
The key to this is to get this physical activity consistently and for at least 30 minutes each time. I tell my patients to aim for getting it every day and settle for no less than 3 times per week. If you can only tolerate 5-10 minutes to start with, that is fine. Increase it a little as you can tolerate. But think “life long” because the activity needs to be kept up. The most common reason that people give up is boredom, so have a variety of options to choose from.
Secondly, consider that the main communication system in your body may be short-circuited and this may be causing your heart and blood vessels to malfunction. Doctors of Chiropractic call this phenomenon vertebral subluxation. Our nervous systems are the main communication systems in our bodies. Nerves get pinched and irritated when spinal bones (vertebrae) become misaligned. These misalignments are caused by stress from accidents, injuries, emotional strain and even toxins. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are specialists at finding and reducing or eliminating this. And yes, it often has a profoundly positive effect on blood pressure.
Thirdly, how is your nutrition? Don’t worry, I’m not about to tell you to eat all organic, turn vegetarian, or go on a ridiculous diet. But there are some nutritional solutions that are worthwhile. For example; the following have been known to contribute to blood pressure issues: caffeine, aspartame, MSG, alcohol, processed sugars (candy, pastries, soft drinks). I’m not saying these should be avoided completely, but if you are using one or more of those consistently (more than 2 times per week), then it’s likely that it may be contributing to your blood pressure problem. I advice minimizing these food items and better yet, compensating by having a big salad every day, perhaps making a meal out of it by adding some quality protein like tuna, salmon, or beans.
So there you are, 3 natural tips for improving blood pressure through exercise, optimum nerve supply, and nutrition. And better yet, they are easy and inexpensive. Do these things consistently and I’d be surprised if your blood pressure does not normalize or at least improve significantly.
