The Blood Pressure Reduction Guide

There is a high blood pressure headache link right?  Well, if you believe that then read on – you may be surprised.

Generally, most people believe that one of the symptoms of high blood pressure is a persistent headache.  However there have been a number of studies that contradict this.

Hypertension is known as the “silent killer”, as in the large majority of suffers there are no symptoms to indicate they have elevated blood pressure.

The number of cases of high blood pressure are increasing, with the world-wide number of those with high blood pressure estimated in one study to reach 1.56 billion people by 2025.  This increase has largely been associated with the “western” lifestyle of poor dietary choices and inactivity.

Many people do not have any idea they have high blood pressure until they get their blood pressure measured, and of those that have been diagnosed it is believed that about 50% stop taking their medication.

The link between high blood pressure and headaches has been documented, and it seems to stem from the fact that many people who have high blood pressure also suffer from headaches.  So, the conclusion seems to be that elevated blood pressure increases the chance of having headaches.

However, there have been a number of studies carried out that seem to contradict this theory. 

One example is a study that was carried out by the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.  They surveyed over 22000 adults about the frequency of their headaches and to get a baseline of their blood pressure.  11 years later they surveyed the group again to establish links between blood pressure and headaches.

They found that around 28% of the respondents suffered from repeated headaches. They also found that those with higher blood pressure readings actually had a reduced likelihood of suffering from headaches compared to those with lower blood pressure.

The study went on to identify that those with higher blood pressure and suffered with headaches also experienced less severe headache pain.

So, the results show no link that suggests that headaches are caused by high blood pressure.  In fact, they show that the opposite is true in those surveyed.

Although this study and others do not seem to have swayed the medical community, there are some good reasons that headaches may go hand in had with high blood pressure, even if these reasons are not physiological.

It may be that those that suffer with frequent headaches are more likely to go to the doctor’s surgery for a check up, and so have their blood pressure measured, creating a causal link to be erroneously established.  Most people know that there are proportions of the population whose blood pressure will elevate when it is measured in the doctor’s surgery.  The “white coat” effect on blood pressure is well documented.

Also, those that suffer from more headaches may well share some of the factors that are also indicative of a higher risk of having elevated blood pressure, like being overweight, eating foods high in fat and sodium, having a relatively sedentary lifestyle etc.  So the headaches are perhaps not caused by the high blood pressure, but by the lifestyle choices made by the person.

There may also be a link between those that have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and those that have headaches through the fact that they are more likely to be anxious and concerned about their health by being diagnosed as being hypertensive.

So, the high blood pressure headache link is not as clear we all would like.  However, if a person is having persistent headaches then they should definitely pay a visit to their doctors to identify if there are any factors that may be causing it.  And if it is the lifestyle or dietary choices that are being made, then changing these can help the headaches and reduce blood pressure levels too.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find out about other alternative medicine high blood pressure resources.

When measuring high blood pressure, generally your doctor will use a sphygmomanometer or an automatic monitoring machine. Do not be surprised if your blood pressure is taken on most visits to the doctors, especially if you have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

The prevention or early treatment of high blood pressure has been the focus of attention, as it is a condition that can be treated successfully with little or no damage being caused to the patient.  But the longer the blood pressure is abnormally elevated the greater the risk of complications.

The diagnosis of high blood pressure is easy through the use of special equipment like a sphygmomanometer, but there are usually no symptoms of elevated blood pressure so patient will not normally go to the doctors to have the condition looked at.  This is why high blood pressure has been tagged as the “silent killer”.

It is believed that about 30% of the world’s population currently die from cardiovascular disease, and this number is set to rise.  A recent study suggested that there would be approximately 1.56bn people in the world with high blood pressure by 2025.  The main reason for this incredible growth has been attributed to more developing countries adopting a “westernized” lifestyle.

Inactivity, a diet rich in sodium and high in fat, and a stressful lifestyle have all been considered as contributory factors in the increase in numbers of people with elevated blood pressure.

So, blood pressure should be checked on a regular basis to allow the sufferer to take the relevant actions if it is elevated. It is recommended that a person should have their blood pressure measured regularly, with the interval dependent upon some the following risk factors:

• Age – those over 35 are at a greater risk of having high blood pressure
• Family history – whether the family has a history of related diseases or conditions, like cardiovascular disease
• Own medical history – whether they have had previously elevated blood pressure, or had kidney or heart conditions
• Lifestyle – They are overweight, smoke, have a diet high in sodium or high in fat, whether they do little exercise.
• Whether the person is pregnant or taking the contraceptive pill.

There are now a number of excellent blood pressure monitors available to use at home, and these can be used to monitor progress as part of any treatment, or just to check blood pressure on a regular basis.

When a doctor looks at a blood pressure reading he will generally categorize the patient into three categories, they are “normal” prehypertentive, and hypertentive.

Someone with normal blood pressure will have a reading of close to 120/80 mmHg. However, it is thought that the lower the blood pressure the better, unless there are complication with low blood pressure symptoms.

Someone who is considered prehypertentive will have a reading of between 120-139 for the top number and 80- 89 for the bottom number.  Both numbers are important and if either one of them shows an elevated figure then it could be a cause for a concern.

The risk of later suffering from hypertension is increased when someone is prehypertentive, so preventative action is generally prescribed at this stage.

If someone shows a persistent reading over 140/90 mmHg then they would be diagnosed as having high blood pressure, or hypertension. Again, both the numbers are important, and if either of them go over the figures shown then there is likely cause for concern.

As long as high blood pressure is caught early, the impacts on the body can be minimized.

Have a browse through the rest of the blog to discover how natural methods along with Measuring Blood Pressure readings can be used to relieve high blood pressure symptoms.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find out other measuring blood pressure resources.

Being able to take ones own blood pressure reading at home using a blood pressure monitor can help enormously in preventing White Coat Hypertension (the elevated blood pressure readings that occur in a surgery or clinic environment) and achieve a more accurate reading, that is not skewed by the environment. So being able to have a good quality home blood pressure monitor can help get an accurate reading without interference.  Therefore, it is important that any blood pressure monitor review that is used to inform a potential buyer is reliable and provides sufficient information to identify the features that are needed to ensure an accurate reading.

There are lots of sites online, which sell blood pressure monitors.  But unfortunately many do not have customer or professional reviews of the monitors to help with the buying decision.

Places that can offer reviews include amazon.com, support forums and chat rooms where people discuss high blood pressure issues. However, it is worth ensuring there is no conflict of interest, and that the review is not biased and reflects the benefits of the particular blood pressure monitor in question.

Another great place to search for blood pressure monitor reviews is on independent medical sites such as quickmedical.com, which allows you to compare the features of the various different models and makes that are available.

Plus there are sites like dynamic-living.com, which offer blood pressure monitoring equipment for sale and then ask people to review the products for them. 

Some things to consider when buying a blood pressure monitor include:

The usability of the product.
Many of the blood pressure monitors that can be used at home have a number of different features. For instance, some come with stethoscopes, some have an automatic cuff inflation unit built in.  Others will “speak” the reading for those that have eyesight difficulty.

It is important to ensure that the person who will be using the equipment is going to be able to use it effectively.  Therefore those that have problems with dexterous tasks may want to avoid the blood pressure monitors that require use of a stethoscope and a pump for inflating the cuff.

Also, for those that are hard of heading a monitor that automatically detects when to make the blood pressure reading would likely be easier to use than one with a stethoscope. 

The functionality and accuracy of the product
The accuracy of the blood pressure reading is of course vital.  Blood pressure monitors accuracy is now very good, and it is comparable with readings that are taken in a doctor’s surgery.  However, to be sure that the monitor being purchased is calibrated correctly ensure that there have been validity checks carried out, either by a doctor or by the manufacturer.

The ability to transport the product
For many, the ability to take blood pressure readings when they are travelling is a key consideration.  Having a monitor that can pack away safely and travel without effecting the monitor’s accuracy will be important to some.

If there is doubt about a blood pressure monitor review and uncertainty about which one of the many hundred products available, then a quick discussion with your doctor to ask them if they have any recommendations is advisable.  It is likely that their other patients have bought blood pressure monitors and have shared their experiences with the doctor.

Sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find other blood pressure monitor reviews and recommendations.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if a simple pill taken at night could relieve blood pressure while you slept? Well, a study in 2004 looked at this very possibility, considering the connection between Melatonin and high blood pressure.

Today high blood pressure is a disease, which is found through out the world.  However this particular disease seems to be extremely prevalent in the US and Europe.

There are a number of reasons that this tends to be the case.  It is believed that there are contributory factors that are synonymous with industrialized nations that contribute to the problems, including:

Being obese
Smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Lack of exercise
Too much salt in the diet, or a poor diet
Taking certain medicines, like steroids
A family history of high blood pressure
Suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Kidney problems
Long working hours in sedentary jobs

Normally, when diagnosed with high blood pressure the doctor will have the goal of reducing the hypertension to healthy levels, and a secondary goal of making sure that these levels are maintained.

This normally consists of medication to bring the levels down to safe levels quickly, and lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. This can be a long process, and a number of the drugs can have some serious side effects. So, it is not surprising that people are looking for a natural way to healthily reduce their blood pressure levels.

In a study carried out and reported in the February 2004 edition of Hypertension Magazine it was revealed that use of melatonin at night an hour before sleep appeared to lower a person’s blood pressure.

Melatonin, which is a naturally occurring hormone, produced the pineal gland in the brain, plays an important part in regulating your body’s internal “clock”, also known as the circadian cycle or circadian rhythm.

The study lasted 3 weeks, and included 16 men who had elevated blood pressure.  Half of the subject group where given 2.5mg of melatonin each day an hour before they went to bed, whilst the other half were given 2.5mg of melatonin on the first day of the study and then provided with a placebo there after for the rest of the 3 weeks.

The results of this small study showed that those who were taking the melatonin for the full 3 weeks had a significant reduction in blood pressure levels, whilst those that where taking the placebo recorded no changes.

So, the study concluded that melatonin may have the effect of reducing blood pressure if taken regularly at night before sleep.

However, there is some debate as to what actually caused the blood pressure to lower. Was it the melatonin or was it that the subjects who where given the melatonin had fuller, better quality sleep?

There have been some studies to show that if a person is sleep deprived then their blood pressure rises, so there is a connection between sleep and blood pressure that has been established.

Whatever the reason for the reduction in blood pressure, the trial was too small to derive sufficient evidence that melatonin can help lower blood pressure safely, and more research is required to provide the proof that is needed.

Unfortunately, further studies on the connection between melatonin and high blood pressure are unlikely to be funded. Melatonin is a naturally produced substance in the body, and as such cannot be patented.  So, it is unlikely that a pharmaceutical company will go to the expense of a large and costly clinical trial to meet regulatory requirements.

Sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find out about other alternative medicine high blood pressure resources.

In the US an amazing 1 in 3 adults suffer from high blood pressure according to the American Heart Association. A number of these will be on prescription medication, and some will look for alternative solutions.  But, is there an alternative medicine high blood pressure relief solution as effective as traditional medication that can help?

The reason that someone gets high blood pressure is usually, in 90 to 95 percent of cases unknown.  In fact about 1 in 3 people with high blood pressure will not be aware that their blood pressure is elevated.  This is one of the reasons that it has been called the silent killer.

This type of hypertension is called primary hypertension, and there seems to be some common elements. 

There are a number of lifestyle factors that have been identified that may contribute to primary hypertension, these include, being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet (usually too much salt and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables), being stressed, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and too little exercise.

Even quite small changes to your lifestyle can make a difference to blood pressure levels.

As well as these lifestyle factors there are certain substances that elevate primary hypertension, including, certain antidepressants, some cold medicines, Steroids and NSAIDS.  There are a number of others, so if you are on medication it is important you understand the potential side effects.

There are also some genetic factors that you cannot influence which can cause primary hypertension, including, your race (black people have a high risk), your age (over 55 is a higher risk), and family history (genetics).

Although these are risk elements that cannot be controlled, a person can reduce their risk by compensating with improving or elimination the other risk factors.

If symptoms are not diagnosed, or go untreated there is an increased risk of a stroke or heart disease or even kidney failure, as well as other severe symptoms.

Although there are pharmaceutical medications that have shown to be beneficial to many suffering with high blood pressure, there are many people who prefer to use alternative medicines to help relieve their high blood pressure.

Here is list of some alternative options that have shown promise, however, before deciding to take any alternative medication or food supplements make sure you work with your doctor to ensure you are getting the best treatment options available.

Garlic – Numerous studies have shown that garlic supplements can give a significant reduction in blood pressure, and it was concluded that it might be of clinical use with people who have mild hypertension.

However, it is worth noting that garlic can thin the blood, and it may interact with other medications and supplements, and it is usually recommended that garlic should not be taken close to any surgery.

CoEnzyme Q10 (often referred to as CoQ10) – A trial involving 83 people and study involving 74 people all with hypertension showed that CoQ10 had the effect of significantly reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Hawthorn Extract – 79 subjects where used in a test, a proportion where given a placebo, and the others Hawthorn extract.  Those taking the hawthorn supplement had a reduced level of diastolic blood pressure.
 
Another alternative type of treatment for dealing with high blood pressure is acupuncture. There seems to be little research to back up the benefit of acupuncture, but the anecdotal evidence from those having this treatment is compelling.

If you decide that you want to use alternative medicine high blood pressure reduction, then the approach should be discussed with your doctor. Just because a substance is labeled alternative doesn’t mean it won’t harm or reduce the effectiveness of other medication you may be taking.

Sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find out about other alternative medicine high blood pressure resources.

There are a number of traditional supplements and foods that impact on the blood pressure in the body.  This article considers eating celery for high blood pressure reduction, and how someone looking to reduce their blood pressure can use this food.

Followers of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) will already know that celery has been used for many years as a method for lowering high blood pressure.

There has also been some recent research carried out that supports this claim.  A study was conducted on animals and it was found that an intake equal to the equivalent of 4 sticks of celery for humans would lower their blood pressure by about 12%.

Now, as with any study, this was carried out in controlled environment, and each person’s reaction to eating celery will be different and results will depend upon their lifestyle and the rest of their diet.

The active ingredient in celery that has this blood pressure reducing effect is called 3-n-butylphthalide, and celery is a rich natural source of this compound.  The phthalide is known to relax the muscles in the arteries that have the job of regulating blood pressure.  This allows the vessels to dilate.

Phthalide is also known to lower the levels of the stress hormones, which are proven to increase blood pressure and cause the blood vessels to constrict.

Celery is also a natural diuretic and when taken in conjunction with a person using high blood pressure medication it can actually improve the effectiveness of the medication.  This can have the added benefit of them being able to reduce the levels of medication they have to take, or go for a medication that is less strong and potentially has less risky side effects. 

In fact, for many centuries now people have not only being eating sticks of celery itself but also taking the oil made from it to reduce high blood pressure levels.

Although oriental medicine practitioners who are treating patients with hypertension or high blood pressure may recommend up to half a pound of celery each day. It is highly suggested that you only eat no more than 4 stalks of celery each day. 

Until that is, the benefits of celery have been further investigated and researched. The warning comes because celery contains sodium, a compound that raises blood pressure, in addition to other chemicals that could potentially be toxic in high doses.

Studies carried out at the University of Chicago into using celery for high blood pressure have shown some astounding results.  They carried out tests on animals and some were fed on celery extracts whilst the others were not.  They were generally fed the equivalent of 2 stalks of celery each day and in those fed the celery it was found that their blood pressure levels went down around 12% - 14% in total, compared to no change in those animals that where given no celery extract.

So, eating celery for high blood pressure is not a definitively proven solution to hypertension, but as part of a sensible, healthy diet and lifestyle it makes sense to further explore how it can help you – But only after consulting your treating physician first.

Sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage high blood pressure. In the newsletter you’ll also find out about other alternative medicine high blood pressure resources.

There is a link between high blood pressure and anxiety.  When we feel anxious one of our body’s natural responses is to raise blood pressure.  While this temporary spike in blood pressure is normal and usually not dangerous, anxiety can become a problem if it affects our lifestyle choices or is persistent. 

For instance, when people are anxious they tend to resort to unhealthy habits such as overeating, indulging in alcohol, and smoking, all of which can dramatically increase a person’s high blood pressure risk. 

In addition, recurrent and frequent temporary episodes of high blood pressure and anxiety can eventually lead to the same damaging results to the blood vessels, kidneys and heart, typically caused by prolonged hypertension.

Therefore, since there are many other high blood pressure risk factors, there is no reason why you should add anxiety to the list.  The following are 5 tips you can put into practice to help relieve your high blood pressure and anxiety.

1. Focus your attention on one project at a time – Instead of trying to multitask, focus all your attention on completing one task at a time.  When your mind is fully absorbed on one task, you put all your mental and emotional efforts into the job at hand, which stops your mind from wondering and becoming overwhelmed with other thoughts, priorities and demands. The more overwhelmed a person feels, the less productive they are, and the more their anxiety grows. 

2. Learn to say “No” – If you go out of your way to try and please everyone, you’ll stretch yourself too thin and be living in a constant state of high blood pressure and anxiety.  Over-committing yourself stretches you beyond your physical and emotional limits, causing you to become fatigued, stressed, overworked and rundown – all factors that lead to anxiety.  You need to learn to say “No” to others who are asking more of your time than you can handle or are willing to give. 

3. Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake – Both alcohol and caffeine can worsen anxiety.  Therefore, when you are feeling anxious, refrain from ingesting caffeinated products including chocolate, coffee, tea, and soda.  In regards to high blood pressure and anxiety and alcohol, one may think that since consuming alcohol reduces feelings of anxiety, this would be an ideal method.  The truth is, while alcohol may suppress feelings of anxiety, it increases the risk of high blood pressure and depression.  Thus, it is imperative to your health that you never use alcohol as a remedy for relieving anxiety as this can become a bad and deadly habit.

4. Breathe Deep – Deep breathing exercises are an excellent way to focus the mind and calm anxiety episodes.  Here is one type of deep breathing exercise you can try:
 Take a deep breath by inhaling through your nose and slowly count to four while you inhale.
 Hold your breath for a count of three
 Exhale slowly through your mouth and count down from four while you exhale.
 Repeat four times

5. Engage in regular exercise - Exercise is an excellent stress reliever.  It helps to clear your mind and improve your mental outlook on life.  Exercise helps improve your sleep and increases your physical stamina.  When you exercise, your body releases endorphins; chemicals that make your body feel good.  Studies have found that people who engage in long term exercise programs (I.E. 30 minutes of daily exercise) increase their ability to cope with stress. 

Moreover, don’t forget that exercise also helps maintain healthy weight levels, as being overweight increases a person’s risk of hypertension.  However, you should first speak to your doctor before engaging in any exercise regimen.

Should you have difficulty controlling your anxiety on your own, you may want to speak with your doctor about seeking help from a qualified therapist, because the bottom line is you need to get your high blood pressure and anxiety under control.

If you haven’t already, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage your high
blood pressure symptoms. You can also find more ways to control high blood pressure and anxiety here.

Even though certain herbs such as St. John’s Wort may not be ideal for treating hypertension, some herbs such as saw palmetto for high blood pressure may be an option for those interested in using a more natural remedy to treat their condition. 

What is saw palmetto and how can it lower blood pressure?  Saw palmetto (botanical name: Serenoa Repens) is a small ever-green palm plant that is found in America.  The berries of the plant contain the active ingredients used for herbal medicine.  Although it is recommended and primarily used for its effectiveness in treating an enlarged prostrate in men caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), saw palmetto for high blood pressure treatment isn’t completely uncommon. 

Reasons why this herb is used to treat high blood pressure, in some cases, is because it is a diuretic herb that contains active anti-androgen properties that help reduce water retention and control high blood pressure.  Diuretic herbs have a direct effect on the body’s cells and tissues.  They increase blood flow to the kidneys, which in turn increase urination, allowing excess salt and toxins to be flushed out of the kidneys, which helps to lower overall blood pressure. 

Keep in mind, however, like water pills (prescribed diuretic medications), saw palmetto and other blood pressure reducing diuretic herbs, such as ginger, are generally used to treat mild cases of high blood pressure, and are used in combination with dietary changes, exercise, and possibly with other high blood pressure medications to control hypertension.

Although you will need to adopt other lifestyle changes to help reduce your blood pressure when taking saw palmetto for high blood pressure, you should know that some studies have found this herb to interact with certain antihypertensive drugs, such as terazosin, which are used to treat high blood pressure.  

In addition, due to its potential hormonal active ingredients, saw palmetto may also alter the effects of hormone replacement therapy and hormonal birth control.  Therefore, while saw palmetto may not interfere with all drugs, you should speak with your doctor to ensure this is a safe and effective treatment option for you.

Saw palmetto is taken orally and is available in tablet, capsule, tea and natural berry form.  You can find this herb at your local health store.  Both men and women may take this herb, although, due to the fact that it has the potential to affect hormones, pregnant women should not take this drug.  Saw palmetto should only be taken as directed by the package, or as recommended by a qualified herbalist or health care provider.

You should also be aware that while saw palmetto for high blood pressure is a possible treatment, in very rare cases some side effects of increased blood pressure have been reported by patients taking this herb. Other rare side effects include headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, decreased libido, impotence and urinary retention.  Therefore, always make sure you speak to your health care provider before using any herb or other form of treatment for your high blood pressure.

If you haven’t already, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage your high blood pressure symptoms. You can also find more information on saw palmetto for high blood pressure and other natural treatments here.

It is important to be able to recognize the signs of high blood pressure, but it is also important to know what can cause blood pressure to increase, so you can avoid these factors if you a prone to hypertension.  For instance, not only can certain foods and medications impact your blood pressure, but so can some natural herbal remedies.  In fact, hypertension caused by St Johns Wort, a herb commonly used to treat mild depression, can be dangerous for those who suffer from or are prone to high blood pressure.

St Johns Wort is a bright, yellow flower.  Its petals are used as an herbal remedy that can be administered as a topical ointment for healing burns, but it is primarily used as an oral dietary supplement to treat mild depression. 

Studies have found that one of St Johns Wort’s active ingredients, hypericin, affects neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in a similar way as antidepressant medications.  The reason why the active ingredient is so effective is because it mirrors monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, which is the ingredient found in major antidepressant drugs.

How is hypertension caused by St Johns Wort?
St Johns Wort can cause an increase in blood pressure because the hypericin ingredient that is similar to a MAO inhibitor, produces a powerful and dangerous reaction when mixed with the amino acid tyramine. 

Reactions that can occur when tyramine is taken in excess with this herb include a fast rise in blood pressure, severe headaches, and irregular heartbeat.  However, it should be also stated that although these reactions can occur, there have not been frequent reports of such occurrences.

Nevertheless, until more is understood about the interaction, a person taking St Johns Wort should dramatically limit or avoid foods or beverages high in tyramine including:
 Aged, dried, smoked, pickled or processed fish or meats (I.E. bologna, salami, pepperoni, herring, etc.)
 Chicken liver
 Aged cheese
 Soy sauce
 Yeast/protein extracts
 Legumes
 Over-ripe fruit
 Figs or raisins
 Alcoholic beverages including ale, beer, red wines, sherry and liqueurs.

It is also suggested that individuals taking St Johns Wort also limit their intake of caffeine.

Moreover, aside from being aware of hypertension caused by St Johns Wort due to the tyramine interaction, you should also know that like all herbs, there is a risk that St Johns Wort may interact with other medications, including those used for controlling high blood pressure. 

In addition, some users of the herb have also reported St Johns Wort caused a spike in their blood pressure when other prescribed anti-depressant and over-the-counter medications were taken with it.

Although, studies have found there is only a small reaction when other medications are taken with St Johns Wort, until further research can conclude the side effects or risks involved it is highly recommended that those using St Johns Wort to treat mild depression not take any other form of medication and also have their blood pressure checked regularly.

Finally, since hypertension caused by St Johns Wort is a possibility, individuals with high blood pressure, who have previously had high blood pressure, or who are prone to the condition, should avoid taking this herb.  Speak to your doctor about other alternative remedies that do not increase the risk of high blood pressure if you suffer from mild depression.

If you haven’t already, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage your high blood pressure symptoms. You can also find more information on hypertension caused by St Johns Wort here.

There are high blood pressure signs you should be aware of, regardless if you are taking birth control pills or not.  However, for most high blood pressure sufferers, recognizing signs can be easier said than done.  The reason is because high blood pressure generally has no symptoms due to the fact that the basic warning signs associated with it are extremely vague.

Nevertheless, the following are the basic warning high blood pressure signs you should be aware of:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nosebleeds
Flushed face
Fatigue.

As you can see, from the above list of symptoms, it is easy for someone to ignore or mistaken these symptoms as another problem.  This is why high blood pressure is commonly known as “the silent killer”, because for those who don’t receive regular blood pressure checkups, it usually isn’t until one experiences the more extreme symptoms that he/she seeks medical attention.

The following extreme high blood pressure signs occur if high blood pressure (blood pressure is equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg.)  has been persistent, severe and left untreated for a long time.  The symptoms are usually the result of damage that has been done to the brain, eyes, kidney and heart.  They include:
Severe unexplained headache
Fatigue
Restlessness
Nausea
Vomiting
Shortness of breath
Blurred vision
Chest pain or shortness of breath after slight exertion

More extreme signs include:
Eye damage and loss of vision
Organ failure – kidneys and/or heart fail
Heart attack
Stroke or a transient ischemic attack (better known as a mini stroke)
Aneurysm
Peripheral arterial disease
Brian swelling – this is rare but can cause drowsiness and coma.
Note: if you are experiencing any of the above extreme signs visit your hospital emergency department immediately.

How can high blood pressure be treated?
First of all, regardless if you have high blood pressure signs or not, always have your blood pressure checked annually, and inform you doctor if you have a family history of hypertension, kidney failure, heart attack or stroke, as this increases your risk.   

That being said, high blood pressure can be managed thorough lifestyle changes, but depending on the severity of the condition, some individuals may benefit from a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment.

Lifestyle changes -
Food - Limit and eliminate food products that encourage high blood pressure including, table salt, cooking salt, salty and processed foods, foods high in saturated fat, sugary foods and drinks, caffeine and alcohol.
Quit smoking – Nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to constrict, and increases blood pressure.
Exercise – Physical activity actually works to reduce blood pressure while inactivity increases blood pressure.  Exercise is a great way to keep your body healthy and strong, and is a fantastic way to lose and maintain a good weight.
Lose weight – If you are exceptionally overweight or obese you are putting excess pressure on your heart.  You must reduce your weight by incorporating regular exercise and healthy eating habits in your lifestyle.  Avoid crash diets as these can only make your condition worse.

Medication –
If your doctor feels you require medication to help control your high blood pressure signs, you may be prescribed medication to help relieve the stress that is being placed on your heart, organs and blood vessels including: diuretics (water pills), beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin–converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Alpha–blockers, etc.

Remember although medications can help, lifestyle changes are essential for controlling high blood pressure.

It is vital that you realize high blood pressure can go undetected for years and cause no symptoms while still damaging the blood vessels, heart and other organs.  Therefore, if you suspect you have high blood pressure signs, are unsure if you do, or even if you don’t, always visit your health care provider annually to have your blood pressure checked.  Monitoring your blood pressure, and taking action to control it when it’s high, is the only way you can protect yourself from the silent killer.

If you haven’t already, sign up for the free Relieve Blood Pressure Newsletter and discover new and natural methods to manage your high blood pressure symptoms. You can also find more ways of recognizing the high blood pressure signs  here.