Studies show that high blood pressure (hypertension) can be positively affected through reducing high stress.
Patients with high blood pressure who are on blood pressure drugs but whose hypertension was difficult to manage added a special program of stress-reduction techniques. Hypertension was reduced.
Did you know that hypertension, defined as resting blood pressure persistently over 130/90-140/90, is responsible for strokes, heart failure, vision loss, dementia and kidney disease in Americans? It is imperative that blood pressure be monitored and handled in a beneficial and reliable manner. Often drugs are effective, but don’t have to be the only answer. Drug therapy can be helped by a change in lifestyle.
The 9Health Fair will offer blood pressure screenings, in addition to other tests, on April 28 from 7 to 11 a.m. at Pagosa Springs High School. Let’s promote good health for all of us.
A colleague of mine is a case in point. Elly practiced law in Florida for many years and relocated to the southwest. She was diagnosed with hypertension. Being familiar with research and willing to make whatever changes necessary to help her health, she started investigating.
Here’s some data: a study by a Medical University in South Carolina found that by emphasizing fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, whole grains, fish and nuts, blood pressure could be lowered naturally.
Elly wasn’t going to just change her diet. She stayed on the drugs her doctor prescribed.
Elly found that increasing her fluid intake was also important. She started drinking water (in ounces) equivalent to 50 percent of her body weight, 130 pounds. She drank 65 ounces every day in the morning.
By increasing potassium through avocados and sweet potatoes, avoiding junk and processed foods, and increasing dark leafy vegetables (especially spinach), flaxseeds, fish, liver, plus two capsules of garlic per day because she doesn’t like the pungent taste of raw garlic, she helped reduce her pressure. Elly read a study from Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian Albrechts University, Germany, extolling the virtues of cocoa. While in the cold climate, she loved the hot cocoa. Especially being from Florida.
The change that made the greatest difference was a course in mindful meditation. Elly relaxed and her stress level decreased. She watched her blood pressure do the same. Occasionally it reaches 130/90. No longer considered hypertensive, she stays on her prescribed drugs, at a lower dosage. She disclosed that she was dealing with high tension of family and friends being unkind and taking advantage of her. Her high mental and emotional tension was mirrored in her high blood pressure — hypertension.
Her calmness is obvious. She’s more social and laughs more, too. Elly is in Arizona now and connects with authentic friends, not those who want to use her for only their benefit.
Come to the high school on April 28 from 7 to 11 a.m. Get a whole battery of tests for a minimal cost of $35.
Be a volunteer
If you have a working brain and a good attitude, you’ll be perfect. Special skills? You could contribute in a particular capacity. Contact Constance.
As printed in the Pagosa Springs Sun
