When it comes to treatment for hypertension First make sure you’ve got hypertension by getting and using your own blood pressure monitor. If it turns out you have it then it really boils down to whether to reduce your blood pressure through medications or through natural methods.
Medications are the easy way usually prescibed by doctors in the western world but they come with costs – both monetary and undesirable side effects.
Blood pressure medication side effects
My only experience with an anti-hypertension medication (ACE inhibitor) resulted in a persistant dry cough that would often wake my up in the middle of the night. On top of that, my outrageously high blood pressure (195/120) refused to come down even after two months). That was enough for me.
Of course you may have been luckier in your treatment for hypertension. A lot of the medications do work to reduce blood pressure. And not everyone directly experiences negative side effects.
Of course there are those who have suffered even worse side effects. The list of possible negative side effects associated with medical treatment for hypertension is quite long - for a complete list see high blood pressure medication side effects.
Treatment for Hypertension – the Road Less Traveled
If you don’t want a naturaal treatment for hypertension (without medications) then you’re simply going to have to live a more healthy, stress-free life. Most people would agree that the natural treatments for hypertension is better – until they come to the realization they might have to give up and alter some very deeply engrained habits – like spending every free hour in front of the TV, avoiding exercise (driving two blocks to the local convenience store), a steady diet of unhealthy snacks, never taking any time to consciously de-stress and really relax.
Natural treatments for hypertenstion takes changes – real changes to the way you live focussing on diet and exercise. There are some real benefits to these lifestyle changes if your muster up the resolve to take them – benefits over and above a healthy blood pressure range. When you live healthy you’ll find life in general tastes better.
Diet
A healthy lifestyle means eating good (and tasty) food as outlined in Kevin Riley’s Get Natural. At first it might seem hard to make the switch but after a while you’ll find yourself looking forward to preparing all sorts of wonderful combinations in meals that will keep you healthy and lower your blood pressure at the same time.
Physical Exercise
Exercise is another tough one to contemplate at first. The answer is – don’t contemplate it – just do it. Exercise is something that may seem hard and unpleasant at first but in no time you’ll be looking forward to it – whether its a walk around the neighboorhood, a hike up the mountain, or your next tai chi class.
De-stress
And then there’s stress. One of the biggest causes of high blood pressure is stress. Think you don’t have stress? Think again. It’s not alway obvious. In fact, it rarely is. Stress can build up in our lives brick by brick until it’s a towering wall – and we still don’t recognise it. The fact is that stress is built into modern living and we’d all do well to lower it – whether it is directly causing you hypertension or not.
I enjoy practicing the Breathesy slow breathing exercises myself to de-stress and generally feel better about life in general. Other people have reported that combining physical and mental exercises to reduce stress levels can form an effective treatment for hypertension – such as Christian Goodman’s 3 Exercises
Natural treatment for hypertension
A combination of good diet, daily exercise, and de-stressing your frazzled nervous system is good medicine for your life in general. You’ll find your general attitude to life improving. You might even stop once in a while to smell the daisys! The switch to a healthier lifestyle is also the best treatment for hypertension in muy opinion. I now enjoy much lower blood pressure always within a healthier range. I have a much more positive outlook on my future.
But the main message here is: You Can Too!
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