Calcium and potassium have also been found to be useful to bring down blood pressure. Drs. Mac Gregor Parfrey, Mc Carron and Belizan have performed innumerable experiments to prove this fact. 2,3,45 The natural sources of these two minerals have been listed at the end of this book. Besides, a vitamin - like substance choline also reduces blood pressure. Dr. Hartroff, Dr. Nishizawa and nobel laureate Dr. Best have obtained good results with choline in the treatment of high blood pressure. 6,7,8.The yellow of the egg, meat, yeast, soyabeans, germinated wheat, peas, beans, groundnuts, cabbage, spinach and mustard are good sources of choline. Of these, vegetable sources are preferable since meat and eggs are rich in saturated fats.
(6) Abandan Alcohol: The relationship between high blood pressure and alcohol consumption has been proved by many workers. It is a proven fact that blood pressure comes down in a few days after a person gives up drinking. If a person continues to drink, other measures to reduce blood pressure usually fail.
(7) Stop smoking: That tobacco speeds up atherosclerosis is an undeniable fact. How high blood pressure and atherosclerosis ruin the heart and the kidneys, has been discussed previously. It is not only desirable but very essential that a person wanting to bring down his blood pressure, should stop smoking completely.
(8) Give Magnet Therapy a chance: It has been seen that many a person with high blood pressure are benefited by Magnet Therapy. The blood pressure gradually comes down if the right wrist is treated with the north pole ( or both the poles) of magnets. Belts, which can be worn on the wrist are also available. They are more convenient. Besides, a north pole may be applied below the right ear, over the carotid artery, for 15-15 minutes twice a day. Drinking water influenced by strong magnets also helps.
(9) Give Acupressure a chance: Good results have been obtained by Acupressure treatment, in mild or moderate high blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure comes down rapidly after initiating Acupressure treatment. But the diastolic blood pressure comes down gradually. Besides, it may not come down to the desired level. However, Acupressure has enabled quite a few patients to cut down the dosage of antihypertensive drugs by 33 to 50 per cent10. This is also a big gain.
The following Acupressure points should be used :
Description of these points
• The point located on the middle of an imaginary vertical line joining the two ears after they have been folded forward.
• The point located on the outer end of the elbow crease forward due to bending of the elbow.
• The point located four fingerbreadths above the inner prominence of the ankle bone and slightly to the backside.
• The point located four fingerbreadths below the lower margin of the round knee-bone and slightly to the outer side, after the knee has been bent at a right angle.
• The point located in the flesh between the first ( big) and the second toes.
Note: All the points, except the first, are located on the right as well as the left side of the body. Each point should be pressed rhythmically and firmly for about a minute, with the finger ( or thumb) tip or the blunt end of a pencil. It is desirable to take this treatment in the lying posture. The treatment should be repeated 2 to 4 times a day.
Medical Treatment
(Note : As far as medical treatment is concerned, no book or article can ever take the place of an experienced and expert physician. The purpose here is just to present an overview of the medical treatment).
If the blood pressure does not drop to the desired level with non-medical measures, medicines should be added. In the treatment of high blood pressure, most doctors follow ‘ stepped care’ approach in the type and the dosage of medicines. In such an approach, a single drug is given in the beginning; more drugs are added later, if a need is felt.
The following drugs are commonly used to treat high blood pressure
(1) Diuretics
(2) Sympathetic Inhibitors
• Beta blockers ( e.g., Propanolol, Nadolol, Metaprolol, Atinolol, Timolol, Pindolol, Acebutolol)
• Central alpha – adrenergic agonists ( e.g., Methyl dopa, Clonidine, Guanabenz)
• Catecholamine depleting agents ( e.g., Reserpine)
• Post-synaptic alpha – adrenergic blockers ( e.g., prazosin)
• Post-ganglionic sympathetic inhibitors ( e.g., Guanithidine, Guanadrel)
• Vasodilators (e.g., Hydralazine, Minoxidil)
Whether the treatment should be begun with a diuretic drug or a Beta Blocker drug is a matter of personal choice. Opinions differ. Mostly a diuretic is given in the beginning. After commencing with this medical treatment, the patent’s blood poressure is monitored for 4 to 6 weeks. The blood pressure of most patients gets controlled by this drug. A beta blocker drug is tried on the rest. It has, however, been seen that a combination of a diuretic and a beta blocker drug is more effective than any of these drugs used singly. Besides, when used in conjunction, the total dosage of these drugs is much lesser than that of a single drug. This is an advantage since chances of side-effects are minimized. If the blood pressure does not come down satisfactorily with the above two drugs, most doctors add either methyldopa or clonidine as the third drug. If the blood pressure is very high ( or when a critical condition ensues), medicines like Prazosin, Hydralazine or Minoxidil may have to be added.
No person with high blood pressure should ever think that medicines allow him to take liberties with diet and exercise. Even after starting medicines, non-medical modes of treatment are inevitable and should be persisted with. |