Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published January 2, 2015, Last updated November 17, 2016

What is High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Hypertension or high B.P. is one of the many diseases resulting from the modern lifestyle. In adults, diastolic pressure above 90mm Hg and systolic pressure above 140mm Hg is considered to be high. The normal pressure is supposed to be around 120 mm of the systolic and 80 mm of the diastolic one. Instead of an isolated reading, at least 2-3 readings should be taken on separate examinations before declaring a patient as having high B.P.

Undertanding blood pressure

To understand high blood pressure, one should first know what blood pressure is. The force that is exerted on the walls of the arteries when blood circulates through the body is known as blood pressure. It is necessary that the blood should have some force in it so that it can reach every nook and corner of the body. How much force is required to push the blood through the whole of the arteries is also determined by the resistance that blood meets while circulating in the arteries. If the resistance is high, greater force will be required. This force is provided by the heart, which is actually a muscle. It is one of the best pumping machines anywhere in the world. The heart keeps on working day and night without stopping even for a split second. It does not get any rest during one’s  lifetime. It is only when the heart has to exert substantially to provide more force than required that it can cause some health problems.

Symptoms of High BP or High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

High blood pressure is a common condition that usually does not have specific clinical manifestations. Often, hypertension is known as the silent killer. This is because there are few signs and symptoms of high blood pressure. The common misperception about BP that one can know that the blood pressure is high because of headache or irritability is actually not true. In most of the cases, it has been found that the patient does not even know that his blood pressure is high. It is only during a routine checkup that a measurement of the blood pressure is taken by a physician and it is found that the blood pressure is high. That is why it is called the silent killer. A lot of people do not come to know of the condition until target organ damage occurs. There are no visible signs and symptoms that can easily point to the condition. The blood pressure rises insidiously and over a period of time. The body keeps on adjusting to the condition and one keeps on feeling normal. Therefore usually it goes unnoticed for a prolonged period of time, may be years before any visible signs and symptoms are seen. But this does not mean that the condition will be harmless. The damage that it does to the blood vessels and the heart goes on silently.

Causes of High BP or High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

In most of the cases, no tangible reason can be found about the cause of high blood pressure. You check the renal function. It is fine. You check the liver function. It is also good. The lipids are under control. There is nothing that can be found in the chest X-ray. This is the case in about 90-95% of the patients. It is only in a few cases that some or the other cause like renal, hormonal or specific systemic causes of high B.P are found. In a few cases, even oral contraceptives have been implicated in some cases. In the case of essential hypertension, it is entirely the lifestyle factors that are to blame.

• The modern day life is full of stress. The stress may be of anything ranging from one’s personal life to the financial position or office politics. In most of the cases, the stress is at the subconscious level. One may not even be aware that one is facing this problem. Stress may be emotional or physical but is an important contributing factor. In a dog eat dog world, trying to meet targets and better the competition leaves one drained. More and more people in their 30s are discovering this to their disadvantage. Relieving stress in such cases helps in managing high blood pressure levels.
• The other important contributory factors include obesity, salt intake, hyperlipidaemia and sedentary lifestyle. It has also been observed that B.P. increases with age in more affluent societies whereas in primitive cultures it decreases with age. The difference is entirely because the level of physical activity is diametrically opposite. In primitive societies, the entire activity of the individual is physical whereas in the modern societies, there is little physical activity. One tends to use vehicles and avoid walking or cycling. On the one hand, this increases one’s weight and leads to obesity; on the other hand, it increases the lipids or the cholesterol levels in the blood. Both these factors tend to increase the blood pressure.
• Diabetics are at an added disadvantage as the chances of hypertension increase if you have diabetes. Therefore it is important that the blood sugar levels should remain at the normal levels.
• Another important observation is that if anyone in your family has hypertension, you are at a higher risk of having the same.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol are other risk factors that are entirely avoidable.

Role of Diet in high BP or High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Role of diet cannot be overstated. It has been found that excessive fats and spices tend to increase the blood pressure. At the same time high fibre, low fat and minimal spices reduce B.P levels. In a significant study conducted at Glasgow University over a period of 20 years and extending to more than 15000 individuals, average B.P. decreased significantly corresponding to increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables. It is supported by American dietary trial in which there were substantial declines in B.P. levels in people assigned diet rich in fruits and vegetables compared with control group on a more typical American diet. Therefore one should be cutting down on junk food, rich and spicy food. The modern fads of pizzas, burgers, aerated drinks, noodles, chips may seem good for taste but are not at all healthy. Any processed food will have an ample measure of oil, salt or chemical preservatives. Instead, one should be concentrating on increasing the intake of natural and fresh foodstuffs like raw fruits and vegetables. The closer you remain to nature, the better you are. Another important contributory factor is that of the increased intake of salt. The increased usage of salt in one’s diet is directly related to higher prevalence of hypertension. If one were to cut down on the intake of salt in one’s diet, it would help greatly in getting things under control.

Management of high BP or Hypertension

Scores of people swear by the positive effects of meditation and yoga, especially pranayamas. In a study conducted at Florence and Pavia, Italy, yogic mantras were found to have a marked effect in reducing systolic and diastolic BP, inducing a sense of calm, slowing down respiration to 6 cycles/min and synchronization of cardiovascular rhythms. Constantly elevated levels of B.P increase risk of potentially life threatening diseases like stroke, cardiovascular disease and retinal damage. Persons with normal BP are known to be much less prone to these. In cases with moderately raised BP, lifestyle and dietary changes should be made and their effect observed before starting treatment. Regular exercise, managing stress and diet have been known to reduce BP. Brisk walking and outdoor activity have a marked influence on the stabilization of B.P. Persons who are overweight gain from losing weight.

Role of Homoeopathy in curing High BP or Hypertension

The following Homoeopathic medicines have been found very helpful in treating high blood pressure or hypertension. Along with the required changes in lifestyle, these medicines can help get things in order in quick time. I have often seen patients having extreme hypertension getting back to their normal blood pressures with the help of these medicines and some changes in their lifestyle. Homeopathic medicines like Belladonna, Glonoine, Nux Vomica, Veratrum Album, Rauwolfia and Natrum Mur are commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure.

So, don’t think that high blood pressure is incurable and you will have to live with it. You can cure it. It is a matter of one’s resolve and will power. Just get up from the chair, start moving, keep a check on your diet and you are on the road to recovery. To help you along, Homeopathy can provide a helping hand.