{"id":2578,"date":"2016-06-28T11:49:33","date_gmt":"2016-06-28T15:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heartmountainchiropractic.com\/silent-killer-high-blood-pressure\/"},"modified":"2016-06-28T11:49:33","modified_gmt":"2016-06-28T15:49:33","slug":"silent-killer-high-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heartmountainchiropractic.com\/es\/silent-killer-high-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silent Killer – High Blood Pressure (June 2016)"},"content":{"rendered":"

High blood pressure is often referred to as the \u201cSilent Killer\u201d, because it virtually has no symptoms but is one of the greatest risk factors for stroke, heart attack and death. About one in three American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension), and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)6<\/sup>,8<\/sup>, high blood pressure is \u00abthe second greatest public health threat\u00bb in the United States.<\/p>\n

Just What is Blood Pressure?<\/h2>\n

Blood pressure is the result of the heart muscle contracting, which produces the force needed to move blood through the arteries. 11<\/sup> Blood pressure is usually diagnosed based on consecutive elevated readings. Readings are given in fraction of systolic blood pressure over a diastolic blood pressure. The systolic pressure indicates the blood pressure when the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure is the pressure put on the heart\/arteries between heartbeats.10 Normal blood pressure is considered to 120\/80 mmHg or lower, while high blood pressure is 140\/90 mmHg.<\/p>\n

Once high blood pressure has been diagnosed, the medical field is quick to jump on anti-hypertensive medication to help lower blood pressure. Often, one or more medications are recommended to lower blood pressure readings. Is medication truly needed to regulate blood pressure levels? No! Studies show most of the time the side effects are worse over time with medication. Sherry Rogers, MD described what happens when a patient is prescribed diuretics as a way to lower blood pressure: 9<\/sup><\/p>\n

Diuretics<\/h2>\n

\u201cDiuretics (medication that reduces water and salt), thus lowering the total volume of blood flowing through the vessels, which lowers the pressure, the same way turning down your spigot reduce the pressure in a garden hose. Unfortunately, diuretics may also create imbalances such as depletion of potassium. For some patients an improper diagnosis of potassium deficiency is often the underlying cause of high blood pressure. Taking a medication that silently lowers potassium even further leads to higher blood pressure and guarantees the need for even stronger medications in a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blood pressure medications have other side effects that contribute to kidney and liver disease and even diabetes and heart arrhythmias. Are there ways to help lower blood pressure naturally and avoid anti-hypertensive medications? Yes!<\/p>\n

Listed below are natural ways to help keep or lower blood pressure:<\/p>\n