HYPERTENSION
By Dr. Arun Kheria
By Dr. Arun Kheria
Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood
pressure. High blood pressure is a common condition in which arteries have
persistently elevated blood pressure or the elevated force of the blood against
your artery walls.
Blood
pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount
of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps
and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
Blood
pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and it is recorded as two
figures:
Systolic
pressure: It
is the pressure in arteries when the heart contracts for pumping blood to the
body.
Diastolic
pressure: It
is the pressure in arteries when the heart is relaxing and refilling with blood
for pumping it in the body.
For example, if your
General practitioner says your blood pressure is 140/90mmHg, it means your
systolic pressure is 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure is 90mmHg.
You are said to have high
blood pressure / hypertension, if readings on separate occasions consistently
show your blood pressure to be 140/90mmHg or higher. A blood pressure reading
below 130/80mmHg is considered to be normal.
AYURVEDA OVERVIEW OF HYPERTENSION
According to Ayurveda,
Hypertension is known as Rakta Gata Vata. It involves all the doshas (Vata,
Pita, Kapha ---- Biological elements of the body), the heart, and the blood
vessels. Ayurveda says, unhealthy diet and lifestyle are the major and chief
causes of hypertension. Unhealthy diet and lifestyles impair our digestive
system leads to accumulation of ama / toxins (bad cholesterol and other fatty
and harmful contents), which further lead to the high blood pressure.
The food we eat is
digested by our digestive fire (jatharagni) to produce nutrient juice. These
nutrient juice absorbed by our intestine and mixed with the plasma, which
nourishes all other dhatus (body tissues) and aids in the production of healthy
blood, which circulates all over the body through various channels (srotas).
In case of impaired
digestion, toxins or ama created by improperly digested food mixes with plasma
and makes it sama (combined with ama) or heavy. As a result, the blood thus
produced also becomes heavy or sticky. When heavy blood with impurities
circulates through various channels, toxins start accumulating in weaker
channels or vascular system of the body. The accumulation of toxins and
impurities in the vascular system creates lesions, stiffness, narrowing of
channels or blockage of circulation. Therefore, blood exerts more pressure to
circulate through these channels, leading to the condition of high blood
pressure.
According to scientific
studies, it is also stated that cholesterol and some other fatty content are
responsible for narrowing and hardening of your blood vessels, which is called
atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops over time from repeated accumulation
of LDL or bad cholesterol deposition into the walls of blood vessels.
Initially, your blood vessels continue to function properly, but over time the
cholesterol or fat deposits harden. When this hardening occurs, your blood
vessels become less flexible. These hardened areas don't allow the vessels to
expand and relax properly in response to blood flow. The loss of relaxation and
expansion of blood vessels from atherosclerosis leads to high blood pressure.
Mental stress, lack of exercise and poor flexibility also exacerbate the condition. Disruption of biological rhythms through improper daily routine can also disturb many physiological processes and depress the body's natural healing and balancing ability. All these factors play a big role in hypertension.
The Ayurvedic treatment of
hypertension focuses on balancing the aggravated doshas along with improving
digestion, eliminating the build up of toxins or impurities and reducing the
narrowing of channels or the level of bad cholesterol through classical
(Shastrokta) medicines as well as customized diet and lifestyle plans for
balanced circulation throughout the body.
Diet recommend for
Hypertension:
·
Reduce the quantity of sodium or salt in your diet, extra intake
of sodium lead to fluid retention and increase blood pressure.
·
Eat potassium rich diet. Almost all fruits & vegetables have
Potassium, which is essential for managing the blood pressure because potassium
helps to balance the level of sodium in blood. Due to low intake of potassium,
sodium can accumulate in your blood and causing hypertension.
·
Foods to avoid: Fizzy drinks, Tea, Coffee, processed food, White
bread, Chips, Pastry, Pizza, Cakes, Caffeine, Chocolate, Fast
Food.
·
Avoid non vegetarian food like red meat and eggs should be
completely avoided due to its high salt content.
Lifestyle recommend for
Hypertension:
·
Regular exercise is the best way to keep hypertension at bay.
Walking/jogging is a good exercise for hypertensive people.
·
Practicing yoga and meditation is very effective. Regular yoga
practice and meditation will also help in leading a stress free life because
stress is also a big cause of hypertension.
·
Sound sleep and proper rest is very essential. Try to get at least
8 hours of sleep and proper rest
·
Avoid anger, tension, anxiety and loud speaking as all these
increases blood pressure.
·
Simple breathing exercise will help in calming down the mind.
Adopt breathing exercise whenever you are tensed, nervousness or anxious.
·
Avoid Cigarette smoking, the chemicals in tobacco can damage the
lining of your artery walls, which promotes narrowing of the arteries.
·
Avoid alcoholic drinks, drinking can damage your arteries and heart
Home remedy for
Hypertension:
·
Take 2 peeled garlic cloves with water on an empty stomach in the
morning.
·
Eat “Triphla Powder” regularly at night with warm water. This will
help you in constipation and bowels will remain clean.
