Category: Hypertension

Medications that Can Contribute to High Blood Pressure

According to the Johns Hopkins medical team, the following medications can increase one’s blood pressure: ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil); corticosteroids like prednisone; cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune; used to suppress the immune system); epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit; used to treat anemia in cancer patients); estrogens such as those in hormone replacement therapy; migraine drugs such as sumatriptan (Imitrex); the weight loss drug sibutramine (Meridia); and nasal decongestants. Over-the-counter cough, cold, and asthma medications also may raise blood pressure, so always check with your doctor before using one.

Habits and lifestyle can also contribute to hypertension including: weight, ethnicity, activity level, tobacco use, sodium intake, potassium intake, stress, anger, alcohol consumption, age, and family history.  Cutting back on salt, eating more vegetables, avoiding sugar, caffeine, and food allergens and reducing your exposure to lead and other heavy metals can all help to reduce your blood pressure. Other complementary approaches that may help: acupuncture, biofeedback, meditation, yoga and auricular (ear) acupressure.

Learn more about natural hypertension reduction.

Whole Grains, Garlic & Acupuncture Lower High Blood Pressure

Eating lots of whole grains could ward off high blood pressure, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In the study, men with the highest whole-grain consumption were 19 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than men who ate the least amount of whole grains.

Whole Grains Lower Blood Pressure

Eating lots of whole grains could ward off high blood pressure, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In the study, men with the highest whole-grain consumption were 19 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than men who ate the least amount of whole grains.

While refining grains removes their outer coating, whole grains retain their bran and germ, so they are richer in many nutrients, Dr. Alan J. Flint of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and his colleagues note in their report.

The most recent US guidelines recommend that people get at least 3 ounces, or 85 grams, of whole grains daily, and that they consume at least half of their grains as whole grains.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2009

Acupuncture Lowers Blood Pressure

Researchers have determined that acupuncture can be employed to significantly lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure as effectively as aggressive lifestyle changes and anti-hypertensive medications.

Published: Circulation, June 2007

Garlic Lowers Blood Pressure

Another study shows that the regular intake of aged garlic can help lower blood pressure.

Australian researchers publishing in Maturitas say that people with a systolic pressure (the “top” number) of over 140 can be helped by taking 960 mg of encapsulated garlic extract.

Editor’s Note: Nutrients that help lower high blood pressure include coleus forskohlii, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, Vitamin C, Taurine and Arginine for example. See more information on lowering blood pressure naturally.

High Intake of Whole Grains Reduces Risk of Hypertension

A new study shows increased intake of whole grains and bran is associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension in men.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reviewed data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study involving 31,684 healthy men aged 40 to 75 without known hypertension, cancer, stroke, or coronary heart disease. These participants were followed for 18 years, during which 9,227 cases of incident hypertension were recorded.

Researchers found that whole-grain intake reduced the risk of hypertension by 19%, while intake of bran reduced the risk of hypertension by 15%.

Study authors believe these findings have implications for future dietary guidelines and prevention of hypertension.

SOURCE: “Whole grains and incident hypertension in men”, Flint, et al, Am J Clin Nutr (July 1, 2009). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27460