High & Low Blood Pressure Treatment

Most people are familiar with the idea that high blood pressure can harm you over time. It’s common these days to hear people say they are taking high blood pressure medication and that they need to watch their salt intake.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), “An estimated 103 million US adults have high blood pressure.” Given the adult population of about 250 million adults in the US, this equates to approximately 41% of the population. Between 2005 and 2015 deaths increased by almost 11% due to high blood pressure and the resulting cardiovascular diseases, a rise of almost 38%. Considering that cardiovascular disease is the leading overall cause of death in the world, clearly blood pressure problems are a significant concern for much of the population and need to be addressed.¹

Let’s explore what normal blood pressure looks like, the two types of blood pressure problems, their symptoms, causes, and what can be done naturally to address these issues.

What Is Normal Blood Pressure?

When blood pressure readings are taken, patients are given two numbers such as 125 over 89. The top number is called your systolic measurement which shows the amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart is contracting. The bottom number is called your diastolic measurement which shows the blood pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

Traditionally, a normal blood pressure range for an adult was considered to be between 100 to 140 for the top number (systolic) and 60 to 90 for the bottom number (diastolic) with a general target blood pressure of 120 over 80. However, in November of 2017 the American College of Cardiology (ACC) posted new blood pressure guidelines², reducing the numbers for high blood pressure, also called hypertension. The new numbers are as follows:

• Normal blood pressure is less than 120 over 80.
• Elevated blood pressure is considered at 120 to 129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic.
• Stage 1 hypertension is between 130 and 139 systolic and 80 to 89 diastolic.
• Stage 2 hypertension is considered a systolic pressure of 140 to 159 and a diastolic pressure of 90 to 99.

The new guidelines require lifestyle changes and sometimes medication for patients earlier than was previously thought necessary.

High Blood Pressure / Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure is known as hypertension and usually requires treatment. It is an invisible disease and many people are completed unaware that they have it, as most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. However, some may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or ringing in the ears.

High blood pressure is considered more dangerous than low blood pressure. If high blood pressure continues unchecked, it can contribute to serious conditions such as angina, heart attack, stroke, hemorrhage, or kidney complaints. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and strokes are the number five cause of death.³

Causes of High Blood Pressure / Hypertension

Most cases of hypertension result from a combination of factors. Any one or more of the following can cause high blood pressure:

• Inflammation
• Being overweight
• Drinking too much
• Eating too much salt
• Too little potassium which balances sodium in the blood
• Insufficient exercise
• Hardening of the arteries
• Taking the contraceptive pill
• Stress
• Smoking
• Drug use
• Hereditary factors

In rare cases, the cause may be a kidney disorder, diabetes, or sleep apnea. Some pregnant women also may develop dangerously high blood pressure.

Low Blood Pressure / Hypotension

Low blood pressure is called hypotension. Low blood pressure can have little to no symptoms as well, and most people don’t know they have it. It mostly affects elderly people or people of certain nationalities with very fair skin, and is usually temporary. The symptoms, if there are any, include

• Momentary giddiness
• Blurry vision
• Dizziness
• Weakness/fatigue
• Fainting on standing up suddenly after the person has been sitting or lying down
• Nausea
• Temporary confusion

The main threat with hypotension is injury from falling. People with low blood pressure are more susceptible to symptoms when their already low blood pressure drops even more due to a virus or dehydration.

Causes of Hypotension, or low blood pressure:

• Underactive adrenal gland
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Dehydration
• Loss of blood due to an injury, whether internal or external
• Septic shock which is the result of a bacterial infection where the bacteria get into the bloodstream
• Heart issues such as a heart attack, bradycardia (an abnormally low heart rate), and issues with heart valves
• Certain drugs such as diuretics mentioned above, and others such as heart medications, drugs used for Parkinson’s disease, certain antidepressants, or mixing drugs and alcohol with prescription drugs
• Pregnancy can cause low blood pressure, especially in the first half of the pregnancy
• An allergic reaction to a medication or food that causes anaphylactic shock
• Lying down too much, such as those who are sick for an extended time or are on bed rest due to pregnancy or other complications
• Standing too long

These are some of the causes we look into and address at LifeWorks.