How to Control Hypertension Holistically

When you make the decision to take a holistic approach to your health care, you are making a decision to treat your whole being: physically, mentally and spiritually. If you are diagnosed with hypertension, controlling it holistically is a logical course of action to take. Hypertension is a silent killer that is worsened if your body is in a negative emotional, mental and physical state. If not properly treated, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. By taking a holistic approach to controlling your high blood pressure, you are treating both the disease and its underlying causes.

Instructions

• 1

  Make an appointment to see your primary care doctor and discuss your desire to take a holistic approach to treating your hypertension. Discontinuing or avoiding blood pressure medication is not always possible; however, holistic measures can greatly reduce your blood pressure and reduce or eliminate the need of medication entirely over time.

• 2

  Quit smoking as soon as you are diagnosed. Avoid second hand smoke whenever possible. Smoking and exposure to smoking increases the risk of heart disease.

• 3

  Join a gym, start walking or begin an exercise program that you can stick with whether you are overweight or not. Another form of exercise that has been shown to potentially decrease hypertension is Tai Chi, a form of arts that is low-impact and done in slow movements that causes the body to relax. If you are overweight, beginning a daily workout routine will also assist you in losing weight. Weight-loss of as little as 10 pounds can result in lower blood pressure.

• 4

  Implement the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet by reducing saturated fats and cholesterol and eating fruits, vegetables, foods containing whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Reduce the salt in your diet to lower your blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. Mayo Clinic recommends reducing salt intake to below 1,500mg a day. Experiment with adding different spices and seasonings when cooking as an alternative to adding salt. Read labels on foods prior to purchasing and avoid those with high sodium contents.

• 5

  Locate and make an appointment to see a licensed acupuncture practitioner. Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points in the body to stimulate certain responses. According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure is one of the diseases that can benefit from treatment by acupuncture. Other alternative treatments that are beneficial in the treatment of hypertension includes different forms of massage, such as reflexology, that stimulates the body's natural healing abilities by applying pressure to certain regions on the feet or hands.