"About Your Blood Pressure" - Dr. Jennie Weisenburger
What the numbers mean and different factors that influence your blood pressure
The Systolic Pressure (the top number) is the force that your heart needs to exert to move blood from the heart into the rest of your circulatory system, and thus represents arterial resistance.
The Diastolic Pressure (the bottom number) is the arterial pressure when the ventricles of your heart are relaxing and filling with blood.
Class Systolic mmHg / Diastolic mmHg
- Normal <120 / <80
- Pre-HTN 120-139 / 80-89
- Mild HTN 140-160 / 90-104
- Mod HTN 140-180 / 105-114
- Severe HTN >160 / >115
Repeated measurements are important. A single high measurement does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure. On the other hand, a single normal measurement does not necessarily mean that you don't have high blood pressure.
Complications of High Blood Pressure (HTN)
- Major risk for Myocardial Infarction
- Stroke
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Renal Complications / Failure
- Retinal Disorders / Blindness
Your blood pressure is one of the many indicators of health. High blood pressure is not a disease in and of itself, but a sign that your body is under stress.
The following are factors that may be contributing to high blood pressure:
- Lifestyle factors: coffee consumption, smoking, alcohol intake, lack of exercise, stress
- Dietary factors: low fiber/ high sugar diet, high saturated fat / low essential fat intake, diet low in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C, sodium/potassium ratio out of balance (too much sodium not enough potassium), food sensitivities
- Genetic Factors
- Obesity
- Exposure to heavy metals (lead)
Naturopathic Treatment Options
Most cases of borderline to moderate hypertension can be brought into normal range with changes in lifestyle and diet including:
- Modifying current exercise regimen
- Implementing time each day for relaxation
- Addressing and managing daily stresses in life
- Limiting or eliminating coffee and alcohol
- Weight loss
- Following a whole foods diet
- Identifying potential food sensitivities or exposure to environmental toxins
- Supplementing nutrient deficiencies
- Additional support for the cardiovascular system may include the use of medicinal herbs, homeopathic remedies, orthomolecular medicine and acupuncture.
An individualized program adressing a your specific requirements should be proposed and monitored by your naturopath or physician.
For those whose blood pressure does not respond to the above measures a more extensive testing and treatment protocol may be necessary.
Testing may include cardiovascular specific genetic testing , heavy metal testing , salivary hormone and adrenal stress testing , and nutritional testing (NutrEval ).
A comprehensive intravenous therapy program offers effective options for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. This includes chelation therapy to remove toxic heavy metals, phosphatidylcholine administration and nutrient replacement.