Hypertension, or what is commonly called high blood pressure, is a very serious health problem, which can result in heart attacks, kidney failure and even strokes. While the normal body pressure for a human being is 140/90 mm Hg, anything above that is thought to be high.
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The Mayo Clinic defines it as,
“A common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.”
When a person has a constant high reading over a specified period of time, he or she is diagnosed with high pressure.
Types of blood pressure
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There are 2 kinds of high blood pressure.
- Primary or essential hypertension
For most of the adults, one cannot point their fingers at the cause of hypertension. Doctors call this primary or essential hypertension. It develops slowly, over a period of time.
- Secondary hypertension
In some people, hypertension is a result of an underlying medical condition. Experts call it secondary hypertension. It appears suddenly. It causes a higher increase in blood pressure level than primary hypertension.
The condition or even medications that can cause secondary hypertension are:
- Disruptive sleep apnea
- Kidney problems
- Thyroid problem
- Birth defects in blood vessels
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Medications for birth control
- Medications for cold
- Decongestants
- Pain killers bought over the counter without prescription
- Cocaine, amphetamines or other illegal drugs
- Acute or chronic alcohol abuse
Causes of high blood pressure
Common causes for blood pressure to be so high are,
- Obesity
- Genetic factors
- Excessive drinking
- High salt intake
- Lack of aerobic exercise
- Stress
- Birth control pills
- Pain relievers
- Kidney disease
- Adrenal disease
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Symptoms of high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic, are,
“Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.
A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren’t specific and usually don’t occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.”
While medication is prescribed for sustained high blood pressure, you can try and control it with these home remedies first.
Home remedies for blood pressure that is above 140/90mm Hg
Below find 10 home remedies for blood pressure that you can try your hands on, RIGHT NOW:
1. Lemons
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Lemons keep our blood vessels soft and supple. By helping remove the rigidity in the blood vessels, it reduces high blood pressure.
You can also save your heart from an attack by taking a glass of lemon juice, regularly. The vitamin C in lemons, lend it its antioxidant properties that neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.
Remedy
- Every morning, on an empty stomach, drink a cup of warm lemon juice. To prepare it, heat a glass of lemon, and in it, squeeze the juice of a half a lemon. Do not add salt or sugar to the juice as this will reduce the effect of the lemon on your blood pressure.
2. Watermelon Seeds
The cucurbocitrin compound in watermelon seeds helps widen our blood capillaries, thus making the flow of blood easier.
Watermelon seeds also improve the function of our kidney. This, in line, reduces our blood pressure levels. It also helps people with arthritis.
According to a 2010 Florida State pilot study, watermelon, due to its vaso-dilatory effect, helps improve lower blood pressure too. The conclusion read,
“This pilot study shows that watermelon supplementation improves aortic hemodynamics through a decrease in the amplitude of the reflected wave in individuals with pre-hypertension.”
Remedies
- By grinding dried watermelon seeds and poppy seeds (also called khus khus), taken in the ratio of 1:1, make a powdered mixture.
- Now take a teaspoon of it every morning on an empty stomach. Consume another spoon every evening.
- On the other hand, you can take a teaspoon of slightly crushed seeds of dried watermelon and add it to a glass of boiled water. Let it steep for at least an hour. Now strain the water, and consume about 7 teaspoons of this water, at fixed intervals, through the day.
3. Garlic
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According to a number of studies, garlic helps lower blood pressure. In case you are wondering, you can consume garlic both raw or in cooked form to control your high blood pressure. It also reduces cholesterol levels.
Garlic stimulate the production of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide by relaxing our blood vessels, thus reducing, the blood pressure levels.
According to the BioMed Central,
“Garlic (Allium sativum) has played an important dietary as well as medicinal role in human history. Blood pressure reducing properties of garlic have been linked to its hydrogen sulphide production and allicin content – liberated from alliin and the enzyme alliinase– which has angiotensin II inhibiting and vasodilating effects, as shown in animal and human cell studies.”
Remedies
- Every day, eat a crushed garlic clove. You can even consume two if you want. Just crush the cloves with your hands and then eat it. When this enters your body, it produces hydrogen sulfide, which is a compound that enhances the flow of blood through your blood vessels, thus improving your blood pressure levels.
- In case you do not like the taste of raw garlic, since it smells and causes a burning sensation, you can take it with a glass of milk.
- Alternatively, you can mix around five to six garlic juice drops with 3 tablespoons of water. Take this twice, every day, for best results.
4. Banana
This is one fruit that you can take on a regular basis if you have high blood pressure levels. A rich source of potassium, banana helps reduce the effects on sodium on your blood pressure.
Remedies
- Every day, eat at least one banana, if not two, to lower your blood pressure levels.
- Foods that are equally good as bananas are dried apricots, raisins, orange juice, spinach, zucchini, cantaloupe and winter squash.
- You can also eat currants and baked sweet potatoes to bring your blood pressure levels to normal.
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5. Celery
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Celery has high levels of phytochemical 3-N-butylphthalide in it. This helps reduce high blood pressure levels and bring them to normal. Phthalides assist our muscles to relax. They also soothe our arterial walls, which then create space for the blood to flow easily, without restrictions.
If you don’t already know it, celery is also effective in reducing stress hormones. Stress hormones constrict our blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure. When the stress hormones are relaxed, the blood pressure automatically lessens.
Remedies
- Every day, try to consume a stalk of celery. You can take it with a glass of water, but be sure to have it on a daily basis.
- If it is easier for you, you can munch on a stalk of celery through the day.
6. Coconut Water
Those of us who have high blood pressure need to keep our bodies hydrated through the day. You need to drink about 8 to 10 glasses of water.
Another way of keeping oneself hydrated is by drinking coconut water, which helps reduce blood pressure as well.
According to a study published in 2005, in the West Indian Medical Journal, coconut water is extremely rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin. These help reduce systolic blood pressure.
Remedies
- Drink a glass of coconut water every day to get the best results.
- You can also use coconut oil while cooking, to improve your blood pressure levels.
7. Cayenne Pepper
If you are suffering from mild hypertension, then you will benefit immensely from cayenne pepper. It helps improve blood circulation by stopping the platelets from clumping together and restricting blood flow.
Remedies
- On your fruit or vegetable salad, sprinkle some cayenne pepper.
- You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your bowl of soup.
Note: Since cayenne pepper is pretty spicy, you should add only a little bit.
8. Onion Juice
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Due to presence of antioxidant flavonol called Quercetin, onions have been found to lower blood pressure levels.
Remedies
- Eat a medium-sized raw onion every day.
- If you do not like eating it, you can mix one and a half teaspoon of onion juice with half a teaspoon of honey. Take this mix, two times a day, for at least a couple of weeks.
9. Honey
Honey helps reduce the pressure on our heart. Honey has a soothing effect on our blood vessels, which in turn, helps improve blood pressure levels.
Remedies
- On an empty stomach, every morning, eat a tablespoon of honey.
- Alternatively, you can mix half a tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of ginger juice. Mix this with two teaspoons of freshly-grounded cumin seed powder. Consume this mixture twice a day.
- On the other hand, you can try another remedy. You can mix basil juice and honey in a ratio of 1:1, and consume the mix on an empty stomach every morning.
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10. Fenugreek Seeds
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A very effective remedy to cure high blood pressure, fenugreek seeds, should be a part of your daily diet if you suffer from hypertension.
Fenugreek seeds are rich source of potassium. They also have high dietary fiber content.
Remedies
- In a bowl of water, boil two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds for about a couple of minutes.
- Strain the liquid and put the seeds in a mixer and turn it into paste.
- Consume this paste twice a day for best results. You should only follow this remedy for three months, and once you notice that your blood pressure level is dripping, you can stop it.
That’s all we have on home remedies for blood pressure. For more home remedies, keep your eyes on this space!
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