Pulmonary Hypertension in Children



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13 Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure - ABC News

May 26, 2013— -- intro: High blood pressure is one of the most preventable conditions. But it plays a contributing role in more than 15 percent of deaths in the United States, according to a new Harvard study. Although it causes no symptoms, high blood pressure boosts the risks of leading killers such as heart attack and stroke, as well as aneurysms, cognitive decline, and kidney failure.

Twenty-eight percent of Americans have high blood pressure and don't know it, according to the American Heart Association. If you haven't had yours checked in 2 years, see a doctor. While medication can lower blood pressure, it may cause side effects such as leg cramps, dizziness, and insomnia. Fortunately, most people can bring down their blood pressure naturally without medication.

Top 10 Natural Alternatives to Prescribed Drugs

quicklist: 1category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Go for Power Walksurl: text: Hypertensive patients who went for fitness walks at a brisk pace lowered pressure by almost 8 mmhg over 6 mmhg. Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn't work as hard to pump blood. Get a vigorous cardio workout of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Try increasing speed or distance to give your heart a better workout.

quicklist: 2category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Breathe Deeplyurl: text: Slow breathing and meditative practices such as qigong, yoga, and tai chi decrease stress hormones, which elevate renin, a kidney enzyme that raises blood pressure. Try 5 minutes in the morning and at night. Inhale deeply and expand your belly. Exhale and release all of your tension.

quicklist: 3category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Pick Potatoesurl: text: Loading up on potassium-rich fruits and vegetables is an important part of any blood pressure-lowering program, says Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medical. Aim for potassium levels of 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day, she says. Top sources of potassium-rich produce include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and dried fruits such as prunes and raisins.

25 Healthiest Foods On Earth

quicklist: 4category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Be Salt Smarturl: text: Certain groups of people—the elderly, African Americans, and those with a family history of high blood pressure—are more likely than others to have blood pressure that's particularly salt (or sodium) sensitive. But because there's no way to tell whether any one individual is sodium sensitive, everyone should lower his sodium intake, says Eva Obarzanek, PhD, a research nutritionist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How far? To 1,500 mg daily, about half the average American intake, she says. (Half a teaspoon of salt contains about 1,200 mg of sodium.) Cutting sodium means more than going easy on the saltshaker, which contributes just 15% of the sodium in the typical American diet. Watch for sodium in processed foods, Obarzanek warns. That's where most of the sodium in your diet comes from, she says. Season foods with spices, herbs, lemon, and salt-free seasoning blends.

quicklist: 5category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Indulge in Dark Chocolateurl: text: Dark chocolate varieties contain flavanols that make blood vessels more elastic. In one study, 18% of patients who ate it every day saw blood pressure decrease. Have 1/2 ounce daily (make sure it contains at least 70 percent cocoa).

Delicious Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure

quicklist: 6category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Take a Supplementurl: text: In a review of 12 studies, researchers found that coenzyme Q10 reduced blood pressure by up to 17 mmhg over 10 mmhg. The antioxidant, required for energy production, dilates blood vessels. Ask your doctor about taking a 60 to 100 mg supplement up to 3 times a day.

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quicklist: 7category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Drink (a Little) Alcoholurl: text: According to a review of 15 studies, the less you drink, the lower your blood pressure will drop—to a point. A study of women at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, for example, found that light drinking (defined as one-quarter to one-half a drink per day for a woman) may actually reduce blood pressure more than no drinks per day. One "drink" is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits. Other studies have also found that moderate drinking—up to one drink a day for a woman, two for a man—can lower risks of heart disease. "High levels of alcohol are clearly detrimental," says Obarzanek. "But moderate alcohol is protective of the heart. If you are going to drink, drink moderately."

quicklist: 8category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Switch to Decaf Coffeeurl: text: Scientists have long debated the effects of caffeine on blood pressure. Some studies have shown no effect, but one from Duke University Medical Center found that caffeine consumption of 500 mg—roughly three 8-ounce cups of coffee—increased blood pressure by 4 mmhg, and that effect lasted until bedtime. For reference, 8 ounces of drip coffee contain 100 to 125 mg; the same amount of tea, 50 mg; an equal quantity of cola, about 40 mg. Caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress, says Jim Lane, PhD, associate research professor at Duke and the lead author of the study. "When you're under stress, your heart starts pumping a lot more blood, boosting blood pressure," he says. "And caffeine exaggerates that effect." If you drink a lot of joe, pour more decaf to protect your ticker.

quicklist: 9category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Take Up Teaurl: text: Lowering high blood pressure is as easy as one, two, tea: Study participants who sipped 3 cups of a hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure by 7 points in 6 weeks on average, say researchers from Tufts University—results on par with many prescription medications. Those who received a placebo drink improved their reading by only 1 point. The phytochemicals in hibiscus are probably responsible for the large reduction in high blood pressure, say the study authors. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus; look for blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients—this often indicates a higher concentration per serving.

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quicklist: 10category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Work (a Bit) Lessurl: text: Putting in more than 41 hours per week at the office raises your risk of hypertension by 15%, according to a University of California, Irvine, study of 24,205 California residents. Overtime makes it hard to exercise and eat healthy, says Haiou Yang, PhD, the lead researcher. It may be difficult to clock out super early in today's tough economic times, but try to leave at a decent hour—so you can go to the gym or cook a healthy meal—as often as possible. Set an end-of-day message on your computer as a reminder to turn it off and go home.

quicklist: 11category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Relax With Musicurl: text: Need to bring down your blood pressure a bit more than medication or lifestyle changes can do alone? The right tunes can help, according to researchers at the University of Florence in Italy. They asked 28 adults who were already taking hypertension pills to listen to soothing classical, Celtic, or Indian music for 30 minutes daily while breathing slowly. After a week, the listeners had lowered their average systolic reading by 3.2 points; a month later, readings were down 4.4 points.

quicklist: 12category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Seek Help for Snoringurl: text: It's time to heed your partner's complaints and get that snoring checked out. Loud, incessant snores are one of the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). University of Alabama researchers found that many sleep apnea sufferers also had high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. In fact, it's estimated that half of all people with sleep apnea have high blood pressure. If you have sleep apnea, you may experience many brief yet potentially life-threatening interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. In addition to loud snoring, excessive daytime tiredness and early morning headaches are also good clues. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if OSA could be behind it; treating sleep apnea may lower aldosterone levels and improve BP.

Sleep Better Every Night

quicklist: 13category: Natural Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressuretitle: Jump for Soyurl: text: A study from Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found for the first time that replacing some of the refined carbohydrates in your diet with foods high in soy or milk protein, such as low-fat dairy, can bring down systolic blood pressure if you have hypertension or prehypertension.

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More from Prevention:


7 Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally—No Meds Needed

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

We all know that keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range (below 120/80 mmHg) is crucial for heart health—after all, high blood pressure is one of the top risk factors for heart disease. But maintaining healthy blood pressure doesn't just protect your heart. It can also reduce your risk of dementia, diabetes and kidney disease. Even more surprising: a study in Hypertension Research found that reducing elevated blood pressure may cut the risk of hearing loss by up to 47 percent. Here's how to lower your blood pressure quickly and naturally with the best science-backed tips. 

First things first: What's considered a high blood pressure reading? High blood pressure (hypertension) is anything above 130/80 mmHg. This is the stage in which your risk of heart disease and other health problems starts to noticeably rise. You can keep an eye on your readings with regular doctor visits as well as home blood pressure monitors.

Aside from the basics like eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and getting regular exercise, there are simple steps you can take to help lower your pressure if your numbers are elevated. To get started, give these heart-healthy strategies a try:

Sip a glass of orange juice

Love drinking OJ in the morning? That's a smart habit for people with high blood pressure. A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that drinking two cups of orange juice daily spurred significant reductions in systolic (top number) blood pressure within 12 weeks. 

And in a report published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the strategy lowered diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure in four weeks. The reason: Oranges and their juice are high in a compound called hesperidin, which fights the inflammation that can cause blood pressure to climb.

Reach for these veggies 

Upping your intake of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale can lower both your systolic and diastolic blood pressure in as little as four weeks. So say researchers reporting in the journal BMC Medicine, who found the effects in people who enjoyed 300 grams (about 3-1/3 cups) of the veggies daily. Experts credit compounds such as nitrates and glucosinolates found in crucifers with helping blood vessels relax and widen. 

Dance to some music

Looking for a fun way to lower your blood pressure? Enjoy an impromptu dance break! A recent Japanese study reveals that dancing can lower your systolic blood pressure by 13 points while reducing your diastolic pressure by 10 points in six weeks—and all it takes is 10 minutes a day. The blood-pumping exercise you get from dancing keeps your blood vessels supple. Plus, moving your head up and down while dancing blunts the activity of angiotensin II, which increases blood pressure by constricting vessels. 

Consider an olive leaf supplement

A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research reveals that olive leaf extract (OLE) can manage your blood pressure naturally. Study participants who took 1,000 mg of OLE daily for eight weeks lowered their systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 13 and 4 points, respectively. Experts explain that polyphenol compounds in the extract exert a similar action on blood pressure as ACE inhibitors, prescription drugs used to treat hypertension. One to try: Swanson Olive Leaf Extract 500 mg.

Enjoy hibiscus tea

A blood pressure-lowering eating plan doesn't have to be boring. Simply relaxing with two 12-oz. Glasses of tangy, fruity hibiscus tea daily lessens the odds of hypertension by 65 percent. And if your BP is already a little high, it'll lower it by as much as 13 points, Tufts University scientists say. That's because natural fruit acids in hibiscus act like artery-relaxing ACE inhibitors.

Look for flowers

Lilies, roses, sunflowers…there are so many flowers in bloom in local parks, nature preserves and even your own garden. And just taking a few minutes to pause and admire their beauty can help lower your blood pressure, according to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. This healthy lifestyle habit can also help reduce stress and eliminate negative emotions, the study authors report. 

Soak your feet

Sounds too simple to work, but regularly soaking your feet in a basin filled with warm water can help lower your blood pressure. In fact, a study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that herbal foot baths helped reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

For more blood pressure tips

What Is Normal Blood Pressure by Age? Doctors Reveal When a Reading Is Safe—And When It's Dangerous

9 Foods That Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally—No Meds Needed

Does Coffee Raise Your Blood Pressure? Experts Reveal How to Reduce the Risk of a Spike

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.


11 Natural Ways To Lower Blood Pressure - WTOP News

You may not need to take drugs to bring blood pressure down. Do you have high blood pressure? You most…

You may not need to take drugs to bring blood pressure down.

Do you have high blood pressure? You most likely do without even knowing it.

1. Lose weight

Losing weight can help patients shed pounds and decrease their blood pressure.

2. Exercise

An inactive lifestyle is an invitation for high blood pressure.

3. Drink less alcohol

Raising your beer mug or wine glass can also raise your blood pressure. If you're having more than a couple of alcoholic beverages a day, cutting down can improve your health.

4. Follow a healthy diet

There is excellent evidence that the DASH and Mediterranean diets can lower blood pressure.

5. Limit salt

Avoiding salt can help keep high blood pressure at bay.

6. Sleep more

Insufficient sleep can elevate your blood pressure.

7. Quit smoking

Not only does smoking damage your lungs that suffer, but it can ruin your heart health as well. With each cigarette, your risk for stroke and heart disease rises along with your blood pressure.

8. Increase potassium

Eating more potassium-rich foods — like bananas — can help lower your blood pressure by about 4 to 5 mmHg, Latina says. The American Heart Association recommends 3,500 milligrams to 5,000 milligrams daily to prevent or treat high blood pressure.

9. Evaluate medications

Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can increase your blood pressure.

10. Get a furry companion

Having a pet offers many health benefits for owners, such as improved mood, increased socializing, reduced stress, motivation to walk more and better well-being.

11. Meditate

Meditation is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for lowering blood pressure. It provides an outlet to help manage stress in a positive way.

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11 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure originally appeared on usnews.Com

Update 06/24/25: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.






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