20 July 2015
What Is Blood Pressure?Blood pressure is the force that the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels, usually the arteries, unless otherwise specified.
It is a measure that reveals the condition of the heart as well as the elasticity and diameter of the arteries. The desired values for blood pressure are 90-119 mm Hg for the systolic (upper reading) and 60-79 mm Hg for the diastolic (lower reading), for adults, as per the American Heart Association. In the UK, the values considered normal are 90-139 for systolic and 60-80 for the diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure values of 120/80, at rest, are considered normal for an adult over 18. |
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About Low Blood Pressure
In low blood pressure, also called hypotension, the blood pressure becomes and stays much lower than the blood pressure of 120/80, in fact, blood pressure that remains consistently lower than 90/60 is considered low blood pressure.
Though there is no specific number below which the blood pressure can be considered low, symptoms associated with low blood pressure are mostly seen when the blood pressure goes below 90/60. Even if one of the two readings, the upper (systolic) or lower (diastolic), remains consistently low, it is considered low blood pressure. Low blood pressure need not be of concern if it does not cause any symptoms or hamper the functioning of the individual. Also, compared to non vegetarians, vegetarians have lower blood pressure levels. Many of those who suffer from low blood pressure from a long time will benefit by changes in diet and lifestyle. As an emergency solution lying down and elevating the legs will aid in sending more blood to the heart and raising blood pressure to a certain extent. Why Low Blood Pressure Can Become DangerousLow blood pressure when not accompanied by any signs of physical discomfort is not cause for worry.
However, low blood pressure affects the blood circulation and reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain and other vital organs which not only affects their normal functioning but may become life threatening. Also, low blood pressure can also be a sign of some life threatening conditions. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with low blood pressure it is advisable to seek medical advice at the soonest. Also, if you consistently suffer from low blood pressure it would be prudent to invest in an electrically operated portable Sphygmomanometer that will be useful to check your blood pressure on a consistent basis or whenever the need arises. Symptoms Of Low Blood PressureNot everyone will experience these symptoms while others may not exhibit any symptoms.
Among the symptoms associated with low blood pressure are :
Causes Of Low Blood PressureThere are various causes of low blood pressure. Only a diagnosis of the cause can identify the right treatment to be given.
Some of these causes of low blood pressure are :
How Is Low Blood Pressure Diagnosed?Many times the dizziness that we so often associate with low blood pressure may not be due to it.
ECG, Echocardiogram, EP Test or Electrophysiology test, an exercise stress test, a Tilt table test, blood tests for determining anemia and blood sugar levels are some tests that will help diagnose the cause of low blood pressure. Some Ways To Raise Low Blood Pressure
Some Things To Avoid If You Have Low Blood PressureAvoid :
Some Home Remedies To Raise Low Blood PressureSome home remedies that can be used to increase blood pressure by those who suffer from low blood pressure are given below.
Keep the body hydrated at all times. It will help to increase blood volume and consequently blood pressure.
Do consult your doctor before you think of increasing your salt intake. Ayurveda recommends consuming rock salt or black salt not iodized table salt.
You can also chew 8-10 fresh tulsi leaves daily.
Drink licorice tea everyday or take licorice capsules everyday for some days.
Grind 5 to 7 almonds that have been soaked overnight in water into a paste and add to hot milk. Drink a glass of almond milk every morning.
Consume 1 cup of beetroot juice daily for 8 to 10 days.
How To Treat Low Blood Pressure As Per AyurvedaThe following tips are given by eminent Yoga Guru, Swami Ramdev.
Clapping for 2 minutes helps in pressing and activating all the acupressure points in the hands and benefits in low BP as it makes all the nerves healthy. Hasya yoga (Laughter therapy) is also a good therapy to tackle low BP. For internal use, Ayurveda recomments taking Ashwagandha risht. But since it has sugar, diabetics should avoid it. Instead they can take Ashwagandha capsules and, Shilajit sat or Shilajit capsules. A combination of the two above, the AshwaShila capsules, can be taken @ 1-2 capsules each morning and evening. Include, carrots, spinach, amaranthus, apples, munakka, figs, dates as a regular part of your daily diet. Ashwagandha, bananas and dates also help to increase weight and thus will benefit those low BP people who are also underweight. They can take Shilajit together with this to get rid of low BP as well as gain weight.
The video below shows how Surya Namaskar is done. According to Ayurveda, pranayama, the yoga breathing routines, are capable of treating even decades' old chronic cases of low blood pressure. Another pranayama, the Suryabhedi pranayam is also useful in this context. You can watch the second video below to learn how this is done. How To do Surya Namaskar
How To Do Suryabhedi Pranayam
Kapalbhati And Anulom Vilom For Low Blood PressureThose with low blood pressure can do kapalbhati with more force though for those with high BP it has to be done without any force.
Anulom vilom done when the BP is very low or even high helps to normalize blood pressure very fast. Please watch the videos below to learn how Anulom Vilom and Kapalbhati is done correctly. How To Do Kapalbhati Pranayam
How To Do Anulom Vilom Pranayam
References
Disclaimer
The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies, supplements or starting a new health regime or practice. |
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