If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from high or low blood pressure, you know how important it is to find a treatment that works for you. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems, while low blood pressure can cause dizziness, fainting, and other issues. So, what will doctors recommend for both these issues?
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What Does It Mean to Have High or Low Blood Pressure?
First, let’s look at what is considered to be high or low blood pressure. Generally speaking, high blood pressure (hypertension) is when your systolic number (the upper number of a two-number reading) is greater than 140 and/or your diastolic number (the lower number of a two-number reading) is greater than 90. Low blood pressure (hypotension) occurs when your systolic number is lower than 90 and/or your diastolic number is less than 60.
Most Effective Treatments for High Blood Pressure
When it comes to treating high blood pressure, lifestyle changes are often recommended as the first line of treatment. Making healthy life choices, such as quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, eating a balanced diet low in salt, and exercising regularly can help to lower your blood pressure.
In addition to lifestyle changes, medications may be prescribed by your doctor if necessary. Commonly used medications for treating high blood pressure include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers. These drugs work to relax the blood vessels and reduce strain on your heart, making it easier for your body to regulate its blood pressure.
Finally, in some cases, surgery may be recommended to help treat high blood pressure. This is usually done when lifestyle changes and medications have not been adequate in controlling blood pressure. One of the most common types of surgery for this condition is aortic endarterectomy, where the inner lining of your blood vessel is removed and replaced with a new one; this may help reduce stress on your heart and improve blood flow.
Most Effective Treatments for Low Blood Pressure
With low blood pressure, slightly different lifestyle changes are often the most effective treatments. These may include eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, getting regular exercise, avoiding standing for long periods, and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake.
Your doctor may also recommend medications to help treat low blood pressure. These can include diuretics that increase urine output, which helps reduce fluid in the body and raise blood pressure. Other medications such as vasopressors may be prescribed to help increase blood pressure by contracting your blood vessels, increasing heart rate, and boosting adrenaline.
Naturopathic Wellness
For both problems, more people these days are choosing a naturopath in Bathurst. What is naturopathy? It is the use of natural treatments to help treat a medical condition. In this case, naturopathic wellness can provide an alternative treatment for high or low blood pressure.
Naturopathy uses herbal remedies, vitamins, and minerals to reduce stress levels, improve circulation, and strengthen the body’s immune system. Treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and dietary changes can also help to reduce high or low blood pressure.
If you haven’t seen this field before, the idea is that the body can heal itself naturally when given the right medical care. Naturopaths take a holistic approach to health, looking at all aspects of your life to determine what needs to be altered to restore balance and help you manage your condition.
Whatever routes you choose, we wish you luck in dealing with low or high blood pressure!