Diets for High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is one of the major causes of morbidity and morbidity as it contributes to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and retinal damage, if it is neglected and remains untreated. In many cases, hypertension does not cause any symptoms until it causes complications such as, decreasing sight, paralysis, heart attack, etc. A regular blood pressure monitoring and remedial measure thereof helps to ward off these complications.
Blood pressure is high when arterial blood pressure is elevated above the normal ranges. The normal blood pressure reading is systolic 120 over diastolic 80.
Causes of Essential Hypertension
(when no secondary cause is found like metabolic disorders etc.) may include the following.
- Stress and hectic life-style
- Vitiation of vata
- Vitiation of pitta
- Aggravation of kapha
- Smoking
- Excessive intake of caffeine
- Fatty food intake leading to atherosclerosis – hardening of arteries
- Obesity
- Metabolic disorders
- Excessive intake of common table salt
- Junk food intake
Ayurvedic Approach to Hypertension
According to Ayurveda, high blood pressure involves all the doshas, the heart, and the blood vessels.We can see signs and symptoms of derangement of vata dosha mainly that of 'Vyana vayu' in high blood pressure. The treatment is to correct the balance of vata dosha.Pitta derangement is also seen often and lastly in obese and sedentary people excess of kapha is also found.
People with Pitta and Vata predominante constitution and Pitta and Vata imbalance, are more prone to hypertension than any other.
Untapped emotions like anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety and fear leads to derangement in agni (metabolism in general) and there by dhatwagnis (the metabolism in the various and tissue systems and organs) mal-adaptation of the endocrine system, which then leads to conditions like hypertension. Treatment is based on bringing these imbalances back to normal. In the treatment of hypertension; correct nutrition, exercise, breathing exercises (Pranayama), yoga, meditation, and special treatments like
Abhyangam, Shirodhara and basti and behavioral modification along with various herbs go a long way to control and even cure hypertention.
The whole therapy including diet, lifestyle modification, yogic exercises and Panchkarma therapies are designed on individual basis depending upon the dosha involvement in the patient.
