For years people have been told that the diet and lifestyle choices that are so typical in the Western world are the cause of the overwhelming problem with hypertension, or high blood pressure.
However, new research out of China shows that more than one third of adults there show evidence of high blood pressure, even when Western diet trends are not present.
In research presented by the World Hypertension League, more than 330 million people in China suffer from hypertension.
It is such a problem that it is occurring at a rate of 1 in 5 for men ages 25 to 34. For decades, Western diet trends were being blamed as the reason for hypertension globally, but not everyone eats a Western diet; indeed by its very definition it is dominant in the Western hemisphere- namely the US.
So why do so many people in Asia present with high blood pressure? An abundance of evidence points to one common thread that is present no matter where a person lives, putting everyone at basically the same risk of developing hypertension…
STRESS!!!
It is true that lifestyle choices have a lot to do with eliminating high blood pressure, but to get at the real issue causing it, one must address the source, which always points back to stress.
There are four types of stress that cause high blood pressure:
Physical – when you run the track your blood pressure goes up. Then it drops down. However, if you are always under a lot of physical stress (especially as we age), high blood pressure can become chronic.
Emotional – the aspect we most of contribute to high blood pressure. This includes money worries, relationship issues, concern about our kids, overreacting emotionally to situations etc.
Sensory – studies have shown that people who live around lots of noises such as traffic have higher levels of stress hormones in their blood. Watching TV, flying in a loud plane, working in a factory can all contribute to sensory stress and high blood pressure.
Mental – mental challenges are great. Playing Sudoku, chess or doing the crossword puzzle will all help you keep mental sharpness for the rest of your life. But get stuck on a mental challenge that you just can’t stop thinking about, and be sure that your blood pressure will spike. Your brain uses 20% – 40% of the blood oxygen. You can do the math if you overuse it.
The four types of stress accumulate. So if you’re under heavy physical stress and then are faced with increases in emotional and mental stress, your normal blood pressure may skyrocket.
Lots of people with high blood pressure tell me they’re not stressed. This may be true in an emotional sense. However, I’ve never met a person with high blood pressure who didn’t also have high cortisol (stress hormone) levels when measured.
Our High Blood Pressure Program is based on giving your body what we call a “Focused Break,” where the chronic high blood pressure is brought down for a few minutes and your system reboots.
And something as simple as going to the doctor! White Coat Hypertension… Which I suffer from. Doctor's scare the bijous out of me… and "suck it up – get over it" is not the solution!
I agree that stress is probably the highest risk factor. Smoking, lack of nutrients, lack of exercise, not enough sleep, not enough water, spine out of alignment, and not enough recreation are also to blame. When you have a stressful job, many times nutrition, exercise and sleep suffer also. The compound effect is too much for the body to deal with.
I KNOW my elevated blood pressure is a result of my anxiety level. The underlying cause for the anxiety level is menopause-related INSOMNIA. It is a constant strain on my nervous system. When I occasionally get enough sleep, my anxiety is GONE, and I'll bet my blood pressure goes down to normal. I feel uncomfortable about taking a Beta Blocker for my anxiety, but it appears to help. It does NOT get to the cause, but controls the outcome: anxiety and resultant elevated blood pressure. – A.C.
me too, so he doesnt even take it anymore cause its always high, I keep track of it and then show him what it was .
I recently went to my doctor and was pleased to see that my BMI index had improved from 30.5 to 24.3 in 2 years and my cholestrol in 2010 was 8.95 and just last month it was down to 5.6 , just 1 point shy of the average but still my blood pressure has remained in the 130/91 , very heart breaking as I worked so hard , but I now know that my Job and the emmotional issues I am going through have largley contributed to the persistent high blood pressure
I purchased these exercises and I wasn't too impressed with the results. If they were so good, don't you think everybody would know about them now and you would be hailed as a hero and a saviour?
working in a critical care unit. You have to use your skills mentally and physically all the time.
I have taken tissue salts for anxiety and head aches , garlic .Left out black pepper .
I have been ill so often. When you are ill your metabolism increases and Bp goes up.
Now I need to exercise and lose the weight .
Take the bitter aloe Vera to detox.