Most of the heart patients I see for the first time already know high blood pressure can mean disaster for their heart health.
But here’s what they don’t know.Having high blood pressure can also wreak havoc on your brain, kidneys, and eyes.
Here’s the scary part…
High blood pressure can quietly damage these vital organs for years before you see any symptoms. If left unchecked, this silent killer can leave you with a disability. Or worse, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
That’s because your heart, brain, eyes, and kidneys all depend on blood flow. It supplies them with life-giving nutrients and oxygen.
Healthy arteries are strong and flexible. They’re smooth on the inside. This lets blood flow freely. With high blood pressure, however, it’s a different story.The increased pressure can damage the lining of your arteries’ walls. This can lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart disease, and stroke. The constant pressure can also cause a section of the arterial wall to enlarge, causing an aneurysm in the aorta or brain. It’s the same story with the kidneys and eyes.
High blood pressure is the most common cause of kidney failure. And in the eyes, this arterial damage can cause serious vision problems due to fluid buildup or nerve damage.
Unfortunately, mainstream medicine’s solution to this is side-effect laden drugs like beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, and diuretics.
Some of the unpleasant effects of taking these medications include:
Constant fatigue
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Depression
Impotence
Chronic dry, hacking cough
Swollen ankles
Kidney damage
One of my patients, R.G., put it this way: “If this is what it feels like to survive a heart attack, I’d rather be dead!” His previous doctor had him on a laundry list of drugs, including blood pressure drugs, to “protect” his heart. The side effects were crippling him.
Fortunately, you don’t need medications to protect your heart or even reduce your blood pressure.You can do it naturally, with inexpensive foods and supplements.
For starters, you should get your blood pressure measured.
Most grocery stores and pharmacies have a station where you can get it checked for free. Otherwise see your doctor.
Once you know your scores, take a look at the chart below and see where you fall between the normal and high blood pressure (hypertension) range:
Blood Pressure Stage
Systolic (Top Number)
Diastolic (Bottom Number)
Normal
<120>
Pre-Hypertension
120-139
80-99
Stage One Hypertension
140-159
90-99
Stage Two Hypertension
160+
100+
Next, you can use any one of these four natural alternatives to reduce or even prevent high blood pressure: Garlic – This tasty herb contains sulfides that help relax your arteries. This lets blood flow more freely. In fact, a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that garlic can relax blood vessel tension by an amazing 72 percent.1
Protect your heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain
Wean yourself off costly and harmful drugs like beta blockers
Reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
(alsearsmd@alsearsmd.com)
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