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Gluten and Its
Association With Illness
Vitamin D Importance
In Prevention and Treatment of Illness
Allergies & Sensitivities: LDA (Ultra Low
Dose Enzyme Activated Immunotherapy)
Post Traumatic Environmental Stress Disorder
Peace of Mind: Holistic
Approaches to Anxiety and ADD
Bipolar Disorder Can Be Treated With Medication
and Naturally
ALLERGY REDUCTION:
Improving Mood and Energy
Hidden Factors Behind Your
Persistent Illness
Adult
ADD:
To Medicate or Go Natural
Cancer
–
Finding Your Best Advisor
Overweight - The Risk and the Remedy
Loss
of Sexual Interest
Approaches in Helping Bipolar Sufferers
Help
for Panic and Anxiety Sufferer
Seasonal
Affective Disorder: The Winter Blues
Depression
Relief Speeds Health Recovery
Amino Acids
& Other Considerations in Depression Evaluation
Integrative
Medicine & Psychiatry
Blood
Pressure -
A Wake up Call
Addictions
- Breaking the Cycle
Suboxone: For Opiate Dependence
(for Western North Carolina Residents Only)
Spirituality:
The Core of
Healing in Integrative Psychiatry
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Blood
Pressure -
A Wake up Call
By Ronald R. Parks, MD
An
all too often occurrence these days is for a person to have
his blood pressure checked a few times and then to be put
on medications. Many people with borderline to mild elevations
of blood pressure can regain normal levels with natural approaches.
This can also be helpful also with moderate blood pressure
elevation. If not effective, then medication treatment would
be needed in addition to prevent heart disease or stroke.
Medications can have side effects as fatigue, headaches, and
impotence, but can be of critical importance if needed in
the situation where other approaches are not entirely effective.
Blood
pressure should be measured several times on different occasions
having the person relaxed and with the use of an accurate
blood pressure measuring device. The blood pressure is a measure
of the amount of resistance the blood encounters as it flows
through the arteries with each heartbeat. The top reading
or systolic pressure reflects the pressure at the time the
heart contracts or beats, and the lower value or diastolic
pressure reflects the pressure when the heart is relaxed between
beats. A normal reading for an adult would be a systolic reading
in the 120 range over a diastolic reading in the 80 range.
High blood pressure would be considered "borderline"
if in the range of 120 to160 systolic over 90 to 94 diastolic,
"mild" if 140 to 160 systolic over 95-104 diastolic,
"moderate" if 140 to180 systolic over 105 to 114
diastolic, and "severe" if 160+ systolic over 115+
diastolic. It is estimated that up to sixty million Americans
have high blood pressure or hypertension. At least 50% of
Americans 65 to 74 in age and a larger percentage of African-Americans
in this same age group have high blood pressure.
Blood pressure can fluctuate up and down with stress, demands
on the bodies as strenuous work, and from emotions as anxiety,
anger or fear. Sustained elevated blood pressure found with
the checking of pressure a number of times may herald the
beginning of potentially serious health problems and an increased
risk of heart disease or stroke. It is a wake up call to take
active steps to improve your health, wellbeing, and longevity.
Have periodic checks of your blood pressure by someone trained
to do accurate readings, or learn to do self-checks at home
with one of the many automatic models now available. If sustained
elevation is found, check with your health care practitioner
for guidance. There are many helpful steps to take to help
reduce blood pressure. Reduce unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Try relaxation techniques, biofeedback, meditation, yoga,
Qi Gong, and a regular active exercise program. If anxiety
problems are persistent, get help from a trained therapist.
Be checked for toxic metals, as lead, mercury, or cadmium,
or for food, chemical or environmental sensitivities and allergies.
Get rid of that excess weight, as this has clearly been identified
with hypertension. Begin a healthy diet that is low in salt
(sodium chloride), high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, low
in refined sugars, and rich in potassium foods. Reduce the
intake of animal fats, while increasing the use of fish oils,
and vegetable oils. Increase foods as garlic and onions. Avoid
alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Adding supplements as Vitamins
C, E, Selenium, CoQ10, Magnesium, and Calcium may be helpful.
Ronald R. Parks, M.D. is a practitioner of Integrative Medicine
and Psychiatry and is the director of MacroHealth Medicine
in Asheville, N.C. For information or consultation call (828)
225-1812.
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