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Blood
Pressure
High blood pressure gives few symptoms and most people feel healthy
during the early stages. Yet, if undetected and untreated, high blood
pressure can be a contributing cause of heart trouble, blood vessel disease,
and degenerative disease of the kidneys. Reaction to various physical
and emotional influences may cause the blood pressure to rise. These
influences include diet, exercise, exposure to cold, anxiety, quarrelsomeness
in the home, guilt, or other emotional distress. Blood pressure thus
elevated can remain at an unhealthy high, even if it fluctuates up and
down for a time.
A low blood pressure is desirable, apparently the lower the better.
We do not recognize medically a blood pressure reading that is too low,
except in cases of shock. When the blood pressure is low, if the pulse
pressure is sufficient to maintain circulation, it is considered normal.
Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and the diastolic
readings (the high and low readings) obtained in determining the blood
pressure. The average pulse pressure is 40; if it falls below 10, it
is inadequate to maintain circulation.
We do not know the exact level at which high blood pressure begins to
be damaging, but statistical comparisons show that vascular diseases
are more common as the blood pressure rises. Since high blood pressure
seems to have a definite tendency to be inherited, those having high
blood pressure in the family should be especially careful on all the
points given to prevent the disorder. The following items are given to
assist one to keep a normal blood pressure:
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Exercise is important in keeping the blood vessels in healthy
tone, equalizing the "tensions" between the autonomic and
somatic divisions of the nervous system, and in clearing the blood
of excessive
fats or sugars. Do some useful labor, such as gardening or yard work,
at a moderate pace for about one hour each day. The pace should be
what is described as "vigorous but not violent". Outdoor
labor is usually more beneficial than indoor labor. Even the sense
of satisfaction
of work well done is stabilizing to the blood pressure.
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Run in place for six minutes twice daily to reduce the blood pressure.
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Starting with the muscles of the legs, thighs, and back, tense
the muscles as much as possible and hold for several seconds. Gradually
relax.
Next, tense the muscles of the abdomen and chest. Repeat the tensing
and slow relaxation process with these areas until all tension is
gone. Proceed to the arms, neck, and head. Use this routine twice a
day.
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As a tranquilizer, take a long walk at a rapid pace to use up
excess nervous energy. Concentrate on the beauties of nature, the sky
and trees,
the rocks and flowers as you walk. The stress of life can be largely
eliminated by proper attention to exercise, a non-stimulatory diet,
and a proper philosophy of life. There should not be enough stress
within
the available number of hours per day to cause a healthy person to
have a breakdown, either mental or physical. A long walk at a rapid
pace,
or vigorous gardening can reduce nervous tension.
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Practice a deep breathing exercise three times daily. The deep
breathing exercise consists of taking very deep breath held to the
count of twenty,
exhaling and holding to the count of ten. This can be done while
driving. Repeat twenty to sixty times.
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Diet is important is five ways: First, use a non-stimulatory diet,
free from caffeine drinks, chocolate, alcohol, spices, and fermented
or aged products. A substance in cheese called tyrasine breaks down
to tyramine, a chemical capable of constricting blood vessels and causing
headaches or an increase in blood pressure. It is well for all to
leave
off cheese for the sake of healthy blood vessel reactions. Second,
use few concentrated foods, but eat freely of fruits, vegetables, and
whole
grains - non-concentrated foods. Third, to prevent high blood pressure,
do not use more than one-half to one teaspoon of salt per day. Baking
soda and baking powder are also high in sodium, as well as being
unhealthful in other ways. All baked goods using these substances should
be avoided.
After high blood pressure has developed, salt, baking soda, baking
powder, most antacids, even toothpaste and all other sources of sodium
may need
to be eliminated for a time until the blood pressure is entirely
normal and stable. Do not forget that sodium is in many over-the-counter
and
prescription drugs. Sodium is present in most antacids. Fourth, free
fats promote high blood pressure. The blood vessels are apparently
sensitive to fats and the entire cardiovascular system responds to
their presence
by maintaining greater tension. Fifth, the diet must be such as to
reduce the weight if it is above ideal.
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In a program to reduce severely elevated blood pressure, begin
with a day of fasting, followed by three days in which only apples
are eaten
(raw, cooked, stewed, dried or frozen) at each of three meals. Apples
have been found by Dr. B.S. Levin to have a beneficial effect on
the blood pressure. After the three days of apples, for the following
two
days eat only fruit and salt-free, whole grain bread for breakfast,
and vegetables and the salt-free bread for dinner. Eat only one apple
for
supper. (Omit supper if overweight).
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Careful attention to proper clothing of the extremities is essential
to calm the autonomic nervous system and to equalize the circulation.
Cool skin causes an alarm reaction in the autonomic nerves. Chilled
tissues cause the blood to shunt from the extremities to the interior
of the
body where vital organs are congested and their function is made
less efficient. Keep all skin warm except during active sweating for
cooling.
Check especially the hands and feet, the backs of the arms, and the
sides of the thighs. Wear only clothing loose enough to move up and
down freely.
Adaptation to messages from the skin signaling chilling takes a large
tax from nerve energy resources.
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For patients who can tolerate it the "short cold hip bath" is
beneficial in lowering high blood pressure. For the first treatment,
start with water temperature at 85° to 88°. The patient sits
with only the hips in a tub of water for three to 3-1/2 minutes. Reduce
the water temperature about 50 each time the bath is taken until a
temperature of 65° is achieved. Repeat the bath daily as needed.
There is an initial elevation of blood pressure of five to fifteen
points when
the bath begins, but soon the blood pressure begins to drop.
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A neutral bath for ten to thirty minutes at the end of the day
in a tub of water that feels neither warm nor cool (92° to 96°)
has been shown to have a remarkable calming effect and often to lower
blood pressure. A hot bath at 104° for twenty to thirty minutes
will invariably reduce blood pressure. After the bath, cool gradually
while
lying well-covered in bed. After thirty minutes, when sweating has
stopped, take a regular shower, friction skin dry with a coarse towel,
and dress
in dry clothing.
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During each moment that your mind is not occupied with active
labor or social discourse, practice concentrating on certain virtues
(love,
Joys peace, patience, goodness, meekness, faith, etc.), and the attributes
of God (His eternalness, faithfulness, honesty, loving-kindness,
creativity, intelligence, etc.).
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