High blood pressure can strike without any warning. Most of the time high blood pressure causes no symptoms until it is too late. When high blood pressure strikes it can cause any of the following complications:1, 2
Heart Attack
Blood Clots
Kidney Damage
Stroke
Pregnancy Problems
Heart Failure
Chest pain (angina)
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
Vascular dementia
Sexual dysfunction
Osteoporosis
Retinopathy (eye damage)
The best way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked routinely. An ideal blood pressure reading would be anything in the range of 90/60 – 120/80, anything above that would signal a problem with high blood pressure.
If you find out that you do have high blood pressure, your doctor may want to get you started on a series of drugs to combat the problem, will want you to change your diet, get some exercise, and learn to relax, but what she may not tell you is that adding chiropractic into your treatment can be incredibly effective as well.
Lowering blood pressure with chiropractic
In addition to following your doctor’s instructions, getting adjusted by your chiropractor can help to lower your blood pressure.
One study from 1988 found that of 21 patients with elevated blood pressure and anxiety, the ones who received chiropractic adjustments resulted in significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and anxiety, whereas no changes in blood pressure resulted in the patients who did not receive adjustments.
In 2007 an eight week study determined the differences between patients suffering from high blood pressure who received a real chiropractic adjustment, and a fake chiropractic adjustment.
The study found that , when compare to those who received a fake chiropractic adjustment, those who received a chiropractic adjustment “saw an average 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure count), and an average 8 mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom blood pressure number).” 3
Another study from 2008 also suggests that chiropractic adjustments can help to lower blood pressure.
Diet
Your diet can be incredibly helpful when it comes to lowering blood pressure, and it has even been found that some foods can naturally fight against high blood pressure. Research has found that calcium, magnesium, and potassium are essential minerals for lowering high blood pressure.
Some foods that include high amounts of all three essential minerals include: 4
White beans – with 13% of the calcium, 30% of the magnesium, and 24% of the potassium you need every day.
Pork tenderloin – with 6% of the magnesium and 15% of the potassium you need every day.
Fat free plain yogurt – with 49% of the calcium, 12% of the magnesium, and 18% of the potassium you need every day.
Kiwi – with 2% of the calcium, 7% of the magnesium, and 9% of the potassium you need every day.
Peach – with 1% of the calcium, 3% of the magnesium, and 8% of the potassium you need every day.
Bananas – with 1% of the calcium, 3% of the magnesium, and 8% of the potassium you need every day.
Kale – with 9% of the calcium, 6% of the magnesium, and 9% of the potassium you need every day.
Red bell pepper – with 1% of the calcium, 4% of the magnesium, and 9% of the potassium you need every day.
Broccoli – with 6% of the calcium, 8% of the magnesium, and 14% of the potassium you need every day.
Sweet potato – with 4% of the calcium, 8% of the magnesium (7% without the skin), and 15% of the potassium (10% without the skin) you need every day.
Quinoa – a half-cup of cooked quinoa provides 1.5% of the calcium, 15% of the magnesium, and 4.5% of the potassium you need every day.
Avocado – One-half of an avocado provides 1% of the calcium, 5% of the magnesium, and 10% of the potassium you need every day.
Figs – with 6% of the calcium, 6% of the magnesium, and 7% of the potassium you need every day.
Get started with theses recipes
Try this recipe to get your sweet potato broccoli and quinoa.
Or try some<a href="http://www.coffeeandquinoa.com/2012/10/white-bean-and-kale-stuffed-peppers/" > white bean and kale stuffed peppers.
Whip up smoothie with kiwi, peaches, banana, and yogurt.
Accompany your tenderloin with some avocado fig salsa.