Friday, November 14, 2008

How Blood Pressure Works

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries and is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure (the higher number) is the maximum force exerted against blood vessel walls each time the heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) is the force exerted on the blood vessels when the heart is resting between beats.
The two forces that determine your blood pressure are firstly the force created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and through the rest of the blood vessel circulatory system and the second force is determined by the arteries as they resist the blood flow.
Higher blood pressure numbers mean that the heart has to work harder because of the restrictions of the blood vessels. Certain hormones, like adrenaline (which is released when you are under stress) cause blood vessels to constrict, and this in turn raises blood pressure forcing your heart to work harder. Any deposits on the wall of the blood vessels can also cause restrictions or as we get older our blood vessels lose their elasticity thus elevating blood pressure.
If your blood pressure is above the normal range you can lower it naturally with a combination of exercise and lifestyle changes. There are certain foods that can help lower blood pressure like some nuts, garlic, bananas and chocolate, yep... chocolate is good for blood pressure.
If you are considering taking blood pressure medications then we urge you to consider the harmful side effects that blood pressure medications can have on your body long term. Do your due diligence on the medications because some of them have potentially some very nasty side effects. Why not try a natural remedy that has no nasty side effects

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