PracticeAv 233; C - True Harmony

The Center for True Harmony Wellness&Medicine

2152 South Vineyard Avenue,Suite 138,Mesa,Arizona 85210

Phone480.539.6646 Fax480.539.6696

A Natural Approach to High Blood Pressure(Hypertension)High Blood Pressure (hypertension) is the most common chronic disease in older women and asignificant risk factor for stroke, congestive heart disease and kidney disease.Beginning at age 50,hypertension is more common in women than in men and even more so in black women.The mostrecent national recommendations define incipient hypertension at readings of 140/90 mm Hg.Bloodpressure readings fairly consistently above these require treatment.

Risk factors for hypertension include:

 Medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, lipid abnormalities and obesity

 Lifestyle habits like sedentarism, increased abdominal body fat, high-fat diets and cigarettesmoking

 Family History o f heart disease

Risk factors unique to women include:

 Oral contraceptive use

 Pregnanc y

 Having had both ovaries removed

 Premature menopause

Prevention is most important.

 Stop smoking.

 Get re gular aerob ic exerc ise.

 Eat a diet low in saturated fat.

 Eat a diet high in fish,who le grains,fruits,vegetab les, legumes,nuts and seeds.

 Maintain your optimal body we ight.

 Practice good stress management.

Determine your individual risk for cardiovascular disease.

 Make an appointment with a knowledgeable health care practitioner for medical history,physical exams,and tests.

After the age of 45,a woman’s annul exam should include a careful examination of theheart; carotid, abdominal, and femoral arteries; the peripheral pulses; and a blood testchecking blood sugar, total cholesterol,HDL,LDL, ratio of total cholesterol to HDL,and triglycerides.For menopausal women, I recommend an annual fasting lipid profilein addition to the annual physical/pelvic exam increasing to two to three times yearly ifabnormal.

 Monitor b lood pre ssure regularly.

 Annual electrocardiogram(EKG)at age 50;after that,every 3 years minimum.

 More sophisticated testing as needed or desired:homocysteine,alpha-lipoprotein A,fibrinogen,ferritin, co-enzyme Q 10, lipid peroxidase, magnesium, glutathione peroxidase, ande cho c a rd io gra m(EC HO).

Please feel free to contact us. It is a pleasure to serve you!Be Well and Be Happy!

 Premature heart disease is a preventable disease; appropriate diet and exerc ise, emotional andnutritional supp lementation may sub stantially reduce cardiovascular risk.

 Not all women need to take hormone replacement therapy; it is important for a few.

Nutritional Supplements to Consider:

 Consult a health care provider.

 Vitamin E:400 to 1000 IU per day

 Vitamin C:500 mg every two to four hours (to bowel tolerance)

 Coenzyme Q 10:50 to 150 mg per day

 Magnesium:400 to 1200 mg per day in divided doses

 Folic Acid:400 mcg(2.5 mg)per day

 Vitamin B6: 10 to 25 mg per day

 Vitamin B12: 1000 mcgper day

 Fish Oil(EPA and DHA):200 mg per day or more with meals

 Flax Oil: 1 tablespoon per day with meals

 Evening Primrose O il:3 to 4 grams per day with meals

Botanical S upplements to Consider:

 Consult a health care provider.

 Garlic:minimum 4000 mcg per day

 Ginger: 1 gram per day

 Hawthorn: 100 to 250 mg p er day o f flower extract

 Quercitin:200 to 400 mg 3 times per day

Exercise:

 Consult a health care provider.

 Use caution and moderation.

 Begin slowly and increase speed gradually over time. If you have never exercised before, startwith a few minutes each day and increase time gradually every week until you reach 30minute s.

 Appropriate exercise includes walking, swimming, biking or working out on an exercisemachine such as a treadmill, stair-climbing machine, rowing machine or stationary cycle atmoderate intensity for 30 minutes daily.

Stress Management:

 If we perceive certain events in our lives as stressful, if this perception is extended over timeand we have not learned to cope with it, stress will eventually produce outward manifestationsin our health such as hypertension.Many simple techniques can be effective in managing ourstress and reducing its bad influence.

Deep breathing Exercise

Biofeedback Prayer/Meditation

Yoga Hypnosis

 The blood pressure lowering effect of these techniques is not dramatic,but they constitute animportant adjuvant in a holistic program to lower blood pressure and treat and prevent heartdisease.

Please feel free to contact us. It is a pleasure to serve you!Be Well and Be Happy!