High blood pressure “runs” in my family, and like many others in my family my numbers kept rising slightly every year and then a few months ago I checked it and it was 170/100! However, I think a lot of that rise had to do with stress and anxiety over stuff that was going on in my life at that time…
But still, that number was high by current medical guidelines which state that optimal blood pressure is 120/70 with 130/80 and higher being considered hypertension. So I waited a couple of days and checked it again and it was still a little elevated by those current guidelines but not nearly as much as it was when I had checked it a few days before.
After those readings, I went on a quest to learn everything that I could about blood pressure and how to lower blood pressure naturally. And you’ll be surprised at what I found out!
The first thing that I noticed was that the guidelines for what is considered “high blood pressure or hypertension” as set by the medical and pharmaceutical industry have continually been lowered over the years thus classifying more and more people as being hypertensive and needing medical intervention to lower the numbers by prescriptions and recurring visits to the doctor’s office.
Prescriptions and recurring visits to the doctor’s office is profitable for the pharmaceutical manufactures who, manufacturer those blood pressure-lowering drugs and for the doctors prescribing them, and as we all know profit is a huge motivator, so we have to wonder how much those continually lowered numbers that classify hypertension have to do with health and how much has to do with profit…
The numbers for what was considered normal healthy blood pressure were the same for years at 140/90 and before that, the accepted norm was 100 plus your age for the top systolic number. However, the new normal/optimal is set at 120/70 or is it 115/75?
It changes every few years and can become confusing, trying to remember the numbers, but one thing is certain and that is that lowering those numbers just 5 points on the blood pressure scale can mean billions of dollars for the pharmaceutical drug manufacturers and their pushers in the white coats.
Blood pressure number catch-all recommendations
And another thing that I found that didn’t make any sense to me is that no consideration or adjustments to those numbered guidelines are made on an individual basis. In other words, a six-foot-four 250-pound male and a five-foot-three 110 female are treated the same when it comes to blood pressure numbers and treatment.
Does that make any sense to you? It doesn’t to me. Common sense would suggest that a larger body would need a slightly higher blood pressure to push blood throughout the body of a larger human than a smaller one, yet no adjustments are made for body mass when it comes to the treatment recommendations for blood pressure.
It’s one size fits all when it comes to blood pressure and treatment guidelines that are set by the medical industry which doesn’t make any sense to me and I wonder how much is actually drug company hype meant to turn healthy people into patients in order to sell more of their product (i.e. blood pressure-lowering medications) and how much is based on real medical science.
Inaccurate blood pressure readings at the doctor’s office
And even if the numbers were based on real medical research and science I read an article a few days ago that stated that a third of people who are diagnosed with having hypertension by their doctors’ didn’t actually have hypertension and instead had an elevated blood pressure reading that was brought on by stress from being at the doctor’s office aka white coat syndrome.
Let’s again look at this with common sense… you’re already sick and or hurting to the point where you need to seek medical treatment, and you go into the doctor’s office where you sign in, then sit and wait, and wait, and wait sometimes for thirty minutes or more for your name to be called and when it finally is you are rushed into a room where the nurse slaps the cuff on your are and takes a reading, all the while your stressed from waiting in the lobby to be seen plus you’re already sick and or in pain and now they are taking your blood pressure… of course, it will most likely be elevated!
Most people can not get an accurate blood pressure reading at the doctor’s office. I know I can’t! Every time I go to the doctor I’m stressed and worried that they are going to find something seriously wrong with me so with the stress of the visit, of course, my blood pressure reading will be elevated!
And then when I leave the doctor’s office my blood pressure will quickly drop to my normal level of 130 something over 80 something. But, guess what… they always want to prescribe me medication for hypertension and have, but I don’t take it. They write me a prescription for hypertension without considering or even trying to find the cause of the elevated reading.
And even if the current recommendation of 120/70 blood pressure reading were based on medical science one elevated reading does not mean that you have high blood pressure and need a prescription drug to lower it.
How to take an accurate blood pressure reading
Blood pressure fluctuates and decreases throughout a normal day as needed. Yes, blood pressure regulates itself as needed and is constantly changing. So even if the current blood pressure guidelines were correct and based on science a single elevated blood pressure reading still does not mean that you have high blood pressure and need drug treatment.
A diagnosis of high blood pressure should be based on several readings at different times of the day and when you’re in a relaxed state, both physically and mentally not while you’re sick, hurting and being rushed through the process at the doctor’s office.
To take an accurate blood pressure reading you should sit comfortably in a room without distractions, preferably at home and then deep breath (meditate) for five to ten minutes with your arm resting comfortably on a table at heart level (see the photo below).
Any blood pressure monitor you buy should come with detailed instructions for you to follow. Read those carefully and follow the steps listed and you’ll get a much more likely to take an accurate blood pressure reading than you will get at the doctor’s office.
Here is a link to the blood pressure monitor that I have at Amazon.com…
So what should you consider a high blood pressure reading?
Well, I’m not a doctor and can’t legally give anyone medical advice and anything I state in this article should not be taken as medical advice, however, for me I don’t worry about numbers that are at or below 140/90, however, you’ll have to make your own choices and or follow your doctors’ recommendations regarding the numbers and treatment options that are best for you.
How I lowered my blood pressure naturally…
While my numbers weren’t high (according to my personal set standard of 140/90 or below) I decided to see what I could do to lower my blood pressure naturally… The first thing I did was lose some weight by power walking every day and cutting out as many carbohydrates as possible…
When I started I was at 205 pounds and now approximately eight months later I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 178. The scale that I have is the GreaterGoods bathroom scale that I ordered through Amazon.com (click here to check the current price and availability at Amazon.com).
I also started taking Ubiquinol CoQ10 – here is a link to the brand that I take at Amazon.com, however, I buy it at my local Wal-Mart instead of ordering it. I also take this fish oil supplement that I order from Amazon.com and now my blood pressure readings are in the upper 120’s over the upper 70’s for most readings.
There are other supplements that are said to help to lower already elevated blood pressure or to keep normal blood pressure from rising as we age, and some of those have a lot of scientific data and research to back up those claims and I’ll go into more detail about those supplements below, but the fish oil and Ubiquinol CoQ10 had the most effect when it came to lowering my blood pressure and in keeping those numbers low.
My father before he passed away with cancer always had an extremely high blood pressure reading with the top number being consistently over 200, despite the fact that he was taking several prescription blood pressure medications…
Well, seeing that the prescription medications were not helping him I did some research (it’s what I do) and picked up some fish oil and hawthorn supplements for him and told him to try taking those which he did and two weeks later he came back to my house and I checked his blood pressure again and it was 122/72!
I said to myself that can’t be right so I waited about ten minutes and checked again… the same result! So I checked it three more times that day and every time it was within the same number range. And yes, my blood pressure monitor is accurate – I had it calibrated with the one at the doctor’s office after to be sure.
According to my research, the supplements detailed below can also have a positive effect on lowering blood pressure and keeping it in the normal range.
Vitamin D
Low vitamin D was linked to higher blood pressure numbers as well as other illnesses. However, with that said from my research I found that vitamin D supplements are reported to have a very minor impact on diastolic blood pressure, and no impact on systolic in human beings with already high blood pressure.
I take 5000 IU of vitamin D daily, however, I do so for the other reported benefits like improving bone, thyroid, and kidney health as well as possibly helping to prevent certain cancers (source)
Potassium
Potassium can have a positive effect when it comes to lowering blood pressure because it is reported to counteract the results of sodium on blood pressure (source).
CoQ10
We already talked about Coenzyme Q10 and how it lowered my blood pressure, however, it’s worth mentioning again just in case you’re just skimming over this article and missed it the first time. This article from Mayo Clinic goes into great detail about how Coenzyme Q10 can lower high blood pressure.
Once again here is the brand of COQ10 that I used to lower my blood pressure – this link opens to the brand of COQ10 at Amazon.com however, the exact same brand is also available at Walmart and that’s where I buy it from.
Acetyl-L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine is reported by many online sources to have a lowering effect on high blood pressure I had trouble finding any real scientific data from human studies to prove it. However, since it’s also reported to have a positive effect for men when it comes to getting and keeping an erection then it’s worth trying (source).
The NOW® brand of Acetyl-L-Carnitine has some great reviews on Amazon.con you can click this link that will take you to Amazon.com where you can read those customer reviews.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that your frame evidently produces. It’s most typically associated with assisting you with better sleep. People with hypertension occasionally don’t produce sufficient melatonin. Taking melatonin supplements, researchers suggest, may help to reduce blood pressure (source).
You could try taking 2 mg of melatonin as a safe, way of decreasing blood pressure in the evenings. Taking it during the day isn’t suggested, as it will make you drowsy.
Hawthorn
Like I mentioned above, I’ve seen how well that hawthorn works to lower blood pressure and I’m not alone in this its blood pressure lowering effects have also been noted by reputable medical institutions such as the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Does Salt Really Raise Blood Pressure?
One more point before closing this article. During my research on how to lower blood pressure naturally, I stumbled upon some interesting research at Science Daily that many of you guys will find very interesting, especially if you’re like most guys and like to add a little extra salt to your food…
Quote and link to source below…
A new study that followed more than 2,600 men and women for 16 years found that consuming less sodium wasn’t associated with lower blood pressure. The study adds to growing evidence that current recommendations for limiting sodium intake may be misguided (source).
Supplements to Lower Blood Pressure Recap
- Ubiquinol CoQ10
- Fish oil
- Hawthorn
- Vitamin D
- Potassium
- Acetyl-L-carnitine
- Melatonin
Required disclaimer: All content in this article is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.
Have you been diagnosed with hypertension? What have you done to lower it? Please let me know in the comments below…
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I have been an herbalist for over 40 years & have treated hundreds of clients. I cringe when an article pops up about “How to do “this or that” with natural products. Thankfully that was not the case this time! You obviously have done your research & cite your sources & that’s the mark of a serious healer. (Besides which, you agreed with me.) Lol Thanks for a well written article. Keep meaning to get back to you on the mosquito repellent but lots of time constraints this time of year. Keep up the good work.
Linda S,
Thank you for commenting on this – it’s appreciated.
congrats on your weight loss and your successful walking program. these two things are most likely to have been of help in reducing your blood pressure. i too, am not fond of big pharma, but i see you are using up to 7 other drugs. these pills are even less likely to be tested for safety than fda approved meds. they also may not have the ingredients they claim to have. for example, remember the problem with melamine in dog food from china? melamine tests as a protein, but is toxic to dogs. further back, in the late 80s’, melatonin from china was contaminated and hundreds of people were disabled by the faulty drugs, including a friend of mine. almost all of our pharmaceuticals come from china or india. many are petroleum based.
what to do? exercise, normalize weight, research the safety and efficacy of any meds you want to try. voice your concerns to your medical team. they should be able to help you find needed meds from the safest tested provider and/or help you find the best plant-based medicine. there are paid services that can give you testing results on many pharmaceuticals. this is the only body you get. take good care of it.
one last thing, the reason the numbers were adjusted downward is that enough data has been collected now to show that there is some elevation of risk for stroke and heart attack in that 130-something over 80-something range.
emmer,
No, I’m not taking over seven supplements for blood pressure go back and re-read it. Kinda link those blood pressure meds that were recently being recalled (several different ones) because they had cancer-causing ingredients… As for the numbers, I had a medical doctor tell me during a visit that the recommended numbers keep being lowered by the big pharma sponsored research so more people would not meet those new numbers and could be prescribed medications. But of course, you are free to take and believe whatever you want and that’s cool with me…
Good information as usual M.D. very helpful stuff here, thank you..
Thanks for the info my husband has been working to reduce the number of prescriptions that he takes. He recently dropped some meds with the blessing of his Dr, he is now taking melatonin instead of a sleeping pill. I was already going to add fish oil to what he is taking and now I am going to take another look at everything you have listed. I know he would like to quit taking the blood pressure too. Now I just need to do the research for easing restless legs.
Good article. wish more people would follow it
He recently dropped some meds with the blessing of his Dr, he is now taking melatonin instead of a sleeping pill. I was already going to add fish oil to what he is taking and now I am going to take another look at everything you have listed. I know he would like to quit taking the blood pressure too. Now I just need to do the research for easing restless legs.