“As many as 20 percent of African American women with high blood pressure will die as a result of their high blood pressure.” - womenshealth.gov
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious health condition that can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and other health problems. As blood flows from the heart out to the blood vessels, it creates pressure against the blood vessel walls. A blood pressure reading is a measure of this pressure. When that reading goes above a certain point, it is called high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects about one-third of all African American women. Serious problems from having high blood pressure include stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. About 27% of the African American population with high blood pressure is unaware that they have this condition.
Stress, worry, diet, and weight all play a major role in blood pressure. So you want to be sure to keep your body and mind at ease, eat healthy, lower your salt and alcohol intake, drink plenty of filtered water, and exercise at least 2-3 days a week if not more.
“Taking blood pressure is simple and quick. The cuff placed around your arm records two measurements, such as 117/74 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Systolic pressure, the top number, is the higher pressure. It’s measured when your heart beats (contracts) and forces blood out to the body. Diastolic pressure is the bottom number. It's the minimum pressure. It occurs when the heart relaxes between beats.” - americanheart.org
Normal blood pressure: below 120/80 mmHg.
Pre-hypertension: between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
Stage 1 hypertension: pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
Stage 2 hypertension: pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.
Garlic: Taking in a clove of garlic daily can be of help as well. Taking a garlic supplement is not necessarily the best, taking in any form of vitamin in its natural form can cause less side effects, so just incorporating a clove of fresh uncooked garlic into your soups, salads, or any other dish will give you the rewards of garlic without the excessive preservatives and any other additives that are added to capsules / supplement.
Read Up On It: Natural Healing With Garlic
A spoonful of vinegar, makes the pressure go down, pressure go down!
2-3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar throughout your week could lower blood pressure for one!
Other Known Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar:
Healthier complexion
natural cleanser of toxins
reduces allergies
natural energizer
lowers blood pressure
assist in weight loss
acne
arthritis
fatigue
Taking in too much acid has been said to cause damage to the enamel on your teeth and gums, so you may not want to sip on apple cider vinegar throughout your day as many of the recipes out there call for,as acv is very high in acid. Also, beware of acv in capsule form, as these capsules can contain a tremendous amount of acid that may lead to heartburn or even yeast infections.
