•                           Hypertension  { High Blood Pressure }             

Definition

.               Hypertension is a disorder which causes the blood pressure to reach abysmally high levels. Persistent hypertension can lead to the development of fatal ailments, such as heart attacks, chronic renal failure and arterial aneurysm. It adversely affects the nervous system and several important body organs.

There are two types of hypertensions: Primary and secondary. Primary hypertension does not have many visible symptoms but secondary hypertension has prominent signs. It is more fatal in nature.

CAUSES

There is no specified cause of high blood pressure though it has often been traced to genetic origins. However, lifestyle and food habits often play a vital role in the development of hypertension.

  • People who lead a stress-ridden life and have hectic jobs become victims of hypertension.
  • Smokers and alcohol addicts are more prone to develop hypertension.
  • Intake of excess salt in food also leads to high blood pressure.

SYMPTOMS

  • The patients of hypertension complain of dizziness and intermittent headaches.
  • Some of them also suffer from symptoms like pain in the chest and palpitation.
  • Fatigue and breathing problems are two other prominent symptoms of hypertension.
  • The victims of high blood pressure also suffer from lack of sleep and become insomniac.

Etiology

The causes of high blood pressure vary and may include narrowing of the arteries, a greater-than-normal volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more forcefully than it should. Any of these conditions will cause increased pressure against the artery walls. High blood pressure may also be caused by another medical problem. Most of the time, the cause is not known.

Yogic cure:-

                 [1] Shatkarma                             {Purificatory techniques}

{a} Sutra-neti{Nose-wash by string}

{b}Jala-neti   {Nose wash by water}

{c} Kapal-bhati {Lungs & brain-wash by breathing}

{d} Trataka{Eye –gazing for focussing purifying mind}

[2] Yogasana {Posture}

{a} Vajrasana {Adamantine}

{b} Paschimottanasana{Posterior stretch}

{c} Mayurasana{Peacock}

{d} Trikonasana {Tringle}

{e} Shavasana {Corpse}

{f} Supta-vajrasana {Lying adamantine}

{g} Padmasana {Lotus}

{h}Matsyendrasana {Spinal twist}

{i} Halasan {Plough}

{j} Virasana  {Hero’s pose}

{k}Sidhadhasan  {Perfect }

{l} Pawanmuktasana  {Pawan reliving pose}

{m} Tadasana   {Palmyra}

                   {n} Konasana {Tringle}     

                   {o} Ekpadottanasana

                   {p} Bhujangasana{Cobra}

                   {q} Shalbhasana {Locust}        

                   {r} Vakrasana

                   {s} Merudandsanchalana {Spinal movement posture}              

                   {t} Setubandhasana

                   {u} Balasana.

  [3] Pranayama                   {Body- mind enersing breathing practices}

{a} Anulome-vilome                   {Alternate nostrilar pranayama}

{b} Nadi shodhana                      {Psychic network purification}

{c} Bhramari                               {Humming bee pranayama}

{d} Sheetkari                               {Folded tongue pranayama}

{e} Ujjayi                                    {Hissing pranayama}

[4] Bandhas:- {Bands}

{a} Moolabandha    {Anal lock}

[5] Mudras:           {Finger –posture} 

{a} Meyo mudra

{b} Vyanvayu mudra

{c} Apanvayu mudra

[6] Dhyana:-  

Home remedies:-

  • Add a teaspoon of honey and 5-8 drops of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot water, and drink it in the early morning. It helps to reduce cholesterol, maintains vasodilation, and helps to regulate blood pressure.
  • Mix 2 parts of orange juice with 1 part of coconut water. Drink 1/2 to 1 cup, twice or thrice a day.
  • Add 1 teaspoon coriander and 1 pinch cardamom to 1 cup freshly squeezed peach juice. Drink this juice 2 or 3 times a day.
  • Take 1 tablespoon fresh Indian gooseberry (amla) juice with 1 tablespoon of honey every morning.
  • Boil 5-6 leaves of olive in a cup of water for five minutes. Drink a cup of this decoction 3 times a day.
  • Drink 1 cup mango juice, followed about an hour later by 1/2 cup warm milk, with a pinch of cardamom, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon ghee. (Note: Skip the ghee, if the cholesterol level is high.).

Scientific appraisal in favour of yoga:-

The relaxation and exercise components of yoga have a major role to play in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure (hypertension). A combination of biofeedback and yogic breathing and relaxation techniques has been found to lower blood pressure and reduce the need for high blood pressure medication in people suffering from high blood pressure. In 20 patients with high blood pressure who practiced biofeedback and yoga techniques, five were able to stop their blood pressure medication completely, five were able to reduce significantly the amount of medication they were taking, and another four had lower blood pressure than at the beginning of the three-month study.

Precautions

  Chakrasana, Sarvagasana should be avoide

Never to be practiced after meal.

Make sure you inhale and exhale very slowly.

Further suggestion:-

Following a healthy lifestyle is thus the best and safest way to control blood pressure so as to say. Such lifestyle practices are natural, poses little health risk and are absolutely cost-free.

  • Try to have fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium like potatoes,bananas,driedapricots,orange,nuts, seeds, dried beans and peas.
  • Reduce the intake of salt in your diet. avoid adding salt at the table.
  • Also try to control caffeine (ingredient in coffee) and sugar as both can increase the amount of potassium that is excreted by the kidney.
  • Try to avoid canned food.
  • To remain healthy, stay happy. Those who take stress all the time tend to develop health problems much faster than those of happy disposition. Happiness is thus essential for good health, Laugh out loud daily and release all the tensions.
  • Do regular exercise for at least 30 to 45 min. daily. It will help reduce your blood pressure.
  • Control your Weight. See your don’t become overweight.
  • Remember old saying you are what you eat. Your meal can certainly affect your BP. Eat healthy diet.
  • Totally avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. To start with, reduce the numbers of cigarettes you smoke each day.
  • Most important of all is to reduce stress level. For this first try to identify your major stressors, then try to reduce them or at least try to cope with them in a healthier way.
  • Practice daily Yoga posture and Pranayama to maintain a healthful body weight and improve muscle tone.
  • Try to put two drops of Almond Oil or Cow’s Pure Ghee in both the nostrils twice every week.
  • Try to maintain balance between mental and physical stress and work.
  • Maintain regular sleep pattern. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day. It has a very healthy influence on inner bio-clock maintaining various rhythms of body.

Remember these are not the changes which you can’t incorporate in your daily life. These healthy changes will offer significant rewards in your life.

When your blood pressure in under control you risk of life threatening complications will markedly decrease and you will live a happier and longer life.

Yogi Yoganand