Can Alternative Therapies Treat High Blood Pressure Effectively?
By Nancy Kennedy
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is a key factor in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. But if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, what is the best way to lower it and keep it at a healthy level? Is medication the only option, or are there alternatives that treat high blood pressure naturally?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most prevalent and serious chronic medical conditions of American adults. It affects 103 million of us, or one in three adults, and if it is untreated or ineffectively treated, it can lead to dire consequences, including heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and death. High blood pressure has been called “the silent killer” because it is usually asymptomatic; for this reason, regular monitoring of blood pressure levels is essential to detecting and treating it.
Treatment of high blood pressure is primarily a matter of taking medication prescribed by one’s primary care physician or cardiologist, and following a program of heart-healthy lifestyle practices. But some people stop taking their blood pressure medication. It may be because they find compliance with a medication regimen challenging; others may have health care access obstacles. Still others may simply prefer to try non-pharmaceutical approaches to treatment.
Can high blood pressure be effectively treated without medication? Can lifestyle modifications and treatment alternatives actually lower blood pressure, and maintain it a healthy level?
According to Alan Bramowitz, M.D., a board-certified cardiologist with Jefferson Cardiovascular Association, blood pressure medications have been shown to reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Can the same be said for alternative treatments? How much do these alternatives and lifestyle modifications actually lower blood pressure? Dr. Bramowitz cites the July 2021 issue of the Journal of Hypertension, which listed ten lifestyle modifications and other initiatives that have been claimed to lower blood pressure. They are:
Sodium restriction
Special diets such as DASH
Exercise programs
Potassium reduction
Increased magnesium intake
Alcohol reduction
Stress reduction
Transcendental meditation
Weight loss
“The studies have shown that alternatives such as these can be helpful for persons with all levels of hypertension,” Dr. Bramowitz states. “But they are only an alternative to medication for those with very low risk. For those with higher risk for cardiovascular disease, they can serve as complementary treatment to blood pressure medication.”
The intensity of treatment for an individual patient’s high blood pressure, Dr. Bramowitz explains, may be determined by the “risk score” – a ten-year, projected cardiovascular risk assessment that considers smoking, cholesterol levels, and the presence of other conditions such as diabetes.
“Hypertension remains a national and global problem which is seriously undertreated,” according to Dr. Bramowitz. “Yet, increased and improved treatment in the past 50 years has resulted in decreased incidence of stroke and cardiovascular events. Historically, and currently, Americans have been undertreated for high blood pressure. From 1976 -1980, only 51% of Americans were aware of their high blood pressure.”
If systolic blood pressure remains above 130 with lifestyle modifications, then medication remains mandatory, Dr. Bramowitz says. If the blood pressure does not come down below 130 with one medication, then more medications may be needed to reach the target. “The number of medications is less important than the ability to keep the systolic below 130. The critical goal is to minimize the risks of kidney failure, stroke, dementia, heart failure, heart attack and sudden death. People with low risk may get by with lifestyle modification, but effective medical treatment is required for those at increased risk. Persons with high blood pressure may be best served by monitoring their blood pressure at home and working with their providers to attain and maintain levels recommended by current guidelines.”
The current guidelines of the American College of Cardiologists and the American Heart Association define normal blood pressure as a systolic reading less than 120 and a diastolic reading below 80.
The bottom line: if you have high blood pressure, take your medications exactly as prescribed and try employing the lifestyle modifications that are listed above, as a complementary treatment to your medication regimen rather than as an alternative. These lifestyle changes can help by improving your quality of life and overall health.
For more information, visit jeffersoncardiology.com or call 412-469-1500.