HYPERTENSION AND HOMEOPATHY

FACTS

· Blood pressure is not constant and varies with age, activity, posture, environmental changes. A single reading of high blood pressure doesn't mean much on it's own; it is not judged without a number of readings over a period of time.

Normal - Systolic lower than 120, diastolic lower than 80

Pre-hypertension - Systolic 120-139, diastolic 80-99

Stage 1 - Systolic 140-159 or diastolic 90-99

Stage 2 - Systolic more than 160 or diastolic more than 100

· If blood pressure is recorded consistently as 140/90 mm Hg or higher at different occasions in an adult, it is considered as hypertension.

· In majority (up to 90% to 95%) of people with hypertension, the cause cannot be determined; this is termed as essential or primary hypertension. Often a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors may play a role. In about 10% of people with hypertension the specific cause can be determined; this is termed as secondary hypertension

· The factors increase the risk of hypertension are heredity, overweight, post-menopause, smoking, alcohol consumption. salt craving, lifestyle, etc

· Most people with hypertension do not show any symptoms and are often detected on a routine medical examination. The common symptoms are :headaches especially early morning, bleeding from the nose / gums, breathlessness on exertion, palpitations (self awareness of heart beat), anxiety, profuse sweating, pallor, tremors, pain in the calf/leg muscles, nausea, vomiting, episodes of generalized muscular weakness, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing while lying down, angina (Chest pain), etc

· The best and easiest way to measure blood pressure is with the help of an instrument called a Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Instrument) and a stethoscope. All other tests are done to see the severity of effects of hypertension on the organs, to rule out causes of secondary hypertension and to plan the course of treatment

HOMEOPATHIC APPROACH

· Patients with high blood pressure generally consults a homeopath under these circumstances

1. High blood pressure discovered accidentally on routine health check up

2. Presenting with some symptoms pointing towards high blood pressure

3. Already diagnosed but not taking any regular treatment

4. Already diagnosed and is taking allopathic medicines regularly

· Under all these circumstances the main aim is to cure the disease in totality and for which one needs to understand the homeopathic approach. Homeopathy treats MAN IN DISEASE, RATHER THAN DISEASE IN MAN. Homeopathy acts together with body's natural reactions and stimulates the defense mechanism (immunity) which helps in eradicating the diseases. As the immunity level goes up, disease phenomenon as a whole goes down. Improvements can be experienced in different percentages in one/all illnesses

· Constitutional homeopathic treatment also modifies personalities and temperament so that one can react appropriately to stressful situations. The homeopathic medicines influence and balance the person's hormonal, neurological and immune systems. Constitutional homeopathic treatment aims to cure the disease of the patient by stimulating auto regulatory mechanism of the body.

· When a hypertensive patient comes to a homeopath, while he is on regular allopathic treatment, the first question he asks – Should I stop the allopathic medication to take homeopathic treatment? And our reply is: Continue your allopathic treatment as it is and start constitutional homeopathic treatment along with. In due course of time, as the things improve and blood pressure levels start showing normalcy, allopathic medication can be reduced gradually till it is no longer required. And this requires a lot of patience and perseverance not only from patient himself but from his family also.

· In few cases, lipid profile is abnormal (high cholestrol, LDL etc). During the treatment, periodic check up of lipids will show normalizing of lipid levels along with clinical improvement in blood pressure.