Hypertension the ‘SILENT KILLER’ is known as this because more often than not there are no symptoms”. I know that ‘SILENT KILLER’ sounds rather drastic, but this condition is drastic, as the damage this condition causes to your body is indisputable. The figures are staggering, in that one person in three is affected by hypertension, and over ninety per cent has no identifiable cause. Hypertension causes a staggering sixty two per cent of strokes, and forty nine per cent of coronary heart disease. There are various reasons that hypertension manifests. Sleep Apnea and high blood pressure are rapidly progressing. People with high blood pressure seem to have a high dominance of sleep Apnea. Blood pressure rises because with sleep Apnea you stop breathing, and therefore this means that the oxygen levels in your body falls, and as it falls it stimulates the receptors that alert the brain. The brain then sends signs through the nervous system and basically tells the blood vessels to “tauten up” so that the oxygen flow can increase to the heart and the brain. Sleep Apnea patients are generally treated with a CPAP breathing machines and the machine tends to bring the blood pressure down at night and during the day.
We have to take into account unknown emotional and environmental factors which cause blood pressure to rise in otherwise healthy people, and they vary from lack of control over life, responsibilities, unresolved anger, conflict, guilt, and even environmental stressors such as noise, allergens and pollution. Obesity also multiplies the risk of hypertension, as does a sedentary lifestyle. Salt and alcohol play a huge role in blood pressure rising, just as excessive smoking, and drugs do. Believe it or not liquorice can raise blood pressure, as can oral contraceptives, and NSAIDs (Ibruprofen-Nurafen). Basically any long term contact to any of the above can create an on-going, chronic stress response, and whilst you may accept this as ‘normal’, it can expand and take its toll over several years. It’s not all doom-and-gloom though, as these emotional and lifestyle influences make up ninety five per-cent of all high blood pressure cases (GP’s call them primary or essential hypertension), and the good news is that there are lots of things that you can do, quite easily, that will in fact put you back in control of decreasing your blood pressure.
If hypertension is left untreated you’re increasing the risk of heart disease or a stroke. Also, remember that hypertension damages the kidneys and increases the risk of blindness and dementia. This is the reason why hypertension is referred to as a “Silent Killer.” Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to detect and treat. You can keep blood pressure in a healthy range simply by making some lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing activity, and eating less salt and eating more healthfully. If you suffer from primary or essential hypertension I can help you to lower your blood pressure through the Hypnotension program, of which I’m a licensed practitioner. If you suffer from secondary hypertension, I’m sure your GP will have established an identifiable medical condition, so whilst I’m able to provide some help, it will be limited by your underlying medical condition. Do yourself a favour and get your blood pressure checked, as we are all at risk of the silent killer!
If you would like a free 30 minute consultation with Annette Brown of Lytham Hypnotherapy, please call 01253 969695