How quickly can high blood pressure be lowered?

Question

My partner's just been told that they have high blood pressure 160/98. How soon could this be reduced to 140/80 or better still 120/80?
Not wanting to take medicine, would hope to do this through exercises and change of diet etc.

Answer 1

Your partner has got Stage 2 Hypertension.
Essential hypertension refers to high blood pressure with no identifiable cause.
Malignant hypertension is usually defined as very high blood pressure with swelling of the optic nerve behind the eye, called papilledema (grade IV Keith-Wagner hypertensive retinopathy). Malignant hypertension is usually accompanied by other organ damage like heart failure, kidney failure, and hypertensive encephalopathy.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) can be caused by using a chemical substance, drug, or medication. It can also be caused by stopping a drug or medication.
Renovascular hypertension is high blood pressure due to narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. It is a form of secondary hypertension.
The cause of hypertension should be found out and treatment taken.
Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure — even if you're taking blood pressure medication. Here's what you can do:
* Eat healthy foods. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium, which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. Eat less saturated fat and total fat. Limit the amount of sodium in your diet. Although 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day is the current limit for otherwise healthy adults, limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day will have a more dramatic effect on your blood pressure.
* Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even 5 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
* Increase physical activity. Regular physical activity can help lower your blood pressure and keep your weight under control. Strive for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
* Limit alcohol. Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation — up to one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men.
* Don't smoke. Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit.
* Manage stress. Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too.
* Practice slow, deep breathing. Do it on your own or try device-guided paced breathing. In various clinical trials, regular use of Resperate — an over-the-counter device approved by the Food and Drug Administration to analyze breathing patterns and help guide inhalation and exhalation — significantly lowered blood pressure.
Please see the web pages for more details on Hypertension.

Answer 2

There are many things that you can do to improve high blood pressure that don't involve medicine. Diet and exercise are always first on the list but there are some rather innovative products on the market that can help some people. I've been diagnosed with hypertension for about 10 years and am not the best at keeping to a good exercise regimen. I have had good luck with a product called resperate. Its a little portable CD-player sized device that helps you lower your breathing rate to less than 10 breaths a minute for about 15 minutes. It is not known why exactly this helps to lower blood pressure but it does work. Its been through several successful clinical trials and there are lots of success stories out there. I've included a link if you want some more info: http://resperatereviews.com/naturally-lower.html
Good Luck!

Answer 3

A high blood pressure as that could be lowered in the ER by giving BP lowering medicines but there is danger in doing it quickly. A quick decrease in BP could result to dizziness and rebound hypertension (meaning the BP quickly lowers and quickly increases again). A person might collapse from a shoot down in BP. Your partner must monitor his BP for 3 consecutive days at the same hour (perferably in the morning) and must be done so after 10-15 minutes of rest from any activity. If his BP is still greater than 140/90 in 2 out of 3 days, then your partner must start taking hypertensive medications as this is a sign that indeed he/she is hypertensive and that diet and exercise may be good but might not be enough to control his blood pressure. Change in lifestyle may only work alone if there is only 1 out of 3 days that he has a high BP.

Answer 4

Depends on why you have the high blood pressure, because I am a herbalist. I can't give a suggestion until I know all the fact's associating with the high blood pressure, other than that I would tell you get some omega 3's, and do a cleansing program, such as one that has bentonite and liquid Chlorophyll (no chlorophyll)if you take blood thinners only the best of Natural Apple Juice, less salt, no pork, no pop,and Lot's of green's and salad's for cleaning the blood, however, (if your taking blood thinners no green's either), your choice, email me if you would like more info, however I will not be available again until after 7:00 pm tomorrow unless this is a desperate situation then I have no choice.. smile ( blessing)

Answer 5

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 6

Some exercises that are reputed to aid in lowering blood pressure include Tai Chi, and Yoga. Meditation is also reputed to have a similar effect.

There are many medications that can be utilised by your GP to lower your partner's hypertension, but I'd advise not going to the Medical practise that POSH refers to if they think that hypertensives lower blood pressure. Hypertensives increase blood pressure, whereas antihypertensives lower blood pressure.

Answer 7

Seconds, if you use IV Nitroprusside drip. However routinely, you can reduce BP within 2 or 3 days by taking medication.

Answer 8

Well I tried and never manged it. I went on Enalapril, and it came down within days, cant tell you the relief. I have had no probs with the drug either, so its not THAT bad taking the tablets. And I am only 37. My BP was caused by pregnancy, and never came down.

Answer 9

It cannot be brought down very fast. You must find the reasons for the shoot up. Normally straining, tension, over exercise etc could be the reason for that. Reduce salt intake, rest and good sleep either natural on drug induced could bring down BP.

Answer 10

Try Yoga, Tai Chi (not PIlates for BP)

The DASH Diet, and the Pritikin diet.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/prevent/h_eating/h_eating.htm

http://www.pritikin.com/