There are of course medicines on the market that can help in lowering blood pressure, but several of these have accompanying side effects and, even though some people may need to take medicine in the short term to lower their blood pressure, a better solution is to control the condition naturally if you are able to.

For almost all of us high blood pressure is related to weight and diet and this is a major problem today when two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Furthermore, most Americans get too much salt in their diets and not enough of the many other beneficial vitamins and minerals that can actually lower blood pressure. In short, you can eat your way to a lower blood pressure, if you know what you are doing.

In truth, it is often possible to lower your blood pressure quite quickly if you change your diet and begin to take some exercise. That said, if you've not taken any exercise for a long period of time you shouldn't suddenly begin a vigorous exercise program and it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start any exercise program.

To start though let's talk about some things which you should avoid and top of the list comes salt. Salt is one of the main offenders in today's epidemic of high blood pressure. Too much dietary fat is also a culprit as it encourages arteriosclerosis, weight gain, and other difficulties that result in high blood pressure. Hence, two things which you should avoid (or at least reduce) in your diet are salt and excess fat, principally saturated or trans fats.

So, what types of food should you have in your diet to help you in lowering your blood pressure? Potassium is one of the major substances which is lacking in today's American diet and which is especially beneficial for your blood pressure. It help to reduce blood pressure just as sodium assists in raising your blood pressure and so getting enough potassium in your diet can help even out blood pressure.

It is very easy to get enough potassium into your diet by simply adding plenty of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, providing of course that they have no added suger or salt. Even though this may seem bland to some people, it is one of the best ways to ensure that you regularize your blood pressure. Naturally of course, at the same time you also want to cut down on the salt to no more than the recommended daily intake of approximately 2400 mg each day. A very good way to achieve this is not to add any salt at all to your diet because natural and unprocessed foods contain enough salt and, if you feel you need to add flavor to your food then simply try herbs and spices.

Magnesium and calcium are two other minerals which can help to reduce blood pressure. Both calcium and magnesium are considered calming minerals and the majority of Americans do not get enough of them in their diets. dairy products which are low in fat are a good source of calcium as are legumes, nuts, and dark and leafy green vegetables. You need to try to get a balance of approximately two parts of magnesium to three parts of calcium. Foods such as soybeans, sesame seeds and white beans not only contain a lot of calcium and magnesium but they are also excellent sources of potassium.

Lastly, make sure that you drink enough water and get enough fiber in your diet. Fiber helps to clear toxins and unhealthy substances from your body and it also helps you feel full so that you are not tempted to eat too much.

In the United States it was estimated that approximately 50 million adults suffered from hypertension in the early 1990's. This figure has been on the rise ever since. By the beginning of the 21st century, it was estimated that about 65 million people had high blood pressure and today that number has topped 72 million. This figure means that approximately one out of every three adults in the US now suffers from high blood pressure.

Here are just some of the things revealed by recent studies:

30% of high blood pressure sufferers are not aware of their condition and are consequently not receiving any treatment for it.

15% of the people know that they have high blood pressure but either they are not getting any treatment for it or they do not bother to follow the recommended treatment.

25% of the people are aware that they have hypertension but they do not have their blood pressure under control.

All of this means that about only 30% of the people with hypertension are currently receiving the correct treatment for their hypertension and have it under control.

Despite the fact that it is frequently said that it is impossible to tell if a person has high blood pressure there are a number of tell-tale signs which could indicate the possibility of hypertension and these include such things as dizziness, headaches, blurred vision and nausea.

High blood pressure is one of the main causes of death in the United States today and it also considerably increases the risk from several life threatening conditions like heart attack, heart failure, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure.

Because of the nature of this condition it is a good idea to keep an eye on things by monitoring your blood pressure regularly and this can be done by simply visiting your doctor's office and asking for a blood pressure check. This is not however all that convenient and so a better option today is to simply monitor your own pressure at home. There are a variety of monitors available today for use at home which are both quick and easy to use and are also relatively inexpensive.

Having your own blood pressure monitor means that you can keep an eye on blood pressure for the whole family and will give you considerable peace of mind and allow you to pick up any developing problems at a stage at which they can be easily treated.

Do not take high blood pressure lightly just because you don't feel the symptoms. A large percentage of people who suffer heart attacks or congestive heart failure started out with symptom free high blood pressure. No factor is more closely associated with heart disease than high blood pressure. A third of the population will develop high blood pressure.

A standard procedure of any medical physical examination is to check blood pressure. Most often this will be done by the nurse either before entering or upon first entering the examination room. Take into consideration a condition called "White Coat Syndrome" in which nervousness about visiting the doctor actually causes increased blood pressure. This is a common reaction that has sometimes resulted in trips to the emergency room. If you experience this, consider buying a relatively cheap home digital blood pressure monitor. Wrist units are available which are very simple to use and are very accurate. Do not use this home device as a replacement for doctor visits though.

Although hypertension is a major causative factor in strokes and coronary heart disease, the sad truth is that 90% or more of cases have unknown or uncertain causes. For this reason, there is no simple answer to the question of what causes high blood pressure and there is no simple solution to the problem. The problem is best approached in a holistic fashion.

Normally, blood pressure is naturally controlled by a person's body, keeping it within very strict limits. If blood pressure drops, the body contracts the arteries, decreasing the size of the blood's pathway, thus increasing the resistance encountered by the blood trying to push its way through. Blood pressure increases. If blood pressure becomes too high, the body will reverse this process. In people with long term hypertension, this process does not function correctly for some reason and must be managed by diet and drugs.

Some of the factors medical authorities believe contribute to high blood pressure are:

* Excess consumption of alcohol

* Smoking

* Obesity

* Excess sodium in the diet

* High stress levels

* Excessive Caffeine

* Genetic factors

Most of the factors listed are well within our individual control. We can make great progress toward controlling blood pressure with natural techniques. Switching to a healthy diet with more fruits and vegetables and less fat can make a huge difference. Losing just a few pounds of excess fat can work wonders in lowering blood pressure. Easy exercise such as walking for 30 minutes 3 times a week has beneficial effects on blood pressure. Switching to the low sodium DASH diet has been proven in studies to lower blood pressure. These actions will have greater effects when combined. Be sure to consult your medical doctor before beginning any new exercise program or making major changes in your diet.

Controlling hypertension is crucial to preventing health problems later in life. Learn more about how to treat hypertension at http://bloodpressuredanger.blogspot.com.