This post is a continuation of last week’s Part 1, which listed risk factors about coronary heart disease as well as statistics about heart disease and high blood pressure. If you missed it, go back to read this important article. If you read it, continue below for Part 2.

Some natural products and processes that help control Blood Pressure and Cholesterol:

• Pycnogenol: French maritime pine bark extract lowered blood pressure in a Chinese study, which was reported in the January 2, 2004 issue of Life Sciences.

• Omega-3s fatty acids: These are found in good amounts in flaxseed oil and primrose oil.

• Soy: Studies suggest that the isoflavones in soy, tofu, tempeh and miso make arterial walls more elastic and help reduce blood pressure.

• Hawthorn: An enzyme that can cause arteries to constrict is blocked by this berry.

• Linden: This blossom is often combined with hawthorn for blood pressure.

• Carrot Juice: Studies show it cleans arteries.

• Cayenne: The capsicum in cayenne slows arteriosclerosis, which can cause hypertension.

• Parsley: It’s a natural diuretic, which cuts blood pressure.

• Goldenseal root may reduce blood pressure, especially when taken in conjunction with ginger.

• Garlic: Evidence shows that garlic lowers hypertension 2-7 percent. Onions help too.

• Psyllium: Take this soluble fibre with plenty of water. Other sources of fibre include peas, beans, apples, pears and citrus fruit.

• Black Cohosh: Commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, this herb may also help with hypertension.

• Celery Seeds: They also contain calcium, which might help in controlling blood pressure.

• Dandelions: Available in tinctures, tea, capsules and edible fresh leaves or roots.

• Melatonin: This hormone decreases night-time blood pressure.

• Noni juice is said to be good to control blood pressure. This Polynesian fruit is also known as morinda citrifolia and Indian mulberry.

• Common kitchen spices like basil, black pepper, cinnamon, chili powder, cloves, curry, dillweed, dillseed, fennel, horseradish, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme. Their antioxidants may help–some directly lower blood pressure, and all substitute for salt.

• Grape Seed Extract: Research at the University of Alabama suggests grape seed extract can lower blood pressure significantly.

• Ginkgo Biloba: It relaxes arterial walls, easing pressure.

• Saffron: This herb contains a blood pressure-lowering chemical called crocetin.

• Reishi Mushroom Extract: Taking 55 mg of concentrated reishi mushroom extract three times a day was found to reduce moderately high blood pressure after 1 month.

• Chamomile flowers, fennel seed and rosemary may cut hypertension risk.

• Gotu Kola: For insomnia and lowering blood pressure.

• Tai chi is good for controlling blood pressure: Tat chi proponents say their rituals lower blood pressure.

• Aromatherapy: Aromatic bath or massage oils temporarily lower hypertension. Try 5 drops each of lemon balm and lavender essential oils in warm bath water.

Homeopathy for blood pressure control:

• Argentum nitricum: If blood pressure rises with anxiety and nervousness, this remedy may be indicated. People who need this remedy are typically warm-blooded, imaginative, impulsive, claustrophobic, and have strong cravings for sweets and salt.

• Aurum metallicum: This remedy is sometimes indicated for serious people, focused on career and accomplishment, with blood pressure problems related to stress. Worry, depression or anger.
• Belladonna: This remedy is indicated when symptoms come on suddenly, with great intensity and heat. The person’s face is flushed, with dilated pupils, and pulsations and throbbing may be felt in various parts of the body.
• Calcarea carbonica: This remedy is often helpful to people with high blood pressure that easily tire and have poor stamina. They are typically responsible types, who feel overwhelmed when ill and fear a breakdown. Palpitations and breathing problems can be worse from walking up a slope or stairs, and also when lying down.
• Glonoinum: A flushed face with a pounding headache and visible throbbing in the blood vessels of the neck may indicate a need for this remedy. The chest can feel congested or hot, with a pounding or irregular heartbeat.
• Lachesis: A person who needs this remedy typically is intense and talkative. The person may have a strong fear of disease, and feelings of suspicion, revenge, or jealousy are common. The person may also have heart or artery problems.
• Natrum muriaticum: A person who needs this remedy seems reserved and responsible, but may have very strong feelings (of grief, disappointment, anger, lingering grudges, and a fear of misfortune) inside. Headaches and palpitations are common, as well as a feeling of tension (even coldness) in the chest. The person feels worse from being in the sun, worse around mid-morning, and better from being alone in a quiet place. A craving for salt and strong thirst can help to confirm the choice of this remedy.
• Nux vomica: A person who needs this remedy is usually impatient and driven—easily frustrated, angered, and offended. A strong desire for coffee and other stimulants, sweets, strong foods, and alcohol or drugs may aggravate blood pressure problems.
• Plumbum: This remedy is indicated for people with degenerative problems of the nerves and hardening of the arteries. Chest tightness and palpitations are often worse when lying on the left side.
• Sanguinaria: A feeling that blood is rushing to the head, with flushed red cheeks and pulsing in the neck, may indicate this remedy. The person may have headaches or migraines (usually on the right and worse from light and noise).

Homeopathic remedies useful for Coronary artery disease:

• Cactus grandiflorous. This remedy is useful when there is palpitation, angina pectoris, heart weakness in arteriosclerosis, low B.P.

• Crataegus oxycantha. It’s useful in Cardiac dropsy, dyspnoea with very little exertion, a weak heart sound, and a murmur.
• Convallaria majalis. This remedy is useful in endocarditis and palpitation on very little exertion.

• Digitalis purpurea. This is a useful remedy in cardiac muscle failure, great weakness, coldness of skin, cardiac irritability after tobacco.

• Kalmia latifolia. This remedy is useful in a fluttering of heart with anxiety, slow pulse, and a heart with tumultuous, rapid and visible action.

• Rauwalfia serpentia. This remedy is useful in congestive headache, hypertension with atheromatous changes in blood vessels.

• Terminalia arjuna. This remedy is useful when the pulse is irregular, when a patient faints and gives up hope of life, vertigo, suffocation, weakness and pain in heart.

Ayurveda and Blood pressure and Coronary Heart Disease:

From an Ayurvedic perspective, high blood pressure and CHD is due to the derangement of all the three doshas, the heart and the blood vessels. The Ayurveda remedies involve normalizing the imbalances of pitta and vata. Ayurveda suggests modification in nutrition, practicing breathing exercises like pranayama, yoga, meditation, physical exercise along with treatment involving herbal medicines and drugs. Certain herbs that are useful in treating hypertension are:

• Sarpagandha, Arjuna which is a beta-blocker and has powerful antioxidant, anti-angina, and hypolipidemic and cardio-protective properties.

• Gokshura is a diuretic and an inhibitor of ACE.

• Punarnava is a diuretic and has a channel blocking activity and Praval Bhasma which provides necessary calcium and magnesium.

• With guidance of an Ayurvedic physician, Niruha basti chikitsa and Dhara therapy are considered to be good therapies for hypertension.

• Other home remedies include using lots of garlic in one’s regular diet. Else, mix 1gm of garlic in one glass of buttermilk and drink twice a day. Eating two or three raw garlic cloves on empty stomach is also said to lower blood pressure.
• One teaspoon of fenugreek seeds can be soaked overnight in water and had on an empty stomach the next morning. This also helps in lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.
• The powdered form of the herb “Triphala” can be mixed with warm water and had regularly at night.

Yoga for Coronary Heart Disease:

Kapalabhati Pranayama: This is a breathing technique, which requires rapid successive breathing, while consciously controlling the movement of the diaphragm. This is an exercise for the entire respiratory system, forcing higher oxygen absorption within a short time. This ensures supply of richer blood to cardiovascular muscles, irrespective of its quantity, thereby removing the major problem. Few other yoga poses suggested for patients suffering from coronary artery diseases are the Mountain pose (Tadasana), Warrior Pose, Triangle Pose, Tree Pose (Vrukshasana), and Lotus Pose (Padmasana).

The twelve pose Suryanamaskar, or the Sun Salutation, is a highly recommended exercise for people with moderate CHD and when taught under a good yoga teacher, it confers a lot of benefit.

Overall, Coronary Heart Disease is very prevalent in all the continents and causes a lot of mortality and morbidity in adults often in the early forties. However, it is not a death sentence if one suffers a heart attack. Prevention and early diagnosis is very important. Leading an active lifestyle, exercising regularly, eating right and becoming a vegan are positive ways to prevent mortality and morbidity associated with this dreaded disease. It has been clearly established that changing over to a vegan diet can actually reverse CHD.

Did you know that some 7 million Americans suffer from coronary heart disease (CHD), the most common form of heart disease? This type of heart disease is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that feed the heart. CHD is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. Each year, more than 500,000 Americans die of heart attacks caused by CHD. Many of these deaths could be prevented because CHD is related to certain aspects of lifestyle. Risk factors for CHD include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity–all of which can be controlled. Although medical treatments for heart disease have come a long way, controlling risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CHD. CHD is said to be the diseases of kings and the king of diseases.

Some celebrities with CHD include:

Bill Clinton (quadruple bypass surgery in 2004); David Letterman (quadruple bypass surgery in 2000); Larry King (heart attack and bypass surgery in 1987); Mike Ditka (heart attack in 1988); Tommy Lasorda (heart attack in 1996); Dick Cheney (at least 4 heart attacks); comedian Phyllis Diller (heart attack in 1999); Elizabeth Taylor (congestive heart failure); mob mom Victoria Gotti (heart disease from age 16); Ma Ji (died of heart disease in 2006); Alfredo Di Stefano (heart attack in 2005); and adventurer and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes (heart attack and bypass surgery).

So, who exactly is at risk for CHD? Risk factors are conditions that increase your risk of developing heart disease. Some can be changed and some unfortunately cannot. Controllable risk factors include:

• High blood pressure

• High blood cholesterol

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Physical inactivity

• Diabetes

• Stress

The leading cause of Coronary heart disease is uncontrolled blood pressure and high blood lipid levels.

Heart Disease Statistics

• Every 34 seconds a person in the United States dies from heart disease.

• More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each day.

• Every 20 seconds, a person in the United States has a heart attack.

• At least 250,000 people die of heart attacks each year before they reach a hospital.

• Studies show that under-educated people are more likely to suffer heart attacks.

• The countries with the highest death rates from heart disease are the Soviet Union, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. The countries with the lowest are Japan, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Canada.

• Almost 6 million hospitalizations each year (in the United States) are due to cardiovascular disease.

• Since 1900, Cardiovascular Disease has been the number 1 killer in the United States for every year but 1918.

• Every 33 seconds, a person dies from Cardio Vascular Disease in the United States.

• Men suffer heart attacks about 10 years earlier in life than women do.

High Blood Pressure Statistics

• High Blood Pressure was listed on death certificates as the primary cause of death of 57,356 Americans in 2005. High Blood Pressure was listed as a primary or contributing cause of death in about 319,000 of the more than 2.4 million U.S. deaths in 2005.

• About 73.6 million people in the United States age 20 and older have high blood pressure.

• One in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure.

• Twenty-one percent of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it.

• Of all people with high blood pressure, 78.7 percent are aware of their condition, 69.1 percent are under treatment, 45.4 percent have it under control and 54.6 percent do not have it controlled.

• The cause of 90–95 percent of the cases of high blood pressure isn’t known; however, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable.

• From 1995 to 2005 the death rate from HBP increased 25.2 percent, and the actual number of deaths rose 56.4 percent.

• People with lower educational and income levels tend to have higher levels of blood pressure.

• The 2005 overall death rate from HBP was 18.4. Death rates were 15.8 for white males, 15.1 for white females, 52.1 for black males and 40.3 for black females.

Cholesterol Statistics:

An estimated 98.6 million adults in the United States have total blood cholesterol values of 200 mg/dL and higher, and of these about 34.4 million American adults have levels of 240 or above. In adults, total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher are considered high risk. Levels from 200 to 239 mg/dL are considered borderline-high risk.

Ways to reduce Blood pressure and cholesterol naturally

Lifestyle changes – Weight reduction is very important. In overweight people, a 10 percent reduction in total body weight will sometimes normalize blood pressure. A brisk 30-minute walk 6 days a week helps to reduce blood pressure. Other ways to normalize blood pressure include:

• Meditation: A new study shows it works for teens too.

• Yoga: It reduces stress and strengthens the mind and body.

• Eliminating tobacco: All forms of tobacco dramatically raise blood pressure.

• Avoid Salt: And sodium-rich foods such as soy sauce and canned soups.

• Alcohol in moderation: 1-2 drinks a day is OK–even stress-relieving–but more can cause health problems.

• Ditto for caffeine: Too much daily coffee – and even tea- can raise blood pressure.

• Get adequate sleep: High blood pressure patients deprived of sleep experience significant increases in blood pressure, especially during the evening.

• Using a special biofeedback machine, individuals learn to control their own physiological responses – including blood pressure.

• Omit Oral Contraceptives: Birth control pills can increase blood pressure.

You can make small dietary changes to take steps toward a healthier heart. They don’t have to be drastic changes — some are quite easy, if you’re on the lookout.

• Reject Refined Foods: Shun the salty, sugary, pre-made, preserved, fried and fatty.

• Avoid tinned canned and processed foods. These are usually very high-sodium.

• Do not drink Sodas: Soft drinks can deplete potassium.

• Find Fibre: Think veggies and whole grains.

• Forgo animal fat.

• Toss the Trans Fats: These are a greater risk than even saturated fats. Whole Oats eaten daily lower hypertension.

• Prefer Potassium: This crucial mineral is found in many fruits and vegetables.

• Add Magnesium in a diet containing leafy greens, legumes, whole grains and supplements.

• Value Vitamin C: The less vitamin C in the blood, the higher the blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

• Boost Bioflavonoids: These are found in fruits, vegetables and supplements, bioflavonoid enhance vitamin C’s effect.

• Eat foods rich in Vitamin E: Evidence suggests that vitamin E also magnifies vitamin C’s blood pressure-lowering effect.

• DASH Your Diet: DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, and its low in fat.

Stay tuned for Part 2, in which we will discuss natural products that help control Blood Pressure and cholesterol.