According to 2017 report from the American Heart Association
High BP is the most common cardiovascular disease. Expecting more than 54% of US adults,ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the world’s biggest killers .In India the global burden of disease study for 2016 shows that heart diseases have remained the leading cause of death in India for more than two decades, fuelled by unhealthy diets , smoking , inactivity and obesity leading to high blood pressure .
Blood pressure is the force exerted by the flow of blood on the walls of blood vessels ,when this blood pressure is persistently high in the arteries then this elevation of pressure is called hypertension
In Ayurveda it is not mentioned as a disease separately, but we can say it is raktavata or rakatgatvat , which is due to vitiation of Rakta and vitiation of Vata .When a person doesn’t follow his lifestyle according Dincharya (Daily routine including diet, exercise, sleep and Aacharrasayan ( activities which give us mentally relaxation and peace) , Ritucharya ( follow regime according seasons) and Bharhamcharaya, it’s creates imbalance between dosha and dhatva . Vitiation of tridosha and rakta are responsible for hypertension. Especially fives type of vata, pachak, saadhak and alochakpitta ,avlambhakkapha are responsible for its aetiology.
Ideal blood pressure is 120/80 m.mHg. It should be low under 140/90 m. mHg. Higher than 160/100 mmHg is medical emergency.
For control of high blood pressure we should change our life style in following way:-
1 Diet (2) exercise (3)sleep (4)medication (5) meditation ( yoga and pranayama) according ritucharya and dincharya.
Diet: - Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Including poultry food, fish, nuts and legumes.
Spices which are easily available in our kitchen ginger, dalchini, alsi (flex seed), shunthi, garlic and jaggery are very useful to maintain high blood pressure.
Take low sodium in diet
Avoid fried diets like chips, fries, pizza, burger, samosa, kachori etc. as theses contains too much salt and fat in its.
Avoid sweets, cold drinks and packed juices as they contain high calories in its.
Amla juice, giloy juice, lime juice, pomegranate juice, can berry juice and coconut water and banana is also beneficial to control high blood pressure. Banana and coconut water are rich sources of potassium and potassium is very useful to control high blood pressure.
Exercise: - Walking, Jogging, Swimming and Cycling are good for body fitness but a person who is suffering from heart disease or kidney problem should take advice from his doctor which exercise will better for him.
Sleep:- Take at least 6 to 7 hours sleep for physical and mental relaxation
as we know heart and mind are place of manna according Ayurveda. So if we are mentally puzzled it will definitely effect our heart.
It may be due to anxiety, depression , stress or any other grievances.so good sleep is necessary to keep our mind cool and calm.
Medicine:- There are many medicines in Ayurveda which can control high blood pressure.
Arjunaarisht, draksharisht, Prawalpishti, Muktavati, prabhakervati, shilajitvadivati, sarapgandhaghanvati, lahsunadivati ,sootshakherras, vasantkusmakerras, triflaguggulu, gokhshurguggulu, abhaguggul and shudhguggul are very useful for hypertension.
Panchkerma especially virechna, basti, shirodhara,( including milk, butter milk ( takra) and oil), jalokaavcharan are very useful to control high blood pressure.
Meditation yoga and pranayama are scientifically proven to control high blood pressure.
So, as mentioned above ,These activities are good for physical and mental health.
Obesity, alcohol, smoking, tobacco and high salt intake are high risk factors for hypertension, so we should avoid them to keep high blood pressure in control.
