Hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure in the body. Unlike many sicknesses or conditions, such as a sore back or asthma or sinusitis, high blood pressures rarely shows any symptoms. It takes its irreversible toll on the body silently and becomes a lifelong condition. Thus it is rightly called the “silent killer”.
I was in my teens when I was accidentally discovered with high blood pressure. This shocked my family. Back then doctors would advise quitting active life to avoid the slightest of stresses. Medication had side effects that I had to struggle with for years. Now improved medication can slow down the ill effects. However, it has been a long journey living with hypertension and I strongly believe that self awareness is an important component for long term management of such condition.
There are no obvious reasons for hypertension. This makes it harder to cure it. Most often the only thing one can do is to manage and prevent its damaging surge to vital organs in the body.
Usually, high BP is associated with old age and stressful life. If BP is consistently elevated for a long time, the arterial walls become rigid and prone to damage. Additionally, hormones released during stressful situation, the body fat is broken down to provide more energy. This results in increase of fatty acids and lipid fluids in the blood which provoke fatty deposits in the arterial walls. It is often not until a serious health issue such as a stroke or heart attack, that people find out about their hypertensive state.
Hypertension is a fairly common condition in Asians. Among many theories for the phenomenon, one is the high intake of sodium in the food. Traditionally, salt is an important ingradeinet in Asian dishes. That is the way it has been for hundreds of years. Recently the trend of combining salt with other kinds sodium intake for enhanced flavor is becoming a health hazard. Baking powder, monosodium glutamate and soya sauce were not part of our traditional cooking, yet they are commonly used now in almost every urban household and restaurant. Even regular BBQ meat is seasoned heavily with MSG. Sodium strains our kidneys as they remove unwanted fluid out of the body. If there is extra sodium in the blood it will retain water and prevent the flushing out of extra fluids. Consequently, in order to push the extra water, more pressure on the blood vessels is required. Sodium also causes bloating in the body.
Diet can bring dramatic changes. A study performed in New Delhi, found that sesame oil which has a high content of fatty acids and antioxidants, helps lower BP. Similarly, ginger is a natural blood thinner. It eases the blood vessels and helps to improve circulation.
BP is associated with old age and stressful life. If BP is consistently elevated for a long time, the arterial walls become rigid and prone to damage. Additionally, hormones released during stressful situation, the body fat is broken down to provide more energy
There has been a lot of research on hypertension and diet control, but one of the most beneficial alternative therapy is yoga. Dr Chandra Patel and WS North conducted a research on Yoga and Management of Hypertension, published in The Lancet, where 34 hypertensive patients were assigned treatment by yoga relaxation methods. The difference was highly significant. Such studies have been supported by many other researches. Yogic and Tantric Medicine mentions research by an eminent cardiologist of Bombay, Dr Datey where 86 hypertension cases practicing yoga procedure were followed up. The response of patients was calculated after three months, six months, nine months and a year. 53 per cent of patients responded to the programme.
In my experience, not every programme or sequence of yoga postures or group classes are suitable for hypertensive students. Keeping the limitations in the mind, the best approach is to seek out a customized or personal programme from a certified yoga teacher. A research study titled Psychological and Biochemical Responses to the Practice of Hatha-yoga in Young Normal Volunteers published in Indian Medical Journal, 1975, recorded heightened adrenal activity during shirshasana(headstand) and halasana (plough pose). Additionally, hypertensive patients must be cautioned against practicing bandhas (energy locks) and kumbakh (retention of breath) as these can cause blood vessel damage.
Most supine and prone positions are suitable for hypertensive patients. Twisting postures detoxify the kidneys and must be added to the programme. It is recommended that prolonged relaxation in Savasana (corpse pose) and Narayana (recline on left side) help bring the high blood pressure down and balance the endocrine system, as well as the brain functions.
A multi-pronged approach is required to control hypertension. Such an approach must include short and multiple relaxation breaks, yoga practice of simple postures, fresh home cooked foods and calmer emotions. This holistic approach ensures healthy longevity.
The writer is a wellness and Yoga expert