Types of hypertension or high blood pressure:

1. Isolated systolic hypertension:  Systolic blood pressure is the top number in the blood pressure reading and represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood into circulation.

A systolic blood pressure that is persistently higher than 140 mm Hg is usually considered elevated, especially when associated with an elevated diastolic pressure (over 90). Isolated systolic hypertension is a systolic pressure that still is below 90. Isolated systolic hypertension  increases the pulse pressure  which is defined as the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Once considered to be harmless an elevation of the pulse pressure is now thought to lead to future health problems like a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction), a stroke (brain damage).

2. White Coat Hypertension: A single elevated blood pressure reading when visiting a can be misleading because the elevation may be only temporary. Such an elevation is caused by the patient's anxiety traveling or stress . This sort of elevated blood pressure, that is noted only in the doctor's office, is called white coat hypertension.

3. Borderline Hypertension: Borderline hypertension is defined as mildly elevated blood pressure that is found to be higher than 140/90 mm Hg at some time and lower than that at other times. In the elderly, a somewhat higher systolic blood pressure between 140 and 160 mm Hg is considered a borderline value, as long as the diastolic pressure is below 90.

Symptoms of Hypertension:

• Pain experienced at the back of the head and neck on waking up, which soon disappears.
• Dizziness
• Heart pain
• Fatigue
• Palpitations
• Nervousness
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty in Breathing
• Tinnitus

Causes of Hypertension:

• Stress and hectic life-style.
• Smoking and Alcohol intake
• Accumulation of toxins
• Obesity
• Excessive intake of common table salt
• Poor intake & metabolism of food
• Genetic disorder
• Low immunity
• Family history of Hypertension

Hypertension according to Ayurveda:

According to Ayurveda,all the three doshas, heart and the blood vessels are considered to be important in causing  high blood pressure. People with Pitta and Vata  imbalance are more prone to hypertension.

1 .Vata aggravation symptoms includes  sudden rise and fall of pressure, tension,  strain, overwork, anxiety,Irregular or erratic pulse  or insomnia.
  It is  frequently associated with nervous system disorders.

  Vata Treatment –  

• Tonification therapy

• Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina)

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) 

• Jatamansi (Nordastachys jatamansi)                        

•  Garlic and clove.

2.  Pitta aggravation symptoms includes  high  blood pressure with fluctuations, anger, nose bleed, irritability, burning sensation,tight pulse and violent headaches.

Pitta Treatment –

• Brahma Rasayana

• Saraswat powder

3. Kapha aggravation symptoms includes headache,edema, lethargy with obesity.Blood pressure remains continually high without fluctuations.

Kapha treatment –

• Arjuna

• Shilajit

Treatment is based on bringing these imbalances back to normal. In the treatment of hypertension; nutrition, exercise, breathing exercises (Pranayama), yoga, meditation, behavioral modification along with various herbs and minerals are prescribed.Ayurveda considers Ahara (diet) and Vihara (lifestyle) as a major component to remain healthy and so it has mentioned certain dietary & lifestyle recommendations to keep your blood pressure normal.

  1. Diet:

• Avoid meat, eggs salt food high in sodium
• Reduce protein intake
• Favour easy to digest & light food stuffs.
• Include Vegetables like Garlic, lemon,parsley in your diet  
• Include Fruits like Indian Gooseberry,Grape fruuit, watermelon in your diet
• Include low-fat dairy foods in your diet.
• Avoid caffenated drinks,
• Avoid smoking & alcohol.
• Include more food rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium in your diet.

   2. Life Style:

• Regular exercise or yoga or walking.
• Laughter
• Nurture love and affection
• Meditation
• Chant mantras.
•  

 Ayurveda treatment for Hypertension:

Herbs –

•  Sarpagandha :( Rauwolfia serpentina)

•  Arjuna : (Terminalia arjuna) it acts like a beta-blocker and is a powerful antioxidant, liver protectant and contains cardio-protective, hypolipidemic, anti-angina and anti-atheroma properties.

•  Gokshura: (Tribulus terrestris )  It has shown to be diuretic and an ACE    inhibitor.

•  Punarnava:( Boerhaavia Diffusa) it has diuretic and anti-inflammatory activity.

•  Rose Pattel Jam has calming and mood lifting effects.

•  Praval Bhasma : Indian Coral Powder provides elemental calcium and magnesium.
   

Panchakarma: -

• Basti

• Shirodhara

• Massage