Posted by Jed

In Reply to: Remedy for high blood pressure? posted by merlin

Having had both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, a wife who is an
MD, and having tried every conceivable treatment to control these disease
processes let me add a few observations.

According to a recent article in JAMA, 40 minutes of moderate intensity
daily aerobic exercise may help lower blood pressure. Other studies
indicate that 30 minutes is sufficient.

As I was to find out, hypertension is often just a fact of life for some
individuals irrespective of any other known factors. This apparently due to
some as yet unknown genetic/environmental factors.

Just because a study shows a significant statistical level of success, this
does not mean that it has any clinical/practical relevance. If the N is
high enough, the "treatment effect" may be clinically/practically useless.

With the exception of such obviouly relevant factors such as smoking and
obesity, do not expect too much from "alternative treatments." Questionable
or marginal success accounts for most of the reason such treatments are
alternative in the first place - this despite what advocates of "the newest
and latest what-ever" would have you believe.

The sometimes acceptable figure of 140/80 is a statistical artifact,
apparently 132/70 is a more medically sound figure.

If the condition remains untreated, there is an increased generalized
probability of irreversible and totally avoidable permanent organic damage.

The negative effects of hypertension are disastrous, such as end-stage
renal failure. It is absolute stupidity to allow this condition to remain
untreated until, and only if, a more "natural" remedy can perhaps someday
be found. Optimal health in the absence of pathology must be the ultimate
goal - not succumbing to an infantile yearning for some "miracle cure."

It makes far more sense (and is far less self-destructive) to first control
the condition through the use of appropriate medication, at least to the
level of a medically acceptable normal upper-limit thresh-hold values, and
then to attempt to lower it from there using more "naturalistic/holistic"
remedies. The medication levels can then be lowered or discontinued only IF
alternative treatments prove themselves to be clinically/practically
relevant.

For the record. I am an active user of "alternative" products, and have
exercised regularly for 20 years. As a long-term member of LEF, besides the
Master Mix and Herbal Mix, I also regularly use CoQ10, TMG, etc. in the
belief that they MAY prove beneficial. These products are called
"supplements" for a good reason. What matters is to achieve optimal health
and living by whatever effective solutions are available, and in the
shortest possible time.

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