High blood pressure: NHS doctor explains causes

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High blood pressure elevated the risk of heart conditions, stroke, kidney disease and vascular conditions, and should therefore be thwarted as early as possible. One food, which is found in many Japanese foods, could “significantly” lower your blood reading.

Studies have found that seaweed is a rich source of proteins known as bioactive peptides.

These peptides act in a similar way to the drug inhibitors in blood pressure medication that help stave off heart attack and stroke.

Studies in animals have found that these protein-like structures may block the pathways that increase blood pressure in the body.

One Japanese study that closely examined the effects of seaweed on both systolic and diastolic pressure yielded promising results.

READ MORE: High blood pressure: The herb that ‘significantly’ lowers hypertension ‘within two hours’

The paper stated: “Seaweeds contain large quantities of dietary fibre, minerals, vitamins and polysaccharides.

“Several experimental studies in animals have shown that feeding on seaweed or its extracts lowers blood pressure, suggesting that seaweed intake might affect blood pressure in humans.”

The researchers went on to conclude: “We have demonstrated a negative association between dietary seaweed intake and blood pressure among healthy children.

“Not only do our results suggest that seaweed intake may have beneficial effects on blood pressure in children, but they also provide the possibility of creating a new, earlier-in-life strategy for the prevention of hypertension in adults.”

These findings add to a line of research supporting the use of seaweed as a supplemental regimen in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Other studies have found that the Asian speciality may also help lower blood sugar markers and thereby stave off diabetes.

Blood pressure is typically determined through two separate measures – systolic and diastolic pressure.

Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure the heart exerts while beating, while diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries between beats.

As a rule of thumb, the NHS considers high blood pressure to be above 140/90mmHg or higher.

Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could indicate you are at risk of high blood pressure, and should be treated accordingly.

Symptoms

It is estimated that nearly five million Britons have the condition, but are completely unaware of it.

Estimations suggest that more than 2,000 lives could be saved and more than 6,000 strokes and heart attacks prevented if people sought help.

Although high blood pressure rarely produces blood pressure, some subtle signs may hint at the condition.

According to the World Health Organisation, when symptoms do occur they can include early-morning headaches, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythm, vision changes and buzzing in the ears.

When the condition progresses to more severe stages, symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain and muscle tremors.

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