BLOOD PRESSURE

BLOOD PRESSURE


A blood pressure lowering device might supplement other things one is doing to achieve normal blood pressure. We'll cover a few of the different types later. Whereas lowering blood pressure by natural means requires hitting the problem from many angles, particularly diet, a blood pressure lowering device might knock off a few systolic/diastolic points on the way toward the final goal. Here are the devices in no particular order.

BP Down - A reasonably priced system which includes two squeeze balls and a CD. Following the instructions on the CD, one squeezes the balls and paces breathing at a slow rate, then doesn't squeeze the balls while repeating the paced breathing. Takes about twelve minutes five to seven times a week. After four weeks one should see real results. Hand Grips - Only cost is for the grips, which can be found at most stores selling exercise or strength building equipment. One squeezes one hand grip for two minutes at about seventy percent of a full pressure squeeze, rests for a minute, then squeezes a grip with the other hand for two minutes, relaxes a minute, then repeats the cycle again with each hand. Total time twelve minutes five to seven times a week

Resperate - A blood pressure lowering device costing several hundred dollars, which trains in a breathing rhythm that promotes normal blood pressure. When breathing is paced right, a pleasant tone sounds from the machine. This makes it easy to program breathing to the proper rate. One uses the machine daily for a while until the pace is correct, then every so often as a check.

Rheos Clinical Trial - This blood pressure lowering device is not for sale yet. It is being tested in a clinical trial for those who have uncontrolled (difficult to treat) hypertension. In our necks are baroreceptors. These baroreceptors send signals to the brain when blood pressure gets too high. The brain responds by signaling the heart, blood vessels and kidneys to quickly lower blood pressure. A pulse generator and electrodes for each baroreceptor are implanted in the body. The pulse generator sends electrical signals to the brain via the baroreceptors. The brain then sends out its signal to lower blood pressure.

BP Down and hand grips are relatively imprecise, but inexpensive due to their simplicity and lack of a programmed machine. Resperate is a guiding system to proper breathing. The theory is that properly paced breathing relaxes the blood vessels so that they don't restrict blood flow. Once one has the breathing depth and pace down, the machine can be set aside except to check the pattern occasionally.

Zona Plus and the hand grips probably operate to lower pulse pressure. Pulse pressure is systolic pressure minus diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure of 120/80 would equal pulse pressure of 40, which is good. One must keep using these devices, however, or the pulse pressure will return to its original value. BP Down is a combination of breathing pace and pulse pressure reduction. After a month or two, sessions can be cut to three times a week for maintenance.

No matter which blood pressure lowering device is chosen, it should be used only as an assist to more fundamental changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle. Nevertheless, some people will want to try a device to circumvent the more difficult lifestyle changes required to lower blood pressure naturally. That's okay. Give one of them a try.