This week I am going to discuss hypertension i.e. high blood pressure (BP), and some of the nondrug therapies which can be used in its treatment (in some circumstances – see below). Blood pressure is a characteristic that reflects circulating blood volume, peripheral vascular resistance and efficiency of the heart as a pump, viscosity (thickness) of the blood and elasticity of the arterial walls. A significant and long term change in any of these parameters will result in a blood pressure increase (or decrease). Hypertension significantly increases the risk of heart disease, congestive heart failure, stoke and kidney disease.

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