Safe & Effective Treatment of Hypertension Without Drugs: Is it Possible?
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Authors
Avinger, Tauheedah
Issue Date
2013
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Naturopathy , Hypertension
Alternative Title
Abstract
Objective: Abundant clinical and epidemiological data suggest that hypertension, or high blood pressure is a disease of high prevalence in industrialized societies, with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although there are many standard conventional pharmacologic approaches to the control of high blood pressure available, concern about risk versus benefit in the use of antihypertensive drug therapy for patients with mild hypertension leads to the objective of this study. There is an increasing demand and interest in nonpharmacologic interventions and whether or not alternative management of hypertension is safe and effective. Recommendations for some nonpharmacologic approaches to the treatment of hypertension are investigated in this study. The pros and cons of nutritional interventions, exercise and biobehavioral treatments are discussed along with the use of botanical medicine for the safe and effective management and treatment of hypertension without the use of drugs. Basic Procedures: A review of literature on the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic management of hypertension and the adverse effects of long term antihypertensive drugs have been documented in a number of clinical studies, reviews and meta-analyses. For the purpose of this investigation, a systematic search and review of literature were conducted on 3 major online databases: UpToDate, PUBMED and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. A systematic approach was used to search each database using relevant search criteria. Main Findings: Studies suggest that although the majority of patients will require drug therapy, non-pharmacological approaches are preferable if they can be used. Nonpharmacologic recommendations in the treatment of hypertension for which there appear to be sufficient requisite data include weight reduction for the obese, moderate sodium restriction (although this is controversial) and restriction of alcohol, dietary recommendations for healthy living and regular exercise. There is also sufficient evidence that supports the use of traditional botanical medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular disease including hypertension. Principal Conclusions: Non pharmacological management of hypertension has the potential of safely and effectively improving quality of life while avoiding the side effects of conventional treatment which can be life threatening. Despite the need for more studies and additional evidence of relative effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical management of hypertension, naturopathic doctors and most experts feel that healthy lifestyle changes including diet and exercise play one of the most important roles in many susceptible patients in the genesis and maintenance of hypertension. In addition, this investigation highlights the use of 3 potent traditional botanicals—Crateagus, Rauwolfia and Terminalis. Although these plants have been used in the treatment of heart disease for hundreds of years, current research methods shows us they can be utilized effectively in deadly modern day diseases, including ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and last but not least—hypertension.
Description
This thesis is being archived as a Digitized Shelf Copy for campus access to current students and staff only. We currently cannot provide this open access without the author's permission. If you are the author of this work and desire to provide it open access or wish access removed, please contact the Wahlstrom Library to discuss permission.
Citation
T. Avinger, "Safe & Effective Treatment of Hypertension Without Drugs: Is it Possible?", ND dissertation, College of Naturopathic Medicine, Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 2013.