If your medicine cabinet looks like a pharmacy, you’re not alone.
Shockingly, nearly half of folks over the age of 70 take at least five meds every day. And that’s just prescription drugs. It doesn’t include the over-the-counter pills people pop.
Doctors are far too quick to whip out their prescription pads.
And most of us don’t give a second thought to trying out the latest trendy OTC drug. (I just saw an ad for cold medicine you whip up in your coffee maker. REALLY.)
Americans are over-prescribed and over-medicated.
And with the drug companies becoming more powerful and influential by the day, there’s no end in sight.
Which is why hardly a week goes by without some new drug scandal hitting the headlines. And we constantly find ourselves reading yet another story about how Big Pharma’s hard-sell tactics have put even more people at serious risk.
And if you or a loved one is on a blood pressure med, this week one of those folks might be YOU.
From mild hypertension to over-medicated
Normal blood pressure is 120/80. In the past doctors didn’t even consider drugs until the numbers climbed to 140/90.
If your blood pressure fell somewhere between… what’s known as mild hypertension… your doc would encourage you to make some changes to your lifestyle and diet. Maybe add in an evening walk after dinner. And perhaps cut back on certain foods and replace snacks with something healthier.
But then Big Pharma stepped up their marketing game. They sent more drug reps out to wine and dine more docs. And it worked. Doctors began medicating earlier… you know, “just in case.”
And then more recently the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association climbed on the bandwagon. They officially suggested treating mild hypertension as low as 130/80 as if it was high blood pressure.
In other words, bring on the meds.
Drugs USELESS for mild hypertension
But now a major study out of Britain has confirmed what many of already suspected. There’s ZERO evidence that taking heavy-duty blood pressure meds when you have moderately elevated blood pressure will do you a lick of good.
The researchers carefully examined the cases of more than 19,000 folks for 17 years. And they concluded the drugs don’t make any significant improvements to blood pressure when you have mild hypertension.
Yet you face all the side effects from annoying to downright dangerous. Some of the most common include…
- leg cramps
- weakness
- fatigue
- erection problems
- sleep problems
- cough
- constipation
- dizziness
- rapid heartbeat
- depression
According to the CDC, a shocking 7 out of 10 American’s are taking blood pressure drugs. And now we know for sure, there are hundreds of thousands of folks with mild hypertension taking them unnecessarily.
Perhaps the most shocking part of all? This “zero-benefits” study was completed over three years ago.
So why haven’t you heard about it? Well, some powerful folks have a lot to lose if all those over-medicated people stop taking these drugs.
Drug companies are rolling in hypertension med’s cash. In fact, the top high blood pressure drug rakes in over two billion ALONE in a year.
In other words, hypertension is real cash-cow for the drug industry. And the last thing Big Pharma wants is to cut into those profits. And they’re not afraid of using their influence to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Reduce blood pressure WITHOUT drugs
Now, remember you should NEVER stop a drug suddenly. So if you’re on a blood pressure medication and feel you shouldn’t be, give your doctor a call.
Ask him about trying alternatives for your mild hypertension such as exercise, diet, and supplements. Following are four proven-effective nutrients to consider.
1. Phytosterols:
Deep inside plant foods including vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seeds are potent compounds called phytosterols. These powerful substances promote all-around heart health. But studies show they could specifically help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Besides eating plenty of whole plant foods, you can add a supplement to your routine. Look for “beta sitosterols” on labels.
2. Grape seed extract:
When most folks eat a seeded grape they toss out the most valuable part of the fruit… the seeds themselves. In two different University of California, Davis studies, volunteers taking grape seed extracts saw significant improvements in their blood pressure. Which means it could help you solve your mild hypertension probably without ever needing drugs.
3. Garlic:
If you’re like me and love the taste of garlic, you’re in luck. This tasty spice doesn’t just add a delicious bite to your dishes; it could help improve your blood pressure too. In fact, a study published in the journal Integrated Blood Pressure Control found that in some cases garlic extract can reduce blood pressure as much as common prescription meds without the side effects.
4. Celery:
Next time you’re at the grocery store don’t pass on the celery. According to the Cleveland Clinic, eating more of this crunchy veggie could help reduce blood pressure, thanks to a phytochemical called phthalides. This compound naturally helps relax your arteries to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. Not a big celery fan? No problem. A study published in Natural Medicine Journal found celery extract could also help you gently drive your numbers back down into the normal zone.
Don’t let drug company marketing teams decide what meds YOU should be taking. If you suspect you’re a victim of over-medication for mild hypertension talk to your doctor TODAY.
She is an advocate of self-education and is passionate about the power of group knowledge sharing, like the kind found right here on HealthierTalk.com. Alice loves to share her views on holistic and natural healing as well as her, sometimes contentious, thoughts on the profit-driven inner workings of traditional medicine.
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