Combating High Blood Pressure

We all know someone with high blood pressure or may even have it ourselves. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than 65 million people -- that's one in three adults in the United States alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, an additional 59 million are now classified as pre-hypertensive, having blood pressure measurements slightly higher than the norm.

Hypertension usually has no symptoms and, in fact, almost a third of people with hypertension don't even know they have it, which is why it's often called the "silent killer." If left untreated, hypertension can lead to several life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

Hypertension has traditionally been treated with medications, such as beta blockers, ace inhibitors or water pills (diuretics). However, seven out of 10 patients can't reach their lower blood pressure goals with medication alone. And some antihypertensive drugs can cause troublesome or dangerous side effects, such as impotence, emotional distress, insomnia, tiredness and depression.

Lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthy lifestyle, proper diet and regular exercise, are often recommended for the treatment of high blood pressure. There has also been much attention focused on the reduction of salt intake as one step in the fight against hypertension. Ongoing changes to our diets and exercise routines have great health and fitness benefits overall, but can be difficult to incorporate into a busy schedule.

For the 70 percent of people with hypertension for whom medication alone is unable to adequately control the condition or those who experience intolerable side effects from the medication, finding a non-drug option that will work for you and your schedule is critical.  

"When treating patients for high blood pressure, physicians need to explore all treatment options," says Joseph Marek, M.D., clinical cardiologist, Midwest Heart Specialists. "Since medications alone don't lower blood pressure in many hypertensive patients, lifestyle modifications and newer treatment options, such as device-guided breathing should be considered."

One such option available today is RESPeRATE (www.resperate.com), a safe, non-drug over-the-counter treatment for hypertension. This portable electronic device consists of a computerized unit, about the size of a paperback book, a breathing sensor that is fastened around the abdomen, and a set of headphones. It works by interactively guiding the user to slow their breathing rate and change their breathing pattern. The result: muscles around the body's small blood vessels relax, allowing blood to flow more easily, thus reducing high blood pressure.  

Diana DeAngelis, a RESPeRATE user, says she loves the time of day when she gets to use the device. She says, "Besides lowering my blood pressure, I feel more relaxed. The device is very calming. My results have been amazing, and I recommend it to anyone struggling with their blood pressure since it really works!" With the advent of new medical technology such as RESPeRATE, controlling your blood pressure may no longer be such a challenge.

The RESPeRATE device uses rhythmic tones to pace breathing intuitively. Some people actually refer to the device as "meditation on batteries," and some users report that it enhances their meditation technique. But, while unaided breathing techniques may have a relaxing effect, only RESPeRATE has been proven through more than seven clinical studies to deliver a relaxing and lasting reduction of blood pressure.

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