A frequently used blood pressure medication is diuretics. These are water pills that dilate the arteries, allowing blood to flow more freely, increase urine output and decrease blood volume, which in turn reduces blood pressure. Diuretics are also used for mild high blood pressure. A common form of medicine taken to control blood pressure is Beta-blockers. These tablets reduce the heart rate and decrease the pressure caused by heart contracting. Beta-blockers are extremely useful in treating hypertension, especially in patients with a fast heartbeat while resting (called tachycardia), cardiac chest pain (angina), or a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction). Another important medication to keep high BP in check is the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). These drugs affect the renin-angiotensin hormonal system, which helps control blood pressure.

Untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction and vision loss. If proper medication is not taken on a regular basis, very high blood pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which leads to bleeding in the brain. This often causes a stroke. On the other hand if a blood clot blocks a narrowed artery, a stroke is likely to take place. Without proper blood pressure medication, high blood pressure can also cause a heart attack. Over time, untreated high blood pressure is known to narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys, failing them altogether.

Several natural ways to lower the blood pressure include lifestyle changes such as shedding the extra pounds, getting more exercise, eating better and quitting smoking. Likewise alternative medicine, also called integrative or complementary medicine has been known to be effective in lowering the blood pressure. This includes self-relaxation methods like yoga, biofeedback, hypnotherapy and meditation.

RESPeRATE (resperate-uk.co.uk) is seen as an effective and holistic treatment for hypertension.  Many leading medical publications and journals around the world have cited RESPeRATE as a safe, adjunctive mode of treatment. Most recently, the American Heart Association's, ‘Hypertension Primer’ and the Mayo Clinic's, ‘On High Blood Pressure’ have featured RESPeRATE.

RESPeRATE is a portable, computerized electronic device that has been proven to lower blood pressure. Using a breathing sensor, RESPeRATE helps automatically analyze distinct breathing pattern and creates a personalized melody composed of two distinct inhale and exhale guiding tones. In less than 15 minutes the muscles surrounding the small blood vessels in the body dilate and relax. Blood is allowed to flow more freely, and pressure is significantly lowered.