What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a potentially dangerous problem suffered by many people,
often without them being aware of it. It has been estimated that in the world more than 2000 million people suffer from high
blood pressure.

Causes of High Blood Pressure?
There are two type of hypertension
found in the all type of patiemts.
1.
Essential hypertension
2.
Secondary hypertension.
"Secondary hypertension"
refers to the case where the high blood pressure is the result of some known factor such as kidney disease. "Essential
hypertension" refers to the case where there is no
obvious single cause of high blood pressure.
There
are many factors that can contribute to essential high blood pressure, the most
common of which are lifestyle related. Smoking
and high levels of saturated fat intake can both contribute significantly to an
elevated level of blood pressure.
If
your doctor doesn't identify a particular cause then he or she could well
recommend diet and exercise as the best start. Losing some weight, lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and
reducing salt intake can assist many people to lower their blood pressure
levels. For others the preferred treatment will be medication.
Good and Bad Cholesterol
HDL and LDL
HDL :High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) or called good
cholesterol.
The Possible Effect of Garlic on Cholesterol
Levels
Garlic has been reputed to assist
the heart for centuries and has been used in herbal medicines for all manner of
conditions. Garlic & cholesterol reduction are frequently mentioned
together.
Modern
medical science suggests one reason garlic might reduce cholesterol: garlic is
a proven anti-oxidant. This property
might help to prevent LDLs from being oxidised.
In this way the cholestrol build-up that clogs the arteries could perhaps be
reduced by garlic.
In current
modern medicine era numerous scientific studies have been conducted to test the
claims that garlic can help lower cholesterol levels. These studies involve
measuring the cholesterol and triglyceride levels of patients taking garlic
supplements compared with a control group of patients taking a placebo.
Some
studies have shown a reduction in total cholesterol levels and/or LDL levels in
those taking garlic. Other medical studies have shown no significant difference
between the levels of those taking garlic and those taking a placebo. The study concluded that: "None of the forms of garlic
used in this study, including raw garlic, when given at an approximate dose of
a 4-g clove per day, 6 d/wk for 6 months, had statistically or clinically
significant effects on LDL-C or other plasma lipid concentrations in adults
with moderate hypercholesterolemia."
Can Garlic Help?
Garlic is not a substitute
for prescription medicine or lifestyle changes, however it has long had a
reputation for assisting with blood pressure management. The research data is
not conclusive, however it does appear that there is some evidence to support
the role of garlic in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
It
appears that the reputed beneficial effects of garlic on blood pressure come
more from the garlic sulphides than from
allicin( medicinal name of garlic preparation.
Unlike allicin, garlic sulphides are not destroyed by cooking.
Garlic
might also assist blood pressure indirectly by helping to manage cholesterol
levels.
Finally,
extra garlic can be used as a seasoning, thus reducing the need for salt.
Garlic and Cholesterol

If
you suspect that you have a cholesterol problem it is essential that you
discuss it with your doctor.Whilst all cholesterol was once considered harmful,
it is now recognized that it comes in two distinct forms: one "good",
the other "bad".
Cholesterol and Garlic: The Verdict Can Garlic
Lower Cholesterol Levels?
So, does it work? Whilst some
individual studies have shown that garlic can be effective in reducing
"bad" cholesterol (LDLs), the overall body of evidence is
inconclusive. In particular the 2007 study appears to shed serious doubt on the
reality behind garlic's reputation in this area. Thus it would be unwise to
draw a definite conclusion that garlic can be used to combat "bad"
cholesterol foods.
If
you are concerned about elevated cholesterol levels then you should not
turn to garlic as an alternative to medical treatment - get advice from your
doctor. However if your doctor approves then you might like to consider eating
more garlic as part of a balanced diet "just in case". If nothing
else it's a tasty alternative to salt.
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