Managing Hypertension - Book

A Cardiologist’s Solution for Hypertension

Hypertension – high blood pressure – is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. It affects one in four Americans and is called the "silent killer" because many people have hypertension and don’t know it. They’re unaware of their higher risk for heart disease, stroke and other life-threatening problems. Many forms of cardiovascular disease are preventable, so it’s time to get to the underlying cause of the problem and make the necessary changes to reset the body toward health. The Institute of HeartMath has researched techniques for managing stress and hypertension for 16 years and Dr. Bruce Wilson and Doc Childre’s new book offers proven ways to manage them. Recognizing stressful situations and taking a quick timeout to begin a simple HeartMath technique to shift your emotional attitude has a profound effect on the nervous system. It changes your physiology from a "fight-or-flight" stimulated state to one of calm and clarity. The result is lower stress-hormone production, blood pressure and heart rate. These are highly effective strategies for regulating blood pressure safely and effectively.

Benefits of Reducing Blood Pressure and Stress

• Lower risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and complications from other health problems.


• You will not fatigue as quickly or often and you’ll have more energy to do things, including physical activities.


• Less irritability and anger; think more clearly


• Get along better with family, friends and coworkers; feel connected.


• Revitalize your body, mind and spirit; feel happier.

The HeartMath Approach to Managing Hypertension includes:

• 151 pages, paperback


• Graphs and diagrams


• References


• Appendix: Classes of Drugs Used to Treat Hypertension


• Exercises and stories to deepen your understanding of the HeartMath techniques

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Prevention and Control, The HeartMath Approach

Chapter 1: What Is Blood Pressure?
Problems with Blood Pressure, Measuring Blood Pressure, A Closed System

Chapter 2: Causes of High Blood Pressure
Genetics, Hypertension in African-Americans, Obesity, Lack of Physical Activity, Excess Salt in the Diet, Age, People at Increased Risk for Development of Hypertension, Secondary Hypertension, The Kidneys, The Adrenal Glands, Other Problems

Chapter 3: Dangers of High Blood Pressure: Why Should You Treat It?
The Heart, The Brain, Kidney Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), The Eyes

Chapter 4: Drug Treatments of Hypertension
Diuretics, Beta-Blockers, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Other Types of Drugs Used to Treat Hypertension, An Important Comment on Drugs

Chapter 5: Lifestyle Changes That Help Lower Blood Pressure
Diet, Exercise, Smoking, Stress

Chapter 6: Stress and Hypertension
Our View of Stress, The Human Stress Response, A Slower Set of Change-The Hormonal System, the World in the Twenty-first Century, When the Stress Button Gets Stuck

Chapter 7: Resetting Your Thermostat
Stories of Resetting Pressure Levels, When Stress Becomes an Addiction, The Power to Change

Chapter 8: The Big Connection
The HeartMath Story, as Told by Founder Doc Childre, Understanding the Power of the Heart, A New Research Tool-HRV, The Three Levels of the Human Brain, The Heart-Brain Connection

Chapter 9: The HeartMath Tools, How Controlling HRV Can Reverse Stress, First Things First – Recognizing That Your Stress Button Has Been Pushed, Neutral – The Most Basic Tool - Quick Coherence

Chapter 10: Rewriting Your Patterns
Writing New Patterns, Heart Lock-In
Chapter 11: HeartMath Studies
Early Results, Correlating Mood and Blood Pressure, Beyond the Corporate World, HeartMath in Health Care, HRV Feedback Tools, Creative Stress
Chapter 12: The End Is Just the Beginning