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Blood Pressure is the force or pressure with which the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. The systemic blood pressure, usually arterial blood pressure, is the result of the discharge of blood from the left ventricle into the already full aorta.
When the left ventricle contracts and pushes the blood into aorta the pressure produced with in the arterial system is called the systolic blood pressure. In adult it is about 120 mm Hg or 16 KPa. When complete cardiac diastole occurs and the heart is resting following the ejection of blood, the pressure with in the arteries is called diastolic blood pressure. In an adult it is about 80 mm Hg or 11 KPa. The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is the pulse pressure. (40 mm Hg in normal). The arithmetic mean of the systolic and diastolic pressure pressure is the mean pressure.
Systemic arterial blood pressure maintains the essential flow of substances into and out of the organs of the body. Control of blood pressure especially to the vital organs is essential to maintain homeo stasis.
In adults the relation between the three pressures is as follows. S.P/D.P/P.P = 3/2/1, e.g.: if the systolic pressure is 120, the diastolic pressure is 80 and pulse pressure is 40 mm of hg.
The lowest pressure necessary for maintaining the blood flow sufficiently for the needs of the body is considered as basal blood pressure. It differs from an individual to another one and under different circumstances it varies in the same individual. In adult males, the average systolic pressure is 120-130 mm of Hg and average diastolic pressure is 70-90 mm of Hg.
Blood pressure is measured by sphygmomanometer, in the arteries of the right arm. It is usually expressed in the following manner B.P = 120/80 mm Hg or B.P = 16/11 KPa.
Physiological variations of Blood Pressure.
1. Age: Blood pressure rises with age. These are as follows.
Systolic Diastolic
In infancy 70 to 90 50
In Child hood 80 to 100 60
During the adolescent period 90 to 110 60
In the young adult 90 to 126 60 to 70
As age advances 126 o 140 80 to 90
2. Sex : In females both systolic and diastolic pressures are slightly lower than males up to the age of 45 – 50 years.
3. Built : In most of the over weight persons the blood pressure is found to be high.
4. Exercise: In moderate exercise there is slight rise of systolic blood
pressure.
5. Posture: The diastolic blood pressure is slightly higher in standing
position.
6. Sleep: The systolic pressure falls during sleep.
7. After meal: There is a slight rise of systolic blood pressure after the meals.
8. Emotion : It causes increase of systolic pressure.
Factors controlling blood pressure:
1. Pumping action of the heart: The driving force of blood is mainly created by the pumping action of the heart. So the blood pressure depends on the pumping action of the heart.
2. Cardiac out put: Blood pressure = cardiac out put x peripheral resistance, so blood pressure is directly depend on the cardiac out put.
3. Peripheral resistance: This is the resistance offered by the friction of the blood flowing in the vessels. The main resistance to the flow of blood in the systolic circulation lies in the arterioles and the greatest fall in the pressure will occur.
4. Elasticity of the arterial walls: Due to elasticity of the arterial walls the blood flow is pulsatile in the arteries. In old age the expansion of the arterial walls becomes limited due to sclerotic changes and the blood pressure rises.
5. Blood volume: Increase in blood volume will raise both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure due to the increased quantity of blood in the arterial system and greater stretching of the arterial walls.
6. Viscosity of the blood: Alteration in blood viscosity will affect the diastolic pressure by its effect on the peripheral resistance. The intra molecular friction is greater when the viscosity is high. So when viscosity of the blood is more blood pressure is also more.
Significance of blood pressure:
Systolic pressure: It undergoes considerable fluctuations. The height of systolic pressure indicates.
The extent of work done by the heart.
The force with which heart is working.
The degree of pressures, which the arterial walls have to with stand.
Diastolic pressure: It undergoes less fluctuation and remains with in a limited range. This diastolic pressure indicates
Constant load against which heart has to work.
Measure of peripheral resistance.
The main normal functions of blood pressure are,
To maintain a sufficient pressure head to keep the blood flowing.
To provide the motive force of filtration at the capillary bed, thus assuring nutrition to the tissue cells, formation of urine, lymph and so on.
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YOGIC TREATMENT
In yoga using the three basic principles of yoga therapy does the treatment of hypertension.
1) Using Panca kosa theory:
Anna maya kosa: The improper food habit causes increase of blood pressure. So annamaya kosa is involved in the hypertension. This can be corrected only by correcting the food habit. This is by reducing the amount of salt, chilly added to food items, always taking nutritious and balanced food of satvika nature.
Pranamaya kosa: Prana causes the circulation of blood in the body. So in hypertension functioning of prana is improper. Pranamayakosa can be corrected by the practice of pranayama. The pranayama, which are good to control the hypertension, are Ujjayi, Anuloma - Viloma, Shitali, and Chandrabheda.
Manomaya kosa: The hypertension is due to stress and strain then manomaya kosa is the cause of the disease. By proper attitude and regular meditation this can be corrected.
1.Using tridosa theory :
According to tridosa theory hypertension is due to abnormalities of Vata, Pitta or Kapha. The abnormal dosa is confirmed by knowing the causative factors of the hypertension.
If the hypertension is due to increase of blood volume, viscosity, narrowing of blood vessels then the hypertension is due to abnormality of vata. If the hypertension is due to obesity then it is a Kapha related disorder. If the hypertension due to overwork, stress then it is purely pitta related hypertension. In yoga therapy these imbalanced dosas can be corrected by several methods.
Kaphalabhati, Vastra dhauti kriya, Asanas, Ujjayi, Anuloma Viloma pranamaya, corrects the imbalance in kapha dosa. By taking the foods, which have the capacity to melt the kapha like pepper, ginger, and one can overcome kapha related hypertension.
The Vamana dhauti kriya, asanas, shitali pranayama are good to reduce the pitta. The Ghee, tender coconut, green gram are the foods advised to reduce the aggravated pitta. The vata can be controlled by basti kriya, some asanas and bhastrika pranayama. The jira, gingily, menthe are advisable to control vata originated hypertension.
3. By using 25/26 tattva theory:
According to 25/26 theory the gross body is made from pancha mahabhutas. They are Akasa, Vayu, Tejas, Ap, and Prithvi. In a healthy person all these are in equilibrium. Any imbalance in any one of these mahabhutas leads to ill health. In the case of hypertension the Akasa is reduced, Vayu increased, Tejas, Ap, Prithvi may or may not vary. This imbalance in the panca mahabhutas is because of increase of tamoguna in the body. This can be corrected by increase of satva and rajoguna.
The Rajoguna can be increased by physical activity, taking rajasika food and meditating on God Laxmi and Krishna. Meditating on Satvik diety like Saraswati, and Hanumanta can increase the Satva guna.
Also the practice of asanas, pranayamas, meditation leads to properise Mahat, Ahankara and Manas, by which the grosser entities, pancamahabhutas, panca tanmatras, pancakarmendriyas, pancajnanedriyas become free from abnormalities. Thus hypertension can be proporised.
Using these theories the yogic techniques can be advised to the hypertensives. In general the following yoga techniques can be used in treating hypertension.
Kriyas : Trataka.
Asanas : Swasthikasana, Vajrasana, Trikonasana,
Parsvakonasana, Janusirsana, Pavanamuktasana, Bhujanagasana, Dhanurasana, Ustrasana, ViparitakaraniMudra, Halasana, Savasana 1 and 2, Yoga nidra.
Pranayamas: Ujjayi, Anuloma-viloma, Chandrabheda, Bhramari,
Shitali.
Meditation: ‘Om’ meditation, advice the regular meditation
according to family and religious background.
Food: Reduce salty, sour and hot food items.
Reduce the spicy, oily food items.
Take the balanced food in regular time.
Life style:
The life style modification, which are required to control the hypertension are
Stop smoking, alcohol taking.
Maintain the discipline in the sex, hygiene of body and food.
Implement good habits.
Have the sleep in proper time.
All above yogic techniques should be taught partially and gradually, carefully by a yoga instructor. By regularly, sincerely following all above techniques the hypertension becomes normal with in two to three months.
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