The High Blood Pressure Hoax

I didn't have High Blood Pressure, but and elevated pressure and a high heart rate. I notice the difference in my heart rate within two weeks for just making a few changes in my diet. The book tells you the Dangers of the medications as well as alternative solutions. And for you skeptics do a little research. Information is all over the internet from reputable sources. Don't assume that drugs are the only answer just because you never heard of an alternative on the five o'clock news.

This book is an EXCELLENT resource. The pharmaceutical companies have our physicians using "cookbook medicine". The true culprit, however, is our lazy population that will not take time to learn how to avoid severe illnesses. As a medical professional, I read the only 1 star review and saw that the person not only had the wrong gender for the author, but must have read only the intro and jumped to conclusions. Dr. Sherry Rogers is brilliant, yet has clear explanations and is sincere in her desire to help others. I have read most of her books, and use them with my patients and friends.

To personify the hoax, if indeed there is one, is to see how the facts presented apply to one's own situation. As Dr. Rogers alludes, this entails boning up on current studies, anatomical facts, one's personal health history, and a critical analysis of one's lifestyle. The first two areas mentioned are critical to making crucial decisions regarding meds, and of not just their benefits, but their potential bad effects. The usual scenario as one advances past middle age is a doctors visit where these words are spoken (after several sets of b/p readings are taken), "Uh, since you are moderately hypertensive, I'm going to start you on these medications ... " A better approach might be to limit fats, exercise, and lose ten pounds. Then, when your readings drop some but are still above currently proposed limits, you might want to consider a low dosage regime, while working to further improve your lifestyle. But why the hoax? According to fairly recent statistics from the American Heart Association, in 2002, 65 million Americans have high blood pressure, although these numbers are difficult to come by, since many with hypertension have not been diagnosed, and some being treated should NOT be. Normal blood pressure was most recently defined in 2003 by a national advisory committee to the United States Department of Health and Human Services as systolic pressure of 120 mm/Hg or greater, and/or a diastolic pressure of 80 mm/Hg or greater. However, it has been reported that since "normals" for seniors have been revised downward by this study, profits for the pharmaceutical companies have soared. Dr. Rogers feels that these numbers have been set too low, and I agree. They are a significant drop from what was once considered normal. The true target values are probably somewhere in between. By reading this book, you will become more informed of the causes of hypertension, some of which occur naturally due to normal aging, and the risks and pitfalls attached to jumping on the hypertensive medication bandwagon. I strongly feel it will be well worth the effort. For another thoughtful review, Google "all thumbs" and "blood pressure hoax"

The High Blood Pressure Hoax is an excellent informative book that will enlighten the layperson about blood pressure and how to prevent hypertension. Dr Rogers explains everything in laymans terms and gives you an easy plan to follow. After all high blood pressure and many ailments aren't a lack of drugs but a lack of nutrients!!