WHO states close to 50% Kenyan adults have HBP; I suppose the situation is worse here in Wazua with many unaware, today it is a common problem amongst blacks globally. Meanwhile Maasai have almost no HBP cases and have the lowest recorded incidence of heart disease and HBP (0.4% at one time) in the world despite eating meat and milk as a staple. I have researched on the topic of HBP for a few years now and have come to two conclusions, there is the easy way to personally control, the more difficult way and the medical way. I will write on the easier “non-medical ways” that have scientific support, before getting to exercise, phombe, salt and dieting particularly if you are not so overweight.

Easiest Management I have found;
Bring down and control HBP easily. If you have prehypertension with a systolic pressure from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89 mm Hg or have mild hypertension, systolic above 140 and below 160 with diastolic below 100. The following could easily keep your BP normal and leave you strong and healthy for years like Arap Moi.

1. Drink Hibiscus Tea (Drop a whopping 18 points in six weeks). This is a refreshing tasty cranberry like drink that can be taken hot or cold that is comparable to the HBP drug lisinopril and has been proven in several published studies in scientific journals to reduce high blood pressure up to 18 mm Hg. One of the studies is published in the most reputable HBP journals (Mozaffari-Khosravi, H.; Jalali-Khanabadi, B. -A.; Afkhami-Ardekani, M.; Fatehi, F.; Noori-Shadkam, M. (2008). "The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes". Journal of Human Hypertension )

READ MORE ON HIBISCUS TEA AND THE SCIENCE

2. Take Vitamin D (cod liver oil) or Take to Sun bathing/basking or both (Reduce your HBP by 6 to 8 points). It has been long known vitamin D or more exposure to the sun reduces HBP, this may be the reason blacks suffer more in western countries from HBP because they do not take enough sunlight in those cold places as keratin in the black skin reduces absorption. Edinburgh University research suggests sunlight helps reduce blood pressure, cutting heart attack and stroke risks and even prolonging life. See the following published on BBC on a study on sunbathing and HBP based on a published medical research.

3. Buy or Hire a home blood pressure monitoring kit to rule out “whitecoat” hypertension and to monitor your progress. Learn the proper way to check your bloopd pressure which will also vary at different times f the day, i can advice. I can hire you one out for a week at KES 800/- per week. White coat hypertension may lead to a false diagnosis as often happens in many cases. BTW reduce salt kidogo tu as you monitor BP to check if you have sodium sensitivity.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure, aneurysms of the arteries (e.g. aortic aneurysm), peripheral arterial disease and is a cause of chronic kidney disease and possibly certain cancers. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure is associated with a shortened life expectancy

Good research. Here it from a doctor.

Sole! Hear it from me!