Biofeedback therapy is an alternative medical technique in which you can train yourself to become more attuned to the messages your body is giving you about your health. You have used biofeedback treatment many times if you weighed yourself on the bathroom scales, took your temperature, or used a blood pressure monitor. The information you receive is immediate so that you know exactly what is happening at the present time and can take steps to remedy the situation if you are feeling unwell.
Biofeedback and blood pressure are directly related to one another and this treatment has been found to be quite effective in treating both high and low blood pressure. By use of an electronic blood pressure cuff, you find out what your pulse rate is as well as the measure of the blood pressure. These are inexpensive devices that you can use at home. Most people don’t purchase one, though, until they have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and are asked to monitor the readings.
The usual treatment for high blood pressure is to restrict the salt intake in the diet and start a regimen of prescription medication on a daily basis to keep the blood pressure of the body within a normal range. Stress often causes a marked rise in blood pressure, which may be accompanied with a headache, a feeling of intense tiredness or pounding of the heart. In some people, stress manifests itself as low blood pressure in which you may feel faint or lightheaded.
Once you learn what symptoms you experience when your blood pressure starts to rise, you can use the monitor to tell whether you are right or wrong. Once you take your blood pressure, then you can take the steps needed to bring it down, which usually include relaxation techniques to reduce the amount of stress on your body and mind. Using biofeedback therapy is very similar to learning a new skill. You first have to learn what the signs and symptoms of high or low blood pressure are for you because not all people experience the same kinds of symptoms.
This takes time and practice and possibly even the use of a trainer who acts like a sports coach helping you along. Most people with blood pressure problems use prescription medication along with biofeedback treatment. As they progress in the treatment, they learn how to control the blood pressure with their mind because they become so closely attuned to the functions of their body and can identify sources of stress that lead to a spike in the blood pressure.
Learning to control the source of the high or low blood pressure is the goal of using biofeedback therapy for this purpose. Since high blood pressure is a common medical problem in those aged 40 and over, it is often a symptom of age. Being overweight is also one of the causes and a high level of salt in the diet. Taking control of the diet and exercising on a regular basis as part of biofeedback treatment are also very effective in helping to control the problem.
The main benefits of biofeedback are that you become more sensitive to the needs of your body and your level of stress. When you have immediate feedback from the biofeedback treatment about what your readings are then you learn how to recognize the symptoms in your body. When you have a headache, you can check your biofeedback and blood pressure readings to see if this is the cause of the problem.
During a period of extreme stress, you can also check the readings on your biofeedback therapy unit on a regular basis before and after using relaxation techniques. You will be able to see the difference that they make to your body. In this way you will learn the value of using these techniques when you start to feel stressed and in so doing you can learn to control your blood pressure without the use of medication.