Have you ever felt your heart pounding in your chest, felt suddenly light-headed, or experienced shortness of breath? These might be signs of hypertension (high blood pressure) that you might not even be aware of.  

Hypertension is Rising in Malaysia!

Hypertension affects 29.2% or nearly 1 in 3 Malaysians. [1]. Of this figure, 11.9% do not actually know that they have hypertension, and alarmingly, the highest proportion of those who are unaware falls within the age of 18-39, indicating a rising concern in younger populations.

This shift is due to a variety of complex factors, including genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, and dietary habits [3].

Another study revealed that almost 70% of Malaysian adults are at risk of elevated blood pressure [2]. Globally, over 1.2 billion people ages 30 to 79 have hypertension [4]. 

High blood pressure is the leading cause of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), contributing to the highest death rate in Malaysia for both men and women.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition when the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high, typically defined at 140/90 mmHg or higher, confirmed by measurements taken on at least two to three separate occasions.

High blood pressure is known as “the silent killer” because it can go undetected for a long time due to a lack of obvious symptoms, and can lead to death.

Are You at Risk? Check This Table!

[5]

What are the Signs of Hypertension?

1. Severe Headaches

High blood pressure increases pressure on the blood vessels in the brain, leading to discomfort or throbbing headaches.

2. Dizziness or Light-headedness

High blood pressure reduces blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness or imbalance.

3. Chest Pain

This is a sign that the arteries in the heart aren’t getting enough blood supply. High blood pressure can narrow and damage the arteries that supply blood to the heart, leading to chest discomfort and ultimately, heart failure.

4. Shortness of Breath

Hypertension can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, reducing oxygen flow. Being short of breath may also be a sign of heart strain or early heart failure.

5. Vision Problems

Hypertension can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, causing swelling, and even cause permanent blindness due to hypertensive retinopathy.

6. Pounding in the Chest, Neck, or Ears

Increased blood flow due to elevated pressure can create a pounding or rushing sensation. You might also experience irregular heartbeat or palpitations.

Complications of Hypertension

If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious health problems, from heart attacks and stroke to eye damage and kidney failure.

Prevent and Manage Hypertension with These Health Tips!

1. Lose Extra Weight

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing even a small amount of weight can help lower blood pressure.

2. Exercise Regularly    

Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day to lower high blood pressure. Do something you love to stay motivated, such as walking, stretching, swimming, or dancing.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eat lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and meals low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Reduce salt and sodium, as these can raise your blood pressure if consumed in excess.

4. Limit Alcohol, Quit Smoking!

Limiting alcohol to less than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men can help lower blood pressure by about 4 mm Hg. Better still, don’t drink! Quitting smoking not only lowers your blood pressure but also your risk of heart disease.  

5. Get a Good Night's Sleep

Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, as getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep nightly for weeks on end can increase your risk of hypertension.

6. Reduce Your Stress Levels   

Long-term stress may lead to high blood pressure. Reduce your stress levels by relaxing and indulging in your favourite hobbies, setting healthy boundaries, and practising gratitude.

The Downside of Anti-hypertensive Drug Treatments

Apart from adopting healthy lifestyle practices, hypertension can be managed by taking medications. However, these may come with unpleasant or serious side effects, such as:                             

Many patients also do not take their medication as prescribed. This non-adherence increases the risk of uncontrolled hypertension by 5 times, as well as increases the risk of death, hospitalization rates, and the cost of care.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

To counter these risks, consider using natural remedies to control high blood pressure. Some popular natural alternatives for reducing high blood pressure include fish oil, celery seed, and black garlic.

The Healing Power of Aged Black Garlic

Black garlic is believed to have originated in Korea or Japan, and its usage dates as far back as Ancient Egypt. For centuries, garlic has been used as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments such as digestive issues, respiratory infections, skin diseases, and wounds.

In particular, Aged Black Garlic in the form of Abg10+® provides superior blood pressure management. In fact, just one 250mg ABG10+® capsule is equivalent to 2500mg of fresh garlic bulbs!

Fight Hypertension with Abg10+®

Key Proven Benefits

-  Supports healthy blood pressure levels

- Reduces inflammatory markers & progression of atherosclerosis [6] 

- Reduces cardiovascular risk 

- Maintains healthy blood lipid (cholesterol) levels 

- Antioxidant & immune support.

Why Abg10+® is Simply Superior!

• Abg10+® is a high-quality aged black garlic ingredient made from Allium sativum L., locally sourced in Spain.

It is standardized to ≥0.1% S-allyl cysteine (SAC). This key active compound is 10x more potent than white garlic.

• Abg10+® is produced through Pharmactive’s proprietary Maillard process, which enhances bioactive compounds while removing unpleasant garlic odours.
• The garlic is harvested at its peak SAC concentration to ensure optimal potency. No additives, preservatives, or burning are used during production.

What is S-allyl cysteine (SAC)?

S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a type of amino acid extracted from Allium (onion plants). SAC helps blood vessels widen, improve blood flow, and reduce blood pressure.

Abg10+® increases not only blood flow in the coronary arteries, but also increases vital nutrients and oxygen for optimum heart function and blood pressure.

A Stronger Heart for a Happier You!

Don’t be a victim of hypertension! Take control of your heart health today with the power of Abg10+® and enjoy a longer, stronger, and more vibrant life!

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References:

[1] https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2021/05/691317/study-shows-1-3-malaysians-are-affected-hypertension#google_vignette

https://focusmalaysia.my/the-dangers-of-neglecting-hypertension-in-malaysia-the-silent-killer-among-us/

[2]  Factors associated with the severity of hypertension among Malaysian adults - PMC

[3]  The Dangers Of Neglecting Hypertension In Malaysia: The Silent Killer Among Us - BusinessToday

[4]  High Blood Pressure: Symptoms & Causes

[5] CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES - MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION, 5TH EDITION (2018)

[6] 1. Budoff, M. J., Ahmadi, N., Gul, K. M., Liu, S. T., Flores, F. R., Tiano, J., Takasu, J., Miller, E., & Tsimikas, S. (2009). Aged garlic extract supplemented with B vitamins, folic acid and L-arginine retards the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis: A randomized clinical trial. Preventive Medicine, 49(2–3), 101–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.06.018

2. Matsumoto S;Nakanishi R;Li D;Alani A;Rezaeian P;Prabhu S;Abraham J;Fahmy MA;Dailing C;Flores F;Hamal S;Broersen A;Kitslaar PH;Budoff MJ; (n.d.). Aged garlic extract reduces low attenuation plaque in coronary arteries of patients with metabolic syndrome in a prospective randomized double-blind study. The Journal of nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764322/
3. Wlosinska, M., Nilsson, A.-C., Hlebowicz, J., Hauggaard, A., Kjellin, M., Fakhro, M., & Lindstedt, S. (2020). The effect of aged garlic extract on the atherosclerotic process – a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02932-5
4. Zeb, I., Ahmadi, N., Flores, F., & Budoff, M. J. (2018). Randomized trial evaluating the effect of aged garlic extract with supplements versus placebo on adipose tissue surrogates for coronary atherosclerosis progression. Coronary Artery Disease, 29(4), 325–328. https://doi.org/10.1097/mca.0000000000000587

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