by Heather Robson

Created on: July 23, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2009

Silent Killer Linked to One-in-Five Deaths

If you knew that there was one health factor that played a role in the deaths of one in five adults, wouldn't you want to know what it was and if it was affecting you?

If you think this deadly killer is smoking, guess again. Smoking is bad, but high blood is just as bad. It contributes to premature deaths in one in five people, making it just as deadly as smoking. Researchers were stunned to discover this. They knew high blood pressure was unhealthy, but they had no idea the magnitude of the affect.[i]

Blood Pressure Danger Stuns Researchers

In a collaborative effort involving researchers from Harvard Medical School to the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, scientists set out to determine which lifestyle factors have the most negative influence on health.

These researchers looked at smoking, blood pressure, levels of physical activity, dietary habits, and alcohol use to find out what choices present the biggest threat to your health. Using national health surveys they discovered that smoking and high blood pressure lead the pack, each contributing to one in five deaths every year.[ii]

The researchers hope that people will take away the importance of controlling blood pressure. One scientist, Dr. Vasan says, [This study] reinforces the idea that it's good to stop smoking and to periodically visit your doctor to get your blood pressure and your cholesterol checked.[iii]

Proved Natural Blood Pressure Remedies

That smoking is deadly is no surprise, but it's revealing that high blood pressure can be just as deadly. More than anything, this study underscores the importance of taking steps now to control your blood pressure.

Fortunately, there is also plenty of new research on natural ways to regulate blood pressure. You can take control of this important health factor without turning to dangerous drugs.

Garlic contains compounds that work to relax the lining of your blood vessels, making it a powerful tool when it comes to lowering your blood pressure. In recent research, scientists set out to determine the best way to supplement with garlic. They tested time-released garlic supplements versus regular garlic supplements. They also looked at different doses. They found that both types of supplements effectively lower systolic pressure by an average of seven points, but only the time-released garlic supplements lowered diastolic pressure. Participants taking time-released garlic

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