How Does Tea Help with High Blood Pressure and Myocarditis?

Many Americans today struggle with heart issues due to unhealthy lifestyles or genetics. Some of the most common heart issues are high blood pressure and myocarditis. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood. It is known to cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart arrhythmias. When it is severe, it causes the body to be unable to get enough blood which causes clots in the heart leading to stroke and heart attack. Myocarditis is caused by infection with a virus (such as the common cold), and drug or inflammatory conditions. High blood pressure is when your blood pressure (the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels) is consistently too high. Your body needs oxygenated blood in your tissues and organs to survive. This blood is pushed through a network of blood vessels by the pressure created when your heart beats. This pressure is the result of two forces. The first is systolic pressure which is a force that occurs when blood pumps out of the heart into the arteries. The second is your diastolic pressure which is a force that occurs when the heart is at rest between beats. These forces create a ratio for your blood pressure and normal blood pressure is 120(systolic)/80(diastolic) millimeter of mercury (mmHG) and lower.  High blood pressure causes harm because it forces your heart and arteries to work harder and less efficiently. This damages the tissue in your artery and causes plaque to form on the tiny tears in your artery walls. This clogging of the arteries ultimately leads to heart attack, arrhythmia, or stroke. High blood pressure is also known as the silent killer because many of its symptoms are not made known until it's too late. High blood pressure affects 70% of Americans during their lifetimes. The number of people who are affected by high blood pressure has increased from 50 million in 1988-1994 to over 122 million now. High blood pressure and myocarditis are very common and deadly conditions, but luckily some studies say that tea could be a natural remedy to help with these conditions. 

Herbal, white, and green tea have been speculated to help lower high blood pressure and prevent high blood pressure. Teas can be a good natural remedy because they have less adverse side effects than chemical medications. Herbal tea such as hibiscus have been known to contain anthocyanins and other antioxidants that may help blood vessels resist damage that causes them to narrow. Herbal teas such as chamomile, lavender, rose, and hibiscus also are known to maybe help the body relax and reduce stress. Since stress is a leading cause of high blood pressure this can greatly benefit your blood pressure. Green tea is also known to have catechins in their makeup, these may relax the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels which may lead to lower blood pressure. Research additionally shows that green tea may be able to reduce systolic BP (top #) by up to 3.2 mmHg and diastolic BP (bottom #) by up to 3.4 mmHg.  White teas are known to also contain catechins to possibly lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, and prevent heart diseases. White tea is also the least processed of all the teas. White teas may lower your cholesterol so that your blood vessels are clearer, and this helps lower your blood pressure. In addition, this might lower the risk of heart disease because high blood pressure and high cholesterol are 2 of the 3 key factors for heart disease.

Green tea is also known to possibly help with myocarditis. Tea is a great source of polyphenols which is an antioxidant that has been speculated to reduce inflammation in the heart (myocarditis) and improve cell function in the heart and blood vessels. Green tea contains more polyphenols than other types of teas. Also present in green tea, catechins are theorized to have anti-inflammatory properties in the heart which can help with myocarditis. Green tea can be known to alleviate myocarditis as evidenced by less cardiac injury and a higher survival rate.

Teas are a nice alternative to chemical medication and provide many natural benefits. But in no way are teas a medical drug. They are a simple and delicious way to improve your overall health, especially your heart. Next time you think about getting a drink, you may want to consider this healthy delight.