New Device Makes it Possible to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally
When Jay Dirkx of El Paso, Texas was diagnosed with high blood pressure at the age of 35, it wasn’t a complete surprise. Though generally symptomless, his strong family history with the disease meant it was something he kept a close eye on — and something he was determined to keep in check. Mr. Dirkx made quick and lasting changes to his diet and exercise regimen. He also needed medication to bring his blood pressure numbers down. Yet he still struggled to keep his blood pressure under control. At the same time, as the number of prescriptions he was taking climbed, he says he began to notice unwanted side effects.
“I was so young, and I knew I would be working to keep this under control for the rest of my life,” said Mr. Dirkx. “I needed to find more options.”
Listening to his car radio one day, Mr. Dirkx became intrigued when he heard about a new device called the Zona Plus. He learned it guided people through a type of exercise called isometric handgrip therapy. Multiple studies have shown this simple exercise can help lower blood pressure by 10% or more in just six to eight weeks. To get those results, the Zona Plus puts people through a series of easy-to-do handgrip exercises that are safe and effective. This ensures they’re doing the exercises properly and keeps them on track.
“What we’ve seen is isometric handgrip therapy clearly impacts blood pressure in many individuals, in very little time per day,” said Dr. Philip J. Millar, PhD, an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph who specializes in clinical cardiovascular physiology and has studied isometric handgrip therapy. “However, everybody’s physiology and blood pressure-lowering needs are specific. That’s why isometric handgrip therapy requires guidance and monitoring in order to be safe and effective. It’s not as simple as squeezing something randomly — people can overdo it.”
The Zona Plus, a small, handheld device that’s shaped like a joystick, features a computerized screen with easy-to-follow prompts. The device provided Mr. Dirkx with a personalized program of isometric handgrip therapy, based on his unique physiology and needs. Best of all, it took just 12 minutes per day, five days per week for him to do the exercises from the comfort of his chair, and it was guaranteed to work. The device also showed his progress over time, and made adjustments to his routine based on changing requirements.
Six years later, he’s still using the Zona Plus. Mr. Dirkx attributes the addition of isometric handgrip therapy as the turning point in his ongoing mission to control his blood pressure. “I was already on medication, had already changed my diet, and I was already exercising, so those things remained constant,” said Mr. Dirkx. “When I added in isometric handgrip therapy, I found the combination that really worked for me.”
According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, 22% of all Canadian adults and 52% of those over age 60 suffer from hypertension. That doesn’t include an estimated 17% who have high blood pressure but don’t know it. Dubbed the “silent killer” because patients typically don’t feel sick, about 1-in-3 don’t have their high blood pressure controlled, putting them at risk for serious health problems like heart attack and stroke. Researchers are scrambling to find new options to help improve levels of blood pressure control and stem the toxic tide of this modern epidemic.
Enter the Zona Plus. Researchers have found the very specific isometric handgrip exercises this device guides people through produces amazing results. Publications like the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, The Harvard Heart Letter, and the Journal of Hypertension, as well as the American Heart Association, are noting that this therapy may be part of the solution researchers are looking for. The Journal of Hypertension was more specific, stating the results of their analysis of multiple studies indicate the Zona Plus therapy could decrease the risk of stroke by 46% and coronary heart disease by 29%. That alone could save thousands of Canadian lives each year.
The company behind Zona Plus, which recently became available in Canada, makes the product available directly to consumers via their website, zonahealth.ca, or by calling 1-866-789-9662. The
website also has a short video showing the details of using the Zona Plus that is very informative. The Zona Plus comes with a money-back guarantee, so the risk of trying it is low while the rewards appear to be high.
“Hypertension is called a silent disease because most people don’t feel sick,” said Mr. Dirkx. “But I would just say to people, please don’t wait. Find out what works for you and get your blood
pressure under control.”
Zona Health
1.866.789.9662
www.zonahealth.ca
