Posts Tagged ‘Blood Pressure Diet’

PostHeaderIcon High Blood Pressure vs Garlic

Milk protein may be the answer to lowering high blood pressure in some people; however, it isn’t the only alternative. In fact, did you know that making something as natural as eating garlic apart of your regular diet can actually reduce blood pressure and help you manage your hypertension?
Garlic is a vegetable that is extremely beneficial to the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. It is considered to be a natural remedy for high blood pressure that has significant, positive effects when made part of a daily diet. Studies have found that by eating a single small garlic clove per day, a person can effectively manage their hypertension.
In fact some clinical studies have found garlic to decrease the systolic blood pressure by as much as 20 mm Hg to 30 mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure by as much as 10 mm Hg to 20 mm Hg in participants.
For instance, one 12 week study concluded that participants with high blood pressure who ingested a single clove of garlic per day had significant reductions in their systolic and diastolic blood pressure by the end of the study.
In addition, studies have also been conducted on testing the effectiveness of garlic powder taken in the form of a supplement for controlling blood pressure. These studies also found a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in participants who suffered from mild hypertension.
How does garlic lower blood pressure? It is believed that garlic can effectively lower blood pressure because it reduces spasms that occur in the small arteries. It also slows the pulse rate and modifies the rhythm of the heart. In addition, garlic can relieve gas in the digestive tract, numbness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Thus, garlic has been used as a herbal remedy as an effective method for treating various health problems aside form hypertension including infection, inflammation and heart disease.
Moreover, research has found that there are three chemicals found in garlic that are exceptionally helpful in treating high blood pressure. These chemicals are alliin, allinase, and allicin, and are particular effective for improving blood circulation.
How can you add garlic to your daily diet to manage your blood pressure? The following are two recommendations:
1. Eat fresh raw garlic cloves – you can eat a single raw clove of garlic per day with a meal or by itself. You don’t need to eat an exceptionally large clove, a small one should suffice. Just make sure the clove is fresh, as dried garlic no longer contains the properties that are beneficial for health.
2. Take garlic supplements in capsule form – This is often the preferred method, as most people don’t enjoy chewing on a raw piece of garlic. Herbalists recommend taking 300mgs of garlic capsule supplements three times daily (I.E. 3 capsules per day). Note: Be sure to read the instructions on the back of supplements before taking them.
If you decide to take garlic supplements, keep in mind that you should only do so under the supervision of a health practitioner. The reason is because garlic can thin the blood and can interact with other drugs and supplements that are prescribed for blood thinning such as Trental (pentoxifylline) and Coumadin (warfarin), aspirin, gingko, and vitamin E. Furthermore, it is often recommended that those who will be undergoing surgery should stop taking garlic as treatment a few weeks before and after surgery.
If you think garlic is a remedy you would like to try as treatment for managing your high blood pressure, be sure to talk to your doctor first for recommendations.

PostHeaderIcon Your Guide On High Blood Pressure Diagnosis

As a person ages, he tends to fall in the trap of certain diseases and disorders. The most common of all the disorders is high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure or hypertension is termed as a lifestyle disease, meaning the unhealthy lifestyles are the biggest culprit for this disease.
Changing lifestyle patterns and increasing stress and tension in everyday life has brought down the normal life expectancy rate of a man. So, it becomes very important for everyone- be it a 30+ or 50+ lot- to diagnose the level of blood pressure regularly. The periodic blood pressure readings help you administer your health condition well on time and avoid further degeneration of your body.
Herein, you should know that just a single reading of your blood pressure won’t help you in diagnosing your high blood pressure problem correctly. A minimum of three readings, a day is important to diagnose the extent of your high blood pressure suffering.
Besides this, there are several other ways by which you can diagnose your hypertension. The record of your family history is one of the best ways of diagnosing high blood pressure. A person’s family history provides crucial clues. A whole physical examination of the patient’s body can also be an evidential support for diagnosing hypertension and the related disorders.
Apart from them, there are several tests that are a sure shot method to diagnose the presence of high blood pressure. One of the most commonly done tests includes Electrocardiogram or ECG. ECG includes a plethora of tests. They are insulin test, urine test, blood cell count, cholesterol test, blood composition test and lipoprotein test.
If your hypertension problem is more severe, then you need to undergo a much higher level of diagnosis. In such cases the most common test that is performed is Renal scintigraphy. Coupled with it, the Ambulatory blood pressure is also monitored in the patient.
At times, acute high blood pressure can instigate chest pain in the patient. So the best way to diagnose the effect that high blood pressure is causing on the chest is through x-ray.
There is set of other less conventional tests as well which can be followed while diagnosing high blood pressure and the related problems. You can get these tests done with the help of a naturopathic physician. The name of some of these test are urine testing, test for levels of stress hormones (adrenal) in the body, test for allergies and sensitivities with WBC count.
All these tests done on time can save you from the more aggravated effects of high blood pressure.

PostHeaderIcon Kidney Problem Can Also Cause High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be caused by a number of reasons. Most of the reasons are quite known and sound rather familiar. However, there are still others that are not as common. Among such uncommon blood pressure causes, one is kidney problem. In fact, kidneys have an important role to play in maintaining blood pressure.
It is a cause of worry when the flow of blood to one of the kidneys is somehow reduced. The kidneys, in response to this reduction in the blood flow, release a hormone called ‘angiotensin.’ This constricts the blood vessels and the blood pressure shoots up.
This kidney problem is better understood when the way angiotensin is made is understood. Produced by angiotensinogen, it is an alpha-2-globulin released by the liver, and around 453 amino acids go into its making.
When the blood pressure is low, renin produces angiotensin I, which turns into angiotensin II. It is the presence of angiotensin II that makes the blood pressure rise. Arteries constrict due to angiotensin II, besides blood clots are also promoted due to platelets aggression, which promotes blood clots.
Angiotensin II is also responsible for increase in kidneys’ sodium absorption. This further worsens the blood pressure condition. It is basically an attempt on body’s part to increase the blood flow to kidney. And when the body succeeds, which it makes sure it does, you see your blood pressure reading skyrocket.
Apart from the above-mentioned ailment, there is another kind of kidney problem leading to high blood pressure. This normally afflicts the younger people, like the teenagers. It is called renovascular hypertension. It is caused when the renal arteries leading to the kidneys get narrow naturally. The renin is, thus, released and the above-mentioned cycle leading to high blood pressure is set in motion.
That was the problem part. Coming to the solution part, we all tend to pin our hopes to medication and so when things start going wrong with our blood pressure we rush to the nearest chemist. That is not the right thing to do. It is the doctor that you must consult and take the medication only when he prescribes and only those that he asks you to take.

PostHeaderIcon High Blood Pressure is Called the Silent Killer

Health is not just a goal, it is an ongoing process. Health and ill health depend on the power of digestion. Healthy, low fat foods are a great way to change your diet for the better. Healthy food provides quality fuel, and will improve your health while raising your energy levels. Healthy people who have blood pressure that is low but still in the normal range (when measured at rest) tend to live longer than people who have higher normal blood pressure.

Blood pressure is an important diagnostic index, especially of circulatory function. Blood pressure is not the same all the time; it changes to meet your body’s needs. Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use. Blood pressure is elevated for two main reasons: too high blood volume too narrow blood vessels due to a substance our kidneys make called angiotensin. However, the biggest problem with treatment of high blood pressure is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of the application of our current knowledge.

Weight loss appears to have a stronger blood pressure-lowering effect than dietary salt restriction. Weight reduction in the obese individual also may serve to lower blood pressure; in addition, the avoidance of excessive weight provides other health benefits. Among school-age kids and teens, hypertension is usually linked to excess weight. If there’s no underlying illness, your child’s doctor may recommend weight loss, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, decreased salt intake, increased exercise, and even relaxation techniques.

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for having a heart attack. Smoking is directly linked with the development of coronary artery disease. Smoking is bad not only for the blood vessels, but bad for health in general-Sodium intake: For some individuals too much intake of salt (sodium) may cause an increase in blood pressure. For example, smoking and high blood pressure cause a greater risk to health than obesity. However, the combined effect of stopping smoking, cutting down the amount of saturated you eat and lowering your blood pressure causes a very large reduction in your risk of having a stroke or having a heart attack.

When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If high blood pressure is left unchecked, it can cause blood vessels in the kidneys to become thickened and narrowed, possibly leading to reduced blood supply and reduced kidney

function. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no noticeable warning signs or symptoms until other serious problems arise.

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