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High Blood Pressure – Can Lifestyle Changes Really Control High Blood Pressure?

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:43:58 +0000

Whenever you are first diagnosed with high blood pressure or you see various television stories talking about blood pressure, it seems they always speak of changing your lifestyle in order to better control the disease. But exactly what lifestyle changes will help? Do these changes actually make a big difference? As you might suspect, lifestyle changes can most definitely help in reducing high blood pressure levels. Let’s take a look at some of the most helpful changes you can put into action.

Diet

Undoubtedly, changing your dietary habits will have one of the biggest effects on improving blood pressure levels.

- Eat more whole grains and cut down on white flour products.

- Eliminate saturated fats and use virgin olive oil. This tip alone has shown a reduced need for hypertension medications in a past study.

- Include more fresh fruits and vegetable in your diet. Foods like bananas, oranges, melons, carrots, celery, mushrooms, broccoli and others may help in lowering high blood pressure.

- Add more oily fish such as salmon into your diet. The omega-3 fatty acids that are contained in fish are very beneficial to good heart and cardiovascular health.

Salt

Reducing salt intake is another proven lifestyle change that lowers blood pressure. Did you know that we should consume less than one teaspoonful of salt each day? That is approximately 2,400 mg.

Many people will use a salt substitute at home and that’s a great idea. The problem though is in the bigger picture. Roughly 75% of the salt intake in your typical American diet comes from foods eaten outside of the home, typically fast foods and processed foods. If you have doubts about this you can simply look at the sodium levels on the package labels. I’m not picking on McDonald’s, but you have enough sodium in one quarter-pounder to last the entire day. And that’s not even counting the salty fries!

Exercise

This is a lifestyle change that can also go a long way in reducing high blood pressure levels. It’s also one that is the most difficult changes to start.

There have even been studies that have shown moderate exercise to control hypertension to the point where high blood pressure medicines were no longer needed.

Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine

By now I am sure everyone knows you should not smoke. Cigarette smoking and good health just don’t mix. Reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption will also lower blood pressure levels as well as provide other health benefits for years to come.

Weight Loss

With nearly one-third of American adults being overweight or obese, it’s easy to see why high blood pressure is at record levels. Several studies have proven that by losing weight and reducing sodium intake many people with hypertension have been able to reduce or eliminate blood pressure medications.

These are only some of the major lifestyle changes that can help reduce high blood pressure. There are several others as well, but the important point is to asses where you currently are and begin making change in the areas you need to. By doing so you begin getting high blood pressure under control.

High Blood Pressure

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:12:18 +0000

High blood pressure is a serious condition that affects one in four adults. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body. It is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. It makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and causes the hardening of the arteries. Normal blood pressure is less than 130/85. High blood pressure is higher than 140/90. Hypertension is between 120/80 and 140/90.

Certain herbs have been found to be an equally competent substitute of synthetic medications to control blood pressure. Herbs can even offer permanent cure to abnormal blood pressure. Certain herbs contain enzymes and triterpine glycosides that are helpful in normal functioning of heart and arteries. They also inhibit an enzyme that causes cells to clot. By keeping arteries and heart in good working condition, it controls blood pressure abnormality. Certain herbs can strengthen the heart, reduces stiffness of the arteries, and reduces cholesterol. They also increase the liver’s conversion of LDL’s – bad cholesterol into HDL’ s – good cholesterol. HDL’s do not clog the arteries.

To reduce high blood pressure, it is also important to eat fewer foods rich in sodium. Processed food account for 80% of the sodium in most diets. It is best to increase the amount of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the diet. Garlic also helps lower blood pressure by keeping the arteries clear of cholesterol and potential plaque buildup. Along with good eating habits, certain herbs help to regulate the heart and blood pressure. They improve blood circulation and increases heart action without increasing blood pressure.

Complete Natural Blends

www.completenaturalblends.com

Tips to Control High Blood Pressure Part III – With Foods

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:50:36 +0000

In the last 2 articles, we learned about high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. High blood pressure means raising pressure in your heart and staying high over time, damaging the body in many ways. High blood pressure or arterial hypertension is almost never a serious health threat. However, doctors attempt to lower it in their patients because it can have serious long-term consequences. Since general approaches and supplements have provided us with many clues in controlling high blood pressure. We can control it with natural foods.1. CeleryIf you are asking advice from your doctor about high blood pressure, chances are he will tell you to take 4 stalks of celery daily. Study shows that celery contains a chemical called limonene that acts as a mild tranquilizer that can lower levels of stress hormones in your blood. This allows your blood vessels to expand, giving your blood more room and reducing pressure.2. Red teaRed tea has flavonoids, which have been proven effective in treating assorted skin and circulation problems.3.Fresh water algae or dark green vegetableFresh water algae contains a high amount of chlorophyll. Study shows that regular use of chlorella reduces high blood pressure and prevents strokes. When chlorella has been used consistently over a period of months, the low pressure often increases to normal.4. AvocadoAvocados are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases like heart disease or stroke.5. Whole grainWhole grains which provide all edible parts of the grain include whole-grain corn, oats, popcorn, brown rice, whole rye, etc. Study shows that eating just one daily serving of whole grains may help prevent high blood pressure – and more servings could slash your risk even further.6. Cold water fishCold-water fish like wild Alaskan salmon and sardines which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that has been proven record of lowering cholesterol levels and increasing blood circulation in your body, and subsequently reducing high blood pressure. Take fish-oil supplements if you cannot get enough omega-3-rich foods.7. Gracefruit and beet juiceThe effect was traced to nitrate in the gracefruit and beet juice that reacted with bacteria in the mouth. This led to chemical changes which resulted in blood vessels dilating to increase blood flow and reducing blood pressure.Foods help to control high blood pressure also have the function of lowering cholesterol level as well as increase circulation of blood in the body, therefore it reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.

For more information on how to lower your blood pressure, please visit:Kyle J. Nortonhttp://bestexpertarticles.blogspot.com/http://highbloodpressurewatchiii.blogspot.com

Tips to Control High Blood Pressure Part II – With Nutritional Supplements

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:01:18 +0000

As we know, high blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against your arteries. When your heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood through your circulation system it causes damage to the heart and arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore managing blood pressure becomes a very important factor not only for high blood pressure sufferers, but everyone to protect against heart disease and stroke.In the last article we discussed how to control high blood pressure in a general approach. In this article we will try to give some details of how to control high blood pressure with nutrition supplements.Study shows that the following might help to lower your high blood pressure and protect you against heart disease and stroke.1. PotassiumThe adequate potassium intake from fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure. Unfortunately the body can not store potassium without magnesium. In the presence of adequate amounts of both potassium and magnesium, they increase the excretion of sodium and decrease high blood pressure.2. 3-n-butyl-phthalideA dose of the 3-n-butyl- phthalide compound is equivalent to four stalks of celery. In humans they lower blood pressure by an average of 13 percent.3. Hawthorn extractHerbalists recognized early that hawthorn held great promise for helping heart related problems such as congestive heart failure, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, and high blood pressure.4. Vitamin EPeople with high blood pressure need to increase their daily intake of vitamin E. Study shows that over a period of a month, a gradual increase of vitamin E dosage can yield a lower blood pressure5. Coenzyme Q10CoQ10 significantly reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There is also a reduction in HbA1C, a marker for long-term glycemic control.6. Folic acidFolate is a vitamin B that is necessary for the formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.8.SeleniumSelenium’s primary function in the human body is to work in conjunction with vitamin E in the preservation and elasticity of the tissues. It is also neccessary in the slowing down of the process of aging by increasing endurance and improving the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. The prostoglandins in the human body which protect against high blood pressure cannot be formed without selenium.9. ChromiumChromium reduces blood fat, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. It also stabilizes blood sugar levels and helps correct insulin resistance10. L-arginineThere are many more supplements that help to expand the arteries, increasing circulation of blood to our body system as well as removing plaques from your arteries therefore lowering your blood pressure. Be sure to talk to your doctor, before taking any supplement.If you want more information of this subject, please visit:

Kyle J. Nortonhttp://healinghighbloodpressure.blogspot.com/http://bestexpertarticles.blogspot.com/

High Blood Pressure and Its Devestating Impact on the Heart

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:01:16 +0000

High blood pressure and heart disease are very inter-related. This article explores that relationship. It is important to understand the synergy between the two. Further, it is important to understand that we are discussing a serious health condition here, that it truly may be a matter of life or death.
High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as hypertension. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably and will be in this article. Sometimes it is easy for a doctor to pinpoint the exact cause of a patients hypertension but very often, the cause or causes are not obvious. For that reason, most of the time, high blood pressure is referred to as essential or primary blood pressure or hypertension, meaning that the cause is not easy to detect. There are however many risk factors that can contribute to a persons potential for developing this disease.
Another category is secondary hypertension which is evidenced in approximately 10 percent of individuals suffering from high blood pressure. This is when the problem is easy to pinpoint and is linked to a particular medical problem such as hormonal disorders, kidney disease or a variety of other diseases. It can even be the result of taking particular drugs. Once the problem is diagnosed and steps are taken to correct it, the patients hypertension generally normalizes.
High blood pressure is often described as being silent and there is referring to the fact that there are very often no overt symptoms of an underlying problem. Unfortunately hypertension is a very serious health concern that can double or even sometimes triple a persons chance of developing heart disease, kidney disease or a stroke. There is only one way to be aware of what your blood pressure is and that is to have regular checks performed by your doctor. Some patients will be encouraged to come in to the doctors office more often than others to have this monitoring activity.
There are a few risk factors that can increase your chance of falling victim to hypertension. These risk factors include age, ethnicity, family history, obesity, diabetes, stress, excessive drinking and smoking. Blood pressure tends to be lower when you are young and to rise, as you get older. For example approximately half of all men and women over the age of 65 suffer from hypertension. Some ethnic groups seem to be more likely to develop hypertension than others. Those most at risk include Aboriginal Peoples (or Inuit), South Asians, Black Canadians and First Nations. High blood pressure tends to run in families. For example, if one of your parents has the problem then you have a one in five chance of developing it. If both your parents do, then the risk rises to one in three.
Excess pounds seem to have a big impact on the development of hypertension. This is not so true for those who are only 10 to 15 pounds overweight but it is true for those who are considered obese. Weight that piles up around the abdominal area seems to be even worse in terms of the development of high blood pressure. Those suffering from diabetes are more likely to develop high blood pressure than members of the general population who do not suffer from this disease.
Bouts of repetitive stress may play a role in the acquisition of hypertension although stress is not as large a risk factor as are some of the others. Certainly, constant stress is believed to encourage unhealthy lifestyle habits. Drinking heavily puts more strain on the heart thereby increasing blood pressure. Finally smoking places a lot of strain on the heart muscle and affects blood flow and thus tends to be a factor in the onset of high blood pressure.
It is hoped that the reader has a better understanding of the relationship between high blood pressure and heart disease and the high risk factors that are involved. As stated earlier, It truly could be a matter of life and death for you.

Understanding Your High Blood Pressure Medications

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:25:19 +0000

Blood pressure is a necessary part of the body’s survival; we often think of it as a bad thing because so many have problems with high blood pressure. However, your blood pressure is simply a measurement of the movement of your blood through your system. When your heart beats, it pumps and then rests, pumps, and then rests, and continues this cycle for as long as you live. Your blood pressure reading is in two numbers and is expressed as “120 over 80,” or whatever your reading is. The first number is when your heart pumps, the second is when it rests in between pumps. High blood pressure is when it pumps too hard or when the blood is continuing to be pushed too hard in between those pumps.
There are many causes of high blood pressure, from genetic predisposition to obesity to poor diet, and many other reasons. Some cases are not bad enough to warrant anything more than some suggestions from your doctor about lifestyle and diet choices, while other cases of high blood pressure are so dangerous that you need to be on medication to regulate it. If this is true in your case, here is some simple information to help you better understand commonly prescribed medications:
Diuretics
You may have heard of these types of medications for high blood pressure actually being abused by those who want to lose weight. They work by causing the body to lose excess water. Since blood is made mostly of water, when you have less water in your system you have less volume of blood moving through you. This lowers your blood pressure. Diuretics are often prescribed with other high blood pressure medications, not simply on their own.
Beta Blockers
If you’ve been prescribed beta blockers for your high blood pressure, you need to make sure you are taking the prescribed dose exactly as directed, and do not take any other medications unless you are sure there will be no drug interaction. Beta blockers cause your heart to beat slower than normally, which in turns slows or lowers your blood pressure. Obviously any medication that affects your heart rate needs to be taken as prescribed.
ACE Inhibitors, ARB Receptor Blockers, and Calcium Channel Blockers
ACE stands for “angiotensin-converting enzyme,” and ARB stands for “angiotensin receptor blockers,” so let’s just use ACE and ARB. ACE inhibitors and ARB blockers stop a certain enzyme in the body that is needed to cause blood vessels to constrict; if the blood vessels are constricted, you’re likely to have high blood pressure as the body needs to work harder to push the blood through those smaller openings. Calcium channel blockers do much the same thing.
There are other medicines that you may be prescribed instead of or in addition to these medicines for your high blood pressure, and if you have any question about their dosage, schedule, interaction, side effects, or anything else, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Tips to Control High Blood Pressure Part I – General Approach

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:50:04 +0000

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. High blood pressure means raising pressure in your heart. If it stays high over time it can damage the body in many ways.Blood pressure medications have undoubtedly prevented many deaths from heart disease in the past 30 years, but they have many side effects such as damaging the kidney. If you can control your diet, such as making changes to lifestyle, maintaining ideal weight and diet with low salt, you could do just fine without the drugs.Here are some natural remedies which will help you to lower high blood pressure, keeping it in the normal range of 130/80.1. Calcium and MagnesiumA combination of these 2 minerals with the right DOSAGES have a long and undisputable track record for normalizing blood pressure safely. Be sure only taking these compounds with the ratio of 2 to 1. Otherwise, this compound might cause irregular heart beat.2. Mediterranean dietA study found that people in Greece and Italy always have ideal blood pressure, because their diet contains more polyunsaturated fat, such as olive oil. If you can replace saturated fat in your diet with extra virgin oil, your could easily normalizing your blood pressure.3. Reducing Salt intakeSalt is a mineral composed of sodium and chloride. You need only half a tablespoon a day, but we consume many times more than that everyday causing high blood pressure and increasing the risk of early death.Avoid processed meat, because it has been soaked in salt. Use little Ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce because they contain high amounts of salt.4. CigaretteIf you smoke, you better quit. The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products causes your blood vessels to constrict and your heart to beat faster, which temporarily raises your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, smoking will raise your blood pressure even higher, causing the risk of heart disease and strokes.5.AlcoholAlcohol might cause a temporary raise of blood pressure in some people. If you have high blood pressure, you should reduce your daily intake of alcohol to 1-2 cups. If your blood pressure increases with alcohol, it’s best not to drink any alcohol.6. RelaxationStress may affect blood pressure. To help combat the effects of stress, try relaxation techniques, such as yoga, light weight exercise, aerobic exercise, etc.I hope that the above information will help, we will discuss more on this subject on part II “Tips to control High blood Pressure–With nutrition supplements”, if you need more information, please visit:

Kyle J. Nortonhttp://healinghighbloodpressure.blogspot.com/http://highbloodpressurewatch.blogspot.com/

If You Have High Blood Pressure Lower Your Cholesterol

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:37:54 +0000

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, being over weight, inactive lifestyles and smoking are high risk factors regarding heart attacks and strokes. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure it’s strongly recommended that you lower your cholesterol level as part of a plan to prevent a heart attack and a stroke from occurring. You can lower your cholesterol level by eating healthy foods and avoiding fatty foods. If an improved diet has not sufficiently lowered your cholesterol level your doctor might recommend you take some medication that is designed to reduce cholesterol. Let’s look at some changes you can make to your diet in order to lower your cholesterol level.
If you have high blood pressure, in order to reduce your cholesterol level you should avoid or reduce the amount of red meat you consume and stay away from sausages and bacon. Avoid foods that contain saturated fats and if you are going to consume dairy products select products that are low in fat. Avoid using lard in your meals and if you are going to use oils select polyunsaturated oils or monounsaturated oils. Avoid or significantly reduce the amount of baked foods you eat such as pastry items and biscuits which are typically high in fat. Don’t use margarines or oils that include trans fatty acids.
Healthy Diet
If you have high blood pressure and you have been eating a healthy diet and you still have a high cholesterol problem your doctor might want you to take some medications such as statins. They work by changing the activity of the enzymes located in the liver in order to prevent the liver from producing cholesterol. Some people have high cholesterol partially due to heredity and they may need the help of statins. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease your doctor might recommend statins to lower your cholesterol level.
Soluble Fiber
If you have high blood pressure there are some food items that can help you reduce your high cholesterol level. Oatmeal can decrease you bad cholesterol (LDL) due to the soluble fiber in oatmeal. Soluble fiber can also be added to your diet by including items such as kidney beans, apples, brussel sprouts, barley, pears, psyllium as well as prunes.
Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it. Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.
Some studies have concluded that adding walnuts to your diet can significantly lower your blood cholesterol level. Walnuts are filled with polyunsaturated fats and walnuts also have the ability to keep your blood vessels in a healthy condition and keep them elastic. Don’t eat too many walnuts a day since nuts are high in calories and weight gain increases your chances of acquiring heart disease. Also add some omega three fatty acids to your diet since they have been shown in studies to lower the risk of heart disease. Certain fish, walnuts, flaxseed, soybean oil as well as canola oil contain omega three fatty acids. If you have high blood pressure it’s important not to have a high cholesterol level.

High Blood Pressure: Causes,symptoms,treatment

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:29:33 +0000

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow. Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Blood pressure is traditionally measured with a device called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is generally felt to be abnormally high at a level of 140/90, and some sort of definitive therapy and follow-up should be started at this level. High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms.

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood does not flow regularly like water from a tap:-When the heart contracts (systole), the blood is propelled into the main arteries that act as a pressurised reservoir.

Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, claiming thousands of lives each year. Heart failure is when your heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should, and this can cause you to become short of breath and can cause your ankles to swell. Heart attack High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks.

Various disorders and drugs can cause the compensatory mechanisms to malfunction, and high blood pressure may result. Causes In most instances of high blood pressure, no known cause can be identified. Doctors do not know what causes high blood pressure in 90 to 95 percent of people who have it. For some people, just being in a medical setting causes their blood pressure to rise.

Symptoms When blood pressure is too low, the first organ to malfunction is usually the brain. Symptoms that may occur include: Confusion Chest pain Ear noise or buzzing Irregular heartbeat Nosebleed Tiredness Vision changes. What is treatment, medication, medicines, remedy, drugs, cure of lowering high Blood pressure or Hypertension? . Although high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people with the condition do not display any noticeable symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and lowering blood pressure to normal limits. Treatment for high blood pressure depends on the severity of the disease and whether you have other health problems, such as heart failure or diabetes, or you are pregnant. Treatment of primary high blood pressure, especially moderate or severe high blood pressure, decreases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, abnormal heartbeats, stroke, and kidney disease, and reduces the risk of death from these conditions. Treatment for high blood pressure must be highly individualized and based on your risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking, and heart disease. Treatment when blood pressure increases slightly and the woman is not near the end of her pregnancy, bed rest may help reduce the pressure. Treatment begins with changes you can make in your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease .

High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If your blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have prehypertension. The good news is that if your blood pressure is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with tablets. The medical community?s knowledge of high blood pressure is great, but far from perfect. High blood pressure is more common: In patients whose families have high blood pressure In those over 35 years old In males In Afro-Americans In women on oral contraceptives. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to have it taken by a person who knows how (those automatic machines you sit at in the supermarket are not necessarily kept accurate condition.

__Alexis Kenne

http://www.extend-yourlife.com/hypertension

http://www.goodhealthguaranteed.com

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