Archive for the 'Health' Category
Why Is Measuring Blood Pressure Important?
Paul J Johnson
Our lives have become fuller and fuller, and the temptations of modern convenience living has taken its toll on many millions of people in industrialized nations with high blood pressure growing year on year. It is also a sad truth that many people are unaware that they are suffering with high blood pressure. The good news is that there are methods for measuring high blood pressure, which can either be carried out by a professional or at home using a home monitor.
It is recommended that everyone have their blood pressure checked regularly, but especially those that fall into the following categories:
- Aged over 35
- Have a history, or a family history of high blood pressure
- Have a history of kidney or heart problems
- Pregnant women.
The two most common ways of measuring blood pressure are either using a sphygmomanometer or an automatic machine. Below we will take a closer look at how to use a sphygmomanometer and an automatic machine.
1. Sphygmomanometer
This is one of the oldest pieces of equipment to be used for measuring blood pressure, using a column of mercury (encased in a glass tube). This is a piece of equipment you will regularly see sat on your doctor’s desk, or sometimes in the corner of the room gathering dust.
It works by a cuff being wrapped around the person’s arm (usually half way between the shoulder and elbow joints). This is then pumped fully of air until it begins to constrict the arm and the arteries in the arm. Your doctor will then take a stethoscope and place this in the crook of the elbow to listen for the sound of blood going through the constricted arteries and as these sounds are heard they will start to take a reading on the mercury column. By doing this they are able to provide not just themselves but you with an accurate reading of your blood pressure level.
2. Automatic Machines
As with the sphygmomanometer a cuff is placed around the arm, but instead of the cuff being pumped with air by hand the machine does it automatically and listens to the sounds at the same time. It will then provide you with a read out which is normally displayed on a small screen on the front of the machine as to what your blood pressure is.
The great thing about using an automatic machine for measuring high blood pressure levels is that you can do it all from the convenience of your own home. This can be beneficial for those who suffer with anxiety, or are to ill to go the doctor.
Generally normal blood pressure would be considered as anything below 120/80. The lower the blood pressure the better, unless a person suffers from low blood pressure which can sometime lead to complications.
A person is Prehypertentive is when the blood pressure is above normal levels but not high enough to be considered as high blood pressure, this is within the range of between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. The risk of having high blood pressure later is increased if a person is diagnosed with prehypertension unless action is taken to reduce blood pressure.
High blood pressure is when someone has a reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher, although both numbers are important and there will be concern if either the upper or lower numbers reach these figures.
Continue reading to discover how to naturally relieve blood pressure and lose any concern that measuring blood pressure may bring by signing up for our free newsletter
Posted in Health | No comments
asked:
Our lives have become fuller and fuller, and the temptations of modern convenience living has taken its toll on many millions of people in industrialized nations with high blood pressure growing year on year. It is also a sad truth that many people are unaware that they are suffering with high blood pressure. The good news is that there are methods for measuring high blood pressure, which can either be carried out by a professional or at home using a home monitor.
It is recommended that everyone have their blood pressure checked regularly, but especially those that fall into the following categories:
- Aged over 35
- Have a history, or a family history of high blood pressure
- Have a history of kidney or heart problems
- Pregnant women.
The two most common ways of measuring blood pressure are either using a sphygmomanometer or an automatic machine. Below we will take a closer look at how to use a sphygmomanometer and an automatic machine.
1. Sphygmomanometer
This is one of the oldest pieces of equipment to be used for measuring blood pressure, using a column of mercury (encased in a glass tube). This is a piece of equipment you will regularly see sat on your doctor’s desk, or sometimes in the corner of the room gathering dust.
It works by a cuff being wrapped around the person’s arm (usually half way between the shoulder and elbow joints). This is then pumped fully of air until it begins to constrict the arm and the arteries in the arm. Your doctor will then take a stethoscope and place this in the crook of the elbow to listen for the sound of blood going through the constricted arteries and as these sounds are heard they will start to take a reading on the mercury column. By doing this they are able to provide not just themselves but you with an accurate reading of your blood pressure level.
2. Automatic Machines
As with the sphygmomanometer a cuff is placed around the arm, but instead of the cuff being pumped with air by hand the machine does it automatically and listens to the sounds at the same time. It will then provide you with a read out which is normally displayed on a small screen on the front of the machine as to what your blood pressure is.
The great thing about using an automatic machine for measuring high blood pressure levels is that you can do it all from the convenience of your own home. This can be beneficial for those who suffer with anxiety, or are to ill to go the doctor.
Generally normal blood pressure would be considered as anything below 120/80. The lower the blood pressure the better, unless a person suffers from low blood pressure which can sometime lead to complications.
A person is Prehypertentive is when the blood pressure is above normal levels but not high enough to be considered as high blood pressure, this is within the range of between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. The risk of having high blood pressure later is increased if a person is diagnosed with prehypertension unless action is taken to reduce blood pressure.
High blood pressure is when someone has a reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher, although both numbers are important and there will be concern if either the upper or lower numbers reach these figures.
Continue reading to discover how to naturally relieve blood pressure and lose any concern that measuring blood pressure may bring by signing up for our free newsletter
Advice on Diets for High Blood Pressure
Mary Meade
If you have high blood pressure and want to control it naturally then there are several diets for high blood pressure that you can choose from. If you recognize that you need to have this, you can consider yourself among the lucky few that actually realize that they have high blood pressure in the first place. By taking the steps of going on a diet and getting a little bit of exercise, you will be able to control your high blood pressure to a certain extent naturally. Your doctor will be able to prescribe any medicine that may be needed if you cannot bring it down into normal levels.
There are several diets for high blood pressure that you can choose from. One thing that you want to make sure that you avoid are any fad diets that go to extremes. For high blood pressure the best diets are the simple ones. This diet is long term. It’s not like a weight loss program, you need to choose a diet that will suit you all the time. Since you are going to have to stick with it for the rest of your life, at least to a certain extent, make sure that you choose something that is easily obtainable.
There are several good diets for high blood pressure that are available on the Internet. One of the most popular is the dash diet, which was written by dietitians. The American Heart Association and Mayo Clinic are a great source for lots of recommended diet plans. What these diets will generally do is give you a low sodium healthy lifestyle that you can follow in order to lose weight and to bring your blood pressure within normal levels. You don’t have to be overly strict with the diets for high blood pressure, they do allow for some variation. Use common sense and do everything in moderation any time you step away from your diet guidelines.
High blood pressure food is not to be mistaken with a fad diet. It is going to be a lifestyle change to help you to control your high blood pressure in the best way possible. Stay away from fad diets that are used to just lose weight quickly but happen to affect your high blood pressure Your blood pressure can be controlled safely with the right nutritional advice
By adjusting your diet and losing some weight along with getting a healthy amount of exercise, you can adjust your high blood pressure to the extent where it can be easily maintained throughout your lifetime. In doing this, you will not only realize lower blood pressure, you will realize a higher standard of healthy living.
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nexium rebate
asked:
If you have high blood pressure and want to control it naturally then there are several diets for high blood pressure that you can choose from. If you recognize that you need to have this, you can consider yourself among the lucky few that actually realize that they have high blood pressure in the first place. By taking the steps of going on a diet and getting a little bit of exercise, you will be able to control your high blood pressure to a certain extent naturally. Your doctor will be able to prescribe any medicine that may be needed if you cannot bring it down into normal levels.
There are several diets for high blood pressure that you can choose from. One thing that you want to make sure that you avoid are any fad diets that go to extremes. For high blood pressure the best diets are the simple ones. This diet is long term. It’s not like a weight loss program, you need to choose a diet that will suit you all the time. Since you are going to have to stick with it for the rest of your life, at least to a certain extent, make sure that you choose something that is easily obtainable.
There are several good diets for high blood pressure that are available on the Internet. One of the most popular is the dash diet, which was written by dietitians. The American Heart Association and Mayo Clinic are a great source for lots of recommended diet plans. What these diets will generally do is give you a low sodium healthy lifestyle that you can follow in order to lose weight and to bring your blood pressure within normal levels. You don’t have to be overly strict with the diets for high blood pressure, they do allow for some variation. Use common sense and do everything in moderation any time you step away from your diet guidelines.
High blood pressure food is not to be mistaken with a fad diet. It is going to be a lifestyle change to help you to control your high blood pressure in the best way possible. Stay away from fad diets that are used to just lose weight quickly but happen to affect your high blood pressure Your blood pressure can be controlled safely with the right nutritional advice
By adjusting your diet and losing some weight along with getting a healthy amount of exercise, you can adjust your high blood pressure to the extent where it can be easily maintained throughout your lifetime. In doing this, you will not only realize lower blood pressure, you will realize a higher standard of healthy living.
High Blood Pressure Symptom - Still Waters Run Deep
Stan Kitchen asked:
High blood pressure comes without any obvious warning signs. The inability to recognize something is wrong means you are at risk to fatal health conditions. Strokes, heart attacks and damage to other organs can result from having high blood pressure levels. And many Americans who think they are healthy fall victim to this disease because they do not bother to check their blood pressure. But there are ways to know if you have the symptoms of high blood pressure.
Seeing the Invisible
High blood pressure can cause irreversible damage to the heart and arteries. It gradually damages blood vessels within the body, and proof can be seen in the retina of the eye. During an eye exam, an ophthalmologist can see even the slightest damage done to vessels within the eye.
High blood pressure symptoms, while undetectable to the naked eye, can show as swollen blood vessels at the base of the optic nerve. Noticing such damage may be the first clue to many patients that they are suffering from this silent disease.
Diagnosis
Once high blood pressure has been diagnosed, many people become alert and begin to notice one or more symptoms. Feelings of faintness and shortness of breath are common symptoms of high blood pressure. Others are dizziness, headaches and blurred vision, but, again, many people don’t connect these symptoms to that of high blood pressure. Only a blood pressure reading will verify whether the blood pressure has risen to alarming levels.
Harvard Medical School did several studies on people who show early signs of high blood pressure through the swollen blood vessels in their eyes. They report that these patients are twice as likely to experience stroke, heart attack or heart failure than those who don’t show the symptoms. The studies also show that such damage to smaller blood vessels affect more women than men.
Are You at Risk?
So, if you can’t feel any symptoms, how do you know whether you are at risk? Get your blood pressure checked. Get your eyes checked. Keep a journal for a week or two about how you feel. Try exercising if you don’t normally do it. High blood pressure alone causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, and complications arising from high blood pressure kill over two hundred thousand people a year.
Even though the symptoms are not obvious, you can do something to prevent high blood pressure. Eat right and get plenty of exercise. Today, more and more young people are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Many doctors link the rising figures to high-fat, high-sugar diets and lack of exercise. The good news is you can prevent high blood pressure.
High Risk People and Locations
Certain races and people living in particular geographic locations are more apt to suffer from high blood pressure, including African-American women living in the Southeast. More African-Americans develop the condition than Caucasians. A high stroke rate has caused some to call eleven states in the south, the ‘Stroke Belt States’.
Prevention is the key when it comes to high blood pressure. You should get your pressure checked before it is too late.
Posted in Health | No comments
High blood pressure comes without any obvious warning signs. The inability to recognize something is wrong means you are at risk to fatal health conditions. Strokes, heart attacks and damage to other organs can result from having high blood pressure levels. And many Americans who think they are healthy fall victim to this disease because they do not bother to check their blood pressure. But there are ways to know if you have the symptoms of high blood pressure.
Seeing the Invisible
High blood pressure can cause irreversible damage to the heart and arteries. It gradually damages blood vessels within the body, and proof can be seen in the retina of the eye. During an eye exam, an ophthalmologist can see even the slightest damage done to vessels within the eye.
High blood pressure symptoms, while undetectable to the naked eye, can show as swollen blood vessels at the base of the optic nerve. Noticing such damage may be the first clue to many patients that they are suffering from this silent disease.
Diagnosis
Once high blood pressure has been diagnosed, many people become alert and begin to notice one or more symptoms. Feelings of faintness and shortness of breath are common symptoms of high blood pressure. Others are dizziness, headaches and blurred vision, but, again, many people don’t connect these symptoms to that of high blood pressure. Only a blood pressure reading will verify whether the blood pressure has risen to alarming levels.
Harvard Medical School did several studies on people who show early signs of high blood pressure through the swollen blood vessels in their eyes. They report that these patients are twice as likely to experience stroke, heart attack or heart failure than those who don’t show the symptoms. The studies also show that such damage to smaller blood vessels affect more women than men.
Are You at Risk?
So, if you can’t feel any symptoms, how do you know whether you are at risk? Get your blood pressure checked. Get your eyes checked. Keep a journal for a week or two about how you feel. Try exercising if you don’t normally do it. High blood pressure alone causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, and complications arising from high blood pressure kill over two hundred thousand people a year.
Even though the symptoms are not obvious, you can do something to prevent high blood pressure. Eat right and get plenty of exercise. Today, more and more young people are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Many doctors link the rising figures to high-fat, high-sugar diets and lack of exercise. The good news is you can prevent high blood pressure.
High Risk People and Locations
Certain races and people living in particular geographic locations are more apt to suffer from high blood pressure, including African-American women living in the Southeast. More African-Americans develop the condition than Caucasians. A high stroke rate has caused some to call eleven states in the south, the ‘Stroke Belt States’.
Prevention is the key when it comes to high blood pressure. You should get your pressure checked before it is too late.
Lower Blood Pressure Without the Stink
Mitamins Team
Garlic is an anti-bacterial and anti-viral medicinal herb, which contains a number of essential nutrients that make it powerful enough to treat a number of diseases. Unfortunately it stinks. This is why many people turn to garlic extract supplements for high blood pressure treatment, as well as for general overall health. Most research shows that garlic extracts in supplements have no less an effect than the natural equivalent. It’s all just a matter of taste
However, a recent study has cast doubts over garlic’s ability, whether fresh or as a supplement, as a high cholesterol treatment. The study involved 192 adults aged about 50 on average with moderately elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad kind that contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Some were given daily doses of fresh garlic, others were given supplements, while the rest were given placebos. After 6 months, cholesterol levels in all three groups was largely unaffected.
Though the study did not investigate high blood pressure, there is still reason for sufferers of hypertension to be worried if the results of this study are true. Garlic extract is thought to act as an antioxidant and lower high blood pressure by reducing the number of LDL’s in the blood. If garlic doesn’t actually do this, then perhaps it doesn’t really reduce high blood pressure?
Firstly, the study conducted has not been accepted widely among the medical community. It is still though that garlic extract could be beneficial to people with extremely high blood pressure. Secondly, even if it were, there are still a couple of other ways that garlic extract is known to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
So How does Garlic Treat High Blood Pressure?
There are two main ways, besides the disputed antioxidant properties, that garlic extract is known to help in the treatment of high blood pressure.
1. Stops Blood Clots: It is common for people with high cholesterol levels to also experience blood platlets, the “debris” of the blood, stick together to form clots in the bloodstream. Not only does this lead to high blood pressure, it also increases the risk of stroke. Garlic extract is thought to stop this platlet build up, and so lower blood pressure.
2. Prevents Plaque Buil-up: Cholesterol, especially the “bad” kind (LDL’s), tend to stick to the inside of blood vessels in people with elevated cholesterol levels. This build up, called plaque, leads to high blood pressure and the associated risks. A clinical trial conducted in the University of California showed that patients suffering from high blood pressure showed a reduction in coronary plaque build-up by more than 50% and improved HDL cholesterol levels after taking 1200 mg of garlic extract per day.
3. Improves Peripheral Circulation: Garlic extract also lowers blood pressure by improving the peripheral circulation and plasma lipid concentration in the blood. As a result it helps “thin” the blood and reduces the growth of smooth muscle cells that decrease blood flow through the vessels causing high blood pressure. In a clinical trial by the Universities of Mississippi and Turkey high blood pressure patients showed a reduction of 9 mmHg in blood pressure and 5 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure after taking garlic extract.
It appears that there is more study supporting the virtues of garlic extract than its ineffectiveness. Even if recent research seems to downplay garlic’s effectiveness in lowering cholesterol, there is nothing simlar to contradict the research that shows garlic’s role in lowering blood pressure. In addition, numerous studies have confirmed the safety of garlic extract in high blood pressure treatment. So what is there to lose in trying garlic extract to lower your blood pressure?
asked:
Garlic is an anti-bacterial and anti-viral medicinal herb, which contains a number of essential nutrients that make it powerful enough to treat a number of diseases. Unfortunately it stinks. This is why many people turn to garlic extract supplements for high blood pressure treatment, as well as for general overall health. Most research shows that garlic extracts in supplements have no less an effect than the natural equivalent. It’s all just a matter of taste
However, a recent study has cast doubts over garlic’s ability, whether fresh or as a supplement, as a high cholesterol treatment. The study involved 192 adults aged about 50 on average with moderately elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad kind that contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Some were given daily doses of fresh garlic, others were given supplements, while the rest were given placebos. After 6 months, cholesterol levels in all three groups was largely unaffected.
Though the study did not investigate high blood pressure, there is still reason for sufferers of hypertension to be worried if the results of this study are true. Garlic extract is thought to act as an antioxidant and lower high blood pressure by reducing the number of LDL’s in the blood. If garlic doesn’t actually do this, then perhaps it doesn’t really reduce high blood pressure?
Firstly, the study conducted has not been accepted widely among the medical community. It is still though that garlic extract could be beneficial to people with extremely high blood pressure. Secondly, even if it were, there are still a couple of other ways that garlic extract is known to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
So How does Garlic Treat High Blood Pressure?
There are two main ways, besides the disputed antioxidant properties, that garlic extract is known to help in the treatment of high blood pressure.
1. Stops Blood Clots: It is common for people with high cholesterol levels to also experience blood platlets, the “debris” of the blood, stick together to form clots in the bloodstream. Not only does this lead to high blood pressure, it also increases the risk of stroke. Garlic extract is thought to stop this platlet build up, and so lower blood pressure.
2. Prevents Plaque Buil-up: Cholesterol, especially the “bad” kind (LDL’s), tend to stick to the inside of blood vessels in people with elevated cholesterol levels. This build up, called plaque, leads to high blood pressure and the associated risks. A clinical trial conducted in the University of California showed that patients suffering from high blood pressure showed a reduction in coronary plaque build-up by more than 50% and improved HDL cholesterol levels after taking 1200 mg of garlic extract per day.
3. Improves Peripheral Circulation: Garlic extract also lowers blood pressure by improving the peripheral circulation and plasma lipid concentration in the blood. As a result it helps “thin” the blood and reduces the growth of smooth muscle cells that decrease blood flow through the vessels causing high blood pressure. In a clinical trial by the Universities of Mississippi and Turkey high blood pressure patients showed a reduction of 9 mmHg in blood pressure and 5 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure after taking garlic extract.
It appears that there is more study supporting the virtues of garlic extract than its ineffectiveness. Even if recent research seems to downplay garlic’s effectiveness in lowering cholesterol, there is nothing simlar to contradict the research that shows garlic’s role in lowering blood pressure. In addition, numerous studies have confirmed the safety of garlic extract in high blood pressure treatment. So what is there to lose in trying garlic extract to lower your blood pressure?
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Lifestyle Changes That Help You Control Blood Pressure
Ashish Jain asked:
It is a commonly known fact that a healthy lifestyle is an essential part of a healthy life. Same is true if you want to maintain a normal blood pressure.
Even if you are highly dependent on those pills and medicines to treat your blood pressure disorder, your lifestyle pattern in large will determine the success of the medications. And if you succeed in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you might not even find the need of any medication soon. A controlled blood pressure will help you live longer and prevent other health related problems like heart and kidney failure. Some of the lifestyle changes that are necessary to maintain a healthy blood pressure levels are:
Lose That Extra Weight
Increasing weight is a very common factor leading to high blood pressure. More weight amounts to higher blood pressure. Besides this, losing weight increases the effectiveness of the hypertension medications. And weight can only be maintained if you have a proper dietary habit and a regular exercising regime.
Exercise Regularly
For a controlled blood pressure, physical activity should be made a part of your overall strategy. Exercising helps you to fight your pre-hypertension and prevents it from taking the shape of full-fledged hypertension.
Eat Healthy
The old saying “You are what you eat” is an apt one. Till long it had remained a myth with the people that eating habits do not have any role in the maintenance of your blood pressure, but with new studies coming up they have been proved wrong. It has been shown that you can reduce your blood pressure if your diet is rich in fruits, grains, dairy products with low fats and vegetables.
Reducing Sodium Intake
Sodium has an active role to play in your blood pressure. More Sodium in the body means, more amount of blood pressure. So from now on the next time you munch on your favorite processed food, just be a little more careful. But if you are unable to do that, increasing the potassium amount in your diet can counter the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
Limit The Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol has both the good and bad effects on your health. The good is that it prevents the possibility of a heart attack and clogging of arteries. The bad is that excessive alcohol consumption reduces these good effects on the body, thus raising the blood pressure levels. Apart from this, excessive alcohol intake also reduces the effectiveness of the blood pressure lowering medications on the body.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Tobacco poses the biggest threat to your blood pressure. And if you are a constant smoker then there is a possibility that even medication won’t solve your blood pressure problems. Apart from this there are certain chemicals present in tobacco that have adverse effects on the arteries, damaging them and causing fluid retention in the body.
Control Your Caffeine Intake
Till now the role that caffeine plays in blood pressure is debatable. Caffeinated beverages increase the blood flow in the arteries. But it is also said that if you consume such products on a regular basis then the effect of caffeine on the blood pressure diminishes. Therefore the effect of caffeine still remains ambiguous.
Posted in Health | No comments
It is a commonly known fact that a healthy lifestyle is an essential part of a healthy life. Same is true if you want to maintain a normal blood pressure.
Even if you are highly dependent on those pills and medicines to treat your blood pressure disorder, your lifestyle pattern in large will determine the success of the medications. And if you succeed in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you might not even find the need of any medication soon. A controlled blood pressure will help you live longer and prevent other health related problems like heart and kidney failure. Some of the lifestyle changes that are necessary to maintain a healthy blood pressure levels are:
Lose That Extra Weight
Increasing weight is a very common factor leading to high blood pressure. More weight amounts to higher blood pressure. Besides this, losing weight increases the effectiveness of the hypertension medications. And weight can only be maintained if you have a proper dietary habit and a regular exercising regime.
Exercise Regularly
For a controlled blood pressure, physical activity should be made a part of your overall strategy. Exercising helps you to fight your pre-hypertension and prevents it from taking the shape of full-fledged hypertension.
Eat Healthy
The old saying “You are what you eat” is an apt one. Till long it had remained a myth with the people that eating habits do not have any role in the maintenance of your blood pressure, but with new studies coming up they have been proved wrong. It has been shown that you can reduce your blood pressure if your diet is rich in fruits, grains, dairy products with low fats and vegetables.
Reducing Sodium Intake
Sodium has an active role to play in your blood pressure. More Sodium in the body means, more amount of blood pressure. So from now on the next time you munch on your favorite processed food, just be a little more careful. But if you are unable to do that, increasing the potassium amount in your diet can counter the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
Limit The Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol has both the good and bad effects on your health. The good is that it prevents the possibility of a heart attack and clogging of arteries. The bad is that excessive alcohol consumption reduces these good effects on the body, thus raising the blood pressure levels. Apart from this, excessive alcohol intake also reduces the effectiveness of the blood pressure lowering medications on the body.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Tobacco poses the biggest threat to your blood pressure. And if you are a constant smoker then there is a possibility that even medication won’t solve your blood pressure problems. Apart from this there are certain chemicals present in tobacco that have adverse effects on the arteries, damaging them and causing fluid retention in the body.
Control Your Caffeine Intake
Till now the role that caffeine plays in blood pressure is debatable. Caffeinated beverages increase the blood flow in the arteries. But it is also said that if you consume such products on a regular basis then the effect of caffeine on the blood pressure diminishes. Therefore the effect of caffeine still remains ambiguous.
High Blood Pressure 101
David Riewe asked:
Knowing about your body can be very beneficial to your health as you age. Knowing about your blood pressure can help prevent strokes, heart disease and kidney disease. In this article you will find everything you should know about your blood pressure.
Anyone can have high blood pressure. It doesn’t matter your age, race, ethnicity or gender. Many people suffer from high blood pressure and have a higher risk of strokes and heart diseases than those with regular blood pressure.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is always rising and falling throughout the day and if it rises and stays that way over time, you have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is usually referred to as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure it puts more pressure on the heart, making it work harder than usual. This is why you end up at risk for strokes or heart disease.
What is the normal blood pressure level?
The normal blood pressure level is less than 120 over 80 or less. The first number is your systolic pressure and the second number is your diastolic pressure. Your numbers are read 120 over 80, etc. If your pressure is 140 over 90 or higher you have high blood pressure.
What is systolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is beating.
What is diastolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is relaxing.
What are the risk factors of high blood pressure?
The most common risks of high blood pressure are stroke and heart disease. There are a few other risk factors that can be modified and some that cannot be. The following are some risks:
? Tobacco
? Physical Inactivity
? Diabetes
? Abnormal Cholesterol
? Being overweight
Who can get high blood pressure?
Unfortunately anyone can get high blood pressure but it is more common among African Americans. Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. African Americans also have a much higher death rate from kidney disease and stroke than white Americans. Even so, with treatment you can help lower your blood pressure.
How can I lower my blood pressure?
Fortunately there are many different ways of helping to lower your blood pressure. Exercise is a great way to lower it. Doing physical activity will make your heart stronger over time. If you have a stronger heart it can pump blood easier lessening your risks of stroke and kidney diseases. It is never too late to start exercising!
If you are concerned about your blood pressure consult your physician. Ask any and all questions you might have and find the best way for you to lower it. If all regular ways fail, consider medication. Talk with your doctor about your health and lifestyle so he can choose the best medicine for you. If you want to live a healthy life, taking control of your blood pressure is very important.
Knowing about your body can be very beneficial to your health as you age. Knowing about your blood pressure can help prevent strokes, heart disease and kidney disease. In this article you will find everything you should know about your blood pressure.
Anyone can have high blood pressure. It doesn’t matter your age, race, ethnicity or gender. Many people suffer from high blood pressure and have a higher risk of strokes and heart diseases than those with regular blood pressure.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is always rising and falling throughout the day and if it rises and stays that way over time, you have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is usually referred to as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure it puts more pressure on the heart, making it work harder than usual. This is why you end up at risk for strokes or heart disease.
What is the normal blood pressure level?
The normal blood pressure level is less than 120 over 80 or less. The first number is your systolic pressure and the second number is your diastolic pressure. Your numbers are read 120 over 80, etc. If your pressure is 140 over 90 or higher you have high blood pressure.
What is systolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is beating.
What is diastolic blood pressure? This is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart is relaxing.
What are the risk factors of high blood pressure?
The most common risks of high blood pressure are stroke and heart disease. There are a few other risk factors that can be modified and some that cannot be. The following are some risks:
? Tobacco
? Physical Inactivity
? Diabetes
? Abnormal Cholesterol
? Being overweight
Who can get high blood pressure?
Unfortunately anyone can get high blood pressure but it is more common among African Americans. Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. African Americans also have a much higher death rate from kidney disease and stroke than white Americans. Even so, with treatment you can help lower your blood pressure.
How can I lower my blood pressure?
Fortunately there are many different ways of helping to lower your blood pressure. Exercise is a great way to lower it. Doing physical activity will make your heart stronger over time. If you have a stronger heart it can pump blood easier lessening your risks of stroke and kidney diseases. It is never too late to start exercising!
If you are concerned about your blood pressure consult your physician. Ask any and all questions you might have and find the best way for you to lower it. If all regular ways fail, consider medication. Talk with your doctor about your health and lifestyle so he can choose the best medicine for you. If you want to live a healthy life, taking control of your blood pressure is very important.
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Numerous Ways of Treating High Blood Pressure
Article Manager asked:
It is known to everyone that high blood pressure can not be diagnosed as it does not have any specific symptoms. And, by the time you diagnose the high blood pressure or left it untreated for years, it could have caused permanent damage to some vital organs of the body. Therefore, the treatment of high blood pressure is necessary.
There are many ways to treat the high blood pressure. The proper medication treatment can give you a temporary relief but could have adverse effects on your body. One should also not take the medicines without consulting the doctor. Most of the prescribed medicines for controlling the blood pressure are drugs, so one should only take them when there is no other way out.
Apart from medication, balanced diet, stress management and proper exercise schedule can help in curing the high blood pressure. Strong and healthy life style is the best way to live a disease free life. The balanced diet with complete nutrition value and reducing the salt intake can help in controlling the blood pressure. If you have a diet with pickles and fried food then cut it down from your diet chart immediately. And, after adding more fruits and green vegetables in your diet plan, you can enjoy the controlled blood pressure.
A balanced diet combined with proper exercise schedule can make you feel much better. It does not mean that you should make the regular visits to gym but by performing light day to day activities like gardening and evening or morning walks one can enjoy a good health. The person suffering from high blood pressure should do some exercises every day.
The patients of high blood pressure are also recommended to do some stress management activities like yoga or Tai Chi. One can also listen to stress relieving music for bringing down the high blood pressure. Over burden of work and mental stress are the major causes of high blood pressure. The patient should avoid the over burden of the work and psychological tensions so that the situation could not become worse. Stress management activities have played a major role in controlling the high blood pressure.
Apart from exercise plan and stress management activities one can also take help of alternative therapies like acupuncture and magnetic therapies. Acupuncture relaxes your mind by correcting the blood circulation in the body. In this therapy, many pointed needles are punched in several parts of body and reduces the strain from mind. Some people find it really effective to control the blood pressure. Another popular method of controlling the blood pressure is magnetic therapy. In this a pair of magnets copper and iron bracelets is used to manage the blood pressure.
There are several other ways for the treatment of high blood pressure and people incorporate them in their life as per their wish and requirements. The treatment of high blood pressure is always required to control it otherwise result could worsen the situation.
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It is known to everyone that high blood pressure can not be diagnosed as it does not have any specific symptoms. And, by the time you diagnose the high blood pressure or left it untreated for years, it could have caused permanent damage to some vital organs of the body. Therefore, the treatment of high blood pressure is necessary.
There are many ways to treat the high blood pressure. The proper medication treatment can give you a temporary relief but could have adverse effects on your body. One should also not take the medicines without consulting the doctor. Most of the prescribed medicines for controlling the blood pressure are drugs, so one should only take them when there is no other way out.
Apart from medication, balanced diet, stress management and proper exercise schedule can help in curing the high blood pressure. Strong and healthy life style is the best way to live a disease free life. The balanced diet with complete nutrition value and reducing the salt intake can help in controlling the blood pressure. If you have a diet with pickles and fried food then cut it down from your diet chart immediately. And, after adding more fruits and green vegetables in your diet plan, you can enjoy the controlled blood pressure.
A balanced diet combined with proper exercise schedule can make you feel much better. It does not mean that you should make the regular visits to gym but by performing light day to day activities like gardening and evening or morning walks one can enjoy a good health. The person suffering from high blood pressure should do some exercises every day.
The patients of high blood pressure are also recommended to do some stress management activities like yoga or Tai Chi. One can also listen to stress relieving music for bringing down the high blood pressure. Over burden of work and mental stress are the major causes of high blood pressure. The patient should avoid the over burden of the work and psychological tensions so that the situation could not become worse. Stress management activities have played a major role in controlling the high blood pressure.
Apart from exercise plan and stress management activities one can also take help of alternative therapies like acupuncture and magnetic therapies. Acupuncture relaxes your mind by correcting the blood circulation in the body. In this therapy, many pointed needles are punched in several parts of body and reduces the strain from mind. Some people find it really effective to control the blood pressure. Another popular method of controlling the blood pressure is magnetic therapy. In this a pair of magnets copper and iron bracelets is used to manage the blood pressure.
There are several other ways for the treatment of high blood pressure and people incorporate them in their life as per their wish and requirements. The treatment of high blood pressure is always required to control it otherwise result could worsen the situation.
High Blood Pressure, the Insidious Killer
Jay Stockman
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asked:
Next time you are with a group of 3 friends, take a good look around; one of you will have high blood pressure. The sad part is, since there are no symptoms, you may not even be aware of it. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, or kidney failure. Various risk factors contribute to this disease that are both under our control, and out of our control. The only way to determine if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. The insidious nature of this disease makes it a true Silent Killer.
The brain requires unobstructed blood flow to nourish its many functions. Very high, sustained blood pressure will eventually cause blood vessels to weaken. Over time these weaken vessels can break, and blood will leak into the brain. The area of the brain that is being fed by these broken vessels start to die, and this will cause a stroke. Additionally, if a blot clot blocks a narrowed artery, blood ceases to flow and a stroke will occur. Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking, or seeing, sudden severe headache. If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay, call 911.
Like the brain, the heart requires blood to bring oxygen, and nutrients to its muscle tissue. The narrowing of the arteries due to blockage can cause high blood pressure. If this blockage occurs in the arteries of the heart, coronary arteries, heart muscle damage can occur, resulting in a heart attack. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, however most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain and discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Shortness of breath may occur, as well as nausea, or lightheadedness. It is vital to get help immediately if any of these symptoms occur.
The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of all waste products. Eventually, high blood pressure can thicken, then narrow the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys becomes less efficient, filtering less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. Over time, the kidneys may fail altogether. When this happens, medical treatment such as dialysis, or a kidney transplant may be needed.
The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is by having your blood pressure checked regularly. Generally speaking, doctors will diagnose a person with high blood pressure on the basis of two or more readings, taken on different occasions. A consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure, or hypertensive. It is vital to take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is blood pressure below 140/90 and lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle including healthy eating habits, reducing salt in the diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, being physically active, and quitting smoking is an effective step in preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle improvements alone are not sufficient in keeping pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add blood pressure medications. There are several options that physicians have at their disposal, and each option should be discussed, as to their side effects and efficacy.
High Blood Pressure and Dizziness – What’s the Real Story?
Stephen Morgan asked:
High blood pressure and dizziness what’s the real story? Well ironically dizziness in relation to blood pressure probably has more in common with low pressure than actually high blood pressure.
That being said it could be a serious problem and in many ways the fact that you’re suffering from dizziness and potential drops in blood pressure are probably more important than the levels to which the blood pressure drops to so it is extremely important to get to the bottom of it if it is indeed a regular occurrence.
If you are suffering from dizziness and have correspondingly have been diagnosed with high blood pressure then it could indicate a whole series of events, all of which will need to be investigated by your doctor or healthcare practitioner. This last point cannot be stressed too heavily enough as there are too many occasions in relation to medical conditions where people place too much emphasis on common folklore or old wives tales as opposed to getting the correct medical advice from experts.
If you suffer from high blood pressure then by all means listen to other sufferers and people in general but don’t ever make the mistake of ignoring the advice of professionals - it could be fatal to be the last mistake you ever make.
I make no apologies if I sound too dramatic but high blood pressure is serious and as such has to retreat it as such.
Back to high blood pressure and dizzy spells however. These could be as a result of the number of things none of which in isolation could be that serious but they could be little indicators of potentially something more serious further down the line.
Usually dizzy spells occur as a result of changes in your blood pressure from moving from low blood pressure to high blood pressure namely when you first get up in the morning as it is a known medical fact that your blood pressure is usually lowest at night and rises sharply upon waking. Conversely you could suffer dizzy spells when your blood pressure drops sharply as a result of dehydration, blood loss, allergic reaction, postural hypotension, namely some people suffer from dizzy spells when they change posture if they have been in one position for a long time. The dizzy spells could be brought about by what is called postprandial hypotension; this is usually an occurrence that affects older adults with high blood pressure or what could be best described as autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and basically occurs after meals.
Lastly in certain cases dizziness could be caused by neurally mediated hypotension and by this I mean this usually occurs in young people in these usually calls because of a miscommunication between the high and the brain which leads to dizziness and nausea painting as a result of standing for long periods.
Whatever the reasons, if you are experiencing any dizziness or any form of light-headedness on a regular basis then you need to see your doctor as soon as you can. It might not be anything serious at all but it’s much better for them to make the decision rather than you.
Posted in Health | No comments
High blood pressure and dizziness what’s the real story? Well ironically dizziness in relation to blood pressure probably has more in common with low pressure than actually high blood pressure.
That being said it could be a serious problem and in many ways the fact that you’re suffering from dizziness and potential drops in blood pressure are probably more important than the levels to which the blood pressure drops to so it is extremely important to get to the bottom of it if it is indeed a regular occurrence.
If you are suffering from dizziness and have correspondingly have been diagnosed with high blood pressure then it could indicate a whole series of events, all of which will need to be investigated by your doctor or healthcare practitioner. This last point cannot be stressed too heavily enough as there are too many occasions in relation to medical conditions where people place too much emphasis on common folklore or old wives tales as opposed to getting the correct medical advice from experts.
If you suffer from high blood pressure then by all means listen to other sufferers and people in general but don’t ever make the mistake of ignoring the advice of professionals - it could be fatal to be the last mistake you ever make.
I make no apologies if I sound too dramatic but high blood pressure is serious and as such has to retreat it as such.
Back to high blood pressure and dizzy spells however. These could be as a result of the number of things none of which in isolation could be that serious but they could be little indicators of potentially something more serious further down the line.
Usually dizzy spells occur as a result of changes in your blood pressure from moving from low blood pressure to high blood pressure namely when you first get up in the morning as it is a known medical fact that your blood pressure is usually lowest at night and rises sharply upon waking. Conversely you could suffer dizzy spells when your blood pressure drops sharply as a result of dehydration, blood loss, allergic reaction, postural hypotension, namely some people suffer from dizzy spells when they change posture if they have been in one position for a long time. The dizzy spells could be brought about by what is called postprandial hypotension; this is usually an occurrence that affects older adults with high blood pressure or what could be best described as autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and basically occurs after meals.
Lastly in certain cases dizziness could be caused by neurally mediated hypotension and by this I mean this usually occurs in young people in these usually calls because of a miscommunication between the high and the brain which leads to dizziness and nausea painting as a result of standing for long periods.
Whatever the reasons, if you are experiencing any dizziness or any form of light-headedness on a regular basis then you need to see your doctor as soon as you can. It might not be anything serious at all but it’s much better for them to make the decision rather than you.
Alternative Blood Pressure Treatment: The Hawthorn Option
David Faulkner
Every year millions of people are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, and millions more develop it without ever being diagnosed. If you are someone trying to cope with high blood pressure, you know that it is not as simple as finding a safe and effective medication, and returning to business as usual. You realize that your doctor and/or pharmacist can advise you on an appropriate medication. You, however, are more interested in an alternative blood pressure treatment.
Your big concern with the traditional high blood pressure medications is that they all put you at risk of side effects, even if they are simultaneously lowering your blood pressure. You do not want to trade one known health problem for a possible host of other unknown ones.
Finding an alternative blood pressure treatment to replace your medicating will relieve you of the side effects issue, but if the natural treatment you choose is not effective, you will be back where you started. And natural treatments, if taken in excess for a lengthy period, can cause severe health issues of their own.
But if you have done you homework, and researched the safety of the various alternative blood pressure treatments, you probably know that one of the safest and most effective is hawthorn. Hawthorn has long been used in Europe and Asia as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, and recent scientific research has verified its efficacy. For more info see http://www.lower-highbloodpressure.com/Blood_Pressure_Machine/ on Blood Pressure Machine.
How Hawthorn Works
Hawthorn reduces blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, which constricts the blood vessels. The newly dilated blood vessels let blood circulate more freely, reducing the blood pressure. Hawthorn also has a mild diuretic action, which decreases the volume of the blood, again lowering blood pressure. As an alternative blood pressure treatment, hawthorn has a double kick.
Implementing Other Measures
If your blood pressure reading is in the 140/90 to 160/100 range, but your overall health is good, you can discuss with your doctor the possibility of giving a hawthorn supplement a chance as an alternative blood pressure treatment. Even if he or she agrees, you will have to implement other lifestyle changes, like adjusting your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
You’ll also have to cut back on salt, caffeine, and fats, and increase your daily intake of water to one-half ounce for every pound of your body weight. If you use alcohol and tobacco, stop, and if you don’t walk for between thirty and forty-five minutes a day, start. An alternative blood pressure treatment, if it is to work, requires a commitment from you.
asked:
Every year millions of people are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, and millions more develop it without ever being diagnosed. If you are someone trying to cope with high blood pressure, you know that it is not as simple as finding a safe and effective medication, and returning to business as usual. You realize that your doctor and/or pharmacist can advise you on an appropriate medication. You, however, are more interested in an alternative blood pressure treatment.
Your big concern with the traditional high blood pressure medications is that they all put you at risk of side effects, even if they are simultaneously lowering your blood pressure. You do not want to trade one known health problem for a possible host of other unknown ones.
Finding an alternative blood pressure treatment to replace your medicating will relieve you of the side effects issue, but if the natural treatment you choose is not effective, you will be back where you started. And natural treatments, if taken in excess for a lengthy period, can cause severe health issues of their own.
But if you have done you homework, and researched the safety of the various alternative blood pressure treatments, you probably know that one of the safest and most effective is hawthorn. Hawthorn has long been used in Europe and Asia as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, and recent scientific research has verified its efficacy. For more info see http://www.lower-highbloodpressure.com/Blood_Pressure_Machine/ on Blood Pressure Machine.
How Hawthorn Works
Hawthorn reduces blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, which constricts the blood vessels. The newly dilated blood vessels let blood circulate more freely, reducing the blood pressure. Hawthorn also has a mild diuretic action, which decreases the volume of the blood, again lowering blood pressure. As an alternative blood pressure treatment, hawthorn has a double kick.
Implementing Other Measures
If your blood pressure reading is in the 140/90 to 160/100 range, but your overall health is good, you can discuss with your doctor the possibility of giving a hawthorn supplement a chance as an alternative blood pressure treatment. Even if he or she agrees, you will have to implement other lifestyle changes, like adjusting your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
You’ll also have to cut back on salt, caffeine, and fats, and increase your daily intake of water to one-half ounce for every pound of your body weight. If you use alcohol and tobacco, stop, and if you don’t walk for between thirty and forty-five minutes a day, start. An alternative blood pressure treatment, if it is to work, requires a commitment from you.
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