Jeremiah Slivka asked:


What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure consists of two number; a top and bottom number. The top number is the systolic pressure. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure.

Systolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries as your heart beats. If your systolic number is higher than one hundred and forty you have high blood pressure. Even if your diastolic number is not high you can still have ‘isolated systolic hypertension.’ This means only your systolic number is high.

This is more common for older Americans. This pressure usually increases with age whereas diastolic pressure decreases after fifty-five. You might not know if you have isolated systolic hypertension so ask your doctor if you are concerned.

Diastolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats. For younger people this is a very important number. The higher this pressure is the more you are at risk. This blood pressure lowers as you get older and your systolic increases. Therefore diastolic is more important in younger people and systolic in older.

Normal blood pressure is less than one hundred and twenty over less than eighty. If your pressure is between the normal numbers and one hundred and thirty-nine over eighty-nine, you have what is called prehypertension. This puts you at risk to develop high blood pressure in the future but it easily preventable.

Hypertension is a name for high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease or even strokes. High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than it should and can lead to blindness, kidney disease and even congestive heart failure.

According to statistics high blood pressure killed over fifty-four thousand people in 2004. Statistics also show that twenty-eight percent of people have high blood pressure and aren’t even aware of it. Are you one of them?

You should be aware of the risks of high blood pressure so you can avoid them as best as you can. High blood pressure is a risk for stroke and heart disease. While some risks can be altered or fixed, some cannot. For instance if you use tobacco or are overweight you are at risk for high blood pressure.

You can easily fix this by trying to quit using tobacco and watching your diet to help lose weight. If you have trouble doing either of these on your own, consult your physician. They may be able to prescribe you something or give you useful information to help.

High blood pressure can affect certain parts of your body as well. You might suffer from a stroke. This happens because the high blood pressure can break a weak blood vessel leaving it to bleed into the brain. Also if you have a blood clot blocking a narrow artery, you can also experience a stroke.

Sometimes impaired vision or blindness can occur from high blood pressure. It might eventually cause your blood vessels in your eye to bleed or burst leaving you with blurred or impaired vision.

Your arteries harden as you age, even more so for those in your heart, brain and kidneys. These harder arteries are associated with high blood pressure. When this happens your kidneys and heart have to work harder. If you have any questions or concerns about your blood pressure ask your doctor. They can answer any questions you might have and find a solution if you do in fact have high blood pressure or might be prone to it. It’s never too late to take care of your body, including your blood pressure.



Cindy

Author asked:


Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the arteries each time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is highest each time the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure, and is the high number in your reading. The diastolic pressure measures the pressure in between beats, when your heart is at rest. Your blood pressure is lowest while sleeping and although it varies some during the day, it remains close to the same. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your systolic pressure rises to 140 or above, or if your diastolic pressure rises to 90 or above, this is considered high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and an alarming one-third of those don’t even know they have it. It’s no wonder this condition has long been called “the silent killer”.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. And when it exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times. If you don’t have high blood pressure by age 55, your chance of developing it at some point in your life is 90 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Although high blood pressure can occur in both children and adults, it is most common in those over age 35, and is most prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. Although many people get high blood pressure as they get older, it is not part of the aging process! Proper diet, exercise and lifestyle changes can help in prevention and lowering of blood pressure.

Commonly Prescribed Medication for High Blood Pressure.

In 90–95 percent of cases, research scientists don’t know what causes high blood pressure, but fortunately they know enough to have developed both drug and non-drug products to treat it effectively.

A wide variety of medications are available to medical professionals for treating high blood pressure. Although other classes of medications are sometimes prescribed, the most commonly prescribed can be broken down into five different classes of medications that work in different ways to lower pressure.

· Diuretics (water pills) work in the kidney to get rid of excess water and sodium.

· Beta-Blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels to cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force.

· Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which would otherwise cause vessels to narrow.

· Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) block the action of angiotensin II.

· Calcium Channel Blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax.

As of June, 2005, there didn’t appear to be much global agreement among medical experts worldwide in terms of recommended first-line therapy for treating high blood pressure. It is important to note that in June, 2006, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Hypertension Society have come to an agreement within the UK, and have issued new guidelines, including important changes to help guide primary care physicians in determining first-line therapy. A major change is that Beta-Blockers, which have been shown to be less effective in preventing strokes and more likely to cause diabetes, are no longer recommended as routine treatment for the majority of people with high blood pressure. Instead, ACE Inhibitors (or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers if there are side effects) are now recommended in the UK for most people, with some exceptions, before trying other classes of medication for hypertension.

As with any medication, there may be side effects from taking ACE Inhibitors, and some should not use them at all, including black people of any age. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, also in June, 2006, indicated an increased risk of birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester, adding to the known risks during the second and third trimesters. While most people can tolerate ACE Inhibitors, some may experience side effects such as cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Rare, but more serious side effects include kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

Very similar to ACE Inhibitors are ARB medications, and depending on the individual’s particular health issues, a doctor may switch between the two, and may sometimes prescribe both. The most common side effects with ARBs are cough, elevated potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, abnormal taste sensation (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Compared to ACE inhibitors, cough occurs less often with ARBs. The most serious, but rare, side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

On January 19, 2007, Rush University Medical Center reported findings that ACE Inhibitors and ARBs prevent people from getting diabetes, and that diuretics and beta-blockers increase the chance that a person becomes diabetic. The authors pointed out that more studies are required to determine whether new-onset diabetes leads to as many heart attacks, strokes or death, as long-standing diabetes. However, their data suggests that the differences between antihypertensive drugs regarding the risk for new-onset diabetes are real and are significant. Melaleuca offers a natural high blood pressure remedy called ProStolic™ which interacts with a natural body enzyme much like the ACE Inhibitors and ARB medications to relax blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow. As a comparison, it might be helpful to understand how the ACE and ARB class of drugs react, as well as how the non-drug hypertension remedy ProStolic™ formula reacts with the body.

In Part 2 of our Blood Pressure Research Report we will discuss the ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers, Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure and benefits of Bioactive Casein Hydrolysate Tripeptides VPP and IPP.



Jamie

Mitamins Team asked:


Recent estimates have indicated that one in three adults in the USA has high blood pressure and that a third of these people are unaware of their condition. Your blood pressure is quite simply the force of the blood on the artery walls when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when it rests between beats (diastolic pressure). The normal values are less 120 mm Hg systolic and less 80 mm Hg diastolic. If your blood pressure is 140-159 mm Hg Systolic over 90-99 mm Hg Diastolic then this is classified as High blood pressure or Hypertension.

There are many causes of high blood pressure; in 90-95% of cases the actual cause cannot be discerned. Nerve impulses cause your arteries to dilate (become larger) or contract (become smaller). If these vessels are wide open, blood can flow through easily. If they’re narrow, it’s harder for the blood to flow through them, and the pressure inside them increases. High blood pressure may occur at this point. The remaining cases high blood pressure may be caused by kidney abnormalities, an abnormality of the aorta, the narrowing of certain arteries.

Blood volume also affects blood pressure – the more blood in the body, the higher the amount of blood returning to the heart and the resulting cardiac output and higher the blood pressure. Arteries thickened by fatty tissue increase the resistance of the blood as it flows and this increased the resistance will contribute to higher the blood pressure. Other factors could also affect blood pressure like blood viscosity or stickiness. This is called your triglyceride levels. A raised triglyceride can be caused by a high alcohol or carbohydrate diet, being over weight or having poorly controlled blood sugars.

Keeping fit through a balanced diet and exercise is an important way to decrease high blood pressure. There is a direct link between rising blood pressure or hypertension and being overweight. Exercise improves the condition of the thickened arteries which helps in the treatment of high blood pressure by making the heart stronger. A stronger heart pumps more blood efficiently, which means that the heart doesn’t have to work as hard. However anyone with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before any exercise plan.

Research has also shown some evidence that exercise reduces the release of nor epinephrine, which is a hormone that raises blood pressure by constricting arteries and increasing the heart rate.

Aiming for and maintaining an ideal body weight is really important in the treatment of high blood pressure. If you are overweight or obese, ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can help you make permanent, achievable changes to the way you eat to assist with weight loss.

Cutting down on your alcohol intake, is very important – as this has a significant role in boosting blood pressure. Women should limit their intake to one drink per day and men two. Smoking injures blood vessel walls and accelerates the hardening of the arteries. Although it does not directly cause even though it does not cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure

Dietary changes can really contribute to the treatment of high blood pressure. In studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan has been shown to be effective. Essentially this plan involves consuming increased amounts of fruit and vegetables and choosing low-fat or non-fat dairy products. Studies have shown that eating fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy food and proteins as well as foods with lower saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol, lower blood pressure and promote overall fitness. Whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts with lower fat content are good choices for the heart. Details of the DASH diet can be found at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Foods with large amounts of saturated and trans fats such a fatty cuts of meat, fast food, fries, cakes and cookies should be kept to a minimum. This will also help with limiting the amount of sodium or salt in the diet. You should also try to avoid adding salt in your cooking and at the table, to limit gravy powders, salty soups and seasoning as well as salted crisps and nuts.

So why not have a go at these small changes – they really can make a difference in the treatment of high blood pressure!



Cynthia

Steven A Johnson asked:


The pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries is called your blood pressure. It results from two sources, the heart when it pumps blood, and the circulatory system. If your blood pressure isn’t normal than it can either be high or low. Blood pressure is measured by an electronic device that is put around the arm and blown up. The doctor then puts a stethoscope to your arm while the air is let out slowly.

High blood pressure (systolic pressure) is measured when the doctor first hears the pulse. Low blood pressure (diastolic pressure) is measured from the moment the doctor is unable to hear the pulse. It is normally measured in terms of millimeters of mercury but do to the dangers of mercury it is no longer used. The systolic pressure is always placed first, for example 120/80 or 120 over 80. Blood pressure below this number is considered to be a good number. An example of high blood pressure would look like 140 over 90and low blood pressure would look like 80 over 89.

High blood pressure usually doesn’t have any symptoms; most people go years without ever knowing they have it. Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked. This can be done at a yearly physical.

Low blood pressure is called in medical terms hypotension. It has symptoms due to the low flow of blood through the veins. If the flow of blood is too low it doesn’t deliver enough oxygen to the vital organs. If they don’t get enough oxygen and nutrients they can not f unction normally and it can cause permanent damage.

The body has sensors in the walls of the arteries to monitor the pressure of blood sends signals out to other organs to either lower or increase the bloods pressure. There is a few different ways that this can be done. The veins can expand and narrow. This makes it so that more blood can be stored in the veins and less blood returns to the heart. The arterioles can also expand and narrow. The heart can also speed up and contract more frequently this makes it so it ejects more blood into each contraction. The kidneys can also help by increasing and decreasing the amount of urine that is being produced. Urine is mostly water that is removed from the blood.

High blood pressure can really hurt your kidneys. It makes your heart work harder and damages the blood vessels through your body. Damaged blood vessels in the kidney can result in them stopping wastes from being removed and removing excess fluids. The excess fluids can make blood pressure rise even higher. Kidney failure can result from high blood pressure.

There are changes you should have to make in your life if you have high blood pressure and need to lower it. Quitting smoking is a big cause. Lose weight if you’re over weight. And exercise regularly even if you aren’t over weight. Eating healthy and right can make a huge difference. Lots of fruits and veggies and food low in fat are optimal. Lower the amount of salt you in taking and caffeine too. Relieving stress can all help.

Not every one gets affected by high sodium intakes however. You still should limit your in take of salt to 2,400 mg. your doctor should be able to give you your proper limit. But make sure you are not adding salt to food and read the labels that are on packages to make sure that you’re not taking in over your limit. You may not realize that some foods contain a lot of salt in them. It’s not something you think about when n you’re eating it. Like bread and cheese have a lot of salt in them.

There are many kinds of medications that you can take to lower your blood pressure as well. If your blood pressure can only be controlled by taking prescription medication then most likely you’re going to have to take the medication for the rest of life. Stopping taking the medication without talking to your doctor could really increase your risk of a heart attack and a stroke. Some of these medications are diuretics, beta blockers, alpha blockers, ace inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.

There are lots of herbs and herbal remedies that can help you with your blood pressure as well. They can help to stimulate the circulation and important glands. Rosemary steeped as tea is a good tonic for the heart. Siberian ginseng, ginger, spiralina, and ginkgo biloba can all stimulate the circulatory system. Hawthorn berries and garlic can also regulate blood pressure in those who have to raise their blood pressure. Alternative Health Supplements offers some supplements that are all natural products. They have products that can support normal blood pressure and products that will lower your blood pressure.



Jim

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


Have you tried changing your lifestyle to help your blood pressure only to find it isn’t helping very much? Sometimes lifestyle changes alone aren’t as effective as when combined with blood pressure medication.

There are many different kinds of blood pressure medications out there today. Usually two different medications are used rather than one alone. Here are some of the main blood pressure medications:

Alpha-Blockers: This medicine reduces nerve impulses to your blood vessels allowing easier flowing of the blood making your blood pressure decrease.

Alpha-Beta-Blockers: These work just like the alpha-blockers but also slow your heart beat. This means less blood pumps through your vessels making your blood pressure decrease.

Nervous System Inhibitors: This medication relaxes your blood vessels by controlling the nerve impulses making your vessels wider and decreasing blood pressure.

Beta-Blockers: These reduce your nerve impulses to your heart and blood vessels, making your heart beat decrease while dropping your blood pressure.

Diuretics: These are also known as ‘water pills,’ a very common medication. These diuretics work in your kidney, flushing out all excess sodium along with water from your body.

Vasodilators: These open your blood vessels directly by relaxing the muscle in your vessel walls which then causes your blood pressure to decrease.

ACE Inhibitors: ACE stands for ‘Angiotensin converting enzyme.’ These inhibitors prevent a hormone called angiotensin II from forming, which will usually cause your blood vessels to narrow. They help the vessels relax which makes your blood pressure decrease.

Angiotensin Antagonists: These block your blood vessels from angiotensin II. When blocked these vessels can widen letting your blood pressure decrease.

Calcium Channel Blockers: These keep any calcium from entering your heart’s muscle cells and your blood vessels causing your blood pressure to decrease.

An alternate to taking any medication if possible is watching a few lifestyle habits. For instance a healthy diet can help control your blood pressure. Substitute salt for other seasonings and add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Get at least thirty minutes of physical activity or exercise a day. That doesn’t mean you have to exercise thirty minutes all at once. Ten minutes here and there is just as effective.

Try to keep your stress level at a minimum. High stress can increase your blood pressure so find something that relaxes you and helps you de-stress. Do this whenever you find yourself stressed out beyond your means.

Try to cut back on tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Quitting altogether is more beneficial but isn’t always easy. Remember there are many resources and products available to help you quit either of these habits.

Sometimes these lifestyle changes will not work alone. Your doctor might prescribe you a blood pressure medication if not two. Just talk with your doctor to find out what would be better for you and your blood pressure. Ask any and all questions and if you are taking other medications tell your doctor. Certain medications including oral contraceptives and cold medicines can increase your blood pressure.



Amanda

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


Are you battling high blood pressure? Do you feel like you are the only one? You shouldn’t feel that way because millions of Americans have high blood pressure. Only a certain percentage of them actually know it.

When you see your doctor you have your blood pressure checked. Some people think this is irrelevant because they say they will never have high blood pressure. Probably one of the reasons so many people do not even know they have it. They think for whatever reason it won’t happen to them.

While it can be frustrating to monitor your blood pressure, there are things you can do to help lower it or keep it under control. Exercise is a great way to lower and control your blood pressure.

Close to one in three American adults have high blood pressure. While high blood pressure is very common among Americans, African Americans tend to get it while they are young and more often than white Americans.

Whatever your age or gender or ethnicity, you can easily prevent and control your high blood pressure. There are simple ways like exercising and even simple lifestyle changes to do this.

If you are over weight you are at a greater risk of high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure is the higher your risk of stroke or heart disease is. Exercising can help you lose weight and also lower your blood pressure.

Eating healthy is also a great way to control blood pressure. Eating the right fruits and vegetables and foods altogether is proven very beneficial. Using less salt and sodium makes a huge difference and also drinking very minimal alcohol.

Tobacco also increases blood pressure, so if you smoke or use any kind of tobacco product, consider limiting yourself if not quitting altogether. You may find it easier to slowly wean yourself from it.

Stresses plays a major factor in blood pressure and let’s admit it, everyone gets stressed at one time or another. If you find yourself dealing with a large amount of stress, you should try some relaxation techniques. Consider meditation, or whatever it is that relaxes you. Do this when needed and you will see a significant improvement in the way you feel.

Did you know the cause of ninety to ninety-five percent of high blood pressure is unknown? Luckily high blood pressure can be easily detected and controlled with multiple options.

Another interesting statistic shows that people with less educational and even income levels usually have higher blood pressure. Do you wonder why this? Maybe a lot of that is stress!

It doesn’t really matter who can develop high blood pressure, it’s controlling it that matters. If you are battling high blood pressure or just want to take necessary precautions to help prevent from getting it, see your doctor. Ask any and all questions and they can help you find a great effective way to lower or control your blood pressure.

Remember to exercise and try to eat healthier. These overall will work wonders and you can thank yourself in the end when your body does.



Adrian

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


Are you concerned about what might increase your blood pressure? There are quite a few things that can factor in to raising your blood pressure. Luckily you can fix many of these with a few lifestyle changes.

If you do not watch your blood pressure frequently, you might not even be aware that you have it. It can creep up on you or just increase over the years. It all depends on many different factors.

If you are overweight you are at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. You might already know this and you might not. If this is the case for you, consult your doctor and see what he might recommend for you. Losing at least ten pounds can significantly lower your blood pressure.

An unhealthy diet or lack of physical activity or exercise can also put you at risk for high blood pressure. Try to exercise at least thirty minutes a day even if you have to space the time out. Eating less salt and more vegetables and fruits can help lower your blood pressure as well. Try to incorporate this into your present diet and you will see the results rather quickly.

Stress plays a huge factor in high blood pressure and unfortunately everyone is stressed at some point in their lives. If you deal with a high amount of stress, consider relaxation techniques. Do whatever you can that you know will calm you down and help relieve stress.

Using tobacco and alcohol raise your blood pressure. If you use either of these consider quitting. If you are unable to quit right away, limit your consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco. There are many over the counter and prescription products to help rid your self of these habits. Talk with your doctor of any concerns you might have.

Medical conditions also factor into high blood pressure along with your lifestyle. Kidney disease can result in high blood pressure as well as cause it. Sleeping disorders that interrupt your breathing during sleep will also raise your blood pressure. Talking with your doctor about your condition could benefit your disorder along with your blood pressure.

Certain medications and drugs can also raise your blood pressure. Certain types of anti-depressants will do this as well as certain cold medicines. Be aware of oral contraceptives, nasal decongestants, anorexia drugs and steroids. These can possibly raise your blood pressure as well so talk with your doctor before taking any of them if you are concerned.

While you can control most of the factors that raise your blood pressure there are some you cannot. For instance your race; African Americans are more prone to high blood pressure, people over fifty-five are at a higher risk, and your family history can play a role in your blood pressure as well. While you cannot control these factors you can easily try to help decrease your risk. Watch your diet, exercise, lifestyle habits, etc. Over time this may be very beneficial to you.

High blood pressure can cause strokes and even heart and kidney diseases. Leading a healthier life style can help you live longer and enjoy your time in a healthy state. Talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have concerning your blood pressure. It is never too late to take control.



Mike

Roberto Sedycias asked:


What is blood pressure? It is the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of our blood vessels. Systolic blood pressure is measured when the heart contracts and diastolic blood pressure is measured when the heart relaxes. These readings can be recorded on a monitor. When these readings go beyond a certain range, it spells danger. There are hardly any symptoms which indicate high or low blood pressure. In fact, high blood pressure or hypertension is called `the silent killer`.

Hence, it is imperative for everyone to monitor their blood pressure regularly. This can be done by visiting a medical practitioner or at home also. Blood pressure kits are a revolution in this direction. Studies have indicated that it is wiser to measure blood pressure at home with a blood pressure kit than to get it measured by a doctor in his clinic. Results are more accurate and trust-worthy.

However, blood pressure kits need to be tested for accuracy from time to time. This can be done by comparing the readings between ones own blood pressure kit and one taken by a regular doctor at his clinic. The two readings must nearly be the same.

The device which measures blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. A cuff is wrapped around the arm and tightened by means of a pump. A stethoscope is placed on the artery near the elbow. The air pressure is then released. When the blood first gushes through the blood vessels gives the systolic reading. Diastolic reading is taken when the pulse stops. The acceptable reading on the blood pressure kit is 120/80.

There are a variety of blood pressure kits to choose from in the market. They vary in design, utility and price. Some blood pressure kits are manual while others are auto inflated. Depending on the technology used, the features that blood pressure kits offer are:

* Irregular heart beat feature

* Pressure rating feature

* A multiple number of memory readings

* Average reading feature

* Blood pressure classification

* Body fat percentage and BMI

* Time and date feature

* Alarm clock and thermometer

* Excessive motion detection

Most blood pressure kits measure blood pressure from the arm while some are used on the wrist and a few on the finger. Doctors suggest using the arm type blood pressure kit as the readings are more dependable. It is as if proximity to the heart gives a better result. Finger type blood pressure kits are totally discarded now as they showed inaccurate readings. Again, a higher price does not necessarily mean a better product. Research shows that cheaper models of blood pressure kits give more accurate results.

In recent times, man has been drawn towards astrology. This has led to innovations in astrological medicine and treatment. A Rudraksha blood pressure kit has been developed which claims to control blood pressure quite efficiently. However, it lacks medical confirmation.

The Rudraksha blood pressure kit consists of two Rudraksha beads and a bloodstone pendant embedded in silver. The beads have to be soaked overnight in water. This water is to be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. The bloodstone pendant is to be worn around the neck in such a manner that the bloodstone remains in the area of the heart. Blood pressure is expected to stabilize within a few days.

If we pay attention to the growing number of deaths due to hypertension, then purchase of a blood pressure kit becomes a must for one and all. However care must be taken to buy the proper and accurate blood pressure kit.



Charlene

Richard Legg asked:


If you are looking for ways of how to lower high blood pressure perhaps we should first talk about what causes high blood pressure in the first place. Well the truth is that there are many different causes ranging from, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and hypertension. High blood pressure that is left untreated can lead to other more serious conditions, including stroke and heart attack. Having some knowledge of what causes high blood pressure will help you to avoid the risks.

By altering your diet and taking a pro-active approach to healthy eating, you can easily help to lower your blood pressure. One of the major causes of high blood pressure is cholesterol. People with high levels of cholesterol are almost certain to have higher blood pressure when compared to someone with a healthy diet. Cholesterol causes fatty deposits to coat the artery walls. Over time these fats form into a hard plaque that reduces the size of arteries and blood vessels making them smaller and smaller. There is still the same amount of blood trying to force it’s way through these vessels and this is what can lead to high blood pressure.

Another great way of how to lower high blood pressure is to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. We all like our sweets and desserts but here again simply by lowering your sugar intake can really help reduce high blood pressure. Your blood can thicken from too much glucose as a result of consuming high amounts of sugary foods. If your blood is thicker than it normally should be it is again harder to circulate and so causes high blood pressure.

By avoiding eating foods which can cause high blood pressure then you are taking steps to help reduce it naturally. These include nicotine which is in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Excessive alcohol consumption has also been proved to increase the risk, so by lowering your alcohol intake it will also help reduce high blood pressure, as will cutting down on the amount of caffeine in your diet.

It has to be said that exercise is possibly one of the best solutions, not just for blood pressure, but for overall health in general. However, be sure to always consult a medical professional before undertaking any new workouts. Weight lifting is something that should be avoided because this can be very stressful on the heart. Highly intensive cardiovascular workouts are also not good for people with high blood pressure as this type of workout greatly raises your blood pressure.

One of the best ways is through some gentle exercising. And consistent exercise will help you to lower cholesterol levels, lose weight and therefore ultimately affect blood pressure. Exercises such as pilates and yoga are all effective at lowering blood pressure naturally as well as being extremely beneficial to the health of your heart. Whenever exercising, take care to warm up and cool down before and after. This will prevent any dangerous spikes in pressure that could rapidly occur.

By using these simple tips on diet and exercise you will be well on your way to achieving a more normal range blood pressure level and also help reduce high blood pressure in the future.



Kristen

Kritnaphat N. asked:


You may know information about hypertension or high blood pressure. On the other hand, you may merely know about low blood pressure or hypotension.

Low blood pressure or hypotension is pressure that is lower than normal blood pressure. You may have low blood pressure if your blood pressure is 90/60 or lower.

Low blood pressure sign is the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. If you have low blood pressure, the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

People who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease. Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and non-smokers tend to have lower blood pressures. Therefore, low blood pressure is desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage organs in the body.

The cause of low blood pressure is not being the exactly one but low blood pressure may be involved with pregnancy, hormonal problems, heart failure, heat exhaustion, or liver disease. In some other people, they have a low blood pressure because of some event or medical condition. Some people may experience symptoms of low pressure when standing up too quickly. Anyway low blood pressure is a problem only if it causes dizziness, fainting or in extreme cases, shock so that if you have low blood pressure problem you have to consult your doctor urgently to get an advise for control low blood pressure symptom.

Even low blood pressure is, normally, not cause you health complication but if low blood pressure is disturb your every day life, there are many way you can take care yourselves.

Good and health diet can help you to control low blood pressure. You should get nutrients completely for your body need by having a variety kind of foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish. You may add more salt in your foods as a bit amount of salt give you sodium can raise blood pressure. But you, importantly, should consult with your doctor before adding up your salt intake because having too mush sodium can lead to heart failure.

If you eat in small meal with low crab food, it can help prevent dropping sharply low blood pressure after meals. You should separate to eat in small portions and several times in a day and limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Drinking a bit caffeinated coffee or tea with meals may temporarily raise blood pressure. However alcohol can cause lower blood pressure, even you drink in small amount. But you should drink more water because water against dehydration and increases blood level.

To go more slowly, you can reduce the dizziness and faintness that occurs with low blood pressure on standing by taking slowly movement when you change your position. Before getting out of bed in the morning, for example, breathe deeply for a few minutes and then slowly sit up before standing.

From all above, keeping healthy and have and good food can help you to maintain normal blood pressure and avoid low blood pressure.



Carla