What Does a Blood Pressure Reading Mean?

What Does a Blood Pressure Reading Mean?

Knowing your blood pressure can keep you ahead of what is happening with your body. There are a lot of debilitating illnesses brought about by a high pressure of blood. Most people do not recognize the symptoms and that is very alarming.

There are four categories when you are doing these readings. There is the normal stage, the pre-hypertension stage, the stage 1 hypertension stage and stage 2 hypertension stage. This will tell you what you need to do.

It is imperative that you get two readings in one sitting, or so according to experts. This is to have accurate measurements. Also, do not have the pressure of your blood measured after working out, after eating or after a long day of work. You may measure a higher level than normal.

You have to measure your systolic and diastolic pressure. If you are using an aneroid monitor, you have to ask an expert to teach you how to find the correct measurement. If you are using a digital one, the gadget will already tell you your diastolic and systolic pressure.

A normal pressure has a systolic rate of below 120 and a diastolic rate of below 80. If this is what you have measured, you are in the right track. You just need to maintain your health by having an active lifestyle and making correct food choices.

If your systolic pressure falls between 120 and 139 and your diastolic pressure falls between 80 and 89, you are already in the pre-hypertension stage. You have to be more careful with what you are eating. If you do not want it to progress to the hypertension stage, you need to eat healthier and incorporate a more active lifestyle.

Stage 1 hypertension has systolic pressure of 140 to 159 and diastolic pressure of 90 to 99. Observe your condition for a half a year and make sure you change your habits. Avoid alcohol, fatty and salty foods and have an active lifestyle. If your measured pressure of blood does not dramatically change after that, you can ask your doctor to prescribe you with some medications.

Stage 2 hypertension is obviously the most severe case. Systolic pressure can go as high as 160or more and diastolic can get as high as 100 or more. In such cases, be sure to have a routinely check up with your doctor. Butt heads and ask for advice on how you can improve your lifestyle. Also, ask for medications to help you in your condition.…

Lower Blood Pressure – How Low Should You Go?

Lower Blood Pressure – How Low Should You Go?

Lower blood pressure… how low is low enough? Surprising new findings show that lower is not always better and that the emphasis on achieving ever-lower levels may be doing us more harm than good.

Over many decades of medical practice hypertension was defined as blood pressure above 140 points systolic over 90 points diastolic. But some years ago, particularly in America, the goal posts shifted. Suddenly, and without much debate, the normal limit was lowered to 130 over 80. Many medical professionals considered any pressure above these figures to be hypertension while others labeled the range from 130/80 to 140/90 “pre-hypertension”.

Virtually overnight, millions more people were diagnosed with hypertension and were walking away from medical exams with prescriptions they wouldn´t have had only a short time earlier. Those with mere “pre-hypertension” weren´t neglected as new drugs were quickly developed for this “dangerous” new condition.

While not everyone applied such strict diagnostic criteria, the general direction was undeniably towards ever-lower blood pressure targets. In other words: the lower the better. Even aging people, whose blood pressure tends to naturally increase over time, were urged to achieve unrealistic readings of 120 over 70 or less. Dr. Oz, Oprah Winfrey´s celebrity physician, famously proclaimed that one of the keys to eternal health and youth was blood pressure of 115 over 75.

But now a major new study has doctors re-evaluating their policies. It reveals that there are no health benefits to be had from blood pressure targets below 140 over 90. In fact, excessively low pressure may even increase deaths from both heart disease and adverse drug reactions.

The meta-analysis by the Cochrane Review covering studies of nearly 30,000 people showed that the lower blood pressure limits were not associated with further reductions in overall mortality or incidence of stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. The findings also apply to high-risk groups such as those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney impairment.

This is not just a matter of overzealous doctors erring on the side of caution; unrealistic blood pressure targets do real harm. The greatest (but not only) damage is done through over-medicating. It takes big increases in dosage and/or numbers of drugs to close the gap between 140/90 and 130/80.

The heavy costs of over-medicating are paid both financially and in health outcomes. Dr. Argueda, the author of the Cochrane study, states that adverse drug reactions “could negate any potential benefit associated with any achieved lower blood pressure”. It could even increase the number of strokes and heart attacks if pressure gets too low.

Adverse drug reactions and side effects are serious but they are not the only damage resulting from overzealous blood pressure interventions. Untold damage is done by needlessly frightening millions of healthy people and turning them into patients. “A fit and healthy older person can return home from an annual health check as a patient, scared and no longer comfortably aging,” says Michael Oliver, Professor Emeritus of cardiology at the University …

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

As I age, people remind me that I need to look out for certain medical issues. Unfortunately, like a lot of men, I still sometimes think, “Well, I don’t feel any pain, so everything must be working relatively well.” Nobody said that male logic was brilliant logic. Like a lot of guys, I played a lot of sports in High School and had my share of injuries. At that age, it seemed that if there was ever a problem, there was nothing that an Ace bandage and ice couldn’t cure. As a matter of fact, we were such competitive little idiots, we would have bet who had the highest blood pressure or heart rate! Obviously, we weren’t the SMARTEST competitive group of guys….

Of course, as we all age, the goal is to keep your blood pressure low. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to all kinds of issues for your body. The most common problem with long term high blood pressure is that organs can be damaged. This kind of damage can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, aneurysms, bad vision (leading to blindness) and peripheral arterial disease. Obviously, none of these are desirable no matter your age, but as we all age, these become more and more likely if the blood pressure goes on unchecked for years.

And, going unchecked is one of the major problems with Hypertension. It is known as ‘the silent killer’ and it has earned that horrible moniker honestly: people generally have no idea they have it until they’re pressure is measured by a doctor or nurse. There are generally no outstanding symptoms of Hypertension! The victim MAY feel headaches, dizziness, blurred vision or nausea, but the person may easily write that sort of thing off to exhaustion or fatigue… and these days, don’t most of us feel exhausted, tired or stressed?

So, in fighting a disease that really doesn’t present itself in an obvious manner, prevention becomes your best weapon against it. This includes measures like: stopping smoking (if you do), cut down on drinking alcohol, lower salt/sodium intake (salt increases blood pressure), eat nutritious meals that are low in fat, increase your exercise and learn relaxation techniques (like yoga or meditation.)

If you do increase your physical activity, one of the things you might consider is taking supplements that reduce the ‘free radicals’ that occur when you exercise. Those are, essentially, waste products that occur when you expend energy and oxidize red blood cells in your body. The elements that reduce this kind of damage are called ‘Antioxidents’. One of the best naturally occurring antioxidants may, in fact, be Glutathione. Glutathione occurs naturally in the body, but you may benefit your body with an additional dietary supplement of the substance. If you are considering taking on some supplements to combat hypertension, you surely should learn more about Glutathione and Glutathione enhancers like MAXGXL.…

A List Of Foods That Clog Arteries

A List Of Foods That Clog Arteries

If you are at risk for stroke and heart attacks, then you should certainly stay away from the different foods that clog arteries. When the major arteries of your body become clogged, you have a higher chance of developing stroke which could lead you to more fatal effects. In the United States alone, strokes and heart diseases are in the list of top killers of Americans. If you would lead a much healthier life, you would not worry so much about it. But with how people are starting to live today, it would be a bit harder to start living healthy.

Aside from the sedentary lifestyle people are leading today, their choices of food items are what keep them unhealthy as well. With the introduction and the boom of the fast food restaurants, people have become so used to just ordering in and grabbing the food as they go that they fail to realize how the food was cooked. The name itself should give you a clear warning or perhaps an idea of how it was prepared.

Fast food joints usually sell burgers and fries which are loaded with cholesterol. Not to mention the fact that these are cooked in gallons and gallons of oil. What else usually goes best with a plate of burger and fries? A glass of ice, cold carbonated beverage of course! Just this pair could clog up your arteries if you are not careful enough.

There are other foods that clog arteries which you should really avoid if you want to make sure that your arteries and your heart stay healthy for more years. One of these foods is of course those food items which are deep fried in animal fat. Examples of course are fries, burgers, and fried chicken. Yes, fried chicken is bad for your health especially if it’s coated in more cholesterol and saturated fats. That is what you should keep away from, foods that are saturated in fats. Great examples of foods that contain fat and cholesterol are eggs. Although eggs are very healthy, the egg yolks are what are rich in cholesterol. Experts even agree that you should only eat a maximum of four eggs in a week.

Dairy products are also sources of fat. Milk is usually full fat, but there are others which are skimmed or are low in fat content, that is what you should get. You should also try and avoid butter. In fact, you should steer clear of foods that are rich in animal fat. These food items are what are going to do so much damage to your body as it could lead to serious conditions.…

How to Eliminate Hypertension

How to Eliminate Hypertension

We all deal with the hustle and bustle of life everyday, but did you know that that there could be a silent time bomb ticking inside you and you may not even know it? Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, silently affects over 73 million Americans in the U.S. That’s about 1 in 3 adults. This means that there is a high probability that you are experiencing hypertension and you may not even know it.

Many people are susceptible to this disease for a variety of reasons. Maybe you have a family history of the problem, or perhaps you have already been diagnosed with the condition by your doctor. Whatever the case may be, an option of how to eliminate hypertension you may not have considered is natural hypertension remedies.

In today’s culture of “Fast food and instant downloads” we have become accustomed to instant results. We have been conditioned to rely on drugs to slow our heart rate to relieve pressure or expand the arteries, all in an attempt to lower the pressure in our circulatory systems. While these drugs are sometimes effective, there are all too often many undesirable side affects, and the hypertension is only masked and NEVER really cured.

An alternative approach of how to eliminate hypertension many people are turning today is natural healing practitioners and techniques. By utilizing simple exercises and techniques millions are curing their hypertension problems naturally and enjoying many other beneficial side affects, all without expensive drugs. Below are some tips you can use to help eliminate hypertension and start feeling better right now.

1. Watch your diet. We as a society today eat way too much fat. It is in everything, so read those labels and lower the amount of fat you are eating. Lower body fat percentage is a great way to help eliminate hypertension. Check your BMI (Body Mass Index). Do a Google search of “BMI” and you will find online calculators to show you where you currently stand as far as your weight. Losing weight is well known to help lower hypertension.

2. Cigarettes. If you smoke, make the commitment to stop now. Plaque build-up in the arteries results from smoking, and contributes to the problems of hypertension. For your sake and your family’s now would be a good time to get on a program to quit.

3. Reducing the amount of alcohol you consume can greatly reduce hypertension. Limiting your alcohol intake to one glass per day will pay big dividends in lowering hypertension.

4. Vitamins. Natural health doctors report that most people are deficient in at least 5 essential vitamins. A good multi vitamin is highly recommended.

5. Exercise your Heart. The benefits of cardiac exercise are numerous and well documented. You don’t have to kill yourself running long distance to get huge benefits to your health. Simply walking everyday is not only enjoyable and relaxing, but also helps accelerate your metabolism and lose weight.

There you go. If you …

Natural Cures For the Horrible Disease of Hypertension – Uses of Potassium

Natural Cures For the Horrible Disease of Hypertension – Uses of Potassium

Hypertension will kill you! If you doubt me, do nothing and see what happens. Unfortunately you will not be around to pay me off. Heart Attack and Strokes are the #1 and #3 killers of adults in America today. That doesn’t even get into diabetes, liver issues and numerous other issues that can be caused and complicated by high blood pressure. Think it isn’t important? Think again. There are natural cures for the horrible disease of hypertension that are available thankfully, read on to find out more…

Prescription medications a cure but with a heavy cost

Synthetic prescription medications for Hypertension (HTN) and High Blood Pressure (HBP) are available when and if you need them. Unfortunately they are full of horrible and nasty side effects. It is; of course, better than death but from having been on them in the past I can say it is not much better than death. The sad thing is as nasty as they are with all the side effects that just do in a synthetic manner what natural cures can do organically. Not that it should be an issue, since your life is at stake, but they cost a lot more too.

Natural remedies, the uses of potassium

One of the many natural remedies is Potassium. Where can you get potassium? Many fruits are a good source. Particularly Bananas. A potassium rich diet has shown numerous benefits. Simply put, Potassium is one of the best nutrients you can take to help you with your blood pressure. A potassium rich diet has been shown to decrease blood pressure by as much as 20 points for people in at risk and hypertensive levels.

Other natural remedies and cures for hypertension…

Hypertension: Women With High Blood Pressure

Hypertension: Women With High Blood Pressure

In the public perception, hypertension is a condition associated with overweight middle-aged men. In many cases, the primary cause of their high blood pressure is their sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive drinking and smoking. Perhaps because of stereotyping, these lifestyle choices are not traditionally seen as characteristic of women. Times have changed. Women are now just as at risk of developing the condition as men.

Causes of Hypertension

There are two main types of high blood pressure: essential and secondary hypertension. In essential hypertension, it is not possible to determine the direct cause of the condition. It is sometimes attributed to a genetic predisposition where there is a history of the condition within the immediate family. Notwithstanding that the cause cannot be identified, being overweight, having a poor diet, smoking, heavy drinking, and having a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors for essential hypertension.

Secondary hypertensioncan be caused by and traced to variety of factors such as medication, kidney problems, being overweight, having a poor diet, lifestyle choices and pregnancy. High blood pressure can cause complications during pregnancy.

Hypertension in Women

It is a widely held misconception that women develop high blood pressure as a symptom of their menstrual period. What is clear though is that just like in the case of men, lifestyle choices contribute to a woman developing hypertension.

Over the last few decades women’s lifestyles, in general, have become more sedentary. A generation ago, a woman, who is now termed a “stay at home mom”, would have had a physically active lifestyle. That has gradually changed as labour saving devices have lifted much of the physical burden and whereas previously, she would have walked or cycled to do the daily shopping, she now drives to the supermarket once a week or even once a month. Even that is gradually dying out with online shopping and home delivery. Shopping has become a leisure activity.

Many working women have office based jobs that have become more sedentary in nature with the introduction of Information Technology.

A generation ago, it was not socially acceptable for a woman to be a heavy drinker or to smoke as heavily as men did. Over the last 20 years or so, there has been a sharp rise in the number of women who smoke and or drink heavily.

Because the risks of a woman developing high blood pressure are now broadly the same as a man, and more so during pregnancy, women should take the following measures to reduce the risk:

Have a healthy balanced diet that is low in fat and sodium and moderate in sugar. Traditionally, women’s diets were considered to be healthier than men’s, but the rise in popularity of fast foods and snacks that have a high salt and fat content means that view is less valid than it used to be.

Reduce the amount of coffee and sodas you drink. Try to drink about 2 litres of water each day.

Lose excess weight.…

Shape Up The Smart Way With This Handy Fitness Advice

If you’re similar to the majority of other individuals, then exercise isn’t something that comes naturally to you. It can be hard to begin a routine when you have no idea what to do. You need information and information. Here are a few tips that offer both so you get started in getting fit today.

A personal trainer is a workout program. A good trainer can help you design a training program that will get you to your desired level of fitness. Hiring a professional will put you on a program that works for you.

Pay upfront at the clubs that you join to gain extra motivation with your fitness club. This plan is designed for everyone; don’t bother trying it unless you’re finding it difficult to maintain your motivation.

The best exercise programs will not only tone your problem areas and allow you plenty of flexibility. Search for classes in your surrounding area.

Try exercising during your favorite TV show in order to keep yourself going. You can use commercial or do an exercise when there is a break in the action. You can even work with small weights while you sit on the couch. There are many little ways to incorporate exercise in your day.

Keep a journal of your daily activities. You should even keep track of what the day’s weather conditions. This will help you reflect on anything that affected your day. If you miss a workout, make a note of why you had to skip the sessions.

Write down the exercises that you do every day. Note your workouts as well as any extra moving you engage in. Buy a pedometer and look to see how many steps you take during the day; write that down, also.This written record will prove invaluable in tracking your progress as you move towards your fitness journey.

Make a concerted effort to do the exercises you don’t like and they will seem less daunting. The thinking here is that people tend to avoid doing activities that they are not good at. Add this exercise to your regular routine and work hard to overcome it.

Always dress comfortably when you are exercising.If you are heading out to the gym, there can be some pressure to dress in the latest workout attire, but you need to put comfort first. Make sure what you won’t feel embarrassed about moving in.The proper workout clothes will make exercising more about fitness and enjoyable.

Flex your glutes at the top of each rep when you lift weights over your head. This will give your butt and is a great workout while decreasing the odds of working out in general.The more stabilized position of your glutes help to stabilize and protect your spine.

Adhere to the advice offered if you want to get serious about fitness. It can take time to become comfortable with this new lifestyle, but you’ll soon see the results of your fitness and feel much better about them. Nothing looks or feels …

Water Drinking and Hypertension – The Linkage

Water Drinking and Hypertension – The Linkage

It is significant to know that water drinking and hypertension has a linkage. Drinking plenty of water can give us benefit to control blood pressure. Living with hypertension or high blood pressure is the most terrifying condition. Ironically, there is no cure for hypertension. Though, since hypertension and water are linked, you still can live longer by drinking plenty of water.

Ruins the Arteries

It’s significant to know that hypertension or high blood pressure can damage your arteries. Furthermore, this condition can cause some life-threatening conditions just like heart attack, hormonal disorder, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Since the sufferer of this condition never realizes that they actually have it until it is too late, hypertension is referred as silent killer. Then, what is the correlation between hypertension and drinking some water?

Regarding to the truth that blood pressure can be controlled by drinking plenty amount of water, the correlation between hypertension and water drinking apparently emerges. In addition, in an easy and effective manner, high blood pressure can also be alleviated when you drink plenty amount of water.

It is necessary to know that when your body doesn’t have sufficient water within, blood pressure has negatively affected. This condition actually reveals that there is actually a really close link between hypertension and drinking some water.

Apart from that, you need to keep in mind that drinking appropriate amount of water will go a long side in assisting to fight hypertension effectively.

The relation between hypertension and water has been a topic to concern in some medical fraternities. They have been conducting some studies toward the topic about hypertension and drinking some water correlation. Hopefully, as progressively in-depth research is led on the topic, we will come to understand on how water drinking assists with hypertension problem.

Don’t keep yourself trapped in doubt. Have more knowledge about water drinking and hypertension and get yourself updated with hypertension by clicking the links here!…