Category: General Article

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 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

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

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

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

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

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.…

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

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!…

Hypertension Medication Side Effects – Do You Know What Your Drug Can Do to You?

Hypertension medications have made improvements over the past years and that’s good news for people who have been prescribed those antihypertensive drugs. Some drugs have improved potency which means lower doses are required. Others work in ways that did not exist several years ago and also allow for lower dosages or more effective combinations of drugs.

So if there have been so many improvements, why do you feel so lousy?

These drugs still come with side effects. Understand that hypertension treatment is a numbers game. Your doctor will start with a low dosage on one or two medicines and will continue to adjust both type of drugs and dosages until a combination is found that controls your condition. At least it controls it for now. If you condition changes, or you develop intolerance to the drug, the mix and match process begins again.

Here’s a sample of what you can expect in the way of side effects for a few of the classes of drugs:

Diuretics are the oldest and least expensive form of treatment for high blood pressure. Diuretics flush sodium and excess fluids from the body reducing blood volume. The less blood in the system, the less pressure required to pump it. Thiazide diuretics can also prevent sodium from being reabsorbed in the body. Side effects include:

Thirst, potassium depletion, frequent urination, weakness, impotence, muscle cramps, lightheadedness, constipation and confusion.

Anti-adrenergics work by limiting the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine which have a stiffening effect on the blood vessels. Without this effect both the vessels and heart are more relaxed and less pressure is required to pump blood. Side effects:

Depression, fatigue, wheezing, insomnia, impotence and a decrease in good cholesterol HDL can occur as a result of taking this class of drug. The very scary part is do not miss taking your pill as prescribed. Sudden withdrawal can trigger an angina or heart attack.

ACE Inhibitors. This class is one of the most effective in controlling blood pressure. This drug works by deactivating angiotensin-converting enzyme which prevents the kidney from absorbing sodium and retaining water. Left unchecked, these enzymes can stiffen blood vessels and increase pressure. Side effects include:

Cough, rash, fluid retention and loss of taste. May also cause fetal abnormalities.

So that’s the popular line up of hypertension medications and their side effects. Is there an alternative to these?

The answer is yes, if you want to make some changes in the way you live your life.

The American Heart Association endorses changes in diet, exercise and stress management as the best way to control hypertension. If you are fed up with the side effects, the expense, or simply the fact that you will be reliant on daily medication for the rest of your life, then you need to learn about the alternatives.

Natural approaches can not only control your high blood pressure, it can cure it and reverse much of …

How To Be A Friend To Someone In Depression

Trying to understand what is going on in the mind of someone in depression is the first step. Reading articles, books, watching documentaries can all help you understand a little more about the illness.

Of course the best place to begin is having been through it yourself. That is a privileged position because you already know exactly how terrible and painful it feels to be in depression.

That doesn’t mean to say you should talk about your own experience of depression. This is always tempting. To bring the conversation to yourself and begin offering advice.

However what someone in depression really needs is simply for you to come alongside them. To accompany them in their vulnerability. To listen. To remain silent. Not to interrupt. To be there.

It’s an extremely demanding thing to be a friend to someone in depression. Patience is the number one rule.

The temptation is to assume that there will be some form of progress since last you met but depression is a long term illness. Visible signs of relief are rare and can come and go like the wind.

Asking questions can be a burden for the suffering friend. There is already enough going on inside her head which needs releasing in one way or other. To answer questions just adds to the weight of thoughts pounding away.

Going for a silent walk in nature can be a real help. Sharing the scenes, the scents and the exercise. Then returning home for a cup of tea, again without questioning. Answering only when asked. Just being there.

Rather than ask “what can I do to help”, as you visit someone at their home, just pick up the cloth and begin cleaning the kitchen. Fold any clothes. Empty the laundry basket and put on a machine load. Take out the ironing board and just begin these practical tasks.

Some people may be offended but on the whole, the relief of such tasks being taken off the shoulders of the depressed friend will be huge.

Someone in depression will find it extremely hard asking or accepting help. That’s why it’s important just to get on with it.

Bring a hot meal around with you, or a home-made cake. Bring something practical to make their life easier.

People often think of bringing a book but be careful what you choose. The sufferer will have a hard time concentrating so make it a coffee table book with photos or pictures. Those in depression can cope with only few words at a time.…

Postpartum Panic Attacks: If You Are Plagued With This Condition Here Are 3 Ways To Deal With It

For many women giving birth is a happy time of their life. For others, however, symptoms of depression and panic attacks can occur so strongly as to drastically affect their lives.

Postpartum disorders occur in one in every eight women, so if this your case, you are clearly not alone.

These symptoms go far beyond the typical baby blues that many mothers experience but rather they are intense feelings of not being able to cope and not feeling like you.

What can these women experience?

These new moms worry about really harming their children. This is a large part of the cause for the anxiety as even picturing harming a child can cause anyone to feel just horrible.

Furthermore, the anxiety of raising a child, because of the feeling of not being adequate to the job, is also a contributing factor.

Such questions as how to provide proper care and nutrients to the child just keep swimming in the postpartum mothers mind.

While this depression and postpartum anxiety continues to rage on the feelings will compound, and the situation will just get worse. This is why it is absolutely crucial to seek help at the very first signs of postpartum depression!

Can Postpartum Panic Attacks Be Helped?

Fortunately, postpartum depression can be reversed, and the anxiety attacks that come with this condition, can also be treated. This is certainly not a new disorder and many Mothers go through the same feelings after giving birth.

So What Are The 3 Ways to Deal with Postpartum Panic Attacks?

1.) The best way to start to deal with postpartum panic attacks, are to recognize them for what they are and to seek out a local support group. Just talking to other mothers can reassure you that you are not going crazy.

Furthermore, these groups help to realize that these feelings do not make you a lousy mother.

2.) Another way to deal with these anxiety attacks is to seek out professional medical care. Now obviously you are nursing so the medications you take will have to be taken into account.

Just using some simple and homeopathic remedies has been proven to help many mothers with postpartum depression. As well as relaxing exercises such as some light Yoga or any other relaxing exercise could be very helpful.

3.) The last way is to seek out cognitive therapy and interpersonal therapy. The way this helps is that cognitive therapy helps to overcome negative perceptions, which can result is a lack of energy and depression.

While interpersonal therapy can overcome immediate and difficult problems also help with difficult transitions such as giving birth.

Is This a Common Condition?

While postpartum depression may not be all that common, it is vitally important that you and your family recognize the symptoms of this disorder. Once you have the ability to spot yourself falling prey to this disease it will be …

Using Cinnamon Aids High Blood Pressure Problems

It’s known that spices are natural remedies, cinnamon is one that helps with high blood pressure issues. Of course there are others, but will focus on cinnamon because it’s easy to find. Lets take a closer look at how we can add this to our diets.

There are two types of cinnamon, whole and extract. Both are proven to have a positive affect on high blood pressure. Since high blood pressure and diabetes are a kin to one another, you can look into using cinnamon for both.

So the common question asked is why? There are properties within cinnamon that helps use the hormone insulin in the body. In effect, it lowers levels of glucose and triglycerides (fat in blood) which benefits people with high blood pressure. Anytime you can reduce the accumulation of bad fats inside your arterial walls you step closer to controlling your situation.

Dosage of Cinnamon for High Blood Pressure Problems

There are several ways to use cinnamon, for it to be effective you have to include it in your daily routine. Try this as a recommended dosage.

First, add 1/2 teaspoon of powdered cinnamon daily on cereal or toast or mix into yogurt. Then you can either take one capsule twice a day or you might try buying a tincture and add 30 drops to one ounce of distilled water 3 times a day.

Lets add one more alternative if you don’t want to take the tincture. Use 1/2 teaspoon of powdered cinnamon with eight ounces of boiling water. Let sit for 15 minutes, makes two cups of 4 ounces each. Drink twice a day.

The main thing is to get enough cinnamon in your system so your body can start to reverse some of the damage already done.

There are a few other common spices you can add to your diet, and there are some less common herbs. Start with the common more neutral items, like cinnamon, if your blood pressure issue is more severe you might have to look into a stronger herb.

Keep you doctor in the loop, most spices will not confict with medications, but it’s safer to inform your physician about any changes you make.

There are many other things you can do for your high blood pressure issues.…

How to Take Someone’s Blood Pressure to Check For Hypertension

Blood pressure should be taken in such a way as to ensure that you do not come up with the wrong result, especially when you are suspecting that the individual may be having hypertension. When the right procedure is followed you are sure to avoid errors that could prove expensive in the long run.

What should you do before taken the blood pressure?1. Ensure the individual is not over excited. If he/she is excited the secretion of adrenaline increases and this would give you a wrong result.2. Be sure the individual has not just finished a rigorous exercise. This would increase the heart rate and alter the result as well.3. Ensure the person has also not just finished eating a heavy meal. This would increase the work load of the heart as it attempts to digest the heavy meal.4. Make sure he/she rests for at least 2-5 minutes after arriving in your clinic before taking the blood pressure.

To find out if someone has hypertension, you need to check his/her blood pressure for the first time and record the result. The individual should then be advised to repeat the check daily (at the same time) or on alternate days for at least one further week to be sure there is a sustained elevation before you could come up with a diagnosis.

How should you check the blood pressure?1. Make the person sit up in a chair or lie down on a bed.2. Squeeze the cuff to expel air if you are using the analog sphygmomanometer.3. Wrap the arm cuff around his/her upper arm, at least half an inch above the elbow joint, with the air tube over the brachial artery.4. Press the ‘start’ button (if you are using the digital sphygmomanometer); and the cuff is inflated automatically. Allow it to deflate on its own and when the measurement value is displayed, you have to take down the reading. Press the ‘stop’ button and return the equipment to a safe place.5. If you are using the analog sphygmomanometer, you have to place the diaphragm of your stethoscope over the brachial artery (after procedure number 3 above) and place the ear tubes over your ears; tighten the knob of the sphygmomanometer and then pump with the inflator.6. Listen to the heart beat as you pump. Take note of the point at which you stopped hearing the sound. Pump a little further before releasing the knob to deflate the cuff.7. Take note of the first heart sound (systolic) as you deflate the cuff; and also the point at which the heart’s sound finally disappears (the diastolic). 8. Remove equipment and record your findings.

The upper sound is referred to as the ‘systolic’ while the lower sound is referred to as the ‘diastolic’ sound. If the reading for an average adult is in the range of 140-159 over 90-99 (140/90 – 159/99), ‘stage 1 hypertension’ is said to exist. But if the reading is …

High Blood Pressure Treatment Strategies

When blood passes through the blood vessels, it exerts force on the walls of the blood vessels called blood pressure. If the blood pressure is always high, the blood vessels can become damaged which can lead to life-threatening complications like stroke and heart attack. Blood pressure treatment is always started whenever a person is diagnosed with hypertension.

When a person’s BP is 140/90 or higher in two different occasions, he or she is diagnosed with hypertension. The good thing is that hypertension can be treated with a lot of various ways. Of course, there are available drugs that are effective in treating hypertension. In fact, anti-hypertensive drugs are always prescribed to persons who are diagnosed with hypertension. What are the different available anti-hypertensive medicines nowadays?

Diuretics are the most common form of drugs prescribed to treat hypertension. Diuretics lead to frequent urination so that the excess salt and water in the body is removed. Once extra salt and water are urinated, blood pressure becomes lower and the heart can pump easily. Diuretics can cause adverse effects like dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, arrhythmia, and others.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are another form of drugs prescribed to treat hypertension. ACE inhibitors work by dilating the blood vessels which leads to increase in blood flow, decrease in blood pressure, and easier work for the heart. Also, ACE inhibitors can protect the kidneys from the effects of hypertension. ACE inhibitors can cause adverse effects like sore throat, severe vomiting or diarrhea, dizziness, cough, and others.

One of the most common forms of medicines used to treat hypertension is angiotensin II receptor blockers or ARBs. ARBs can prevent the constriction of blood vessels since these can block angiotensin II. Therefore, ARBs work by widening the blood vessels so that blood flow is increased and blood pressure is decreased. ARBs are usually prescribed to hypertensive people who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors. ARBs can cause side effects like severe vomiting, confusion, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, and others.

One of the most common forms of drugs used to treat hypertension is beta-blockers. Beta-blockers function by reducing the work of the heart which enables it to pump easier using less oxygen and blod. The common side effects of beta-blockers include fatigue, dizziness, edema, slow heartbeat, and others.

Calcium channel blockers are another form of drugs prescribed to treat hypertension. These drugs slow down the movement of calcium to the heart and blood vessels which results to widened blood vessels. Some of the usual side effects of calcium channel blockers are dizziness, dry mouth, edema, headache, and others.

Besides prescribing drugs, the doctor will also recommend lifestyle changes that can effectively lower your blood pressure. Some of these lifestyle changes include smoking cessation, reduced alcohol and caffeine intake, regular exercise, proper diet, and stress reduction. In addition to using anti-hypertensive medicines, these lifestyle changes include the blood pressure treatment that most doctors prescribe.…

Many people strive to get into shape but just don’t think it is something they are always held back because it becomes too much of a chore. Use the advice in this article and learn the most important aspects of fitness.

You should not lift weights for more than an hour of lifting weights. Muscle wasting can begin in as little as an hour of lifting weights. So make sure to keep these weight lifting to no more than sixty minutes.

Keep your exercise routine interesting by including a wide range of exercises. This can help you avoid boredom from too much repetition and will also maintain your level of motivation.

Strong thighs are important for preventing knee injuries.Torn kneecap ligaments are common sport injuries. Leg extensions and curls are a couple of great exercises to accomplish this.

You can reduce your chance of injury which walking by making sure to observe correct form as you are in proper form. Walk with your back straight and keep your shoulders angled back. Your elbows should fall at 90-degree angle. Make sure your arms are opposite pattern to your foot movements.

Wall sits are fast and improving leg strength.Start by selecting an open wall space for your body in motion. Stand about eighteen inches from the wall. Stay in this position for as long as your legs will let you.

Your goal is to stay between 80 and twenty when you ride your bike. This means that you the ability of riding longer distances at greater speeds without fatiguing or straining your knees. This is the rpm range that you should aim to hit.

Flex your glutes at the top of each rep when you lift weights above your head. This will exercise your glutes a great workout while decreasing the odds of working out in general. This position will allow you lift the spine.

This can help you start for your day and develop healthy habits for you build off of.

You can get stronger faster by incorporating more rest into your routine. This results in muscles harder and will increase your endurance. For example, if your usual workout takes thirty minutes, attempt to bring it down to just 40 minutes.

There are more to fitness than physical strength.Regular exercise aslo has the added benefit of an increase in your sense of well-being and it promotes good emotional benefits. The endorphins released while working out can lead to a feeling of well as some depression medications.Working out also enhances your self-image and your confidence level.You can think of working out as a couple times.

Practice your contact skills. Playing foosball can help improve your volleyball skills. You need great hand-to-eye coordination to beat an opponent in foosball. These skills can then be improved on and can work great things in the volleyball world.

Using the material above, you should be well prepared to boost your personal fitness level. You will always have more to learn, but the only way to do …

Finding The Favor Of God In Difficult Times

Today your life may seem upside down and you don’t know what you are going to do or where to go from here. Today’s society is in a slump and the economy is nothing short of a repeat of the Great Depression. There are millions of reasons to feel depressed and give up on life but you are closer than you think to turning your life around.

It’s so easy to be stressed out and fall into a negative mindset. Nothing seems to go your way and you never seem to get lucky breaks in life. You have grown up with negative people in a dysfunctional family so you may say to yourself “how could I be any different?” Bills may be piling up and the job search is not going well so you pull the covers over your head and try and forget it all. You turn on the television and it’s all bad news about the same old things with the economy, unemployment blah, blah, blah.

You don’t have to follow the other nay sayers over a cliff and lose all hope of turning things around. God knows the beginning from the end and is aware of your situation. He is opening doors even now for you to make divine connections with key people and sending a Breath Of Heaven your way. God created you and you matter to Him. He gave His all and the last thing He wants to see is for you to slip and fall.

Believe in your heart and have the faith of a tiny seed of mustard and you will move the hand of God to intervene in your life. The thing that you fear the most that is happening in your life is a mere wrench in the works of life and God will easily remove it and restart things for you. The problems you are facing are going to turn into huge blessings that will explode on your life. New things are coming your way and all things are possible with God.

God always uses the average people in the world to do great things with. He sees your situation and you are exactly the type of person He wants to use for His glory. He wants only to have an intimate relationship with you and help you become the best that you can be. Don’t despair for your miracle is coming your way and a sweet breeze is coming your way straight from the throne of grace.…

Hypertension During Pregnancy

The Threat of High Blood Pressure

Definition

It is a potentially life-threatening disorder that usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is most common in nulliparous (have not been pregnant) women. There are two categories of gestational hypertension. These are:

Preeclampsia

Non-convulsive form of the disorder. It develops in about 7% of pregnancies and may be mild or severe. Marked by the onset of hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation.

The incidence is significantly higher in low socioeconomic groups.

Eclampsia

Convulsive form of the disorder. Occurs between 24 weeks of gestation and the end of the first postpartum (after delivery) week. Incidence increases among women who are pregnant for the first time, have multiple fetuses, and have a history of vascular disease

Currently gestational hypertension and its complications are the most common cause of maternal death in the developed countries.

The Story Behind Gestational Hypertension

There is no exact cause for this condition. The systemic peripheral spasm of the vessels can occur. It affects every organ system. There are researches that support with geographic, ethnic, racial, nutritional, immunologic, and familiar factors may contribute to preexisting vascular disease, which in turn may contribute to its occurrence. The age is considered as a factor. Adolescents younger than age 19 and primiparas (first time being pregnant) older than age 35 are at higher risk.

What to look for?

The following are the common clinical manifestations of a woman who have gestational hypertension:

Blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg or an increase of 300mmHg systolic and 15mmHg diastolic over baseline obtained in two occasions at least 4 to 6 hours apart;

Increase in generalized edema associated with a sudden weight gain of more than 5 lb (2.3kg) per week;

Usually appears between the 20th week and 24th weeks of gestation and disappears within 42 days after the delivery;

A final diagnosis usually deferred until blood pressure returns to normal after delivery; if blood pressure remains elevated, chronic hypertension, either alone or superimposed on gestational hypertension, may be the cause;

Additional signs and symptoms with severe preeclampsia include increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric acid levels; frontal headaches (forehead), blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, irritability, and epigastric pain.

What test is being done?

Laboratory tests is use to determine the protein level in the urine. Proteinuria (protein in the urine) is of gestational hypertension. In preeclampsia, there is protein level in the urine that exceeds 300mg/24 hours (1+) and in eclampsia, 5g/24 hours (5+) or more.

How is it managed medically?

High protein diet with adequate fluid intake with restriction of excessively salty foods;

Bed rest in side-lying position;

Close observance of blood pressure, fetal heart rate, edema, proteinuria, and signs of pending eclampsia;

Administration of antihypertensive drugs

How it is managed at home?

When you know someone who happens to have this condition, it is best for you to advise then to monitor their vital signs especially the blood pressure regularly. The fetal heart rate must be closely monitored …

What the Research Is Saying About KMC and Post Natal Depression

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been studied now for over thirty years. KMC involves skin to skin contact between the mother and the newborn, specifically having the baby positioned on mom’s chest in an upright position. The concept originates from the Australian marsupial (kangaroo) which carries its baby (Joey) in a pouch for approximately four months after birth. The interaction between mom and baby means that baby relies on mom’s warmth, love and nutrition.

Many studies have shown that KMC is an invaluable therapy for both newborn baby and the new mom. So what is the research saying about KMC and Postnatal Depression (PND)?

Well, back in 2007 Brazilian researchers published a study in the Oxford Tropical Peadiatrics, concluding that Kangaroo Mother Care can prove helpful in warding off Postnatal Depression. The researchers studied mothers whilst they were providing Kangaroo Mother Care and the results were stunning. Not one mother developed signs of postpartum depression during this time. That’s right! Not one mother developed or suffered from any form of postnatal depression.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published an article that focused on the bonding and the encouragement of breast-feeding through Kangaroo Mother Care. With the newborn baby lying in the prone position on mom’s chest, many of the typical after-birth examinations and procedures can be conducted easily, whilst maintaining that bond between newborn baby and mom. In fact in 2006 there was a new mother-To-Infant bonding (MIB) scale introduced, and compared with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EDPS), women that scored low on the MIB scale were scoring higher on the EPDS scale. The same was true of women who scored low on the EPDS scale, where they scored higher on the MIB scale.

Kangaroo Mother Care increases the production of Oxytocin through the skin-to-skin contact between mom and the baby. This Oxytocin is what is often called the “cuddle” or “love” hormone, and it is believed that oxytocin helps to ward off symptoms of postpartum depression.

All of this is very compelling information that hospitals and birthing settings should be taking into consideration. Mothers of newborns need to be encouraged to use KMC from the moment of birth. It is common knowledge that the first hours of life are extremely important for the mother-baby bonding process. Did you know that if a newborn baby and mom are separated, there is a risk if bonding failure and that the likelihood of successful ongoing breastfeeding is reduced.

The fact that KMC requires no drugs, chemicals or other things that can interfere with the natural mother newborn relationship, and that the research has shown KMC to be very beneficial, makes it a natural option for all new mom’s especially in reducing the potential for PND. Research will continue, but for now it is safe to say that all studies show KMC is a beneficial and positive for both mom and baby.…

Five Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Did you know that about 65 million Americans have been diagnosed with high blood pressure? The good news is that some new research shows that many of these people have been able to get their hypertension under control without taking medication. Here’s how they are doing it.

Potassium relaxes your blood vessel.A� Studies show that increasing your intake of potassium-rich foods could cut your blood pressure by as much as 13 points.A� Some potassium-rich foods that you should consider are dried peaches, beet greens, spinach, white beans, dates, raisins, potatoes, refried beans and tomato sauce.A� All of these food choices contain more than 800 mg. of potassium per cup.A�

Consume sesame oil.A� If you can consume at least 1 oz. of sesame oil daily, your blood pressure could drop by as much as 32 points in two months.A� It sounds incredible, but apparently sesame oil relaxes blood vessel walls, therefore preventingA�pressure spikes.A�

Lower volume on electronic devices.A� A recent study at the Lund University Hospital in Sweden revealed that repeated daily exposure to noises above 60 decibels raises your risk of having hypertension by more than 25%.A� By listening to soothing, relaxing music, you can automatically slow your breathing and heart rate, which will, in effect, lower your blood pressure.A� So, turn down the volume on the television, PlayStation, alarm clock and radio.A� It will be to your benefit.A�

Eat more barley.A� Barley is a simple, inexpensive side dish which contains 13 g. of soluble fiber per cup.A� New research has shown that by consuming one heaping cup of barley daily you can normalize your blood pressure in just two months.A� In addition to fiber, barley is also loaded with artery-relaxing minerals which also helps lower your blood pressure.A�

Sit up straight.A� You know how your mother used to tell you to sit up straight?A� Well, apparently that was good advice.A� Surprising research has shown that sitting with your neck jutting forward and your shoulders slumped can lead to a 16% spike in your blood pressure.A� Apparently the nerves that keep your blood pressure in check come directly from your spine and slouching will hinder their function.…

How to Reverse the Symptoms of Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure as it can also be known is becoming a common health condition in many people. Hypertension happens when the arteries in the body get narrower. This increases the pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries. Arteries become narrower due to age or due to the diet we eat. If we eat a diet that is high in saturated fats then we can increase the risk of getting hypertension. Foods high in fat are linked to the creation of plaque which are waxy deposits that attach themselves to the lining of the artery walls. Over time as these deposits build up the artery tubes become narrower. This makes it more difficult for the blood to flow through causing an increase in pressure. The hardening of the arteries can eventually lead to heart disease and stroke.

However, the following are ways to reduce your risk of getting high blood pressure as well as alleviating the symptoms:

Reduce you intake of saturated fats

Foods that are high in saturated fats can eventually cause these fatty deposits to line your arteries. Therefore, review your diet and if you find you are eating a lot of red meat and fried food try to cut these out or at least reduce them.

Cut out salt

The walls of the arteries contain muscles that make sure the lining stays round and firm. A diet that has high levels of salt in them can weaken these muscles. All processed foods contain sodium to make them taste better. In some products there are unhealthy levels of salt. The salt is so well masked due to other additives that many people cannot taste it and therefore, add more salt to it. Review your diet and cut down on your intake of salt.

The benefits of eating fish

Fish contains the essential fatty acids omega 6. This is considered to help reduce heart disease. Omega 6 has anti-inflammatory qualities that can help reduce the inflammation of the arteries which can cause damage. Fish oil is also considered to help thin the blood in conjunction with vitamin E. If you do not eat fish then consider making it part of your diet. Try and eat fish 2 times a week. There are also a variety of fish oil tablets that contain a combination of the omega 6 oil and vitamin E. These are a suitable substitute if you are not able to buy fish.

If you have food allergies or a medical condition consult a doctor before you change your diet.…

Depression And Addictions – The Connection

Psychologists have long established the connection between depression and addictions. The only score to settle now is, determining which causes what. Does addiction cause depression or is it the other way around?

To give an outright answer to those questions, it can actually be both. If you want to find out how and why, then read on.

First off, perhaps it would be safe to start with defining the terms that will come into play in this discussion. Addiction, in relation to substances, is defined as a person’s unusual need to consume something in huge amounts. Their initial purpose is to use these substances to help them alter their moods. Depression, on the other hand, is often characterized by doctors as a person’s unexplained sadness or melancholia that lasts anywhere from two weeks up to a full month or a year.

Now that we have a common understanding of what it is we are dealing with, let us move on to the topic at hand, the connection of depression and addictions.

Addiction as One Cause of Depression:

Mood altering substances are typically classified into 2 groups. They are what we call, uppers and downers. As implied, uppers, (like methamphetamine – commonly found in ecstasy), can bring about instant feelings of elation and lightheadedness. Downers, on the other hand, (like alcohol, tranquilizers, heroin and/or cocaine), give a calming and soothing effect. When taken in huge amounts, downers may have the tendency to bring forth a person’s melancholic mood. In fact their effects may be enough to make a person withdraw from their life, friends and family. And this prolonged melancholia and withdrawal brought about by substance abuse may become the cause of clinical depression in the long run.

Depression as One Cause of Addiction:

It is not unknown to most of us that when a person is faced with too much emotional troubles that they feel they cannot handle, there is a great tendency for him to try to resolve his problems in a different way. And most of the time, they see drugs or other similar substances as their easy way out. As they try using these “alternative” solutions, they find satisfaction to the point that they get hooked to them. They stop using the substances as a mere coping mechanism and start becoming dependent to them. That as we all know is the start of addiction.

Those are the connections of depression and addictions. Judging how both factors are closely intertwined with each other, it will be pointless to pinpoint which really causes what. What we all have to remember is how depression and addictions are closely linked to each other and avoid both of them at all costs.

Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable. Seek help.…

The Link Between Obesity and High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. This condition is widely described by medical professionals as “the silent killer” because most people don’t even know they have it until it strikes a major organ system. Many people remain undiagnosed until hypertension is revealed by having their blood pressure taken during a medical or dental appointment. For those who do have symptoms, they include headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, a flushed face and fatigue. Hypertension that isn’t controlled by medication, diet modifications and environmental/social conditions that produce high stress such as an extremely stressful home or job situation will result in stroke, aneurysm, heart attack, heart failure and kidney damage.

According to the Merk Manual of Medical Information, 2nd Edition, more than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure – many don’t even know it! Hypertention is an equal opportunity destroyer, but it tends to affect African Americans in particular. It is twice as common among people who are obese than among those who are not. Severe, long-term hypertension that is untreated can cause swelling of the brain, chronic headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, sleeplessness, and coma.

An overweight or obese person will be advised by their doctors to lose weight. Even losing as much as ten pounds can lower blood pressure! For those who are suffering from obesity-related diabetes, a radical change of diet that greatly reduces fat content, stopping alcohol (way high in calories), stopping smoking, and increasing physical activity through yoga, pilates, walking meditation, and mild to moderate increase in aerobic exercise. Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure and the functioning of the heart.

In addition to these changes in personal and social environmental levels, doctors will most likely recommend medication to reduce high blood pressure. These include diuretics to eliminate excess water content in the body, an alpha or beta blocker, an ACE inhibitor, an angiotensin II blocker, or a calcium channel blocker. Your health care provider will fully explain all medication options to you. These drugs do have side effects that are generally not serious when compared to the havoc that untreated hypertension unleashes in the body.

For obese people with hypertension, the first front guard action is losing weight. Physicians dislike prescribing the drug phentermine or similar prescription drugs because has so many dangerous side effects, including fatal reactions and addiction to the drug. If phentermine is given, the patient must be very closely monitored by a health care provider to make sure the patient’s use is not causing any serious medical problem.

For an increasing number of overweight and obese people, over-the-counter supplements are their answer to losing weight and keeping it off. Fortunately, illnesses caused by obesity are most often significantly reduced through weight loss and other medical protocol. It comes down to an obese person making a very serious personal choice: do I want to face chronic illness or even death, or do I want to lose weight?

Make your choice today, starting …

Natural Remedies For Hypertension – Are They Effective?

More and more medical researchers discovered that the majority of medications for hypertension could have negative side effects. In addition, more and more doctors realize that medication will not cure hypertension without any side effects, so they suggest avoiding drugs and going for natural ways of controlling hypertension by exercise, diet to reduce weight, and change to a healthy lifestyle. 

Natural remedies for hypertension have proven to be effective, as long as the sufferers would take the remedies patiently and in high discipline. Natural remedies mostly take time to get the result. When you know you are suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure, you would strictly avoid the type of food that will cause your blood pressure to rise. Many people who not only cannot avoid junk food, but they also cannot stop smoking. They are not going for health checkup either because they do not feel anything wrong with their body. This is really the biggest problem we are facing now.

For many people, the symptoms of hypertension are not clear. They are unaware of their own hypertension. They will continue with their unhealthy lifestyle, until they cannot ignore their hypertension any longer. At this stage, usually many of them can suffer from heart attack, stroke, or other heart problem if left untreated.

To understand natural remedies for hypertension you should educate yourself by reading health articles about hypertension and its related matters. You can read many articles about hypertension or high blood pressure on the Internet. Once you understand the danger of having hypertension, we advise you to see your doctor to have your blood pressure measured, and later to have it monitored regularly. It is good practice to have personal medical checkup as a thorough control for your general health. The American Medical Association suggests that people have medical checkup once every five years until the age of 40, then once every one to three years thereafter.

Natural remedies for hypertension are the most favorable method to normalize blood pressure without medication. There is no negative side effect, and you will gain other benefits from natural remedies. To normalize your blood pressure many health counselors or doctors will advise you to look for alternative ways than medical treatments to treat your condition. Here are some advices that usually gave to hypertension sufferers:

–    You may consider for fruit and vegetable rich diet and lower salt intake.

–    Have a moderate exercise such as walking for 30 minutes a day.

–    Lose excess weight.

–    Have practicing yoga or any kinds of meditation.

–    Quit smoking.…

The below tips here will help you start working out effectively. Learn what you can before you develop an exercise routine.

A personal trainer is a workout program. A good personal trainer will help you set goals and reach your fitness goals. This will help you to stick with your plan.

You will anticipate your workout routine.

Plant a garden at your yard. Many people don’t realize that beginning a garden requires a lot of hard work. You will need to weed, plant, turn over sod, and your body will be moving around a lot! Gardening is only one of the simple things anyone can do while at home to stay in shape.

Pay several months in advance when you join a gym membership ahead of time. This is a great way make yourself exercise more often.

The best fitness routines target your body but also include exercises designed to increase flexibility.Search for classes in your surrounding area.

Do not do more than one hour. Muscle wasting will begin after an hour after starting an intense workout.So aim to keep your weight-lifting workouts shorter than sixty minutes.

Try different types of exercise classes to keep yourself excited and excited. Try taking yoga or dance class to spice things up. Keep in mind that you only need to attempt each class one time, and you will lose weight while you are doing it.

Make a concerted effort to do the exercises that you don’t like and they will seem less daunting. The theory behind this is that people tend to avoid the exercises that are weakest at. Add this exercise to your routine and work hard to overcome them.

When doing multiple reps of a given exercise, begin with the target number and count backwards from there. This will help you know how many more you have left while keeping you motivated to finish.

This will get your day off right foot and build healthy habits that can be intensified over time.

Many people need to feel and see results before they keep their weight loss efforts. Try buying tighter clothes instead of using the scale. Wear these every week to see how much change you are experiencing.

Donkey calf raises are a great way to build up calf muscles.These are a great way to help you build up your calf strength. You need a buddy willing to rest on your back and all you do is raise your calves.

Strengthening your core is among the top ways to maximize your fitness. Sit-ups are always an easy way to strengthen your core.

After you exercise, you should feel great and rejuvenated, not worn out and ready for bed. Make sure you take part in cardiovascular exercise as part of your workout, running and aerobics. You can also consider adding strength training with different muscle groups if you feel you have the energy level.

There are lots of choices when it comes to fitness. You have to seek out an exercise that …

Facing The Challenge Of Balanced Blood Pressure

Overview

There are two numbers for each blood pressure reading: for example, “120 over 80” is written as 120/80. This is because each heartbeat sends a pressure wave through the bloodstream. The higher number is the peak of the wave, when your heart contracts. The lower number is the lower “dip” or trough of the wave, when your heart relaxes.

Blood pressure is always recorded as the systolic number over the diastolic number, and the numbers indicate pressure as measured in millimeters of mercury on the gauge (mm Hg). In general, someone has high blood pressure if several measurements at the doctor’s office show readings of 140 systolic or 90 diastolic or higher.

Causes

Primary hypertension is when the cause is unknown. The majority of hypertension cases are primary. When there is an underlying problem such as kidney disease or hormonal disorders that can cause hypertension. When it is possible to correct the underlying cause, high blood pressure usually improves and may even return to normal.

Other factors include: age, diet, stress, excessive, lack of exercise, obesity, sleep.

How Drinking Certain Herbal Tea Remedies May Affect your Blood Pressure?

Drinking herbal tea remedies maximizes the absorption of the herbs active ingredients in the body more than any other form of remedy uptake. Ingesting the tea absorbs through the stomach into the bloodstream immediately and effectively.

HYPERBAL herbal tea remedy is a natural herbal blend which regulates blood pressure. Drinking this tea every day assists in lowering blood vessels pressure, and as an anxielytic it is perfect for stress- related disorders and for the nervous system.

It also has a calming effect on the circulatory system. The Passiflora (passion fruit) flower that in it relaxes and slackens the blood vessel system and thus assists relief of high pressure, it also contains Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, Calcium, Iron, and Flavonoids.

The Flavonoids strengthen membranes and blood capillaries, reducing their porosity and fragility.

Olive leaves contain a compound called Oleuropein which helps support the blood vessels.. This teas complementary formula contains Stevia and therefore is tasty and ready to drink without sugar.

Hyperbal aids in the relief of all hypertension symptoms such as insomnia, stress, anxiety, headaches, dizziness etc.

Since, High pressure is a phenomenon that common to derive from Arteriosclerosis, Heart and blood vessels problems, Tension, kidneys and glands problems, we formulated HYPERBAL to treat these diseases and thus we can assist in preventing hypertension.

For example: Linden flower relaxes the blood vessels system and strengthens the nerves system. It assists in preventing arteriosclerosis and thus helps in reducing high pressure. In addition it’s reach with Flavonoids, Phenolic Acids and Tannins.

Read more about: How to lower blood pressure naturally:

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.…

What is the Most Effective Treatment For Depression?

Depression isn’t something one should play with. As soon as it is diagnosed action should be taken to see to the disorder before things start to get out of hand. Depression can start mildly, or it can start a little heavier and just get worse. If your depression has started mildly, that is a good sign, but will not be good for long so you need to do something about it. You should see someone that deals with this disorder professionally, but do not let them prescribe chemical medication for you, like anti-depressants. Ask them if they can recommend natural medication that you can take, that has little or no side effects.

In conjunction with the natural medication you are taking, there are a few things you can do that will help ease your depression. First of all, as simple as it gets, take a long walk. Walk your favorite route on a good day; just get out there to clear your mind. Exercise is key to kicking depression. With physical movement you are able to stimulate the production as well as the release of your mood which improves your chemical balance. Take a walk or join a gym, where you can take part in light exercises. It should help to keep your mind off your troubles for a short while, but after some time you should find enjoyment in the exercise.

Of course you just want to sit inside in closed doors and just think about how useless you are, but that is not what has to be done! There are positive things that need to be practiced otherwise you will not get anywhere. Your medication is important, but make sure it is natural medicine you are taking. Together with some exercise you should start to feel better.

Sunshine is also good, so try taking a walk in the sun, or exercising in the sun. The sunlight assists in regulating the neurochemicals that are associated with moods, and it is important to take into consideration when managing depression. The light that enters your eyes and strikes the retina activates the pathway that leads to the hypothalamus, which is a section of one’s brain that considerably influences your sex drive, moods, appetite and sleeping patterns. Exercise together with bright light exposure acts against depression and it will help to reduce the symptoms of depression, which will benefit you right from the start.

The most important treatment for depression is to admit that you have a problem and seek help. You cannot get better on your own. You need the support of family and friends, medication, and the aspects mentioned here like sunlight and exercise. Being depressed means that you feel you are useless, worthless and nothing really matters. Depression can very easily lead to suicide if it is not treated, so it is important to see to the disorder before it gets too far.

Being depressed doesn’t mean that you are alone. …

Hypertension Facts

Hypertension is a disease of the modern age. Hypertension is a main contributor to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Stress and a unhealthy lifestyle are the most important causes of high blood pressure. Sometimes you have to do more than just change your lifestyle. To help in controlling and prevention of high blood pressure you can start exercising and make sure you are on a proper diet. The way to control hypertension is by removing the root cause.

One of the common causes of secondary hypertension is kidney disease. All stages of hypertension are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. Both type1 and type 2 diabetes has a strong connection to hypertension. The determination of pre-hypertension is a systolic pressure between 120-139 and a diastolic pressure between 80-89. The majority of people with pre-hypertension will develop hypertension as they age. Why they are at greater risk is not known.

Hypertension can cause damage to the brain, eyes, kidney and also the blood vessels. Treating hypertension early can help in preventing damage to the brain, eyes, and kidney.

Hypertension is commonly referred to in the media as the silent killer with good reason. You may not have any symptoms with mild or moderate hypertension. If left untreated this condition ( hypertension) can cause heart failure and even fatal strokes. You may other medical conditions at same time as you have hypertension.

Another group that is at a greater risk of hypertension is women who smoke or take birth control pills. By exploring natural remedies anybody with high blood pressure or hypertension can benefit.

Disclaimer

No information contained in this article is intended to treat any illness, disease or health condition. It’s published for informational use only and was not intended to replace the consultation of your personal health care physician. Before using any herb or nutrient always consult your doctor.…

Hypertension In Pregnancy

High Blood pressure in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal death and poor foetal outcomes. It is all the more dangerous because it does not cause any symptoms till late in the course of disease.

It is estimated that 5-10% of pregnant women have higher blood pressures during pregnancy. However in most of the women, it reduces back to normal by 12 weeks of pregnancy. So by definition high blood pressure in pregnancy is taken as BP> 140/90 mm of hg.

The causes and natural history are poorly understood. It is believed that the hypertension in pregnancy is caused by some inherent problems with the placenta and some circulating factors which increase the blood pressure. A complete description of these causes is beyond the scope of this article, but it would suffice to know that hypertension in pregnancy is caused by unspecified neuro hormonal changes.

High blood pressure in pregnancy is silent till the very end when it may present with catastrophic consequences. However some of the symptoms which may be seen are swelling of feet, headache, blurred vision, pain in the right side of abdomen (over liver).

Hypertension in pregnancy is classified in to 3 categories based on presence or absence of protein in urine and fits. Simple rise in B.P> 140/90 without protein in urine is called pregnancy induced hypertension. Any degree of B.P with protein in urine is called Preeclampsia. And any B.P with fits is called eclampsia.

Since high BP in pregnancy causes symptoms late, the only way to detect this is by regular ante natal checkups. Women must get their B.P checked every month while they are pregnant. This is the only way to diagnose high blood pressure in pregnancy and save avoidable deaths.

The presence of protein in urine and fits are ominous signs and treatment should be instituted immediately. In a patient with eclampsia, termination of pregnancy is the only option irrespective of the age and maturity of the child. In eclampsia, fits are controlled using magnesium injections.

The treatment of hypertension in pregnancy along with protein in urine depends on the severity of B.P and proteinuria. Severe raise in B.P should necessitate treatment with blood pressure lowering drugs. Many such drugs are harmful for the baby and hence such blood pressure lowering drugs should only be taken under medical supervision. There are many drugs which can be used for lowering blood pressure. Some of them include Methyldopa(Aldomet), Labetolol and hydralizine.

High blood pressure in pregnancy without any proteinuria or fits is managed conservatively. Women are admitted in a ward and advised absolute bed rest. High protein and low salt diet is advised. They may also be prescribed medicines to help them relax and sleep well.

There are other non pharmacological methods to prevent high blood pressure in pregnancy. Eating a well balanced, nutritious diet will reduces chances of high blood pressure in pregnancy. So does calcium supplementation. A pregnant lady should remain calm and composed at all times. …

How to Benefit From Natural Remedies to Control High Blood Pressure and Hypertension

High blood pressure is often a symptom of an imbalance in your body’s system which can be treated with a few changes in your lifestyle and by adding natural remedies to your daily routine.

The combined efforts of eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising on a daily basis or a minimum of three times per week, reducing stress, keeping alcohol and caffeine use to a minimum, eating more bananas, spinach and other natural foods high in potassium, shown to relax the blood vessels and thus lowering blood pressure, is the first line of defense to control or eliminate this health issue.

Be aware that hypertension can damage your heart and also increases your chances for a stroke or heart attack. Many people do not realize that high blood pressure injures your blood vessels leading to your kidneys, causing several types of kidney disease. Vision problems are the result of the fragile blood vessels, which provide blood to your eyes, becoming damaged, causing vision problems.

The most imposing new studies are showing that forty and fifty year old men and women with high blood pressure are showing signs of dementia. This occurs because connections between brain cells are damaged leading to a loss of memory or the ability to think clearly or to concentrate.

The main focus in all of the above suggestions is to help your body stay healthy so the life giving blood can be easily circulated and feeding, not damaging, your veins. Nutrients and natural remedies to control high blood pressure and hypertension have been used with outstanding results, even to the point of helping maintain normal levels without the use of prescriptions. If you have tried everything you possibly can to improve your blood pressure and continue to worsen or have a family history, then most definitely you may need prescription medication. Not always, but some conditions are completely human induced by lifestyle, like diabetes or allergies which can many times be avoided or eliminated without prescriptions just by altering your diet.…

Snoring and High Blood Pressure – How You Can Avoid Them

Snoring is not a disease, but it is in fact an unhealthy habit. Not only is snoring disturbing, but it may also lead to more serious health conditions, and high blood pressure (hypertension) is one of them.

How can snoring have anything to do with high blood pressure?

Well, snoring, particularly heavy snoring, occurs when there is a hindrance in the breathing airway. When you are lying on your back, a disturbing sound that is caused by the tongue that is forced to the back of your throat may occur. When snoring, there are certain chemicals in your brain that are not stimulated while normally they should trigger your breathing. If there is no stimulus like that, you may stop breathing.

If you stop breathing because of snoring, what happens is that you will reduce the oxygen levels, and you will have a rush of adrenaline as well as hormones. The hormones are the ones that cause high blood pressure or hypertension, and it may even lead to heart attack. A study even revealed that women who habitually snore will have the risk of getting heart attack twice higher than those who do not.

According to a research carried out by the Semmelweis University in Budapest, those who snore loudly are 40% more prone to having high blood pressure. As an addition, they are 67% more prone to getting stroke.

Therefore, when you measure your blood pressure and it shows it is over 120/80 constantly, it means that you have hypertension and you should be cautious. High blood pressure is a silent killer, as there may be no symptoms until it is too late.

Besides hypertension, snoring can actually lead to other conditions such as depression, which may happen when you do not have a good night’s sleep because of your own snoring. This also happens because the lack of oxygen in the brain will make your body not function as usual.

To be able to stay away from snoring and its effects, you can do the following to quit snoring naturally:

1. Lose some weight – because there will be more fat in the back of the throat

2. Stop smoking & drinking – they can cause your muscles to be more relaxed than normal

3. Sleep sideways or add more pillows to prevent the tongue from falling back

Although light snoring may not be as dangerous as heavy snoring, stopping it is still a wise decision. Both you and your sleeping partner will get a good night’s sleep, and your days will be more productive as there will be no disturbance while sleeping.

Knowing the risks of snoring, you should not ignore it from now on. If you or your dearly loved ones snore, you can do the above tips on how to stop snoring naturally.…

Fitness is a very important part of many people’s lives. The article will give you some of the best ways to get and stay fit.

You will anticipate your workout routine.

Strong thighs are important for preventing knee injuries.Tearing a ligament that is behind the kneecap is a very common sports injury. You can accomplish doing this by doing leg extensions and also leg curls.

When working out, be sure you’re exhaling after you do a repetition of a weight.

Maintain a record of everything you complete each day. You should also write down what it was like. This can help you notice trends associated with highs or lows in your day. If you slack off on your workout for a couple days, explain your reasons in your journal.

You can enhance your workouts effectively by controlling your breathing properly. Try to exhale hard as your shoulders peak during situps.Deep exhaling contractions cause your abs to work harder than normal because they are constantly contracting.

Make sure you are wearing shoes that will fit you correctly. Try to purchase shoes during the day after your feet have had a chance to spread. There should at least be a half an inch between your big toe and the shoe. You know you have enough room to move your toes.

Many people are under the impression that their abdominal muscles every single day. This is not the best thing to do for these muscles. Abs are like any other muscle and need rest too! You should strive to give your abs a 2 to 3 day rest about 48 to 72 hours after you work them out.

You need to concentrate on improving your running stride if you intend to take part in a sprinter. This means placing your foot to land beneath your body rather than ahead of it. Use your toes to push off and move forward. Practice this and you should see your speed will gradually increase.

If you exercise during commercials, you can watch TV as much as you like and still get a good workout.

Instead of counting upwards from zero, start at the end and work backwards. It will make your session seem shorter and easier because you are thinking smaller.

Break down each of your running into three phases. Start running at a slower pace and gradually work up to doing the standard one. Run as fast as you can in the last third. This will expand upon your endurance so that you running longer time during succeeding sessions.

Yard work is an easy way to get fit without deliberately exercising. You need a good workout and your yard needs to be worked on. This makes for a win-win situation. Try to better your space once a week to also get some physical activity. You could forget how long you have been working and get a great looking body and yard.

For anyone interested in achieving their fitness goals, it is important to find the …

Endogenous Depression – All You Need to Know About It

Endogenous depression is classified as a mood disorder and is believed to be genetic. It is also believed to affect people from birth. When you have this disorder, you become prone to depression during traumatic events or under a lot of stress. This type of disorder normally goes undetected or under treated in children and young people. You may not be aware that you have it until you start experiencing physical and emotional difficulties.

The depressive episodes can happen at any age but may never become serious. The severity of the condition can vary from mild to severe. The reason it is called endogenous depression is because there is no particular source that can be attributed to the mood. Normally, you become depressed after for example a loss or misfortune. This is however not the case when it comes to this type of disorder. Worsening of your moods may not be as a result of any external element.

This is a biological disorder that is normally characterized by lack of concentration, bad sleeping patterns and loss of interest in certain activities. Other symptoms include feeling tired, feeling hopeless as well as feeling sad. You can also experience headaches, digestive problems and other body aches.

Treatment for this disorder is similar to the treatment of other non-endogenous forms. Psychotherapy is not usually prescribed for this particular condition. If you have knowledge on the techniques of dealing with stress and anxiety, you are better equipped to fight this type of disorder. Endogenous depression normally responds well to antidepressants. Medication is usually prescribed for between four to six months. Sometimes however, it can be prescribed for longer periods. Some side effects of antidepressants include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and nausea.…

Blood Pressure Medicines – Watch Out For These Side Effects

Many people have to choose prescription anti-hypertensive medication to control high blood pressure. However, you need to be aware that high blood pressure medication can affect body functions, resulting in bad side effects and seriously damage your body in the long run.

Jay Allen in California have had blood pressure over 140/90 since the mid 1970’s.In the past few months his blood pressure started to soar to the 155/100+ range. In reaction, his physician has been prescribing more and more drugs to control it. Jay said: “I was also beginning to feel like a walking zombie from the obvious side effects.” About a month ago, Jay collapsed in the gym while working out from the effects of one of the drugs.

At the age 81, John Ace has been taking blood pressure medication for about 20 years. Lately he was told by his eye specialist that he has macular degenerative (no cure or treatment). He then checked the print on his prescription and it read “loss of vision” as a side effect.

The partial list of high blood pressure drug side effects include: impotence, muscle and joint pain, anemia, dermatitis, insomnia, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, vomiting, vertigo, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, rash, kidney stones, liver and kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, depression, swelling of legs or ankles as well as other serious conditions.

Side effects of the blood pressure medicine can not only affect your quality of life, it can also cause long term damage to your body. In the long run, high blood pressure medicine can lead to loss of vision, damage to your heart functions, liver and kidney failure, loss of memory and brain functions, and more.

Some people may not notice any side effects at the beginning. However, after a while, people start to notice the increased negative impact to their body, health and well-being. The side effects can be silent for many years until the serious damage to your body has already been done. This is because the hypertension medicine causes imbalance in your body and its damaging effects accumulate and become more noticeable with time.

If you are taking diuretics, be aware that diuretics can drain your body’s supply of the mineral called potassium. This can lead to possible side effects, such as, leg cramps or tiredness. You may need to take potassium supplement to replenish your body with this mineral.

Hypertensive medication does not cure high blood pressure. It is a bandage that only temporarily keeps it at the safe level. If one stops taking medication, one’s blood pressure will go up the very next day. In order to keep it in the healthy range, one needs to take it everyday for the rest of one’s life. Quite often, after a while, the chosen medication stops working. Doctors have to prescribe different or more medications like in the case of Jay, which may cause even more damage to one’s body, health and well-being.

The best way …

Information on Bipolar Disorder – Relevant Hints That Can Help You

Have you come into contact with a person suffering from bipolar disorder? If not then you have to know that the person displays some mood swings that alternate between mania and depressive moods. This condition could be confusing for the individuals because the mood displayed by the sufferers can be related to psychosis and clinical depression as the case may be.

Bipolar type of disorder is a psychological syndrome that you want to treat in a hurry before it proves fatal to you. You had better believe that some of the best minds in this country’s history have lost their lives to it. You may not be in their league – you may even be above it – but you don’t want to go without the treatment of it because you could die too.

It is no strange thing to have patients of bipolar disorder end up committed in a psychiatric hospital because they did not get proper treatment. As matter of fact, it is not strange thing to have them end up dead by their own hands because they did not get treated. You don’t want that to happen to you, do you? You want to get treated already for it. So get right to it.

Undiagnosed bipolar type of disorder is one of the chief causes of deaths by the syndrome. You know how it is; without the diagnosis, there is no way you can get the much-needed treatment that will help you; you don’t even know that you should. In the end, you will find things get out of hand a bit too often, and the very next time may be the last.…

10 Sure Ways to Prevent Hypertension

Hypertension is a condition nobody desires to have because of the attendant complications or problems that come with it. Hypertension is really dangerous and could shorten one’s life span by as much as 20 years if nothing concrete is done to control it.

There are a lot of things you can really do to help prevent this condition from developing in your life, or prevent the complications if you already have it. Certain factors known as ‘Triggering factors’ like the trigger of a pistol help to launch the condition if the predisposing factors (especially heredity) are already there in you. Here are some steps you can take to avoid developing hypertension:

1. Reduce salt intake: Your dietary salt (sodium chloride) intake should be reduced to about 4grams per day. You must avoid the temptation to add more salt to your food or soup after it is prepared because salt retains fluid in your system and therefore would elevate your blood pressure.

2. Avoid stimulants: Foods which stimulate the system should be avoided. Some of them include coffee, tea, alcohol, kola nuts and some drugs with caffeine. They increase heart rate and discharge adrenaline thereby raising further the blood pressure.

3. Have enough rest: You should have adequate rest; this includes both physical and mental rest. Avoid excess workload or watching movies late into the night. You should have time to sleep in the night and also take naps during the day. Excessive physical exertion should be avoided.

4. Reduce weight: If you are obese or you are gaining more weight than is necessary you should try and reduce your weight because obesity increases the body surface area and increases the oxygen demand on the heart thereby making the heart work harder than necessary.

5. Medical check-up: Always visit the clinic at least once in three months to have your blood pressure checked. But if you are hypertensive already you should check your blood pressure at least once every two weeks. Regular medical examination should be conducted to detect complications.

6. Avoid saturated fats: Saturated fats are those fats or oils that become congealed at room temperature. They contain cholesterol which can become deposited on the walls of your arteries thereby elevating your blood pressure.

7. Avoid constipation: Frequent constipation should be avoided by taking enough water and by adding fibres to your food because straining on defecation increases your blood pressure. You can also reduce constipation and hypertension by eating more fruits and vegetables.

8. Regular exercises: You should exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes per day and several times a week. This improves blood circulation and proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels. The exercise should however be done moderately each time.

9. Treat illnesses: Diseases of the kidney and other organs should be treated promptly by visiting the hospital or clinic. Early treatment helps to prevent complications that would lead to hypertension in the long run.

10. Find out the …

How to Avoid a Heart Attack?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart diseases occur when the heart blood vessels (also called coronary arteries) becomes narrow due to fat deposits also called plaques. The plaques also attract blood components, which stick to the artery wall lining (called atherosclerosis). This process develops gradually, over many years. It often begins early in life, even in childhood.

The fatty buildup or plaque can break open and lead to the formation of a blood clot that seals the break. The clot reduces blood flow. When too little blood reaches the heart, the condition is called ischemia which is a reversible process. During ischemia, chest pain, or angina, may occur. The pain can vary in occurrence and be mild and intermittent, or more pronounced and steady. It can be severe enough to make normal everyday activities difficult. The same inadequate blood supply also may cause no symptoms, a condition called silent ischemia.

If a blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to the heart, a heart attack results which if not treat immediately can lead of death of heart muscles that does not get the oxygen-carrying blood. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart.

Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal.

Fortunately, we can prevent many of these heart attack from occurring. But this requires some proactive approach to improve health and wellbeing. We first need to understand all those risk factors. Some of the risk factors for heart attack are beyond your control, but most can be modified to help you lower your risk of having a first-or repeat-heart attack.

Factors you cannot control

Pre-existing coronary heart diseases, including a previous heart attack, a prior angioplasty or bypass surgery, or angina

Age-In men, the risk increases after age 45; in women, the risk increases after age 55.

Family history of early heart disease-a father or brother diagnosed before age 55; or a mother or sister diagnosed before age 65.

Factors you can control

Smoking.

High blood pressure.

High blood cholesterol.

Overweight and obesity.

Physical inactivity.

Diabetes.

What should I do to prevent the heart attack? (Checklist)

Get your blood work done periodically because this is the only way to know if you have high cholesterol or high sugars.

Get your blood pressure check periodically because people usually does not have have any pain when you have high blood pressure. If you don’t get it checked, you may never know that you have high blood pressure.

If you don’t already know, then find out if you parents had any history of heart disease or heart attack at an young age.

Stop smoking if you have not already done so.

Limit your intake of salt, fatty foods, concentrated sweets and sweetened beverages

Eat breakfast daily which should consists of soluble …

Looking Closer at the Silent Enemy – Hypertension

Hypertension is more commonly known as high blood pressure, but is nonetheless a silent enemy of many of us. Eating habits and lifestyles can bring this silent enemy to us; we aren’t born with hypertension. Although it might be a fact that hypertension alone will not kill you, it does lead to much more complicated illnesses. Thus the silent killer can lead to strokes, kidney failure, heart attacks and other serious conditions over a long period of time.

Our main goal here is to help educate you on how to prevent and control hypertension, as well as educate you in the causes of high blood pressure or hypertension. Awareness is the key.

Exactly what is high blood pressure or hypertension? It’s best described as a serious medical condition that causes your arterial blood pressure to rise significantly. If your blood pressure’s very high, your heart will have to work much harder in order to pump blood through the arteries. When the heart is overworked it can cause you to have organ damage or other illnesses.

Hypertension has two classifications: essential and secondary. Having no known causes the essential hypertension accounts for about 90% or more of the documented cases. While secondary hypertension has been reported from such causes as tumors, kidney disease and using birth control pills for an excessive amount of time.

Possible Causes of Hypertension

It can be hereditary, it can be age related or passed through family genes.

Another disease can give you hypertension; cure the other disease and the hypertension will go away.

Being obese will bring it on.

Some medications and the birth control pill, when used excessively can cause you to develop hypertension.

Excessive alcohol and smoking.

Diabetes

Inactivity

Deficiency in Vitamin D

Stress (in excess)

Chronic kidney issues, tumors or thyroid.

Generally, hypertension does not show any real dramatic signs; you will have, nausea or dizziness. Although other symptoms can occur like vision issues, breathing problems, chest pains, irregular heartbeats, blood in your urine and fatigue.

The Good News Is: You can prevent hypertension:

A regular daily intake of vegetables and fruit juices in your diet

Avoid too many meats in your diet, drinking alcohol and smoking

Eat baked over fried foods

Watch your salt intake

Exercise, taking a daily walk is even a good way to start

Losing weight actually reduces stress, so losing weight to help control hypertension is a key factor.

Remember that someone having hypertension does not always show any signs of it. It should be advised that you go for periodic tests for your blood pressure even if you are not showing any signs at present.

Depending on the diastolic and systolic pressures in your reading, once you’ve tested high you might be treated for the problem medically. Along with this, there are other ways to treat hypertension that can include: a change in your lifestyle, exercise, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, eat a healthy diet that includes more vegetables …

3 Ways That Can Increase Your Risk of Hypertension

Hypertension which can also be called high blood pressure is a medical condition that is affecting more and more people. Often referred to as the silent killer, nearly 30 percent of people in the United States have hypertension and more than 30 percent of them do not even know that they have it.

Many people who do know they have high blood pressure are not taking the proper care to control it. This condition can be very dangerous as it can lead to host of health complications and problems later on in life if it is not properly treated.

Hypertension means that your blood pressure is above the normal levels on a regular and consistent basis. This does not mean that you are hyper or tense all the time as even the most relaxed people can have high blood pressure.

The condition can be caused by factors that are outside of your control such as genetics. If your parents or grandparents had this condition then, this can increase your risk of having it as well. High blood pressure can also be caused by underlying factors such as the narrowing of the arteries, kidney disease or pregnancy.

However, there are factors that you can control to help reduce your risk of hypertension and here are 3 of these factors:

Overweight: If you are overweight or obese then you will increase your risk. Obesity can be defined as your body weighing 20 % or more above your normal natural weight. Not everybody who is overweight will have hypertension however, nearly half of those who do have high blood pressure are overweight.

Alcohol: Many people today drink well over the recommended daily intake of alcohol. Although the limits differ between men and women on average you should not drink more than 2 bottles of beer or 2 small glasses of wine a day. Anything over that and you are increasing your risk. Drinking too much alcohol not only increases your blood pressure it also increases your risk of liver and heart disease.

Smoking: Unless you have been living in a cave and been devoid of any human contact you should be well aware that smoking is dangerous to your health. It is linked to a host of diseases that can kill you including cancer and heart disease. The nicotine in cigarette tobacco and in kind of tobacco has the effect of constricting the arteries. This narrowing builds up pressure in the arteries which raises your blood pressure. Over time this will eventually lead to hypertension and other serious conditions as just mentioned.…

The Dangers Of Fructose Consumption

Fructose and its other version, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) have been widely used as cheaper alternatives for sugar. This sweetener has applications as a sweetener in the preparation of a variety of foods. Fructose has been widely implicated in a large number of disorders like metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Glucose and fructose are similar in a number of ways. Both of them share the same molecular formula. Yet, the brain looks at glucose and fructose differently. Glucose is essential for the brain while fructose is not.

The MRI scans of people infused with glucose and fructose separately, showed some interesting results. Fructose inhibited the activity in the cortical region of the brain. At the same time, glucose increased the activity in this region. When the cortical region undergoes activation, it decides how people react to the taste and the smell of the food. When glucose is consumed, it produces a satiety response in the brain and therefore, also elicits a ‘stop eating’ response. In contrast, this feedback is absent when fructose is consumed. Therefore, there is no ‘stop eating’ signal produced in the brain. This leads to overeating. Thus, the consumption of fructose-containing foods can lead to obesity.

Decades back, fructose consumption was very low in the US, but right now, fructose is the major supplier of calories. It is an alarming situation. While obesity may be the major outcome arising out of fructose consumption, there are other concerns as well. The greatest threat is the rising level of uric acid. For example, in the early half of the twentieth century, the average uric aid levels in the US were around 3.5mgs/100 ml. In 1980, this rose to around 6.5mgs/100 ml, an almost doubling of the uric acid levels. When uric acid levels rise, there is increased risk for kidney disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes and a number of other conditions.

Uric acid is having low solubility and thus, when its blood levels rise, it tends to precipitate, particularly at the joints. This leads to the erosion of the joint structures and can lead to painful arthritis. Fructose also elevates the angiotensin levels and lowers the nitric oxide levels. This combination is deadly. Elevated angiotensin causes the blood pressure to rise and this in turn can produce stroke and heart disease. Nitric oxide has the ability to relax the blood vessels and this keeps them flexible, allowing for the smooth flow of the blood. When nitric oxide is lowered, the arteries become hardened and lose their elasticity. This also can promote heart disease. Another danger also lurks nearby and this is the link between fructose consumption and cancer. Insulin resistance has been implicated in several forms of cancer and one of the consequences of excessive fructose consumption is insulin resistance.

It should be understood that only fructose from the processed foods is dangerous. Fructose obtained from fruits is not having these deleterious consequences because this fructose is always accompanied …

Anxiety and Blood Pressure – Hypertension

Today I heard an interesting story that had to do with a patient claiming her severe anxiety about doctor visits was responsible for her abnormally high blood pressure readings. This doesn’t sound all that unrealistic right? The interesting part of the story had to do with research studies that suggest escalating blood pressure that occurs consistently is a precursor to problematic blood pressure issues in the future. In this informational article titled “Anxiety and Blood Pressure” we will briefly discuss blood pressure and anxiety along with some helpful ideas to help you reduce your chances of serious problems in the future.

Hypertension is often referred to as the silent killer because in its early stages it produces very few if any symptoms. It is contributes to the deaths of a quarter of a million individuals in the United States annually and is the primary cause of heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness.

Anxiety is common, normal, and sometimes useful when struggling to overcome daily challenges and dangers. It is in fact on of the most important survival mechanisms that the body can produce. On the other hand sometimes anxiety reels out of control. This leads to anxiety disorders that are persistent and/or recurrent and impedes ones ability to function in a normal healthy way.

But the question is how does anxiety contribute to blood pressure?

At first blush it might seem like that anxiety and hypertension are as different as night and day but upon closer examination we might find this is not necessarily the case. The truth is anxiety, stress, or anger can raise hypertension by triggering the hormones the constrict blood vessels. Three hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and aldosterol) all raise a person’s blood pressure. Ironically norepinephrine is one of the hormones thought to be linked to anxiety disorders and depression. The other two being dopamine and serotonin. So there definitely is a common link between the two and when you throw in the fact that no specific cause can be identified in over 95% of patients with high blood pressure one could easily conclude that there could be a biological link between anxiety and hypertension.

In summary, if you are being terrorized by one or both of these conditions you should seek professional help and find the appropriate form of treatment for your unique situation. 

Additionally, many natural health minded people are choosing to address their anxiety with the help of natural alternative therapies such as yoga, behavior therapy and/or herbal remedies. Certain herbs such as Saw Palmetto and Passion Flower have proven to be a helpful tool in the difficult battle against overcoming anxiety and/or depression and are a safe and effective anxiety treatment option worth considering.…

Fitness entails so much more for your body than looking good. Fitness also improve and lengthen the quality of your life. You must manifest the attitude that let you make positive changes that help you to better care for yourself. The advice in this article will lead you with inspiration for your fitness journey.

If a person is used to exercising on a treadmill, he could switch things up by taking a run around the block. The body will experience different results than similar exercise on the indoor track.

The best fitness routines target your body but also include exercises designed to increase flexibility.Search for classes in your surrounding area.

You need not worry if the case. You can also opt for cycling as a bike ride. Biking can be a great way to increase your fitness level as you go to work each day.

You can reduce your chance of injury which walking by making sure you are in order to prevent injuries.Try walking upright as you draw back your shoulders are drawn back. Let your elbows fall at a right angle. Make sure your arms are opposite pattern to your foot movements.

The basic strategy of increasing muscle mass is to lift heavier weights for shorter times. Start by choosing a muscle group like the chest.Start with weights that are lighter weight to warm up your muscles. Your warm-up weight should be light enough that you can lift it 15 to 20 reps. The second set should be 6 to 8 reps at a heavier weights with half the amount of repetitions. Add about five more pounds to the weight and repeat.

Make a concerted effort to do exercises you don’t like and they will seem less daunting. This will get you into the mindset of doing exercises you are particularly weak in. Add this exercise to your regular routine and overcome them.

Your goal is to stay between 80 and 110 rpm. This means that you will be able to ride for a longer distances at greater speeds without straining your knees. This rpm that you should aim to hit.

Make sure to stretch between sets in your muscles between sets of exercises. Make sure to hold each stretch for at least 20 or 30 seconds. Research has shown that people who stretch built their strength around 20 percent by stretching between sets. Stretching can also reduce your chance of getting injured.

Dips are great for your fitness regimen. Dips are a wonder exercise that focuses on your upper body, but your chest and shoulders, chest and triceps. They can be done in a variety of ways. You can place two benches and do the dips between them. You can also add a bit of weight to make it tougher.

Box squats can help you bulk up your quads. Box squats are efficient exercises that will allow you perform regular squats. You just need to put a box behind yourself.

Not giving fitness a try means you …

Lower Blood Pressure Naturally Using Herbs

In order to lower your blood pressure naturally the best option is to check with your doctor first to see if you can start taking herbs instead of chemical medication. The herbs to lower pressure naturally are a very safe and effective way to return your body to a state of balance. If you need to take medication all you will be doing is controlling the blood pressure instead of actually lowering it.

Garlic has been highly ranked for some time as being the best herb for lowering high blood pressure. The best garlic to use is organic garlic with a strong white color that contains eight to twelve cloves. The lesser or inferior garlic is of a yellow color and can contain up to fifty cloves. A good beginning dosage would be 3-5 cloves every day. Garlic can also be excellent for cardiovascular health.

The hawthorn berry is similar that of garlic in that it has been used for centuries for high blood pressure treatment. Hawthorn is excellent for opening the coronary arteries, reducing hardening of the arteries, improves the flow of blood and strengthens the heart muscle.

Another herb for lowering hypertension is lime blossom. This herb calms the nervous system along with the circulatory system which helps in lowering tension and stress. You can also steep the blossoms into a tea and enjoy a cup each day.

Cayenne is good for your circulation and lowering pressure. In order for cayenne to work properly it needs to be hot as in hot Mexican peppers and Thai peppers.

Turmeric is an herb that contains curcumin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. It is an herb from East India that is used in curry dishes. The antioxidants that are contained in this herb build up blood vessels and improve blood flow.

Ginkgo Biloba improves blood circulation and dilates the arteries in reducing pressure. This herb improves the memory and mental alertness because the blood flow to the brain has been increased.

In order to maintain good quality blood and circulation your body needs to have at least eight cups of water every day. Having the proper amount of water flowing through your body will flush out any excessive minerals and inorganic salts from the body. Too much salt will have bad effect on the blood pressure. Natural sea salt helps to flush away any of the bad salts that are left in the body.

You not only need to start using some of these herbs for hypertension but you will need to make lifestyle changes in order to stick to a low blood pressure diet. If you are unable to do that, you doctor is will need to help by prescribing medications that you may need to take the rest of your life.

I personally would rather try to lower blood pressure naturally and make a few changes in my life instead of taking pills every day.…

Dark Chocolate Shown to Benefit a Variety of Health Conditions

Raw, dark chocolate has been known to have significant health benefits.  Research studies continue to reveal that chocolate may hold clues to fighting more and more types of diseases.  It is great news that the enjoyment and satisfaction of chocolate can be linked to healthiness and well-being.   Here’s how research involving chocolate consumption has been shown to benefit conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and more.

Cancer and Heart Disease

Raw cacao and dark chocolate contain even greater amounts of the antioxidant compounds found in red wine or green tea.  In protecting cells from toxins, as well as damaging and slowing the growth of cancer cells, antioxidants help reduce cancer risks and heart disease.   The more cacao contained in chocolate, the more antioxidants it contains.  Keep in mind that white chocolate does not contain antioxidants. 

High Cholesterol

Despite being high in fats, studies have shown that chocolate consumption does not raise cholesterol, due to the type of saturated fat it contains.   Less harmful saturated fats mean less harmful cholesterol and artery-clogging plaque.  In fact, dark chocolate may help boost good cholesterol. 

Mood

Consuming chocolate is thought to have an opiate effect on the body, possibly helping ease mood disorders. In addition, the fat contained in chocolate helps provide a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure, releasing endorphins that positively affect mood.  Chocolate also may help cases of depression and soothe anxiety.  Certain research study participants diagnosed with depression found relief from their depression when given dark chocolate.

High Blood Pressure and Circulation

Dark chocolate has been shown to help prevent blood platelets from aggregating, thus minimizing blood clots.  In fact, one research study showed that consuming a small amount of dark chocolate each day slightly lowered blood pressure.   This effect is due to the level of flavonoids in cacao that improve the level of protection against heart disease and encourage good circulation.  Flavonoids tend to be lower in milk chocolate so stick with the dark.  In addition, the Dutching process used in making cocoa powder also reduces flavanols, so look for naturally processed cocoa.

How Much Chocolate To Consume 

To reap the possible health benefits, try adding 1 ounce of dark chocolate per day to your diet.  Make sure there are no refined sugars or hydrogenated oils used in making the chocolate.  There should also be a high cocoa percentage (70% or above) in the chocolate bar.  Keep in mind that chocolate will add calories, so make dietary adjustments accordingly.…

Natural Hypertension Remedies Thanks to Lifestyle Alterations

The realization that you are a hypertension sufferer means taking a good look at your diet and lifestyle and then making positive changes to both. This is an all-encompassing alteration that will have far reaching effects on your quality of life. Often we are guided to take expensive medications, but there are natural hypertension remedies abound.

It has been scientifically proven by researchers at the Harvard Medical School that a low fat diet can have dramatically positive effects in lowering high blood pressure. Keep in mind that the word diet refers to a life-long sustainable eating regime and not a fad diet that lasts a few weeks and is designed to help you to lose a few extra pounds before an important event.

The old adage, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, is most apt in this case. Stock up on plenty of healthy fruits and fresh vegetables while you cut out high fat content processed meats and other foods. Along with improving your diet you should consider taking up daily meditation. A study at the West Oakland Health Centre proved the beneficial effects of twenty minutes of meditation in significantly lowering high blood pressure.

It has shown to also relieve stress, slow the heart rate significantly, reduce tension and anxiety and to engender a feeling of tranquillity. There are many benefits to be gained from a daily meditative course and there are many wonderful types of meditation to explore. Consider cutting sodium chloride from your diet to improve elevated blood pressure.

Sodium chloride is found in salty snacks, processed canned meats and is added in copious amounts during food preparation. You will eventually adjust to enjoying less salty foods and should refrain from adding extra salt while you are having your meal.

Also cut out foods that are pickled in brine, like olives and pickles and steer clear of soy sauces and ketchup with high salt content, foods fried in fat or oil, caffeine and hard liquor. Instead, choose fruits, whole grains, seasonal vegetables, sprouts and legumes.

Incorporate Coenzyme Q10 into your diet to improve cellular function and cut out caffeine by replacing it with a cup of chamomile tea. Quit smoking, go for a daily walk, eat less food more often and take time to stop and smell the roses, teaching yourself a method of letting go of stress. In this way you will learn how to naturally manage your hypertension.…

Hypertension Causes and Consequences

Hypertension is a common health problem in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, approximately one in three American adults is afflicted with hypertension. Better known as high blood pressure to many, hypertension can be a major health risk if left untreated. The increased pressure in the arteries makes a patient more vulnerable to having a blood vessel rupture, which can be deadly. While some contributing factors to hypertension are unavoidable, others can be minimized and are even treatable. Knowing the causes and consequences of high blood pressure can help to make patients more aware of the risks they face so that they can take steps to guard against it.

Causes of Hypertension

There are many potential causes of hypertension, and often several factors work in conjunction and lead to an onset of high blood pressure over time. The following is a list of risk factors that increase a person’s chance of having elevated blood pressure:

Family history of hypertension (genetic predisposition)

African American descent (genetic predisposition)

Old age

Obesity

Renal or kidney failure

High daily salt intake

Oral contraceptives containing the chemical compound Drospirenone

Some of these factors are impossible to control, but others are avoidable. By watching your weight and the amount of sodium that you consume in your diet, you can reduce your risk of developing hypertension. If you are a woman taking or considering taking birth control, consider talking to your doctor about the hypertension risks associated with Drospirenone-containing pills. If you already fall into one or more risk categories for high blood pressure, it may be in your best interest to consider other contraceptive alternatives.

Consequences of Hypertension

While hypertension can be somewhat mitigated by high blood pressure medication, it can be especially dangerous if left undiagnosed. A patient with untreated high blood pressure is more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage. Sadly, many people who suffer severe health problems from hypertension were never aware that they had the condition. It is therefore important that you see your doctor regularly and be checked for high blood pressure. A simple one-minute check for hypertension could save your life.

If you fall into any of the above risk categories that are known to increase your risk for hypertension, talk to your doctor about how you can minimize your chances of developing high blood pressure. Especially if you are an at-risk woman currently taking or considering birth control, it is important to talk to your doctor about the potential adverse side effects of contraceptives containing Drospirenone.

For More Information…

Using Chocolate As a Natural High Blood Pressure Remedy

When searching for a natural high blood pressure remedy, the most important thing to consider is whether it is something that you will be able to incorporate into your life. After all, even the most effective cure for any disease is useless if the patient doesn’t take it. That said, there is one food that has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension that very few people will have trouble consuming on a regular basis. That food is chocolate, specifically very dark chocolate.

“Chocolate is actually good for me?” you may be asking. Yes, it is very good for you, so long as you choose the right chocolate to eat. In the past, before it became loaded with milk and sugar and all manner of other additives, chocolate was actually prescribed by pharmacists as a cure-all for a wide variety of maladies and conditions. These days, its benefits have been more empirically established.

Several studies have been performed in recent years to investigate chocolate’s use as a natural high blood pressure remedy. They discovered that the greatest benefit was found for those people who consume very dark chocolate. This is the variety that does not come with a huge amount of added milk or sugar added. The sugar adds unnecessary calories and the milk interferes with the method of action by which dark chocolate is beneficial for the body.

The benefits of chocolate come primarily from the huge amount of flavonoids contained in dark chocolate. These are a form of antioxidants that not only help clean up cellular debris from the body and help protect it from the ravages of free radicals, but also serve to help blood vessels relax and dilate, easing the flow of blood through them. This relaxing of blood vessels results in a modest, but significant drop in blood pressure.

The best way to use chocolate as a blood pressure remedy is to consume small amounts of high quality, very dark chocolate. That will allow you to avoid overindulging while still gaining all the benefits chocolate has to offer. Choose a chocolate that is 75% or higher in cocoa solids to ensure that you get the benefits you are after. Still, the drop is modest, so even the best chocolate will not sure your hypertension on its own.…

Depression and Sexual Life

How depression resulting in chemical imbalance in our brain affects our sexual life is not exactly clear.

But if you think about symptoms of depression such as tiredness, lack of energy, insomnia, lack of coordination and self-confidence issues, they are not exactly an advertising board for a successful sexual performance.

Our body usually slows down and tries to preserve the energy; we withdraw from the rest of the world and from our loved ones and usually lose the interest in sexual relationships. Of course, there are always exceptions, and some depressed individuals seek comfort in security in sex.

This can apply to anxiety problems as well. What happens is that men start having erection problems and women are often unable to orgasm. Ironically, taking antidepressants can result in loss of sexual libido as well.

There are few things you can try to help yourself and your partner:

First, communicate. Talk to each other about your problem. Make your partner understand that this is simply an illness, and your lack of interest in sexual life doesn’t mean that you don’t like/love them anymore.

Don’t lose physical contact, cuddle, and cuddle often. It will comfort you and reassure your partner.

Change your diet. Healthy food will definitely help with your depression.

Exercise, go for a short walk every day. Exercise releases endorphins in your brain which make you feel happier.

Try group depression treatment, especially cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for both you and your partner. It will help them a lot to understand what’s happening to you and your relationship.

At last, pay attention to your antidepressants. If they are the cause of your loss of libido, you can reduce the damage by:

Lower your dose but only under doctor’s supervision

Try to take your dose after sex, not before

Some antidepressants like Bupropion might even help with your sexual dysfunction

You can take drugs specifically for sexual dysfunction (Viagra, for example)

You can schedule 2-3 day break from drugs (talk to your doctor first)

Switch to another antidepressants

Whatever the cause of your problems, don’t despair. You will find the solution, just don’t give up. Remember your depression will come to an end. Remember also that your partner is here for the ride too and they are not having fun either, so make an effort to indulge them when you can and don’t forget that they need to receive support too.…

Lower Your High Blood Pressure – 5 Natural Remedies You Will Not Hear From Your Doctor

As high blood pressure suffers, we are amongst the first generations to have handed over our health care to doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. In placing our well being in their hands we have forgotten the natural remedies we used to use, some of which are just as effective at lowering our high blood pressure as the pharmaceutical products our doctor prescribes – but without the side effects.

Before we take umbrage at our physician when he reaches for the prescription pad, we should understand that traditionally doctors’ training leads them to focus on a “scientific” cure for our ailments. The problem is that the medical profession looks to pharmaceutical companies for drugs and medicines with which to treat us. Being commercial organisations, the pharmaceutical companies need a return on their investment, so it is not in their interests to promote effective natural remedies that reduce our hypertension.

When we consider how simple it is to treat our high blood pressure naturally, we soon come to realize that there is an alternative to taking drugs for the rest of our lives.

Here are five practical ways to for us to lower our high blood pressure naturally:

# 1. Eat vegetables. There are vitamins and minerals that reduce hypertension. Fortunately for us, most vegetables contain these nutrients. For maximum benefit we should eat vegetables raw or lightly cooked. Overcooking will destroy the very nutrients we need.

Do not add any salt to the cooking process as the sodium will cause our blood pressure to rise rapidly and will negate the benefit of the nutrients in our food.

We should try to eat at least one portion of green vegetables each day as well as a minimum of two other vegetables.

# 2. Get enough dietary fibre. Getting adequate fibre in our diets is especially important for us high blood pressure sufferers. It makes our digestive system more efficient; helping us to eliminate waste and toxins naturally. In so doing, it helps reduce our hypertension.

In addition to eating a variety of vegetables, we should aim to eat at least two portions of different fruits a day. Fruit is a good source of dietary fibre as well as containing many of the nutrients we need to stay healthy. An apple a day really does keep the doctor away!

Vegetables are also good sources of dietary fibre as are whole grains. Choose whole grain breakfast cereals and whole grain bread for an easy and convenient way to increase our intake of dietary fibre.

# 3. Go bananas! Eat a banana a day. Bananas are a good source of potassium, which actually reduces blood pressure. Bananas are also high in dietary fibre, so we get a double benefit. Apricots and currants are also high in potassium.

# 4. “Good shall come of water”. Drinking water cleans out any waste that has accumulated in our body and keeps us …

Benefits of Banana

We always have a concept that certain kinds of foods are fattening such as chocolate, butter and ice cream etc. If we are to lose weight, we need to avoid them. Banana is one of them. However, we are to analysis to you about the benefit of banana in slimming and also our health.

Banana contains 3 types of sugar which is sucrose, fructose and glucose. Additional to the sugar content, it also contains fiber. 2 bananas can provide us the energy that we need for 90 minutes of intense exercise. Besides providing energy, it also helps to prevent many diseases and resolve some symptoms that we may have.

Depression: In a recent research, one with depression will feel a lot better after taking banana. This is due to the amino acid content that helps to induced

Anemia: It contains high level of iron which increases the level of hemoglobin in our blood.

High blood pressure: High level of potassium but low in sodium (salt) is the perfect food to lower the blood pressure and chance of stroke. In a medical report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, if we are taking banana in long term, we will be able to reduce the chance of strokes by 40%.

Tension: While we are tense, metabolism rate will increase Vitamin Bs contain will soothes the tensed nervous system. Potassium content in banana also can help to replenish whatever we have consumed. It is also one of the important elements to adjust our heart rate. By reducing our heart rate, our metabolism rate will be slower.

Obesity: Most of the obesity problems are due to pressure. People will eat to release pressure. To prevent this, we need to eat high carbohydrate food every 2 or 3 hours in order to lower the sugar level in our blood.

Gastric: Due to its soft texture and high sugar content, it will help to neutralize the gastric acid and ease the pain.

Concentration: High potassium level also helps us to focus and hence increase the ability to learn.

We all have heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But do you know that banana contains 4 times more protein, 2 times more carbohydrates, 5 times more vitamin A and iron as compare to apple. Maybe now we should consider to change it to a banana a day keeps the doctor away~…