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How to Lower Your Blood Pressure

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Dec 152009

How to Lower High Blood Pressure
Once a diagnosis of “high blood pressure” or “hypertension” has been confirmed by your doctor it’s important to start a system of treatment straight away. There are no instant high blood pressure cures but you can take steps to reducing high blood pressure right now. The longer your blood pressure remains high the more risk you have of suffering a life threatening complication such as stroke, heart or kidney disease.

In most cases a series of lifestyle changes will be all that is needed to start on the path to lower blood pressure. If you suffer from persistant extremely high blood pressure above 180/110 or have already experienced serious complications it may also be necessary to use drug therapy. Discuss with your doctor the best course of action for your situation.

If you are over overweight, even slightly, one of the best things you can do for your body is to start losing that excess baggage. Reducing your body mass makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. Don’t aim for a sudden weight loss as that can lead to additional stress on the body but lose weigh gradually.

Simple exercise such as walking for around thirty minutes per day helps to improve blood flow. This type of aerobic exercise isn’t just good for your muscles or to burn calories (but that is another benefit). It also exercises your heart and blood vessels which leads to a lower resting heart rate and blood pressure. You can take the exercise as a series of short walks or just the one long walk. Some studies have shown the long walk to be slightly more effective but any increase in daily activity level will be beneficial.

If you are a smoker, take steps to kick the habit now. Tobacco usage causes damage to your blood vessels, heart and lungs. Talk to your doctor or other health professionals if you need help to quit.

Reduce sodium (salt) in your diet. Excessive sodium in the diet acts on the kidneys which in turn causes an increase in blood pressure. Don’t add salt at the table and eliminate or at least reduce the amount used when cooking. Experiment with other herbs and spices for a healthier alternative at meal times.

Eat less red meat but include more fruit and vegetables and only use low-fat dairy products. A balanced diet is better for the whole body. Foods high in calcium and potassium also help your body to balance sodium levels.

Reduce your stress level. Part of your bodies reaction to stress is an increase in blood pressure. Learn a relaxation technique and try to reduce other stressful factors in your life such as high noise levels and bright lighting. Give your body some time to relax every day.

This blood pressure information gives you just some of the things you can control that will help to reduce your blood pressure. Discuss them with your doctor and work out a plan that suits your lifestyle. Take control of your life and you will have it for a lot longer.

Basic Blood Pressure Information

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Dec 152009

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the term used to describe the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries. It varies throughout the day depending on your level of activity or other stresses on your body. Your circulatory system controls your blood pressure and heart rate (or pulse) to supply more oxygen to your body when it is needed.

What is High Blood Pressure or Hypertension?

“Hypertension” and “High Blood Pressure” are terms that are both used to describe the same condition. When your blood pressure is higher than the normal range for most of the time, you are considered to have high blood pressure. This is a dangerous condition because it puts increased strain on your heart, circulatory system and other organs. High blood pressure puts you at greater risk for heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other life threatening conditions.

How is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is measured on a device called a “sphygmomanometer”. These are now available in manual or digital forms. Original forms of these machines measured pressure by varying the level of mercury held in a column so even today the standard scale used is graded in millimetres of mercury or mmHg.

A blood pressure reading usually has two measurements expressed in the form 120/80, or “120 over 80″. The first number is your systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in your arteries as your heart is beating. The second number is the pressure in your arteries between beats when your heart relaxes.

What Level is Considered High Blood Pressure?

It’s best to measure blood pressure when you are in a relaxed state, ideally sitting or laying down. Normal blood pressure is considered to be below a reading of 120/80. Between 120/80 and 140/90 is referred to either as a high normal or pre-hypertension level. Between 140/90 and 180/110 is regarded as high blood pressure. Above 180/110 is very high blood pressure. Your doctor would need to take several readings over subsequent visits to confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure readings.

What are some of the causes of high blood pressure?

There are a number of risk factors that can contribute to blood pressure problems. Many of them can be controlled. A family history of blood pressure related problems may be a factor and certainly gives you a reason to have regular check-ups. Blood pressure may also increase with age due to some hardening of the arteries making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood through them.

Risk Factors that can be controlled include the following :-

Smoking
High Salt/Sodium intake
Excessive alcohol consumption
Lack of physical activity
Excess weight
Poor diet

Lifestyle changes that improve the controllable risk factors can make a significant difference to reducing high blood pressure. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to bring your blood pressure under control. Once you start to take medication you may need to stay on it for life, although the dosage could be varied over time.

What the Research Shows For Green Tea and Weight Loss

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Dec 152009

Research on Green Tea For Weight Loss

Studies on green tea have concluded that the catechins, caffeine and theanine contained within green tea are beneficial in improving fat loss and the ability of the body to metabolise fats. Combined with a healthy diet and some physical activity green tea helps to reduce weight and then maintain a healthy weight level.

Green tea seems to be especially good at reducing visceral fat, that is fat around the intestines and organs in the abdominal area. Visceral fat is also associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes type 2. So for dieters, green tea may also help to prevent these diseases. Both animal and human studies have arrived at this conclusion.

Human studies have also demonstrated that daily consumption of green tea over a twelve week period reduced not just body fat but cholesterol levels as well. Reducing cholesterol is an important step in the prevention of atheriosclerosis and other cardio-vascular diseases.

Green tea catchins have been shown to have the ability to stimulate the use of fatty acids by cells in the liver and muscles. Using fatty acids reduces the rate that glycogen use and which results in lower levels of lactic acid. It’s the formation of lactic acid in the muscles that causes the sore aching feeling in muscles during exercise. This action of the catechins to reduce lactic acid levels results in increased endurance allowing you to exercise for longer.

The combination of increased endurance and faster fat burning is win-win for anybody wanting to lose weight. It’s a very simple forumula, drink green tea, lose weight. Dieters green tea also provides many other health benefits. To see the full story click the following link for more information on green tea diets.

Other Benefits of Dieters Green Tea

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Dec 152009

Green tea has been used for thousands of years in traditional remedies. It has been credited with being a major contribution to longevity in many cultures. Recent medical research has been able to confirm many of the benefits that healers have claimed for thousands of years.

Many of the health benefits of green tea are due to a powerful anti-oxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCE). The level of EGCE is much higher in green tea than in any other tea.

Green tea and weight loss is well documented. The following list shows some of the many other benefits.

Green tea has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of some forms of cancer.

Is beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Boosts the immune system.

Is effective as a blood thinner which assists with the management of cardiovascular diseases.

Helps to reduce high blood pressure.

May be beneficial in the treatment of neurological condidtions such as Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s diseaeses.

Helps to redcue high cholesterol.

Increases metabolism and fat oxidation to help maintain a healthy weight.

This list is just a start. Click this link for more information on the benefits of green tea diets.

Other Benefits of Dieters Green Tea

Many of the health benefits of green tea are due to a powerful anti-oxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCE). The level of EGCE is much higher in green tea than in any other tea.

Green tea and weight loss is well documented. The following list shows some of the many other benefits.

Green tea has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of some forms of cancer.
Is beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Boosts the immune system.
Is effective as a blood thinner which assists with the management of cardiovascular diseases.
Helps to reduce high blood pressure.
May be beneficial in the treatment of neurological condidtions such as Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s diseaeses.
Helps to redcue high cholesterol.
Increases metabolism and fat oxidation to help maintain a healthy weight.

This list is just a start. Click this link for more information on the benefits of green tea diets.

Understanding High Blood Pressure readings

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Oct 222009

Understanding High Blood Pressure Readings

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure you probably already know the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring but do you know what those numbers actually mean?

The device most commonly used as a blood pressure tester is known as a “sphygmomanometer”. These machines have been in use in doctors surgeries since the 1880′s. Early forms of the machine made use of a mercury barometer and were read in terms of how far the mercury rose in a column. Modern devices still use the same scale which is why the readings are given in terms of millimetres of mercury or mmHg.

Most forms of sphygmomanometer make use of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the arm. The cuff is inflated until the pressure is high enough to stop the flow of blood in the main artery of the arm. The pressure in the cuff is then slowly released until the sounds of blood rushing through the artery is detected, either by use of a stethoscope or electronic means in the case of a digital monitor. The pressure at which sounds are first heard is the systolic pressure and indicates the pressure in the artery while the heart is beating.

The pressure in the cuff is continued to release until no more sounds are heard. This is the point at which the blood is able to flow freely in the artery and is known as the diastolic pressure. The diastolic pressure indicates the pressure in ther artery beween heart beats when the heart is relaxed. The two pressure readings are recorded in the form systolic/diastolic, eg, 120/80, which is read as “one twenty over eighty”

Blood pressure readings vary throughout the day depending on activity and stress level and can be affected by many other factors as well, such as caffeine or tobacco intake. It’s best to actually measure blood pressure at a time when you are relaxed. Wait until at least 30 minutes after strenuous activity or consumption of caffeine. Try to sit in a relaxed position for 10-15 minutes before the pressure is measured.

Your resting blood pressure is a good indicator of the health of your circulatory system. If your readings are repeatedly at a high level it means extra stress is being placed on your heart and blood vessels. this condition puts you at high risk of serious damage to major organs. Your blood vessels may harden, a condition known as artheriosclerosis. Your blood vessels narrow and there is a greater risk of clotting. This can also lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart failure, stroke or kidney failure.

Generally speaking, blood pressure readings below 120/80 are considered to be normal. Between 120/80 and 140/90 is known as a high normal or pre-hypertension (pre-high blood pressure) range. Above 140/90 is a state of high blood pressure and above 180/110 is considered to be extremely high.

Your doctor would need to measure your pressure a few times over subsequent visits before confirming a diagnosis of high blood pressure readings. They will then suggest a course of treatment which will most likely include a healthier lifestyle and in more severe cases medication may also be required.

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