Have you heard the latest treatment for lowering your blood pressure?
A study in the journal Hypertension (online Feb. 4) showed that two cups (500 ml) of beet juice lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 points. That is better than many prescription drugs. The effect lasts up to 24 hours.
Beets are high in dietary nitrate and increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide (NO) helps blood vessels relax, lowering blood pressure.
Talk to your doctor about this option and if it could help you too.
For more research and other self help suggestions, check out the directories under 'My Links' at the side of the page.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Happy thoughts can lower blood pressure
There could be a simple solution to lowering your blood pressure. Read this article for more information on this research.
"The prescription to lower your blood pressure may be as simple as this: Don't worry. Be happy.A study by University of Texas Medical Branch faculty members links positive emotions to lower blood pressure. Dr. Glenn Ostir of UTMB said patients were asked questions about their happiness and optimism levels at the same time their blood pressure was taken. "Those who were happier seemed to have lower blood pressure," he said. "Positive emotions tend to be associated with a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke." While the study focused on 2,500 Mexican Americans 65 and older, Ostir said he has no reason to believe this treatment wouldn't work for other ethnic groups as well.If you can control your emotional well-being and lower your blood pressure, the theory is you could prevent a heart attack or stroke.While Ostir stops short of saying happy people don't have heart attacks or strokes, he did say positive emotions tend to be associated with a reduced risk of these diseases.The study also found that targeting the emotional health of older adults might be used as part of non-medication treatment, saving elderly patients money on prescriptions.The Bright SideFaith Casanova of Galveston is disabled and has other ailments to deal with, but she tries to look on the bright side of life.The 72-year-old Jehovah's Witness said she spends her time thinking about the good things and the positive teachings of her religion. "I focus on the resurrection, hope, future and paradise here on earth," she said."
Source: http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0fe011b36864d8e5&
"The prescription to lower your blood pressure may be as simple as this: Don't worry. Be happy.A study by University of Texas Medical Branch faculty members links positive emotions to lower blood pressure. Dr. Glenn Ostir of UTMB said patients were asked questions about their happiness and optimism levels at the same time their blood pressure was taken. "Those who were happier seemed to have lower blood pressure," he said. "Positive emotions tend to be associated with a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke." While the study focused on 2,500 Mexican Americans 65 and older, Ostir said he has no reason to believe this treatment wouldn't work for other ethnic groups as well.If you can control your emotional well-being and lower your blood pressure, the theory is you could prevent a heart attack or stroke.While Ostir stops short of saying happy people don't have heart attacks or strokes, he did say positive emotions tend to be associated with a reduced risk of these diseases.The study also found that targeting the emotional health of older adults might be used as part of non-medication treatment, saving elderly patients money on prescriptions.The Bright SideFaith Casanova of Galveston is disabled and has other ailments to deal with, but she tries to look on the bright side of life.The 72-year-old Jehovah's Witness said she spends her time thinking about the good things and the positive teachings of her religion. "I focus on the resurrection, hope, future and paradise here on earth," she said."
Source: http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0fe011b36864d8e5&
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Chiropractor Fixes High Blood Pressure!
Extremely interesting information here! Who would have thought a chiropractor could affect your cholesterol levels! Read on!
"Millions of Americans have high blood pressure and turn to medication for help controlling it, but a trip to the chiropractor could be what the doctor ordered. Doctor Marshall Dickholtz has been fixing spines for five decades. He focuses his attention on the top bone of the spine at the base of the brain called the atlas. Dickholtz says, "When you have a pinched brain stem, it closes out your arteries. If the arteries close down, the blood pressure has to be higher to go through those arteries." Dickholtz says a misaligned atlas will raise blood pressure. He has a machine that checks alignment, and after checking x-rays, Dickholtz know just what to do. The treatment seems to be helping. A recent study out of Chicago reports a 17-point drop in blood pressure after the realignment."
Source: http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=3910&type=top
For more news like this, check out the "Health Directory" under "My Favourite Links".
"Millions of Americans have high blood pressure and turn to medication for help controlling it, but a trip to the chiropractor could be what the doctor ordered. Doctor Marshall Dickholtz has been fixing spines for five decades. He focuses his attention on the top bone of the spine at the base of the brain called the atlas. Dickholtz says, "When you have a pinched brain stem, it closes out your arteries. If the arteries close down, the blood pressure has to be higher to go through those arteries." Dickholtz says a misaligned atlas will raise blood pressure. He has a machine that checks alignment, and after checking x-rays, Dickholtz know just what to do. The treatment seems to be helping. A recent study out of Chicago reports a 17-point drop in blood pressure after the realignment."
Source: http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=3910&type=top
For more news like this, check out the "Health Directory" under "My Favourite Links".
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
High Blood Pressure for Dummies
Aren't those "....for dummies" books great. And now I've heard there is a new one out "High Blood Pressure for Dummies". If your blood pressure is at 140/90 or higher, then you are at risk for heart disease and stroke. Various lifestyle changes can help you keep your blood pressure under control and that is what this book looks at - losing weight, exercising, cutting back the salt. It will even tell you how to get a more accurate blood pressure measurement.
Check your local book store for a copy.
Check your local book store for a copy.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Generic beta blockers may lead to problems
Here is a question I found in an article relating to generic branded blood pressure medication. I thought it could be of use to someone out there. Definitely worth discussing this with your GP or pharmacist.
Article source: http://www.charlotte.com/162/story/427470.html
"Q. My doctor prescribed Toprol-XL several years ago, and it worked well. Last week, my pharmacist refilled my prescription with generic metoprolol succinate. Two days later, my blood pressure shot sky-high to 190/100. Luckily, I found some leftover pills of the brand name Toprol-XL. My blood pressure came down to 140/90 -- high but OK. Is there a problem with this new generic?
Toprol-XL (metoprolol) is a slow-release beta blocker prescribed to control high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. Many other readers have reported rapid heart rate and higher blood pressure after switching to some generic forms of metoprolol succinate.
One patient experienced pounding headaches with blood pressure of 225/125 after one week on metoprolol.
We urge anyone having a problem with a generic drug to discuss the problem with the prescriber."
Article source: http://www.charlotte.com/162/story/427470.html
"Q. My doctor prescribed Toprol-XL several years ago, and it worked well. Last week, my pharmacist refilled my prescription with generic metoprolol succinate. Two days later, my blood pressure shot sky-high to 190/100. Luckily, I found some leftover pills of the brand name Toprol-XL. My blood pressure came down to 140/90 -- high but OK. Is there a problem with this new generic?
Toprol-XL (metoprolol) is a slow-release beta blocker prescribed to control high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. Many other readers have reported rapid heart rate and higher blood pressure after switching to some generic forms of metoprolol succinate.
One patient experienced pounding headaches with blood pressure of 225/125 after one week on metoprolol.
We urge anyone having a problem with a generic drug to discuss the problem with the prescriber."
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Taking Blood Pressure Pills at Night May Be Better for Some
A good tip here for anyone taking blood pressure medication. May as well do everything we can to help those medications help us even more. So start taking your pills before bed and you may benefit.
Read this article for more information or check out the 'Health Directory' under 'My Favourite Links' for similar articles.
Article source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317170,00.html
"Taking a blood pressure pill at bedtime instead of in the morning might be healthier for some high-risk people.
New research suggests that simple switch may normalize patterns of blood pressure in patients at extra risk from the twin epidemics of heart and kidney disease.
Why? When it comes to blood pressure, you want to be a dipper. In healthy people, blood pressure dips at night, by 10 to 20 percent. Scientists don't know why, but suspect the drop gives arteries a little rest.
People with high blood pressure that doesn't dip at night ; the non-dippers ; fare worse than other hypertension sufferers, developing more serious heart disease. Moreover, heart and kidney disease fuel each other ; and the 26 million Americans with chronic kidney disease seem most prone to non-dipping."
Read this article for more information or check out the 'Health Directory' under 'My Favourite Links' for similar articles.
Article source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317170,00.html
"Taking a blood pressure pill at bedtime instead of in the morning might be healthier for some high-risk people.
New research suggests that simple switch may normalize patterns of blood pressure in patients at extra risk from the twin epidemics of heart and kidney disease.
Why? When it comes to blood pressure, you want to be a dipper. In healthy people, blood pressure dips at night, by 10 to 20 percent. Scientists don't know why, but suspect the drop gives arteries a little rest.
People with high blood pressure that doesn't dip at night ; the non-dippers ; fare worse than other hypertension sufferers, developing more serious heart disease. Moreover, heart and kidney disease fuel each other ; and the 26 million Americans with chronic kidney disease seem most prone to non-dipping."
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Linking Players In Blood Pressure Control To Metabolic Syndrome
Here's an interesting article I found, albeit a bit complicated! But I thought it was interesting research and looks like the drugs used to control blood pressure will also assist in reducing the risk of other diseases. Good news.
Article Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90780.php
A new study elucidates the connection between an enzyme involved in blood pressure control and symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. The researchers report in the December issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press, that mice lacking the enzyme known as renin are lean and resistant to gaining weight on a high-fat diet, even though they continue to eat just as much and don't exercise more.
The findings suggest that renin-blocking drugs designed for treating high blood pressure might also improve obesity and insulin resistance, according to the researchers. Renin plays an important rate-limiting role in the production of a hormone called angiotensin II (Ang II) that increases blood pressure by constricting blood vessels.
"An overactive renin-angiotensin system has also been associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome," said Nobuyuki Takahashi of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Article Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90780.php
A new study elucidates the connection between an enzyme involved in blood pressure control and symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. The researchers report in the December issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press, that mice lacking the enzyme known as renin are lean and resistant to gaining weight on a high-fat diet, even though they continue to eat just as much and don't exercise more.
The findings suggest that renin-blocking drugs designed for treating high blood pressure might also improve obesity and insulin resistance, according to the researchers. Renin plays an important rate-limiting role in the production of a hormone called angiotensin II (Ang II) that increases blood pressure by constricting blood vessels.
"An overactive renin-angiotensin system has also been associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome," said Nobuyuki Takahashi of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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