Reduce Blood Pressure - 6 Steps to Living a Healthy Life
By Alvin Hopkinson
Blood pressure is two measurements that determine the pressure of your blood moving through your arteries. The arteries carry the blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when the blood circulates through the arteries at a higher pressure than normal. At this point, it is important to implement treatment to reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause further complications that are potentially life threatening if not treated immediately.
High blood pressure is a dangerous disease that damages the blood vessels. The disease also raises the risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and heart attack. The disease may develop in children as well as in adults. The risks of developing hypertension may increase if it is prominent within your family, if you live an unhealthy life- style, and if you have had high blood pressure in the past.
It is recommended by healthcare providers that you get your blood pressure checked regularly; especially if you have a predisposition to develop the condition. Upon diagnosis, the physicians prescribe and recommend several treatment therapies to reduce blood pressure.
There are many ways to lower high blood pressure and manage the effects of the condition. In most cases, physicians first implement drug therapy to fight the progression of hypertension. However, treatment can also begin with you. It begins with changes that you make in your life- style.
Changing your life- style will not only reduce blood pressure, but it will significantly decrease your risk of heart disease. More so, a healthy life- style will effectively reduce the amount of medicine (and dosages) that you are prescribed. Some effective life- style changes that you should consider to reduce blood pressure are:
1. Stop smoking cigarettes or any tobacco product 2. Exercise regularly 3. Implement relaxation techniques 4. Loose weight and maintain healthy weight 5. Reduce sodium, alcohol and caffeine 6. Consume healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables 7. Consume healthy foods that are low in cholesterol and fats
How To Deal With The Silent Killer
It's called The Silent Killer … high blood pressure.
Also referred to as hypertension, high blood pressure can potentially lead to heart disease, stroke, dementia, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. It's one of the ten (10) leading causes of death in the world. What's worse, recent studies have concluded that hypertention will increase by 60% by year 2025, with third world countries experiencing the largest increases.
Unfortunately, the reason high blood pressure is often referred to as the Silent Killer is because you're often unaware that you're suffering from it until you begin to experience the many side effects of the condition. This is one of the reasons your physician will check your blood pressure every time you're in for a check up or a visit, whether or not it pertains to hypertension.
So what can you expect if you're diagnosed with high blood pressure?
First and foremost, you can expect your physician to prescribe some lifestyle changes. At the top of the list: diet changes. Less alcohol, salt and sodium consumption. These can all contribute to your condition. Then there's your daily habits and practices, such as relaxation and reduced stress. Modern life, with its hectic pace and unending pressures can dramatically contribute to your raised blood pressure. Taking small steps to relieve the stress in your life can be very beneficial.
In addition, your physician will likely prescribe medication for your high blood pressure. If this is the case in your situation, you'll want to have a basic understanding of what's being prescribed and what it's supposed to do. The person who should be providing you with this information is, of course, your physician. So don't be afraid to ask questions.
Here's a list of some of the more commonly prescribed medications for hypertension. These will give you a foundation upon which you can build your understanding of what's going into your body and what questions you might have for your physician.
Diuretics - often referred to as "water pills," diuretics increase the body's excretion of fluids through the urine.
Beta Blockers - inhibit the effects of adrenalin, slowing the nerve impulses sent to the heart and blood vessels, which causes the heart to slow down because it requires less blood and oxygen.
Ace Inhibitors - the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a hormone that narrows the veins during a high blood pressure attack. The ace inhibitor medication inhibits the production of the hormone and helps the veins to relax so that the blood pressure will drop.
Angiotensin Antagonist - primarily used for the treatment of hypertension when the patient has become intolerant of ACE inhibitor therapy (mentioned above).
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) - calcium channel blocking agents affect the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, they relax blood vessels and increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload. Some of the calcium channel blocking agents are used to relieve and control angina pectoris (chest pain).
Alpha Blockers - work by dilating your blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. Some alpha-blockers are also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or glaucoma. They may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Alpha Beta Blockers - work the same way as alpha-blockers but also slow the heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. As a result, less blood is pumped through the vessels and the blood pressure goes down.
Nervous System Inhibitors - relax blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses. This causes the blood vessels to become wider and the blood pressure to go down.
Vasodilators - directly open blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing the blood pressure to go down.
Dealing with high blood pressure is similar to dealing with many other conditions that appear to be on the increase in this time in man's history. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, they all have a similar approach. Watch your diet, increase your activity level, keep an eye on your cholesterol, reduce your alcohol and tabacco consumption, and follow your physician's suggestions. Hypertension can be controlled. In fact, it can even be prevented. In both cases, however, a great deal of the responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of the sufferer.
Don't let the Silent Killer show up in your life.
Author: David Silva
Treatment for Hypertension - 5 Tips for a Healthier Life
by Alvin Hopkinson
Taking medications to treat high blood pressure doesn't necessarily mean that you have the problem under control. On occasion, the underlying cause for elevated blood pressure is not addressed prior to prescribing medication. Hypertension can attack suddenly due to over-the-counter drugs such as arthritis or pain drugs and/or dietary supplements. It is recommended that you inform your physician of any nonprescription drugs that are currently taken. There are steps that must be followed in order to combat high blood pressure.
5 Tips For A Healthier You:
1. Develop a Weight Loss Plan
- Be sure to obtain your Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as a waist circumference.
- If you need to loose weight, do it slowly and maintain the weight loss.
2. Implement Daily Physical Activity
- It is beneficial to dedicate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your daily lifestyle. - Incorporate everyday chores with moderate physical activity to include walking, climbing stairs, etc. to achieve your goals.
3. Develop a Healthy Eating Plan
- Research and develop a restricted calorie meal plan that includes low saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol. Also include eating plans that are high in fruit, vegetables, and low- fat dairy products. - Document everything you consume in a food diary. Highlight areas that are successful or need improvement.
- If your goal is to actually loose weight, choose a plan that is low in calories.
4. Prepare Dishes that are Low in Sodium
- Eat foods that are low in salt and other forms of sodium.
- Use alternative spices, garlic and onions to add flavor to your meals.
5. Follow Approved Medication Prescription Guidelines
- Follow the lifestyle changes mentioned above in addition to medication, if it is a must in order to lower your blood pressure.
- Implement a 'reminder' strategy so that you will remember to take your medications as prescribed.
Even if you are taking anti- hypertension medications as a treatment for hypertension, always remember that you are also in control of the outcome. Because many of the hypertension- reduction drugs are oppressed with damaging side effects, using alternative methods to lower your blood pressure is rewardingly beneficial. Ask your physician about each prescribed drug as well as Holistic or natural remedies. Demand a healthier life by implementing a healthier lifestyle.
High Cholesterol Symptoms - What do they lead to? How to have a healthy cholesterol level?
by Tina Druv
Coronary Heart Disease
However, high cholesterol levels have terrible consequences. One of the most common consequences is a coronary heart disease. Chest pain, the medical term for which is Angina, is the most common symptom of coronary heart diseases. It is a very painful condition that makes the patient feel as if something is pressed on to his or her chest, making breathing difficult. The primary sign of angina is chest pain but in advanced cases, the individual might feel this pain in other parts of the body, for example, the neck or the jaw. In very rare cases, the patient might not even suffer from chest pain and have such pain in other parts of the body.
Other symptoms of coronary heart disease include difficulty in breathing, nausea, sudden lightheadedness and excessive sweating. Thus, any kind of chest pain should be reported to a good doctor immediately. Avoid overlooking chest pain because in most cases, it is an indication of something as serious as coronary heart disease. It is generally advised that people suffering from coronary heart diseases do not consume very heavy meals or get hyper excited about anything because it can even be fatal. In fact, if you ever experience severe chest pain, you should immediately take rest and then go and see a doctor.
Stroke
Another major problem caused by high cholesterol is arteriosclerosis. What happens here is that the artery gets clogged and blood cannot flow normally through it. in extreme cases, the blood flow stops and results in clotting of blood which results in a stroke. Stroke occurs when the blood clot makes the artery burst.
The worst thing about a stroke is that it can happen anytime and without a comprehensive warning. However, research has revealed that just prior to a stroke; the patient feels dizzy and has difficulty in understanding and talking. But once you have a stroke, chances are that it will result in partial or complete paralysis or loss of functioning of a particular part of the body.
Most of the heart diseases are caused by excessive levels of cholesterol. In fact, heart diseases are the cause of the maximum number of deaths in America, as in many other countries around the world. As many as 500,000 Americans die because of heart diseases every year and other huge numbers have a heart attack every year. Doctors, after much speculation and research, have discovered that high levels of cholesterol increases the chance of heart attacks or other heart problems in an individual.
How to have a healthy cholesterol level?
One of the most coveted things nowadays on the planet is a healthy cholesterol level! With more and more people falling prey to heart diseases every day, people are finally becoming more and more conscious about their cholesterol levels and are looking for ways in which they can reduce it. The lifestyle that we are used to nowadays in an urban set up does not allow us much time for leisure. This means that we have less and less time to look after ourselves. However, we must try our best to ensure that we lead a healthy life that will protect us from deadly heart diseases that claim millions of lives each year.
Given below is a list of things that you can do in order to check your cholesterol levels. However, make sure that you maintain these things and keep fit, always!
Eat Healthy:
A healthy diet is a must for anyone who wants to avoid deadly diseases in later life. Do not live on junk food as it is extremely harmful. Even if you do not get time out for proper meals, get packed lunch from home that is healthy and tasty and the same time. Go for fiber rich sandwiches with lettuce, meat, tomatoes and filling. Keep a check on the amount of carbohydrates that you consume. Those who are into a lot of exercise are the ones who need to have a lot of carbohydrates. But if you are not into a lot of exercise, it is best to keep a check on the amount of carbohydrates that you consume because it gets converted to fat and then, finally, cholesterol.
Stay Healthy
With Exercise: a great way to control your cholesterol levels is to exercise regularly. Proper exercise helps you make your heart muscles strong. This, in turn, enables better blood circulation and decreases the risks of a heart attack. In fact, if you are suffering from high cholesterol problems, exercise can help you reduce your cholesterol levels. And even for those who have not faced any problems with cholesterol till now, exercise is a great way to ensure that you do not suffer from the problems in later years.
Give up Smoking:
High cholesterol levels mean that the arteries are blocked with plague. What smoke does is that it clogs the arteries further. Thus, it assists cholesterol in blocking your arteries and causing heart attacks or strokes. We all know that blockage of arteries can even be fatal, so why not give up on smoking?
Let Go Of Stress:
Stress is another factor that can lead to an increase in your cholesterol levels. Try to remain free from tension and in case of stressful situations, resort to meditation.
If you take care of the things mentioned above, you will be able to decrease your cholesterol levels if they are already on a high. If not, you can follow the things mentioned above in order to prevent a high cholesterol situation that poses serious threats to your health.