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High Blood Pressure: Add These Winter Foods To Your Diet To Control Hypertension Naturally

mymedicplus — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 06:28:05 +0000

Source: ndtv.com

High blood pressure or hypertension can be controlled with the right precautions. This health condition should not be ignored as it can put you at a higher risk of heart diseases. Many factors from diet to lifestyle can affect your blood pressure numbers. But do you know temperature can also affect your blood pressure? During the winter season, when your body comes in contact with the cold temperature, the blood vessels shrink which leads to fluctuations in blood pressure. Most people witness high blood pressure with a drop in temperature. But hypertension can be effectively managed with the right preventive measures.

Your diet leaves a strong impact on your blood pressure numbers. The right diet can help you effectively control hypertension. Along with the right diet, regular exercise is the best way to fight high blood pressure. This winter season make some changes in your diet and lifestyle to fight high blood pressure. Here are some winter foods which should be a part of your winter diet.

Hypertension diet: Winter foods for high blood pressure

1. Oranges

Oranges are easily available during the winter season. This citrus fruit is loaded with multiple health benefits. It is also beneficial for hypertension patients. Orange is rich in vitamin B6 and magnesium which contribute to lower blood pressure numbers. Studies have also shown that orange juice can also help you control hypertension. This winter season adds more oranges to your diet to control blood pressure naturally.

2. Bananas

Bananas are one of the most beneficial fruits for high blood pressure. Bananas are rich in potassium which can help you manage blood pressure. You can find bananas almost throughout the year. You can eat a banana as an evening snack or even for breakfast as well.

3. Carrots

Carrot is also a famous winter vegetable that can help you control high blood pressure. The presence of fibre and potassium in carrots contributes to reduced blood pressure. Carrots are also good for your vision and weight loss.

4. Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are extremely healthy. They are loaded with many essential nutrients. During the winter season, you can find a variety of green leafy vegetables that are beneficial for your blood pressure numbers. Some of the leafy greens which you can add to your diet may include- spinach, methi leaves, kale or lettuce.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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He revealed his HIV status to his employer. Then he was fired, a lawsuit alleges

mymedicplus — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:10:26 +0000

Source: washingtonpost.com

When Armando Gutierrez learned he was HIV-positive last December, he struggled to share the information with his employer.

The 31-year-old believed he was well-liked at the Kansas chain restaurant where he had worked as a server for a year, but he still worried his co-workers would stigmatize him if they learned of his condition. In a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Kansas, Gutierrez claims his fears were well founded, because shortly after sharing his status with a manager, he says he was fired.

Gutierrez first told his manager at the Big Biscuit in Overland Park, Kan., that he had cancer rather than HIV, the lawsuit says. But to qualify for a state program to get medications for HIV, he needed his manager to verify he didn’t receive health insurance through his work. Forced to come forward about his status, he brought his manager forms to sign.

Gutierrez then learned he had suddenly been transferred to another location and would be forced to work on Sundays — a day that he had said he could not work because of family obligations. When he appeared for work at the new location, he protested the schedule change and said he couldn’t make an accommodation, according to his lawyer, Mark Dugan.

As a result, Gutierrez claims, he was fired.

The Big Biscuit did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s requests for comment.

Gutierrez’s lawsuit alleges that the Big Biscuit violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by firing him over his HIV status. He seeks financial compensation, which he argues he’s entitled to through the ADA, including back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

“It had a pretty huge emotional impact,” Dugan said, of his client’s firing. “First, he was upset by the diagnosis; he was upset at work. The fact that he was unable to continue in his job just further undermined his stability.”

Individuals with HIV or AIDS are protected by federal anti-discrimination laws, thanks to a 1998 Supreme Court ruling. ADA.gov states that “persons with HIV disease, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, have physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities and thus are protected by the ADA.”

There is no cure for HIV, but medical treatment is available to control it, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined several methods to help prevent its transmission. According to CDC data from 2016, about 1.1 million Americans had HIV infections, and an estimated 162,500 additional people had been diagnosed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 195 complaints of workplace discrimination because of their HIV status in fiscal year 2018.

In 2015, a man in Georgia won a $125,000 settlement against his employer after he said he was fired over his HIV status, the BBC reported. Chanse Cox decided to come forward to his managers after his co-workers at the juice production plant Gregory Packaging began gossiping about his condition. Management fired him on the basis that his condition caused a food safety issue. Cox took his case to the EEOC, which sued the company with allegations that it violated the ADA.

Although Gutierrez’s manager at the Big Biscuit did sign the necessary form for him to receive state aid, and Gutierrez has since found other employment, the pain inflicted by his dismissal remained nearly a year later, his attorney said.

“He’s done a very good job of trying to move on, but it was pretty upsetting for him,” Dugan said.

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Bring Down High Blood Pressure By Using This Cooking Oil

mymedicplus — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:48:02 +0000

Source: ibtimes.com

High blood pressure is caused by many factors like age and family history. The risk of having this condition is higher when it manifested in several members of the family in the past and present.

Nevertheless, lifestyle and diet also play huge roles in the development and worsening of this condition. Eating slightly or greasy meals can aggravate the condition. When left untreated, it can progress to levels where the risk of stroke and heart attack will be very high.

The problem is most meals are cooked using regular cooking oil. Cooking meals without using the oil can be very difficult since the surface of the frying pan or hot plate and the food to be cooked are not even. While using regular cooking oil will eliminate this issue, it somehow puts the general health of the body at risk.

There is one particular type of oil, though, that might help reduce this risk and avoid having high blood pressure. What type of oil is this?

Studies have shown that patients who follow a Mediterranean diet are very successful in managing their blood pressure. According to experts, this is primarily due to the use of extra virgin olive oil. Their research on the matter showed evidence extra virgin olive oil helps decrease blood pressure. Patients consuming extra virgin olive oil have somehow reduced their dependency on drugs to control their blood pressure.

In the same study conducted among patients with high blood pressure, researchers found their condition dramatically improve after several weeks of consuming food cooked in extra virgin oil. Many of them were able to improve their quality of life without taking more medications.

Medical doctors and researchers agree that olive oil does wonders for patients with high blood pressure. Doctor Aldo Ferrara, an internal medicine associate professor, revealed that patients who use 40 grams of olive oil daily were able to reduce their medications by as much as 50%.

He also revealed extra virgin oil has antioxidants called polyphenols, which are thought to be the reason why patients participating in the research were able to enjoy lower blood pressure. Polyphenols are compounds that fight inflammation, which helps reduce blood pressure. Researchers say that as far as the results of the study go, there is a clear benefit between using regular cooking oil and extra virgin oil on food.

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Hypertension: Best Breakfast Options To Control High Blood Pressure

mymedicplus — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 07:46:47 +0000

source: ndtv.com

High blood pressure or hypertension can be controlled with simple diet and lifestyle changes. Similarly, some modifications in your breakfast can help you control blood pressure numbers. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You should eat the healthiest foods during breakfast to ensure a better flow of energy throughout the day. The right breakfast options can help a hypertension patient maintain blood pressure numbers. Foods rich in potassium are the best options for hypertension patients. Starting your day with a filling breakfast is one good method to control high blood pressure. Here are some healthy breakfast options for hypertension patients.

1. Oats

Starting your day with oats is the best fuel you can give to your body. Oats are high in fibre which is beneficial for high blood pressure. Sodium intake should be controlled if you have high blood pressure. Oats are low in sodium which makes it a great option for high blood pressure diet. Oats are easy to prepare, you can consume them for breakfast.

2. Yogurt with fruits

Yogurt is another healthy option that is good for high blood pressure. According to studies yogurt is good for high blood pressure. But always choose a low-fat yogurt with no added sugar and artificial flavours. You can add some fruits to yogurt to make it more nutritious.

3. Egg

When it comes to breakfast eggs might be the first thing that comes up. You can cook eggs in various ways and enjoy for breakfast. Eggs are also a well-known source of protein which is perfect for breakfast. Egg whites are especially good for high blood pressure. You can prepare scrambled eggs and add some vegetables to it.

4. Nuts, seeds and low-fat dairy

Nuts and seeds rich in potassium are good for high blood pressure. You can choose low-fat milk or a mixture of nuts and seeds for breakfast. Some of the best nuts and seeds for high blood pressure are pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, pistachios, almonds, cashew and walnuts.

5. Banana and berries

Banana is a well-known source of potassium. It is one of the best options to choose from. Bananas are also sodium-free and also rich in antioxidants. It will control blood pressure and promote heart health. You can eat berries with banana as they are also loaded with antioxidants and essential vitamins.

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Hypertension Prevention: Try Cardamom To Control High Blood Pressure, Here’s How It Works

mymedicplus — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:22:37 +0000

Source: ndtv.com

High blood pressure or hypertension is a serious health condition which should not be ignored. If ignored high blood pressure can put you at a higher risk of heart diseases and can majorly affect your heart hearth health. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best way to maintain blood pressure levels. Some foods can work well for the heart which can naturally reduce blood pressure and help you control hypertension. Cardamom is one spice which is can help you control high blood pressure. Cardamom is loaded with flavours and a strong aroma. It is commonly used in teas and other foods to add a special flavour. It is a common ingredient of almost every Indian household. Incorporating a small amount of cardamom in your diet can help you maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Hypertension: Benefits of cardamom for high blood pressure

The antioxidant and diuretic properties of cardamom help hypertension patients maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Chief Dietician Ms. Pavithra N Raj explained the relation between cardamom and blood pressure, “Cardamom is known as the “Queen of Spices”, the most important benefit of cardamom is that it has antioxidant properties which promote heart health. Cardamom also contains fiber, the nutrient that can help lower cholesterol levels and enhance heart health. Because of these properties, the spice also can lower blood pressure levels and this benefits the heart health as well.”

Ms. Pavithra further added-

There are two main types of cardamom-

Green: which is generally used for sweets or desserts

Black: which is used for the preparation of gram masala

Cardamom due to its antioxidant and diuretic properties it increases the urine volume and excreted higher levels of sodium and potassium ions. This, in turn, helps to relax blood vessel walls, which decreases blood pressure.

Hypertension: How much cardamom should be consumed?

According to a study conducted in 2009, consumption of around 3 grams of cardamom divided into two doses for almost 12 weeks continuously can help in reducing blood pressure. It can improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart diseases by controlling one of the major risk factors which is high blood pressure.

You can add cardamom to your teas or milk. It can also be used as a seasoning on desserts and other foods. Cardamom is also used as a mouth freshener; therefore you can also chew it. If you are suffering from high blood pressure form long, you must not ignore it and get yourself tested. Adding cardamom alone cannot work wonders for your blood pressure. Incorporate a healthy diet and some exercises to your schedule.

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High blood pressure in young adults: What you can do to prevent or control hypertension

mymedicplus — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 08:47:25 +0000

Source: timesnownews.com

New Delhi: While hypertension is more prevalent among the elderly, it has become an increasing trend among young adults in recent times. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently, Indians experience cardiovascular deaths at least a decade earlier than people in developed countries. The increased prevalence of traditional risk factors in the young population including obesity, diabetes and renal disease increase the risk of developing hypertension.

Psychosocial factors like stress, work pressure, anxiety and substance abuse like smoking, chewing tobacco and excess alcohol intake also contribute to hypertension in youngsters. Urbanization, change in diet and lower levels of physical activity are some of the major factors contributing to the rise of high blood pressure.

Hypertension in young adults

Hypertension in young may be of two types – primary or secondary, but more than 90 per cent are seen to have primary hypertension. Primary hypertension has no specific cause. It is often associated with a family history of hypertension, obesity or metabolic syndrome. Secondary hypertension can be due to renal and hormonal causes, etc. “Most young patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed during screening or when presented with an unrelated condition, and only a minority present with a hypertensive emergency,” said Dr Ravindranath Reddy DR, senior consultant, Interventional Cardiologist at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, Bengaluru.

Untreated hypertension damages the heart and other organs. It can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart attack, stroke and kidney damage. Hypertension is often called a silent killer because symptoms generally appear only after the disease has caused end-stage organ damage. The narrowing and blocking of blood vessels caused by high blood pressure increase the risk of developing heart failure.

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder than necessary in order to pump blood to the rest of the body. This causes the left ventricle to thicken or stiffen (left ventricular hypertrophy). These changes limit the ventricle’s ability to pump blood to your body. This increases one’s risk of heart attack, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Hence, this increasing trend of hypertension in the young people calls for early surveillance and prompt treatment to prevent future cardiac events.

How to prevent and control high blood pressure

Below are some simple measures you can take to help prevent or manage hypertension:

Avoid smoking and tobacco
Lose weight if you’re overweight
Get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least five days per week
Eat a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products with reduced content of saturated and total fat
Minimise your salt intake

Young adults aged <40 years should be educated about the association between body weight and hypertension. Particular caution surrounding lifestyle habits, including drinking and smoking, is warranted. It is an area where major health gains can be made through the implementation of primary care interventions and basic public health measures that target diet, lifestyle and environment.

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Sindh govt finally forms commission for HIV/AIDS control on court orders

mymedicplus — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 07:32:41 +0000

Source: thenews.com.pk

Responding to the directives from the Sindh High Court, the provincial health department on Friday notified the constitution of the Sindh HIV/AIDS Control, Treatment and Prevention Commission, which comprises retired judges, doctors from the Pakistan Army and Police Service of Pakistan, lawyers, social workers, experts working in the field of HIV and AIDS treatment in Sindh as well as other provinces of Pakistan.

“…..the competent authority is pleased to revise and notify the Commission for Sindh HIV/AIDS Control, Treatment and Prevention with immediate effect,” said a notification issued by Health Secretary Saeed Ahmed Awan.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) had ordered the provincial government to establish a commission for prevention, control, care, support and treatment of HIV and AIDS and had directed it to produce the notification in the court on September 17, 2019, compelling the health authorities to notify the creation of the commission on Friday, officials said.

Dr Sharaf Ali Shah, a former project director of the Sindh Control Program and renowned physician working in the field of HIV and AIDS treatment in Pakistan, told The News on Friday that a division bench of the SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Faisal Agha had issued these orders in a petition pertaining to implementation of the Sindh HIV and AIDS Control Treatment and Protection Act, 2013.

According to Dr Shah, the petition was filed by various individuals and organisations, including the War Against Rape, Pakistan Association for Mental Health and the Pakistan Institute of Labour, Education & Research, for the implementation of the Sindh HIV and AIDS Control, Treatment and Prevention Act 2013.

“Actually, the Sindh health department had notified a commission earlier, but the majority of its members had refused to be part of it, making it an ineffective body. Now on the directives from the Sindh High Court, they have created the commission comprising people from civil society, including me,” he added.

Health department officials said Dr Majida Rizvi, Dr Bashir Arain, Shabir Shaikh, Gul Muneer Shah, Dr Hussain Bux Memon would be the members of the governing body of the commission, while the working body would consist of Dr Rafiq Khananai, Dr Shobha, Dr Naseem Salahauddin, Dr Fatima Mir, Asif Soomro, Dr Sharaf Ali Shah, Muhammad Raza, Mrs Rubab, Bindia Rana and the program manager of the Sindh AIDS Control Program.

Earlier, the civil society organisations in their petition before the Sindh High Court had submitted that under Section 3 of this act it is responsibility of the Sindh government to implement and enforce this act with certain powers given under the same section 4, which further provides that the government shall within fifteen days from the promulgation of the act by notification establish a commission for prevention, control, care, support and treatment of HIV and AIDS in the province.

The petitioners’ counsel had argued that despite the promulgation of the law in 2013 no commission had been made so far to effectually implement the act. In the previous hearing, the court directed the additional advocate general of Sindh to submit comments and intimate the court as to when the commission would be constituted and submit the data with regard to HIV and AIDS patients.

In response to the petition, the health department furnished a report, which disclosed that a summary had been submitted with the chief minister for the constitution of the commission. Health department officials had sought two months; however, the court had granted two weeks’ time to the department to issue the notification for establishing the commission.

The health department report also revealed that nine centres were functioning for the treatment of AIDS in the province. The registered number of AIDS patients in Sindh is 12,071, while conservative estimates suggest that there are more than 65,000 AIDS patients in the province.

As many as 5,444 adults and 311 children diagnosed with HIV are under treatment in the Civil Hospital Karachi and 300 such patients are being treated in a Lyari hospital.

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Keto Diet May Help Control Type 2 Diabetes

mymedicplus — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 09:00:22 +0000

Source: drugs.com

MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2019 — The keto diet has plenty of weight-loss devotees who swear by the high fat, low-carb plan. Now, new research from India suggests it may benefit people with type 2 diabetes.

The study team found that people following a ketogenic diet for three months saw significant improvement in their blood sugar control.

“A five to 10% carbohydrate diet over three months led to a remarkable reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels,” said study author Dr. Angati Kanchana Lakshmi Prasana. Kanchana is a consultant biochemist at CARE Hospitals in Visakhpatnam, India.

Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test that estimates average blood sugar control over the past two to three months. In general, people with diabetes are advised to have an A1c level of 7% or lower.

It’s still up for debate whether it’s this specific diet that causes improvement, eating fewer carbohydrates or simply the fact that people lose weight on the diet.

Dr. Genevieve Lama is an endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Hudson Valley in New York. She said that when people lose weight, their blood sugar levels go down. And it doesn’t take a huge weight loss to make a difference. She said losing just 5% of your weight has an impact on blood sugar levels.

Plus, a low-carbohydrate diet is known to reduce blood sugar levels, she said.

During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars. The hormone insulin allows the body’s cells to use this sugar for fuel.

In type 2 diabetes, however, the cells aren’t as sensitive to insulin. That means more insulin is needed to do the same job. But sometimes the body can’t keep up. If that happens, blood sugar levels rise.

Certain foods — such as processed simple carbohydrates like white bread, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages — quickly raise blood sugar, according to the American Diabetes Association. That’s why a diet that limits these foods can help manage blood sugar levels.

The ketogenic (keto) diet was originally designed as a treatment for people with the seizure disorder epilepsy. It typically allows 50 grams of carbohydrate or less a day, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

On a keto diet, people often don’t have grains, breads or cereals. Often, even fruits and vegetables are restricted. The diet requires a big change in lifestyle.

The latest study recruited 130 people with type 2 diabetes to follow a ketogenic diet for 12 weeks. There was no control group for comparison.

Study volunteers were between 35 and 60 years old. About one-third were female.

Average weight loss was between 15 and 22 pounds. Before the diet, the study volunteers were slightly overweight. Afterwards, they fell in the normal weight category, on average.

The diet was very limited, with a maximum of 20 grams of carbohydrates a day, Kanchana said. (For reference, one slice of bread is 15 grams and a cup of broccoli has 6 grams of carbs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.)

Typically, the Indian diet is carb-laden, with around 300 to 400 grams of carbohydrate daily, Kanchana said. In some areas of India, people consume a lot of wheat products. In others, the diet contains more rice products.

The study diet contained fats like coconut oil and butter, animal products like chicken, eggs, lamb and pork, dairy products, green leafy vegetables and other green vegetables. The diet avoided root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, Kanchana said.

Daily calorie counts were about 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day.

The average hemoglobin A1C dropped from 7.8% to 6.4% after three months on the diet. Mild constipation was the only adverse effect.

However, more than 10% of the study participants (15 people) dropped out of the study. Kanchana said culturally it was difficult for some people to maintain the carbohydrate restrictions. Economic reasons may have prompted others to stop. It’s more expensive to purchase healthy fats and animal products than processed carbohydrates, she noted.

There is also concern that a diet high in fat and animal products might increase the risk of heart disease. Kanchana said the long-term effects of the diet need to be studied.

Diabetes doctor Lama said she thinks this diet would be difficult to maintain for a long time because it’s so restrictive. And she has concerns about the high fat in the diet, as well as the loss of certain healthy carbohydrates.

“I generally tell my patients to eat low carb, but not no carb. And to get a feel for what they think they can maintain as their lifestyle. If you can’t maintain it, it really just makes you feel defeated. It’s more realistic to lose weight gradually and keep it off,” she said.

She recommends keeping a food log before you see a dietitian, so you can work with the dietitian and come up with a healthy eating plan that has lots of foods you enjoy.

The study was to be presented Monday at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif. Findings presented at meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they’re published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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