Early studies surveying people with the novel coronavirus disease found that up to 30 per cent of them had hypertension, according to a report by The Lancet. So, how are hypertension and the risk of coronavirus related?

“High blood pressure in itself does not cause an increased susceptibility to coronavirus. But from what we have seen so far, about one-fourth to half of the COVID-19 patients who had to be admitted had high blood pressure, among other ailments,” Dr Nishith Chandra, cardiology, director-interventional cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute,

He said, “It has been seen that a lot of patients of COVID-19 are asymptomatic or show minor symptoms, and get better. A person with high blood pressure or other heart diseases, who is exposed to the virus, however, is more likely to require hospitalisation or even ventilation, as opposed to infected patients without blood pressure.”

Any comorbidity or existing medical condition like diabetes or heart disease may result in a more severe impact of the virus on the body due to a weaker immune system. Those who have high blood pressure and are already on medication may have compromised immunity. Again, elderly people with coronary heart disease or high blood pressure are more susceptible to the virus.

That said, people with high blood pressure should not be paranoid. “Hypertension is a very common condition, with nearly 30-40 per cent of the adult population in India suffering from it. The good news is hypertension can be easily controlled. One should ideally strictly control blood pressure during the pandemic,” the doctor advised. Here are some ways to do it.

How to control blood pressure

1. Adhere to a good lifestyle; follow a healthy diet and keep yourself physically active by exercising.

2. Avoid excess salt in your food.

3. Eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium like spinach, broccoli, apricots, raisins and dates.

4. Drink three to four litres of water daily to remain hydrated.

5. Limit the consumption of alcohol and caffeine to keep your blood pressure levels in check.

6. If you are unable to control blood pressure, consult your doctor without delay.

Do blood pressure medicines increase COVID-19 risk?

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine stated that blood pressure medicines do not put you at more risk of contracting the virus. Besides, on March 17, 2020, the American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology issued a joint statement to confirm that one should not stop taking the prescribed medicines for blood pressure. “These medications don’t increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. They are vital to maintaining your blood pressure levels to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and worsening heart disease,” the guidelines read.

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You can absolutely burn fat and improve your overall health by walking. Over the past few years, walking and staying active have honestly become trendy. Hitting a certain number of steps for the day and corporate walking challenges have helped to improve daily physical activity. In fact, the US Department of Health and Human Services advises that adults should move more and sit less throughout the day, and they urge that some physical activity is better than none. If you are trying to manage your weight, walking can be a useful weight management tool. Here’s everything you need to know about walking for weight loss, including our tips and tricks for maximizing your stride.

Walking Benefits

Research continues to show that overall regular exercise is beneficial for your health, but walking itself has several benefits which include:

• Improving heart health: We know that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, so keeping our hearts top of mind should be a priority. Research suggests that walking can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and also improve longevity.
• Promoting mental health: Taking care of yourself, mind and body, is so important when it comes to wellness and holistic health. Walking regularly can improve a person’s cognition and also help decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Combating obesity: Obesity puts us at risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers. Research shows that walking is decreased in obese individuals and also declines with weight gain. Staying active is imperative to help fight obesity and manage your weight.
• Maximizing your NEAT: Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (a.k.a. NEAT) is essentially the energy expended for anything besides formal exercise and sleep. Walking, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, and just general movement throughout the day all contribute to your NEAT. If you are walking for weight loss, NEAT can be a great tool for helping you achieve your goals. Over time, NEAT really can build up and is what I attribute to helping me lose the last five pounds of my 30-pound weight loss journey. Going for a walk a few times a week can lead to you burning upwards of 200 calories. When all is said and done for the week, that can add up to a substantial caloric deficit with just minimal effort.

Walking for Weight Loss Tips

• Check the weather: The last thing you want is to get caught in a rainstorm in the middle of your walk (which has happened to me several times, so learn from my mistakes). I like to take a look at the weather report in the morning to see when the best time for my walk would be. If I normally walk at around 5 p.m. but the weather report expects rain, then I may reschedule my walk for lunchtime. And always carry a charged phone with you just in case the weather takes a turn and you need someone to pick you up.
• Hydrate: If you’re heading out for a long walk, you’ll want to make sure that you are hydrated. Try to stay hydrated during the day and drink two cups of water at least 30-60 minutes before your walk so it’s out of your system (and you won’t have to use the bathroom). When you return from your walk, make sure to down a glass of water to rehydrate the body. Avoid any sugary sodas or electrolyte drinks; if you’re walking at a moderate intensity, water will do just fine to rehydrate the body.
• Get the right gear: Toss away the old flip-flops and opt for a good pair of sneakers. This will help with posture during your walk and can also reduce risk of injury. Plus, if you have the right sneakers on, it can help improve your stride and make walking a longer distance more comfortable.
• Focus on form: Walking itself doesn’t take much skill and is very natural, but certain posture and form cues can help enhance your walk. Focus on keeping your chin up and shoulders square. Your core should be activated and your back should be nice and straight. Most importantly, your glutes should be engaged with every step and try to think about tucking your butt inward. You’ll want to land on your heels and roll forward to push off of your toes with each stride.
• Pick up the pace: Walking in intervals is a great way to help you burn more calories and keep your walk interesting. When it comes to walking, there are three different types of paces: stroll (similar to window shopping, about a 3/4 difficulty on a scale of 10), brisk walk (making an effort here, about a 4/5 difficulty), and power walk (on a mission, about a 5/6 difficulty). Warm up with a stroll, then aim for a brisk pace throughout your walk, and push to a power walk pace every five minutes to get your heart rate up. See how long you can maintain a power walk pace for and then try to increase it by a few seconds every time you go out for your walk. Power walking for weight loss can make a big difference in your overall health.
• Set a goal: How far can you walk in 30 minutes or in 1 hour? In order to optimize your walking pace, try to aim for 1.5 miles per 30 minutes and 3 miles per hour, which is a brisk pace of about 20 minutes per mile. If you can’t commit to walking for a full hour or 30 minutes, do what you can, anything is better than nothing and can contribute to your daily steps tremendously.
• Walk on an incline: If you’re indoors, a treadmill will allow you to manipulate your incline and that can enhance the caloric burn of your walk. If you’re outside, try to opt for a hilly area to optimize your walk. Research suggests that increasing incline can enhance the intensity of the workout while also reducing impact on the legs and joints.
• Walk with a friend: An accountability buddy can help you stay on track and make that daily walk non-negotiable. Try to find a friend, family member, or co-worker who will go for a walk with you a few times a week to keep you motivated and change things up.

Walking Calorie Calculator

Curious to see how many calories you burned on your walk? Carrying your phone with you and connecting to one of the apps below can give you an idea, but certain walking calorie calculators are available on the web to provide an estimate as well. Your calorie burn will vary greatly depending on several factors, including your weight, distance walked, incline, and terrain.

Walking for Weight Loss Apps and Resources

If you’re going for a walk by yourself, you’ll want to make sure you keep entertained and have something to look forward to. Here are a few of our favorite walking apps and audiobooks to get the most out of your walking time.

• Human: Tracks your steps and movement, focusing on active minutes rather than steps and helping you set challenges along the way.
• Peloton Digital: Offers several on-demand guided walking classes, as well as virtual scenic routes.
• ROAD ID: If you’re concerned about safety while out for your walk, this app allows your friends and family to track you while you’re out for a run and offers other safety features.
• Charity Miles: Turns your steps into money for charity and the app donates 25 cents to a charity of your choice for every walk/run mile you complete.
• Pacer: This pedometer built into your smartphone is great for keeping track of steps and activity throughout the day.
• Audible: Makes your walks educational by listening to an audiobook that can help pass the time and keep you engaged.
• Spotify: Offers a wide variety of music options, playlists, and podcasts to enjoy while you’re out on your walk.

• Walk Your Way to Better Health: This walking plan from our sister magazine Prevention comes with a preloaded Mp3 player, dozens of walking workouts, and 140+ healthy recipes.

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Children of mothers with diabetes have increased rates of early onset cardiovascular disease or CVD (conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels) from childhood up to the age of 40, the researchers have warned.

The increased rates were more pronounced among children of mothers with a history of CVD or diabetic complications, said the study published in the journal The BMJ.
“Our study provides evidence that children of mothers with diabetes, especially those with a history of CVD or with diabetic complications, had increased rates of early onset CVD throughout the early decades of life,” said study researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark.

If this association is shown to be causal, preventing, screening, and treating diabetes in women of childbearing age could be important not only for improving the health of the women but also for reducing long term risks of CVD in their offspring, the researchers added

The number of women diagnosed with diabetes before or during pregnancy has increased globally, and children of these women are more likely to have risk factors for future CVD, such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. It is unclear, however, whether or to what extent exposure to diabetes in the womb increases the risk of developing CVD in offspring over a lifetime.

So an international team of researchers set out to evaluate associations between diabetes diagnosed before or during pregnancy and early onset CVD in children during their first four decades of life. They base their findings on national registry data for over 2.4 million children born without congenital heart disease in Denmark from 1977 to 2016.

Diabetes was categorised as pregestational (before pregnancy) or gestational (during pregnancy) and women with diabetic complications were identified.

Other potentially influential factors, such as mother’s age, education, lifestyle and medical history were also taken into account. During up to 40 years of follow-up, children of mothers with diabetes had a 29 per cent increased overall rate of early onset CVD compared with children of mothers who did not have diabetes (cumulative risks: 17.8 per cent vs 13.1 per cent ).

The researchers also found higher rates for specific types of CVD children of mothers with diabetes, particularly heart failure (45 per cent), hypertensive disease (78 per cent), deep vein thrombosis (82 per cent), and pulmonary embolism (91 per cent).

Increased rates were seen in each age group in childhood (before 20 years of age) and early adulthood (from 20 to 40 years of age), regardless of the type of diabetes they were exposed to (pregestational or gestational) and rates were similar for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the study said. (IANS).

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New York, January 26: Wide swings in blood pressure readings among young adults are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease by middle age, according to a new study.

The findings, published in the journal JAMA Cardiology, suggests that the current practice of averaging blood pressure readings to determine whether medications are necessary could be masking a potential early warning sign from the fluctuations themselves. Millennials Are at A High Risk of High Blood Pressure than Gen X: Here’s What Causes Hypertension in Young Generation.

“If a patient comes in with one reading in December and a significantly lower reading in January, the average might be within the range that would appear normal,” said study lead author Yuichiro Yano from Duke University in the US.

“But is that difference associated with health outcomes in later life?” Yano said. “That’s the question we sought to answer in this study, and it turns out the answer is yes.” Yano added.

The researchers arrived at their conclusion after analysing 30 years of data from a large, diverse cohort of young people enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study between March 1985 and June 1986.

Of the 3,394 people studied, about 46 per cent were African American and 56 per cent were women. The patients had regular blood pressure checks, with patterns evaluated across five visits, including at two, five, seven and 10 years. At the 10-year mark, the average age of the patients was about 35.

The main reading of concern to Yano’s research team was the systolic blood pressure level, the upper number in the equation that measures the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart pumps. A systolic blood pressure reading over 130 is considered hypertensive and has long been a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The researchers were able to identify which young people had variations in systolic blood pressure by the age of 35 and then track them over the next 20 years and see whether there appeared to be a correlating increase in cardiovascular disease.

Over those years, study participants reported 181 deaths and 162 cardio-vascular events, which included fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, hospitalisation for heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or a stent procedure for blocked arteries. Long Office Work Hours Linked to Regular, Hidden High Blood Pressure: Study

The researchers found that each 3.6-mm spike in systolic blood pressure during young adulthood was associated with a 15-percent higher risk for heart disease events, independent of the averaged blood pressure levels during young adulthood and any single systolic blood pressure measurement in midlife.

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The conventional wisdom has been that when heart disease shows up in women, it simply arrives more slowly, generally lagging about 10 to 20 years behind men. But a review of blood pressure measures for nearly 32,800 people collected over four decades casts doubt on that view—and suggests, once again, the health system must do more to recognize men and women are different, and thus, diseases act differently.

A study published recently in JAMA Cardiology found certain vascular diseases not only develop earlier but progress quickly, which the authors said can set women up for late-life heart problems “that tend to present differently, not simply later” than those in men.

The authors—who came from Harvard, Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles, and Turku University in Finland—reached their conclusions by shedding old assumptions of the past. Instead of assuming that men and women are basically the same physically, this team assumed they are different, and by looking for gender-specific differences in the blood pressure data, they uncovered new insights.

The researchers used data from 144,599 separate blood pressure readings taken between 1971 and 2014 from patients aged 5 to 98, which were recorded in four different studies.

Compared with men, women “clearly exhibit a steeper increase in [blood pressure] that begins as early as the third decade and continues throughout the life course” they wrote.

What causes gender-related differences in blood pressure? The authors say there could be a host of reasons, including hormonal factors, chromosomal factors, and differences in gene expression. Women are smaller, and their organs—including the heart—are smaller, too. The most differences are those associated with when women begin menstruating and having children; beyond the hormonal changes, blood volume increases, and so does the heart rate.

The differences beyond biology can matter, too. “Importantly, complex social, economic, and structural environmental factors lead to differences in the lived experience between men and women that can affect physiology as well as vascular biology,” the authors write.

Such differences are important because of studies of drugs developed for type 2 diabetes are now being shown to be effective in some forms of heart failure. More studies are expected that may show whether these drugs, called SGLT2 inhibitors, are effective in the form of heart failure associated with stiffness in the heart’s left ventricle. As the authors note, this dangerous condition is more likely to affect women, especially if they have high blood pressure. Right now, no drugs have been shown to prevent early death from this condition.

More work is needed, the authors said, to understand how the differences between men and women affect cardiovascular risk, so that prevention and management efforts can be tailored for each.

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MORE and more experts now recommend that people with high blood pressure regularly check their blood pressure at home. This can give a better reflection of your blood pressure, as being tested in somewhere like a GP surgery can make you feel anxious and can affect the result. It can also allow you to monitor your condition more easily in the long term.

You can buy a variety of low-cost monitors so you can test your blood pressure at home or while you’re on the move. Doing this gives people an idea where their blood pressure stands in between doctor’s appointments and can motivate them to care more about their health. It also helps doctor’s make quick medication adjustments to keep blood pressure in a healthy zone. 

However, home blood pressure monitors aren’t always as accurate as they should be.

It has been reported that home blood pressure monitors may be inaccurate in five per cent to 15 per cent of patients, depending on the threshold for accuracy used.

A study at the University of Alberta in Calgary tested dozens of home monitors used by 85 patients averaging 66 years of age.

Researchers found the units weren’t accurate within five mmHg of blood pressure about 70 per cent of the time and the devices were off the mark by at least 10 mmHg about 30 per cent of the time. Such inaccuracies could end with some people taking too much or too little blood pressure medication.

There are a number of ways to minimize inaccurate readings with the devices. Patients can compare the blood pressure machine measurement with a blood pressure measurement in a clinic before exclusively relying upon home blood pressure readings. It is also important is to do several blood pressure measurements and base treatment decisions over multiple readings.

Whatever you do,  make sure you use equipment that has been properly tested. The British Hypertension Society (BHS) has information about validated blood pressure monitors you can buy.

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Medical Matters

Have you had your blood pressure checked recently? Well, measurement of blood pressure, as we all know, is a fundamental part of the routine clinical examination – and for good reason.

This is because high blood pressure or hypertension is for the most part a silent condition which, over time, may have far-reaching health consequences. To some extent, an elevated blood pressure may be considered a normal part of ageing.

While below 40, hypertension is uncommon, by middle age prevalence increases to up to 50% and further rises to approximately 75% in those over 65.

The importance of getting your blood pressure checked is emphasised by the fact that in up to half of cases hypertension is undiagnosed. The reasons underlying hypertension are complex and not fully understood but involve changes in resistance to blood flow in our arteries.

This is mediated by dysfunction in the inner lining of the arteries that produce vaso-active chemicals that narrow their calibre.

Atherosclerosis

The effects of high blood pressure are manifold. It significantly accelerates atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, a process whereby they become internally coated with plaque and narrowed.

This can cause damage to the arteries anywhere in the body including in the heart, kidneys, eyes, legs and brain, and can lead to coronary artery disease, kidney impairment, visual problems and poor circulation.

Hypertension is also a major risk factor for stroke and puts strain on the heart which can lead to impaired heart muscle function and heart failure. Damage due to hypertension can also result in further elevation of blood pressure.

In the past, high blood pressure was often not diagnosed until later in life (by which time it may have caused organ damage) or was only picked up incidentally. We know however, that diagnosis and treatment of hypertension even later in life will substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and events.

Factors that contribute to hypertension such as being overweight, smoking and taking alcohol in excess should be addressed.”

In fact, hypertension is one of the most important causes of premature morbidity and mortality.

If other risk factors including high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking are present, there is a ‘snowball effect’ whereby the risk increases exponentially. This is why a diagnosis of hypertension should always prompt a complete assessment for other vascular risk factors.

Diagnosis should be made on the basis of at least two elevated blood pressure readings at two different times. If elevated, a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor may be considered to accurately confirm the diagnosis, particularly if there is a concern regarding ‘white coat hypertension’.

While there are no natural cut-offs for blood pressure, there are well defined treatment targets and even a small drop in blood pressure can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. If you have diabetes, heart disease or end organ damage then a tighter control of your blood pressure will be recommended.

Factors that contribute to hypertension such as being overweight, smoking and taking alcohol in excess should be addressed. While not all cases of hypertension are ‘salt sensitive’, most studies show that reducing salt intake (if high) can also modestly lower blood pressure.

Regular exercise has also been shown to have a positive effect. Evidence also suggests that having a healthy diet may lower blood pressure and of course will help in optimising other vascular risk factors such as high cholesterol.

If you have mild hypertension, paying attention to the above factors may remove the need to go on anti-hypertensive medication.

However, in practice at some stage during the course of your hypertension you are likely to require medical treatment. For many with high blood pressure two or more tablets will be required.

Several medications are available to choose from and which one is used will depend on how high the blood pressure is, the presence of other conditions like diabetes or kidney/heart disease and the potential for side effects. Treatments are very effective and usually well tolerated.

If blood pressure is difficult to control, resistant to treatment or unusually high at a young age, then you should be checked out for specific medical causes of hypertension. These account for about 5-10% of all cases and include certain kidney and endocrine disorders.

In summary, high blood pressure is common and rarely gives rise to any symptoms. However, it is a ‘silent killer’ and needs to be checked and monitored closely. If you have not had your blood pressure checked for some time, I strongly advise you to do so!

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Hypertension, conventionally believed to afflict only during the old age that is sixty years or above has now blunted the traditional divide. Reportedly, one in five young adults in India has high blood pressure. Indians are more prone to be hit by high blood pressure at a younger age than their western counterparts. The prevalence of high blood pressure in India has been reported to be as high as 12.1% in the age group of 18-25 years.

Blood pressure in this age group would respond well to weight management and lifestyle changes, however, it’s a pity that they hardly seek treatment. A major reason being a late screening that starts at the age of thirty. Approximately half of the Indian population is aged less than forty, that includes the most economically productive group and growth drivers that the country banks upon. Thus, it is imperative that an early health screening and a healthy lifestyle be promoted to avert the upcoming crisis of morbidities and mortalities.

Hypertension: Knowing your numbers can make a difference
High blood pressure often doesn’t have any symptoms, so it is not usually felt. Hypertension is usually diagnosed by a health care professional during a routine checkup. The average person should get a blood pressure reading at least once a year. It is important for everyone to know their numbers. That means knowing what your blood pressure is.

Blood pressure is even more important to pay attention to, if you have a family member or a close relative with hypertension or other risk factors. Understanding your blood pressure numbers should be part and parcel your health routine especially as it may encourage you to make lifestyle changes. The good thing is that keeping a track of the numbers and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, can help in keeping hypertension at bay, as well as complications such as heart disease and stroke.

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If you have high blood pressure then you can take some simple, effective steps to tackle the problem through exercise. You don’t have to turn yourself into a super athlete to tackle the causes of high blood pressure and be healthier and happier.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, puts your body, especially your heart, blood vessels and major organs, under stress. Exercise can help you manage this by tackling some of the underlying causes.

These include stress, lack of sleep, being overweight and a poor diet. Exercise can help with all of them.

Build your heart’s strength

Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic is the pressure as your heart beats, and diastolic the pressure as it rests. An example of a healthy reading is 110 / 70, in which 110 is the systolic pressure and 70 the diastolic.

When that systolic number is too high – anything above 140 – the heart and arteries are working harder than necessary. Every beat has to push the blood as fast as possible to ensure enough blood gets around your body, so your arteries are under too much pressure.

You can help this by improving the strength of your heart, because a strong heart can pump more blood more steadily and with less effort, which reduces the pressure on your arteries.

Your heart is a highly specialised muscle, and like most muscles it gets stronger with good exercise. In particular, you should aim to include cardiovascular exercise in your workout to raise your heart rate in a controlled way.

This helps to make your heart stronger and more efficient. The positive impact for people with high blood pressure can be startling, reducing that systolic blood pressure by an average of between four and nine. This can as good as or better than the effect of some medications.

Exercise helps deal with stress

When you experience emotional stress, your body reacts just like it would to physical danger, by releasing hormones which make your heart beat faster, your breathing speed up, and your muscles tense up ready for action. If this happens repeatedly, your body can suffer long-term damage.

Exercise is a great way to tackle emotional stress as one of the causes of high blood pressure, because it releases hormones like endorphins, which help your muscles to relax and your breathing slow down.

Exercising also provides a mental focus away from the causes of your stress, giving you the opportunity to get perspective and reduce the likelihood of your body triggering that fight-or-flight response.

You will sleep better if you exercise

Researchers believe lack of sleep is a major contributor to high blood pressure, although the reasons aren’t yet fully understood. It may be because sleep is a time when your body regulates stress hormones.

Getting less than six hours’ sleep does seem to be linked with increased risk of high blood pressure, whereas getting seven to eight hours a night may play a role in treatment and prevention.

If you have problems sleeping, exercise may be a good way to help. Different types of exercise cause your body to respond in different ways, but the general effect is usually to help you sleep.

Strength exercises deliberately cause microscopic tears in muscle fibres, which heal stronger and bigger. Your body needs more sleep to allow this repair to happen.

Cardiovascular exercise works your heart and lungs in particular, and this has been found to help with insomnia. Less dynamic exercise, like yoga and tai chi, can help you to sleep by calming you mentally and working your muscles through their combinations of strength, flexibility and balance work.

Diet is one of the causes of high blood pressure 

A good personal trainer will always want to talk to you about diet, and this is particularly good news if you are exercising to tackle high blood pressure.

When you exercise your body will need some mix of lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy carbohydrates and lean protein, a diet which will also help bring your blood pressure down.

For example, on a good exercise plan you should eat fewer packaged meals and less fast food, both of which are often full of salt. Excessive salt intake is a leading cause of high blood pressure. 

Another dietary cause of hypertension is too much alcohol, which will also hamper your exercise.

Reducing weight helps reduce blood pressure

One of the major advantages of exercising for many people is that it can help them reduce their weight. Increased physical activity and improved diet should help your body reduce the amount of fat it stores.

This means your heart and lungs do not have to work as hard to get blood around the body, so your blood pressure should come down.

This is part of a virtuous circle for people who get stressed about their weight. The physical activity helps reduce stress, encourages them to eat more healthily and reduces their weight. 

Take care when exercising with high blood pressure 

If you are considering exercising to tackle hypertension, then you should still be cautious. If your blood pressure is very high (above 200 / 110), then you should consult a doctor before starting a new exercise regime.

When you exercise your blood pressure will increase but then should come down again when you stop. This will happen more quickly as you get fitter, and your resting blood pressure should come down.

But if you have very high blood pressure, exercising could cause you new problems. This just means you need to be sensible and talk with your doctor first, and always tell your personal trainer if you have or have had blood pressure of more than 140 / 90. They should measure it for anyone starting a new training plan, but you can’t be too careful.

Overall, exercise is a vital part of maintaining a safe and healthy blood pressure. It can reduce your stress levels, improve your diet, help you to lose weight and strengthen your heart.

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Today, obesity is accurately recognized as a disease and the cause of many serious health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, and sleep disorders. And, the severely obese, who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 to 50, shave about 10 years off their lives.

Beyond the lower numbers on the scale, better fitting clothes, and the positive changes you see in the mirror, losing the few extra pounds you’ve been carrying around can deliver big health benefits. Tammy Fouse, DO, general surgeon and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at Bingham Healthcare’s new EM-POW-ER Weight Loss program, sheds some light on the long-term health benefits of losing weight.

A spring in your step. Losing weight lessens the burden on your weight-bearing joints. For example, losing just 10 pounds of excess weight can reduce the pressure on your knees by 40 pounds. Or, if a modest weight loss — such as 20 pounds from a 200-pound frame — was maintained, heart disease, diabetes risk, and cancer risk would be lessened and people could live longer, healthier lives.

An improved mood. People who are overweight are more likely to be socially isolated and to experience depression.

A better night’s sleep. People who are at a healthy weight are less likely to suffer from sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

A longer life. Losing weight lowers your risk for several kinds of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Overweight or obese women who sustained a weight loss of 10 percent or more for two years significantly decreased their levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, blood sugar, and inflammation, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Why losing weight matters

Losing weight will help you to avoid chronic health issues. Research completed at Oxford University over 10 to 15 years has shown that obese individuals who weighed about a third more than their counterparts — carrying 50 to 60 extra pounds — were 50 percent more likely to die prematurely; up to four times more likely to die of diabetes, liver or kidney problems; and two-thirds more likely to succumb to heart attack or stroke.

According to the National Cancer Institute, obesity is also associated with increased risks of the following cancer types: esophagus, pancreas, uterus, kidney, thyroid, and gallbladder. Higher BMIs were also linked to a greater risk of liver, colon and rectum, ovarian, and postmenopausal breast cancers.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to weight loss,” says Dr. Fouse. “But, one thing is for sure. By using a nonsurgical or surgical solution to lose weight, the chronic disease processes associated with obesity can be reversed and even avoided.”

You can learn new eating and physical activity habits that will help you to live a healthier lifestyle. These habits may help you maintain your weight loss over time and avoid any unnecessary medical complications associated with being overweight.

“Even if an overall weight-loss goal seems overwhelming, see it as a journey rather than just a final destination,” says Dr. Fouse. Whether it’s 20 pounds or 200 standing between you and a healthier life, take a step today to manage your weight, feel better, and live longer.

EM-POW-ER Weight Loss Program

If you’ve been on a weight-loss journey for a while and are unhappy with your progress, Bingham Healthcare’s EM-POW-ER Weight Loss program might be right for you. Dr. Fouse will help you choose a nonsurgical or surgical weight loss solution. She sees patients in Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello.

The post You can lose a little, but still gain a lot appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

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New York: People who spend long hours at the workplace are more likely to have high blood pressure — including a type that can go undetected during a routine medical appointment, researchers warned on Thursday.

Compared with colleagues who worked fewer than 35 hours a week, working 49 or more hours each week was linked to a 70 per cent greater likelihood of having “masked” hypertension and 66 per cent greater likelihood of having sustained hypertension — elevated blood pressure readings, according to the study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

The findings was true for both men and women staffers and accounted for variables such as job strain, age, sex, education level, occupation, smoking status, body mass index (BMI) and other health factors.

“Both masked and sustained high blood pressure are linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk,” said lead study author Xavier Trudel, assistant professor in the social and preventive medicine department at Laval University in Quebec, Canada.

The new study, conducted by a Canadian research team, enlisted more than 3,500 white-collar employees at three public institutions in Quebec.

These institutions generally provide insurance services to the general population.

“The observed associations accounted for job strain, a work stressor defined as a combination of high work demands and low decision-making authority. However, other related stressors might have an impact,” Trudel said.

Future research could examine whether family responsibilities — such as a worker’s number of children, household duties and childcare role – might interact with work circumstances to explain high blood pressure, the authors wrote.

The five-year study involved three waves of testing — in years one, three and five.

In all, almost 19 per cent of the workers had sustained hypertension, which included employees who were already taking high blood pressure medications. More than 13 per cent of the workers had masked hypertension and not receiving treatment for high blood pressure.

“The link between long working hours and high blood pressure in the study was about the same for men as for women,” Trudel noted.

The study “did not include blue-collar workers (employees who are paid by the hour and perform manual labor work in positions such agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, maintenance or hospitality service).

Therefore, these findings may not reflect the impact on blood pressure of shift-work or positions with higher physical demands,” the authors said.

Other limitations include the study’s measurement of blood pressure only during daytime hours, and the omission of hours worked outside participants’ primary job.

“People should be aware that long work hours might affect their heart health, and if they’re working long hours, they should ask their doctors about checking their blood pressure over time with a wearable monitor,” Trudel emphasised.

Masked hypertension can affect someone for a long period of time and is associated, in the long term, with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

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Self-Management of hypertension

Hypertension, which is among the most common chronic diseases in adults, is a major cause of stroke, heart disease, and renal failure. About one billion people live with hypertension worldwide, many of whom do not control their blood pressure well, despite the fact that lowering BP lessens the risk of renal and cardiovascular disease. One of the most effective ways of coping with hypertension is through self-management, making patients more responsible for their own care. 

Effective self-management of hypertension consists of self-monitoring blood pressure; identifying the warning signs, initiating lifestyle changes; maintaining regular contact with the health care provider. Studies suggest that self-management of hypertension in nonclinical settings is superior to traditional in-clinic hypertension management, and can improve medication adherence, self-efficacy, self-rated health, cognitive symptom management, frequency of aerobic exercise, and depression. Collaboration with the healthcare provider can improve the patient’s ability and confidence for self-management, to yield even greater improvements in BP control.

The burden of undiagnosed hypertension

As per reports from the World Health Organization, hypertension is the third biggest risk factor for heart disease in India. Data from National Family Health Survey suggest that in India about 9 per cent women and 14 per cent men falling in the age bracket of 15-49 years suffer from hypertension. Despite the identified burden of hypertension, majority of hypertensive patients still remain undetected. Reportedly, for every known person with hypertension there are two persons with either undiagnosed hypertension or prehypertension. Though, an individual with hypertension remains unaware until the condition is diagnosed, he/she will be posed to increasing risk of the complications. If left untreated, hypertension can cause damage to the cardiovascular system and other internal organs. Thus, it is of utmost importance that the factors that predispose to the risk of hypertension be controlled. Sedentary lifestyle, wrong food choices and lack of physical activity along with persistent exposure to stress are the major factors that increase the vulnerability to hypertension and thus need to be improved.Being attentive towards certain symptoms associated with high blood pressure, including sweating, anxiety, sleeping problems and blushing can also be helpful. It is imperative that once the diagnosis of hypertension has been made, the antihypertensive therapy be started at the earliest to prevent any further complications.

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High blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood pressing against blood vessel walls is steadily too high. When left unchecked, high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing several serious cardiovascular complications like heart disease, which happens to be one of the UK’s major killers.

The Christmas season can expose you to hidden health risks, even for a health-conscious person like you. This is because there will always be the temptation to overeat, particularly unhealthy foods.

A Delicious but Risky Treat

Cheese has always been present on the table of every Christmas day gatherings. You must be aware, however, that when you are keeping your blood pressure low, it is best to avoid cheese for the time being.

According to the British Heart Foundation or the BHF, cheese may be a good protein and calcium source, but in most instances, it is also high in salt and saturated fat. Foods that are high in salt and saturated fat increase the risk of having high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a waxy matter that flows with the blood. It has been linked to several cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure. The BHF warns that cholesterol and high blood pressure are both precursors to serious cardiovascular diseases.

While you need not completely shun the cheese board, you need to have only limited amounts when you are suffering from high blood pressure or if your cholesterol is high. The BHD said that there are cheese types that are saltier than seawater. Some of these are the feta Roquefort, cheese singles, and halloumi.

To reduce the risks, exchange high-fat cheese with lower-fat options like cottage cheese, reduced-fat cheese, or mozzarella. These cheese types are low in saturated fat and reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

There are also some cheese types that have been proven to help lower blood pressure. An example of this is the Grana Padano cheese.

During the American Society of Hypertension’s 31st Annual Scientific Meeting, results of research on Grana Padano cheese showed that one serving could lower blood pressure. The findings also revealed that its blood-pressure-lowering properties could be attributed to the peptides found in every serving of Grana Padano cheese.

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High blood pressure aka hypertension is one of the leading preventable causes of early deaths across the world. More than 1.5 billion worldwide are suffering from the same. High blood pressure is when the pressure of the circulating blood against the arteries is higher than the normal. If not controlled, one can also suffer from heart complications, strokes, kidney, eyes, and brain disorders. Common causes of high blood pressure are genetics, obesity, poor lifestyle, high levels of junk food consumption, sleep apnea and no physical activity among others.  The normal BP is around 120/80 mm Hg. So, if your reading is between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg then you are at the risk of developing hypertension. If the readings are more than 140/90 mm Hg then you are having high BP.

As per the latest study, people who live in coastal regions in Bangladesh showed lower BP when they consumed drinking water which had higher levels of salinity. Yes, that’s right! As we know that higher salinity will, of course, have more sodium which leads to higher BP, however, it also has more calcium and magnesium as well.

As per one of the studies, people who drank the water of mild or moderate level salinity had more sodium in their urine than people who drank freshwater of low salinity. However, the calcium and magnesium levels of the water had shown lower levels of systolic and diastolic pressure as the mineral counteract the sodium, as mentioned earlier. However, one of the researchers confirmed that the studies didn’t show that the addition of calcium and magnesium to drinking water lowers BP or not.

As per AHA, people should get vitamins and minerals via their diet. Unfortunately, many of us are deficient when it comes to minerals and vitamins as a healthy diet is followed by few. Ideally, one should get adequate amounts of minerals and vitamins on a daily basis. Again, as per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, they don’t recommend the use of supplements as a way to protect against diseases.

Speaking of how one can curb or prevent hypertension, one should increase the intake of potassium-rich food items, include physical activity on a daily basis, weight management, stress management, reduce the consumption of sodium-rich foodstuffs, alcohol, and smoking as well.

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