Q: MY blood pressure worries me. The top number is very high, between 138 and 216, while the bottom number is in the 70s and 80s. But I have not used salt on my food for 30 years, I do not smoke and rarely drink. I eat lots of fruit and veg and have good cholesterol levels. I can’t work out why I have this problem. Can you suggest a solution?

KB

A: I CAN see why you are puzzled, and there are probably many readers in a similar position. Let me start with a short tutorial on what the blood pressure readings mean.

A reading consists of two figures. The top number is the systolic pressure, the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, pushing out blood (about 140ml, a teacupful) with each beat. A normal reading is 120 or lower.

The second figure, the diastolic pressure, is when the heart relaxes between beats – this should be 80 or lower. If the reading is consistently above 140 over 90, this is known as hypertension.

What you describe is a subtype called isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), where the systolic (top) reading is above 140 and the diastolic number is below 90. This condition affects older patients; studies have shown that systolic pressure rises and diastolic pressure falls after the age of 60. The elevated pressure is due to a reduction in the stretchiness or elasticity of the artery walls – part of the ageing process.

ISH accounts for up to 80 per cent of cases of high blood pressure in this age group. Other risk factors include obesity, lack of exercise, genetics (such as hypertension in one or both parents), and a high salt intake.

Treatment for all types of hypertension is essential because it can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, kidney dysfunction, and left ventricular hypertrophy (an enlargement and thickening of the walls of the heart’s main pumping chamber).

Treatment can involve lifestyle changes, such as salt restriction, exercise and weight loss, and long-term medication.

Even if you do not add salt to your food, bear in mind that many manufactured foods, such as ready-meals, contain a lot of ‘hidden’ salt. We shouldn’t be consuming more than 6g (around a teaspoon) of salt a day, so always check food labels.

Studies have confirmed the effectiveness of these lifestyle measures in controlling blood pressure. However, if they fail to bring the systolic reading down after some months, drug therapy must be started.

It is unclear whether you are already under the care of a specialist, but I would suggest you see your GP about starting on medication, as you appear to have ISH despite leading a healthy lifestyle.

This is not the place for me to describe the different classes of drugs available, that is a task for your GP, who has a full understanding of your medical history – crucial in your case as we don’t want to cause your diastolic reading to drop too low. If that happens, you can develop complications such as dizziness, or even fainting when you stand up.

The aim should be a gradual blood pressure reduction over three to six months. Of course, this takes time, observation, and regular appointments – rather scarce features at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

Q: WE are told continually that more men die from prostate cancer than women die from breast cancer, so why doesn’t the NHS routinely check for it?

NB

A: THERE are nearly 50,000 new cases of prostate cancer a year in the UK. One man in six will be diagnosed with it, and it’s responsible for more than 11,000 deaths a year. With such statistics, it would seem sensible to screen all men of a certain age. After all, we are often told that early treatment saves lives.

Introducing screening for prostate cancer, however, is far from simple. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is not ideal for screening and we are unable to determine whether a man has a slow-growing cancer that may never cause him any problems or an aggressive tumour that, unless treated, will be a killer.

Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone-suppressant drugs all carry the risk of side-effects such as incontinence and impotence.

A European screening trial that monitored men for 13 years showed that routine screening with the PSA test cut deaths by 21 per cent. However, in order to save one life, 781 men had to be screened and 27 of them treated. In other words, the reduction in deaths was at the expense of considerable over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

On that basis, the most sensible route is for men to be aware and see the GP when they have urinary symptoms: increased frequency, particularly at night, a sense of incomplete emptying, poor stream, or straining to empty the bladder.

Mostly these symptoms are due to benign enlargement of the prostate, but when they persist, it is a reason to be checked.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — About 108 million Americans struggle with high blood pressure. It’s a problem that can raise your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical conditions. The good news is you can lower your blood pressure with some simple diet changes. Find out what foods to choose.

Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure! Estimates show at least one in three Americans should be on blood pressure meds.

Daniel Munoz, MD, a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said, “Medications can be tough to take. They can be complicated to take, particularly the more medications somebody is prescribed.”

But you can fight this common health threat with what you eat! First: include foods rich in Vitamin C like bell peppers, cherries, and grapefruit. One study found people with high blood pressure who ate foods high in Vitamin C reduced their readings by five millimeters of mercury. Salmon and flaxseed contain omega-threes which have been shown to lessen inflammation and lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids that have blood pressure lowering effects. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has been linked to reductions in blood pressure. Also, despite their bad rap, eggs, have been shown to lower both blood pressure and cholesterol in recent studies. Just remember not having high blood pressure can lead to overall better health.

“A dramatic improvement and benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke,” stated Mark Supiano, MD, a geriatrics investigator at the University of Utah Health.

The American Heart Association recently lowered their definitions of high blood pressure. They used to define it as 140 over 90, but now a blood pressure reading is considered high if it’s 130 over 80 or above.

The post HealthWatch: Can Food Lower Blood Pressure? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

SUPPLEMENTS could be used to lower your risk, or even prevent some high blood pressure symptoms. This is useful and natural remedy to avoid the deadly signs and symptoms of hypertension. Should you consider adding vitamin C supplements to your diet, to prevent high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than 25 percent of all adults in the UK. But you could lower your risk of developing hypertension by simply taking daily vitamin C supplements, it’s been claimed.

Hypertension puts extra stress on blood vessels and vital organs.

Eating an unhealthy diet or not doing enough regular exercise could be raising your chances of high blood pressure.

But you could lower your chances of developing the condition by taking supplements, scientists have claimed.

One of the most effective remedies for hypertension is vitamin C supplements, it’s believed.

Vitamin C helps to maintain blood vessels’ elasticity, which has a subsequent effect on blood pressure, according to nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.

Arteries that aren’t very elastic increase the risk of hypertension.

Regularly taking vitamin C supplements could lower your blood pressure by as much as 3.8/1.5mmHg, if you already have hypertension.

The European Union recommends taking no more than 80mg of vitamin C every day.

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“Vitamin C is a useful natural remedy for high blood pressure,” she wrote on her website, MyLowerBloodPressure.com.

“It is needed for collagen formation which allows blood vessels to function normally and retain their strength and elasticity.

“As vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it cannot be stored in the body and a regular intake is essential.

“Dietary sources include most fruit and vegetables including citrus, berries, blackcurrants, capsicum peppers, kiwi fruit and green leafy vegetables.”

Vitamin C helps the body to keep its cells healthy, while also maintaining the health of skin and bones.

Without enough vitamin C in your diet, you may be at risk of scurvy.

The most common vitamin C deficiency symptoms include having rough or bumpy skin, easily bruising, and even having corkscrew-shaped body hair.

Speak to a doctor if you’re worried that you may have a vitamin C deficiency.

Meanwhile, it’s not always easy to know if you have high blood pressure, which is why it’s often known as ‘the silent killer’.

But some of the earliest symptoms of hypertension include severe headaches and unexplained dizziness.

Everyone over 40 years old should check their blood pressure at least once every five years.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist to have your blood pressure checked.

The post ‘Useful’ and natural supplement to avoid deadly high blood pressure symptoms appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

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.

The post COVID-19: What people with high blood pressure must know, from diet to medicine appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

A 2017 study published in the JCI Insight Journal showed that a single dose of CBD could reduce resting blood pressure as well as the blood pressure response to stress.

Does that mean you can effectively use CBD oil for high blood pressure aka hypertension?

The lion’s share of CBD’s effects on blood pressure is believed to stem from its anti-anxiety and analgesic effects, as noted by the authors of a 2019 study from the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry.

While the aforementioned benefits of CBD have been tested on healthy individuals and animals — meaning there’s a lack of research on subjects with hypertension — current findings are very promising.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What high blood pressure is and how it can affect your health
• The benefits of using CBD oil for high blood pressure
• Scientific research on CBD and hypertension
• How to take CBD oil for high blood pressure
• Where to Buy CBD oil and what brands you can trust

Let’s start with an industry overview, where we highlight the best CBD oils for high blood pressure in 2020.

Best CBD Oils for High Blood Pressure – Our Top Picks in 2020

Taking CBD oil drops sublingually may be the best way to benefit from CBD for high blood pressure as it offers fast absorption with a relatively fast onset of effects.

In this section, you’ll find the best CBD brands that we recommend to use daily for issues related to hypertension, based on extensive tests of over 40 manufacturers.

1. Royal CBD (Best CBD Oil)

Product Details

Why Royal CBD is the Best CBD Oil for Hypertension

Royal CBD was launched in 2018 by a group of cannabis enthusiasts as a small artisan company. The guys started out with just one product in three concentrations, continuously expanding their collection with softgel capsules, THC-free gummies, and topicals for pain relief.

Royal CBD oil is available in four potency options now, starting at 250 mg up to 2500 mg of CBD per bottle.

All of Royal CBD’s premium products come from organic hemp harvested in California and Colorado, which are known as the best areas for growing hemp plants in terms of the soil quality and weather conditions. These are full-spectrum products, so you’re taking 100+ cannabinoids along with the plant’s natural terpenes, polyphenols, and other nutrients in each dose. Royal CBD tests its CBD oil in certified laboratories for content analysis and purity screening as a sound quality proof.

This is hands down the best CBD oil for common problems related to high blood pressure, such as anxiety and difficulty sleeping. My response to stress triggers, as well as focus and sleep quality, have greatly improved since I started taking it. It also has a nice neutral taste, unlike other natural CBD oils that I’ve tried.

Definitely recommended if you’re looking for the top-shelf quality without breaking the bank.

2. Gold Bee (Best Flavored)

Product Details

About Gold Bee

Gold Bee is another premium company with roots in California. This particular brand grabbed me by the throat both when it comes to the quality of its extracts and the honey-flavored version of the oil. This is the best tasting CBD oil I’ve ever taken; it feels natural, and the sweetness from the honey flavoring isn’t overwhelming, which has made my experience with Gold Bee even better.

Similar to Royal CBD, Gold Bee offers full-spectrum products from organic hemp. The plants are grown in California and Colorado without pesticides or growth boosters that could compromise their purity and potency. The only reason why this company didn’t score first place was its potency range. There are no high-potency oils in Gold Bee’s collection, which I believe will soon change.

3. CBDPure (Best Value)

Product Details

About CBDPure

CBDPure is one of the pioneer companies on the market, but despite its reputation and a dedicated community of customers, the guys at CBDPure haven’t rested on their laurels. Recently, the company has introduced a 1000 mg CBD oil to its line up, which is a great option for people with hypertension whose dosage doesn’t go beyond 30 mg CBD daily.

If transparency is your main priority, this is the best CBD company to buy from. CBDPure goes above and beyond in describing every detail of its activity, from hemp source to extraction, testing procedures, and customer service.

CBDPure has a 90-day return policy, under which you can return the product if you’re not satisfied with the effects, and you’ll get a full refund. I didn’t return mine because I was damn happy with my results, but it’s a great nod towards those who don’t want to commit on the first date.

4. Hemp Bombs (Best CBD Isolate)

Product Details

About Hemp Bombs

Hemp Bombs is a manufacturer that specializes in making premium CBD oil made from isolate. These are very potent oils, reaching up to 4000 mg of CBD per bottle.

This CBD oil is a great option for people with hypertension who want to steer clear of any THC in their product because CBD isolate contains nothing but pure CBD. This also means that the end product has no odor or flavor, being more versatile than full-spectrum CBD oil.

However, CBD isolate doesn’t produce the entourage effect, so you won’t experience the synergy from other cannabinoids and terpenes. If you want something closer to the whole-plant synergy, you can check out Hemp Bombs’ broad-spectrum extracts, which contain everything except for the said THC.

5. CBDistillery (Best Price)

Product Details

About CBDistillery

CBDistillery is another industry’s trailblazer in our ranking of the best CBD oils for high blood pressure. This company has been making high-quality CBD oil for over five years, recently reformulating their extracts and introducing a line of broad-spectrum CBD oil to provide its customers with greater freedom of choice. The broad-spectrum version is labeled as “pure oil” and contains CBD, other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, and terpenes but without any THC.

CBDistillery covers the entire potency range for CBD extracts, from 250 mg to a whopping 5000 mg of total CBD. The strongest CBD oil carries 166 mg of CBD per milliliter, which can get you supplied for months to come if you use CBD oil for preventive supplementation or to manage your blood pressure.

I’ve been satisfied with the results, as CBDistillery’s CBD oil toned my anxiety down and helped me sleep better after an intense day, without having headaches and brain fog the day after. However, I’m a bit concerned about the source of hemp this company uses. The plant isn’t organic, so you can’t expect the same quality as from other full-spectrum products on this list. However, it’s still the best CBD oil in its price category.

What is High Blood Pressure? (Hypertension)

Blood pressure refers to the amount of blood the heart pumps and the resistance to blood flow in the arteries.

Mayo Clinic reports that the higher amount of blood the heart pumps, and the less space in the arteries, the higher the blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) leads to the narrowing and blocking of blood vessels, affecting cardiovascular health by increasing the risk of having a heart attack.

If you want to test your blood pressure, your doctor will need to measure it through a blood pressure reading, which is given in two numbers.

The first figure refers to systolic blood pressure. This is the pressure created by the heart contracting and releasing blood. The second figure, known as diastolic blood pressure, refers to the state when the heart relaxes and the blood starts to fill it.

The blood pressure reads as the systolic blood pressure number over the diastolic blood pressure number, such as 120/80.

120/80 is a normal blood pressure reading for adults, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Results higher than that may indicate problems with high blood pressure if they are regular.

Common Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

The American Heart Association defines high blood pressure as a “silent killer,” warning that individuals may suffer from hypertension for years without any symptoms

However, when those symptoms occur, they usually include:

• Headaches
• Red cheeks
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds

Note that those symptoms may not occur until hypertension has reached a life-threatening level.

Fortunately, it’s easy to monitor your blood pressure and detect hypertension before it takes a serious toll on your health. Once the condition is diagnosed, you can work with a doctor to control it.

Why Take CBD Hemp Oil for High Blood Pressure?

In a 2015 study run by scientists from the University of Nottingham Royal Derby Hospital, CBD was shown to be a potent vasodilator, helping in the dilation of blood vessels and increasing blood flow as a result.

Not only that, but CBD oil has a few other properties that may cause a drop in one’s blood pressure, many of which produce this effect indirectly.

Not to mention the lack of side effects associated with using conventional hypertension treatments (more on that later).

How CBD Oil Could Help with High Blood Pressure?

As noted before, CBD has been shown to have remarkable effects on high blood pressure by addressing health problems that cause it to rise. Let’s name a few of them.

CBD Reduces Anxiety

Anxiety and lack of sleep are one of the leading factors linked to high blood pressure.

In 2019, a study was published in The Permanente Journal, where researchers measured sleep and anxiety scores in human subjects. The findings showed that CBD could help ease anxiety-related disorders.

Another study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2019, CBD proved to have a significant effect on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Finally, a 2018 study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2018 concluded that the improved stress response caused by CBD can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension when they encounter anxiety-inducing situations.

CBD is a Vasodilator

CBD may help improve cardiovascular health by opening the blood vessels and allowing smoother blood flow, which makes it a natural vasodilator.

These properties of CBD were proven in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized crossover study run by scientists from the Royal Derby Hospital Centre and Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Churchill Hospital in the UK in 2017.

In the study, the team investigated the link between CBD and a drop in blood pressure, concluding that a single dose of CBD oil significantly reduced blood pressure in human volunteers, both at rest and under stress.

However, this study was conducted on healthy volunteers, not on people with hypertension.

CBD Has Remarkable Anti-inflammatory Effects

According to studies from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory compound. Inflammation can be one of the causes of high blood pressure. By eliminating inflammation, CBD could reduce high blood pressure. And since inflammation doesn’t have to occur solely during hypertension, we advise you to take care of a healthy lifestyle regardless of your supplementation.

CBD Modulates Cortisol Secretion

Cortisol is called the “stress hormone” because the body starts to release it under stress. Chronically high cortisol levels may lead to a physical stress response in the body that could elevate blood pressure.

In 1993, Brazilian scientists suggested that CBD modulates cortisol secretion, meaning it can reduce the amount of stress we experience and thus alleviate hypertension. The results were published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research.

CBD Has Hemodynamic Properties

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2017 showed that CBD might be used as a potential treatment for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and stroke.

However, they only found that evidence under non-stressful conditions, indicating that data from human studies on the effects of CBD on the blood flow dynamics is limited.

CBD Balances Neurotransmitters

There are a few types of hypertension, one of which is known as cardiac contractility. In this condition, the heart pumps blood too fast, resulting in excessive cardiac activity.

A 2017 study from the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Journal highlighted the importance of neurotransmitters, such as anandamide, in the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.

According to the data from the study, CBD regulates the reuptake of essential cardiac neurotransmitters that modulates the pumping of blood.

CBD Protects Healthy Cells

In a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, researchers showed how CBD improves blood flow in the vessels to maintain proper blood pressure.

Data from the said study provides insight into how CBD protects neurons, which may help prevent any cardiovascular conditions as well as stroke.

The study also suggests that CBD can promote a healthy heart rhythm after ischemic damage, which occurs upon the blockage of arteries. In other words, CBD may improve cardiac function immediately after a heart attack.

The post Can CBD Oil Help Lower and Control High Blood Pressure Level? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Women who take high-dose folic acid supplements from pre-pregnancy through mid-pregnancy might increase their risk for potentially dangerous high blood pressure, according to new research.

The study, published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, sought to answer questions about the safety of prenatal folic acid vitamin supplements.

Folic acid is the human-made form of folate, a form of vitamin B found in leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans and other foods. Everyone needs it, but because it protects unborn children against serious birth defects called neural tube defects, doctors often prescribe prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid of 400 micrograms or more per day.

In the study, researchers focused on how folic acid impacts pregnant women’s chances of developing two complications during pregnancy: gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, a more serious form of high blood pressure. Both complications can lead to poor fetal growth and stillbirth.

The study looked at 4,853 Chinese women who took folic acid supplements, including 1,161 women who developed gestational hypertension and 161 who developed preeclampsia. After adjusting for various factors, the women who took high-dose folic acid supplements—800 mcg or more—from pre-pregnancy through mid-pregnancy had a 32% higher risk of developing gestational hypertension compared to those who didn’t take folic acid supplements.

The risk for gestational high blood pressure “remained robust,” the authors said, even for women of normal weight, without diabetes, and with no family history of high blood pressure. However, no significant association was found between folic acid supplements and preeclampsia.

“Given the efficiency of folic acid supplement use with a daily dose of 400 micrograms, our findings suggest that high-dose folic acid for long duration should be avoided for (most) women planning or capable of pregnancy,” said the study’s lead author, Nianhong Yang.

Until now, few studies have looked at potential adverse consequences of folic acid, she said.

“More attention should be paid to the impact of folic acid supplementation on gestational and long-term health, especially on the optimal dose and timing of supplementation,” said Yang, a professor who studies nutrition and safety at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China.

Yang said the study had several limitations, including a lack of measurements of a specific kind of folate in the blood and information about how different genetic factors influence the way folic acid is metabolized in the body. She called for future studies that explore how unmetabolized folic acid might affect the health of mothers and their children.

Dr. Rossana Orabona, who was not involved in the study and is a researcher in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Brescia in Italy, said the work was limited by a lack of information about vitamins B6 and B12, autoimmune disorders and levels of homocysteine, an amino acid used to test for vitamin deficiency and heart disease.

The study “is important because it is the first to hypothesize a negative cardiovascular effect of high-dose FA during pregnancy,” she said.

Orabona said further research is needed to clarify how folic acid and gestational high blood pressure are impacted by the immune system, and how genetic differences influence folate breakdown, high levels of amino acids in the blood and other factors.

“Adequate evidence is still needed to clarify the relationship between folic acid intake and cardiovascular outcomes in pregnancy.”

The post Prenatal supplement may increase blood pressure at high doses appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

New Delhi, May 7 (IANSlife) We all know diet, age and genetic history are common risk factors for high blood pressure.

Dr Praveen Gupta, Director, Neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute focuses on some uncommon reasons for high BP.

Sleep apnea:

As we age some of gather lot of weight around our bellies. Some this heavy weight around the neck collapses the airways and obstructs the breathing. This causes the patient to awaken frequently due to apnea altering the neurotransmitter balance increasing sympathomimetic transmitters and raising the blood pressure. Sleeping with a CPAP machine after an overnight sleep study will treat the obstructive sleep apnea and help normalize blood pressure. A simple way is undertaking weight loss and decrease the body fat partially relieving the elevated blood pressure.

Analgesic

The common non-steroidal analgesics like ibuprofen and dispirin can also raise blood pressure and cause swelling in the body. these drugs later the transmitter balance in the kidney tubules to raise the BP. Contrary to the common belief even newer COX 2 inhibitors like etoricoxib can raise blood pressure. So if u find taking a drug leads to elevated BP it is best to avoid it.

Pain

It can activate the sympathetic stress system of the body raising the blood pressure. so a lot of people with migraine who go to emergency rooms with severe headache are found tone hypertensive. However, for most people blood pressure returns to normal after treating pain. So do not consider yourself if you bp is only elevated during pain.

Going to doctors Office

A visit to doctors office is marked by uncertainty and anxiety for a lot of people. these can cause significant catecholamine and augment blood pressure. A lot of people have very high BP in doctor”s office with normal readings at home typically called white coat hypertension.

Herbal supplements

The herbal supplements are considering to be safe. However drugs like gingko biloba , guar, st. johns wart can interfere with blood pressure mechanisms and raise BP. they can also interfere with action of other drugs

Caffeine

Excessive coffee or other stimulant beverages increase catecholamine levels thus causing increased blood pressure and heart rate. It is important to note an accessional cup of coffee is safe and more than 3 coffees a day may be detrimental.

Other medication

Simple decongestant medicines like pseoephederine and nasal decongestants can cause vast spam causing high blood pressure. Also anti-depressants like venlafaxine and duloxetine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can also cause raise blood pressure.

Sugar

A high sugar intake also causes increase in the body metabolism causing increase in blood pressure . Even a high sugar diet for two weeks may raise the blood pressure significantly.

It is important to know these causes, though lesser known and to be aware about them in order to avoid inadvertent rise in blood pressure.

The post Uncommon reasons for high blood pressure appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

It is important to know these causes, though lesser known and to be aware about them in order to avoid inadvertent rise in blood pressure.

New Delhi: We all know diet, age and genetic history are common risk factors for high blood pressure.

Dr Praveen Gupta, Director, Neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute focuses on some uncommon reasons for high BP.

Sleep apnea:

As we age some of gather lot of weight around our bellies. Some this heavy weight around the neck collapses the airways and obstructs the breathing. This causes the patient to awaken frequently due to apnea altering the neurotransmitter balance increasing sympathomimetic transmitters and raising the blood pressure. Sleeping with a CPAP machine after an overnight sleep study will treat the obstructive sleep apnea and help normalize blood pressure. A simple way is undertaking weight loss and decrease the body fat partially relieving the elevated blood pressure.

Analgesic

The common non-steroidal analgesics like ibuprofen and dispirin can also raise blood pressure and cause swelling in the body. these drugs later the transmitter balance in the kidney tubules to raise the BP. Contrary to the common belief even newer COX 2 inhibitors like etoricoxib can raise blood pressure. So if u find taking a drug leads to elevated BP it is best to avoid it.

Pain

It can activate the sympathetic stress system of the body raising the blood pressure. so a lot of people with migraine who go to emergency rooms with severe headache are found tone hypertensive. However, for most people blood pressure returns to normal after treating pain. So do not consider yourself if you bp is only elevated during pain.

Going to doctors Office

A visit to doctors office is marked by uncertainty and anxiety for a lot of people. these can cause significant catecholamine and augment blood pressure. A lot of people have very high BP in doctor’s office with normal readings at home typically called white coat hypertension.

Herbal supplements

The herbal supplements are considering to be safe. However drugs like gingko biloba , guar, st. johns wart can interfere with blood pressure mechanisms and raise BP. they can also interfere with action of other drugs

Caffeine

Excessive coffee or other stimulant beverages increase catecholamine levels thus causing increased blood pressure and heart rate. It is important to note an accessional cup of coffee is safe and more than 3 coffees a day may be detrimental.

Other medication

Simple decongestant medicines like pseoephederine and nasal decongestants can cause vast spam causing high blood pressure. Also anti-depressants like venlafaxine and duloxetine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can also cause raise blood pressure.

Sugar

A high sugar intake also causes increase in the body metabolism causing increase in blood pressure . Even a high sugar diet for two weeks may raise the blood pressure significantly.

It is important to know these causes, though lesser known and to be aware about them in order to avoid inadvertent rise in blood pressure.

The post Uncommon reasons for high blood pressure appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Teenagers who have obesity, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure may be more likely to have signs of premature blood vessel aging compared to teens without those health conditions, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access journal of the American Heart Association.

Over five years, researchers evaluated 141 teens with normal weight; 156 who had obesity; and 151 who had type 2 diabetes, with an average age of 17.6 when the study began.

At the end of five years, the teens with either obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure – major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes later in life – were significantly more likely to have thicker and stiffer carotid arteries, the main blood vessel that leads to the brain.

“Our study demonstrates that the slow changes in blood vessels that lead to the development of atherosclerosis begins early in life,” said lead study author Justin R. Ryder, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and associate director of research for the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.

Atherosclerosis is the slow narrowing of the arteries usually associated with natural aging, and it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.

“Having obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure were each independently associated with and equally predictive of having thicker and stiffer arteries among this group of young people. What surprised our team the most was that participants with higher systolic blood pressure compared to their peers in the study had a very similar risk as those with obesity or type 2 diabetes for thicker and stiffer blood vessels over time.”

Justin R. Ryder, Study Lead Author and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics,                                                                                 American Heart Association

Carotid artery health was assessed by non-invasive ultrasound and pulse wave velocity. The ultrasound measured the thickness of the inner two layers of the blood vessel, known as carotid intima-media thickness. The pulse wave velocity gauges how fast blood flows through the vessels to determine arterial stiffness.

Both measures were taken at the beginning of the study and five years later. The analysis concluded teens with obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure had greater change in the thickness and stiffness of their arteries, compared to participants in the group with normal weight. This would suggest a greater risk of early heart attacks or strokes among the teens with obesity, type 2 diabetes or high systolic blood pressure.

“Although type 2 diabetes is treated aggressively in the U.S., obesity needs to be treated just as vigorously because it has the same increased risk for premature aging of the blood vessels, which is an early sign of cardiovascular dysfunction and a precursor to cardiovascular diseases in adulthood,” according to Ryder.

Strengths of the study included its large study size of almost 150 teens in each group, for a total of 448 participants, and objective measurements of carotid artery health five years apart. A limitation of the research is that the teens will not be followed into adulthood to track if the premature aging of their blood vessels results in heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions.

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Health screenings can catch conditions early, helping patients avoid a condition’s worst consequences or even preventing it from developing altogether. Think of mammograms to catch breast cancer early or high blood pressure screening before a person has a stroke. Screening helps pre-symptomatic patients take actions to reduce their risk of a catastrophic outcome.

Recently, researchers have begun exploring the feasibility of general population screening to identify children and youth at risk for developing type 1 diabetes, where the autoimmune destruction of insulin producing cells can be detected years before onset of extreme hyperglycemia and a life-long dependency on insulin injections.

Led by Marian Rewers, MD, Ph.D., at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK) study has screened 25,000 children between 1-17 years old in the Denver metro area. Results are promising and show that screening can greatly reduce the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication of diabetes that is present in more than half of newly diagnosed children in Colorado.

The challenge has been that it takes thousands of screening tests to prevent just one DKA. For many insurance companies, it can seem as if the cost outweighs the benefit. However, researchers reported last week in Diabetes Care that the screening benefits go far beyond simply preventing DKA events, suggesting that screening may be more cost-effective than previously thought.

“When people think of value in health screening, they think it’s straightforward—you catch these people early and avoid the health and economic impacts of letting the condition progress. With pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes screening, avoiding DKA events is important not only now but potentially well into the future, even beyond preventing one life-threatening event. Knowing you are at risk for type 1 diabetes can potentially change the whole course of your life,” says the study’s lead author, Brett McQueen, Ph.D., assistant professor in the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and its Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research.

Generally, the study shows that if screening leads to 20 percent reduction in DKA events along with a significantly better diabetes control after diagnosis the cost of screening would be more than offset by cost savings due to fewer diabetes complications. In addition to the long-term benefits of avoiding DKA, the study also highlights the ability of screening to improve overall quality of life through better disease control.

“Even modest improvements in glycemic control over time can make a big difference in long term health,” McQueen says.

And according to McQueen, the awareness created by screening can initiate behaviors that improve this glycemic control.

“There are tradeoffs in health as in life: Should I spend extra time, money, and effort to be healthy? Maybe if I know I’m at risk for type 1 diabetes, I do a little more than I might otherwise,” says McQueen.

Another way to increase the value of screening is to decrease its cost, for example by instituting screening in areas with existing screening infrastructure or reducing screening prices.

“Our work isn’t about saying it’s ‘worth it’ or ‘not worth it,’ but about displaying to providers how to make screening more cost effective—showing what do we need to do as clinicians and providers to make this high value,” McQueen says. “If you can show these benefits and use screening in the right areas with the right populations, our study shows it can be high value in the long run.”

Now with a better picture of factors that influence the value of type 1 diabetes screening, the team’s future work will include defining screening practices that could increase this value, including setting an age schedule for optimal screening and perhaps genetic pre-screening to test primarily in the most at-risk populations.

“If you’re not on top of your diabetes, both the quality and quantity of your life is going to suffer,” McQueen says. “The earlier you know you’re at risk, the more you can do to live longer and better.”

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Indians have been estimated to consume almost double the recommended intake of salt as evident from a study conducted by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). The estimated average salt consumption among Indians is approximately 11 grams per day which is almost double the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended upper intake limit of 5 grams per day. This predisposes Indians to a high risk of developing various cardiovascular disorders including hypertension or high blood pressure. Different kinds of chutneys, pickles, papads and snacks are innate to different states of India.

However, the high amount of salt used for preparation and seasoning of these food items is a matter of concern. Though low sodium salts such as rock salt, pink salt and black salt were native to India, and make a healthy option however, the gradual shift from these native forms to the modern refined table salt has added an unhealthy factor to the diet. The refined table salt is stripped of all the minerals is thus under-nutritious with the only benefit of Iodine that is added during its processing. Owing to its high sodium content, the table salt on intake expands the extracellular fluid volume and increases cardiac output. A high sodium intake also stresses the kidney by excreting more water and less toxic waste.

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• Researchers say walking daily can reduce your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Experts say those daily steps can also reduce stress and bolster your immune systems.
• Some simple ways to get in your walking is to park far away from the store, walk instead of having lunch with a friend, and hold a work meeting while walking.

More than 100 million peopleTrusted Source in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes.

It’s also estimated that more than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Those numbers have been rising, but researchers say there is a free and relatively easy way to reduce your risk of developing one of these diseases.

It’s the simple act of walking.

The standard recommendation for physical fitness is 10,000 steps a day.

But even a fraction of that can work, according to the authors of a new study.

The researchers state that middle-aged study participants who walked the most steps per day over an average of 9 years had a 43 percent lower risk of diabetes and a 31 percent lower risk of high blood pressure.

The research was presented today at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The benefits of exercise, specifically walking, have been studied extensively the past several years,” David DaPrato, DPT, who works in sports rehabilitation and is a professional triathlon coach, told Healthline. “There is good reason behind getting your 10,000-plus steps in each day.”

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Research Highlights:

• Middle-aged adults who walked the most steps-per-day had a 43% lower risk of diabetes and a 31% lower risk of high blood pressure, compared to people of similar age who accumulated the lowest number of daily steps.
• Among women, every additional 1,000 steps were associated with a 13% lower risk of becoming obese.

Embargoed until for 2 p.m. MT/4 p.m. ET Thursday, March 5, 2020

PHOENIX, March 5, 2020 — Middle-aged people who walked the most steps-per-day over an average of 9 years had a 43% lower risk of diabetes and a 31% lower risk of high blood pressure, compared to those with the fewest steps, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020. The EPI Scientific Sessions is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

In addition, among the women in the study, each 1,000-step interval resulted in a 13% lower risk of obesity, and those with the highest step count were 61% less likely to be obese, compared to women who walked the least. However, there was no association between a lower risk of obesity and the number of daily steps walked for men in the study.

“Walking is a widely accessible form of physical activity, and steps-per-day is an easy measurement and motivator that most people understand and can easily measure given the booming industry of wearable technologies or smartphones,” said lead study author Amanda E. Paluch, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The study results were based on data from 1,923 participants in the national Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, in which men and women wore accelerometer devices in 2005-2006 for at least 10 hours or more per day for a minimum of four days. An accelerometer is a wearable device that measures physical activity such as walking.  

The participants’ average age was 45; 58% of the group were women; and 41% were black. The average follow-up time was nine years.

The researchers said, “The results of our study add to the growing evidence about the importance of regular physical activity for improving heart health, and that preventive efforts can be effective, even as middle-aged adults move into older adulthood.”^.

Based on the current findings, Paluch said she and her team want to expand their research and examine how walking speed might affect heart health risks. The bottom line is that adding more steps to everyday life may feel more accessible to people who want to live healthier.

“Diabetes and high blood pressure are not inevitable. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight, improving diet and increasing physical activity can help reduce diabetes risk. This study shows that walking is an effective therapy to decrease risk,” said Robert H. Eckel, M.D., a former president of the American Heart Association and professor of medicine, emeritus and Charles A. Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis, emeritus at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School in Aurora, Colorado.

“For people who find the idea of a daily, extended exercise period and physical activity regimen daunting, shifting the focus to accumulating steps throughout the day may help them become more active,” said Paluch. “The more steps, the better.”

Co-authors are Kelley Pettee Gabriel, Ph.D.; Janet E. Fulton, Ph.D.; Juned Siddique, Ph.D.; Kara M. Whitaker, Ph.D.; Cora E. Lewis, Ph.D.; Susan A. Carlson, Ph.D.; Pamela Schreiner, Ph.D.; Barbara Sternfeld, Ph.D.; Stephen Sidney, M.D.; and Mercedes R. Carnethon, Ph.D. Author disclosures are in the abstract.

The CARDIA study is funded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health.

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Association policy or position. The Association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content

The American Heart Association’s EPI | LIFESTYLE 2020 Scientific Sessions is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science and will be held March 3-6 in Phoenix, Arizona. The four-day conference will feature nearly 600 compelling scientific presentations to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and foster cardiovascular health. The theme of this year’s conference is Promoting Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan: How Do We Live Healthier, Longer? and is presented in collaboration with the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health and the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention.

About the American Heart Association

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While cholesterol helps your body function, too much of it can cause severe health issues including high blood pressure also known as hypertension. The excessive cholesterol can build up and eventually form plaque in the body’s arteries. These blockages in the arteries make it more difficult for oxygen-rich blood to pass through, causing a strain on your heart and increasing your blood pressure. It is recommended that all adults aged 20 and above have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. Leading a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle is the key to healthy levels of cholesterol and blood pressure. To lower your cholesterol, eat a healthy diet and get 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. However, following lifestyle modifications, a failure to achieve a healthy cholesterol level, warrants the use of medicines. Medications can help you to control cholesterol levels, but diet and lifestyle changes remain the best ways to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. It’s also very important to take your medication exactly as your doctor has instructed.

High blood pressure, what doctors call hypertension, affects one in three adults. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse cardiovascular events. Traditionally treatment has been medication, diet, exercise, and no smoking or alcohol. However, recent studies suggest that there’s a lot you can do to keep your blood pressure within a healthy range, including starting a yoga practice. Yoga, including pranayama, asanas and meditation, when performed mindfully, can reduce stress-induced hypertension, while addressing its underlying causes. It pacifies the nervous system and slows down the heart, while training the muscles and mind to relax deeply. Studies suggest that Yoga may help reduce blood pressure in people who are at risk for developing hypertension. However, people with high blood pressure are warned to be cautious in approaching exercise. This is generally because vigorous exercise puts stress on the cardiovascular system, including raising heart-rate and blood pressure. Before engaging in any sort of exercise program, including yoga of any type or variety, people with any sort of cardiovascular condition including high blood pressure should consult their physician. Also, it is important to remember that yoga may be a complementary therapy. It is not a replacement for treatments and medications that a healthcare professional recommends.

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