Archive

Posts Tagged ‘blood pressure’

Blood Pressure

August 28th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Blood pressure can be referred as a byproduct of lifestyle changes. The fast-paced urban life, leaves no room for a breather. An erratic lifestyle and tight working conditions can take a toll on your health and lead to such diseases. In fact, there is a chain of lifestyle diseases that crop up from simple causes like poor eating, stress, poor sleeping and so on. A demanding lifestyle can leave you fatigued with no energy left at the end of the day. Living this kind of life for a longer period is like a battle against good health.

If you experience any signs of blood pressure then pause for a minute and look inside. It helps to slow down the pace at which your life is moving. Go slow and cut the rat race. You may choose to introspect yourself and evaluate the causes of this condition. Once you know what has caused this condition, it is easy to fight back. Typically, pressure problem can be resolved with a consistent effort and some lifestyle changes. Here is what you can do to restore your health.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Sleep early: Remember the adage “Early to bed, early to rise, keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. Try to live up to this adage it works wonders.

Replace: Replace your junk food with healthy eating options. Switch over from aerated drinks to fresh fruit juices, from burgers to sandwiches. Ditch the pizza’s and go with whole wheat bread and vegetable rolls. Make this simple change in your eating habits and see the results.

Don’t carry baggage: Work and its relatives should be left in the office. Don’t carry this baggage home, it will only add to your mental stress and aggravate blood pressure.

Exercise: Light to moderate exercise helps in improving blood circulation and keeps diseases at bay. Indulge in some activity like jogging, swimming, yoga or gym. Keep your muscles moving, don’t let them be stagnant.

Say No: Say no to addictives like alcohol, caffeine, tea and the likes. Do not let your system be dependent on such addictive substances.

Take medicine: While you adopt these lifestyle changes to beat the lifestyle diseases do not ignore the importance of medicines. It is important to take medication for this condition.

Remember, “Health is Wealth” and its value is seldom known until it is lost. If you value your health then read the early signs and make the desired changes to fight blood pressure.

Low Fat Dairy

August 23rd, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

There are many ways that you can work on making healthy choices when it comes to your heart health, and lowering your blood pressure. You may actually wonder what is the point in watching your blood pressure. Well its very simple. It is very true from research that has been carried out that a person that has high pressure problems will have a lot of problems in terms of their health. If you can find ways to reduce your pressure then you are going to give yourself the great opportunity to lead a healthier more happy existence.

Your diet is the biggest contributor to your health and its a very important factor when it comes to lowering your blood pressure. If you are able to find a way to eat foods that are low in fat like low fat dairy then you are going to find it considerably more easy to lower your blood pressure effortlessly.

This will be an amazing result when you are used to eating foods that are very fattening as most dairy products that are available are. The fat that is eventually going to start to build up around your arteries and when this happens its going to be very hard for your blood to get through. This will result in your heart having to work a lot harder to pump blood around your body. This of course will cause your blood pressure to rise dramatically. This will increase the chances of you having a heart attack or a stroke. Of course this will increase your chances of getting other health problems that you may not have to worry about as much if you had lower blood pressure.

Your diet is very important in determining the health of your blood pressure, and is a very important if not the most important factor that determines whether you have normal blood pressure or not. To get into a healthier state its a great idea to make sure that you have low fat dairy products. It is very easy to get used to and will start to get very enjoyable once you are on it. The negatives are very minimal compared to the great advantages that you gain from consuming low fat dairy. This will change your life and your health too.

You need to start taking action today if you are to see a healthier body in the future. It is going to change your life around for the better and will reduce your blood pressure to normal levels which will help you to lead a more healthier and happy life in the future.

Lower Blood Pressure Without Drugs

June 12th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Perhaps more people than ever before are anxious to get started with the best way to lower your blood pressure without drugs. That’s a good thing, because it shows that more people are aware of the problem and the potential dangers that lurk as a result from it. If you’ve considered taking action in the past but still haven’t made any progress, then the time to act is now. You can get started today with the best way to lower your blood pressure without drugs and see real results in a short amount of time.

The first main component of the best way to lower your blood pressure without drugs using naturally health boosting strategies will be to add some physical exercise to your life. Try to ensure you get 30 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week, although 7 days per week is better. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym everyday, and it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Take a quick walk during lunch and another after dinner and you just got your 30 minutes without needing to do much at all.

The second chief piece of the puzzle is your diet, and the food that you eat. You need to reduce you intake of three things in particular, and those are trans fats, saturated fats and sodium. Trans fats actually need to be eliminated from your diet altogether, while saturated fat intake should be lowered substantially and sodium intake should be monitored to bring it down more in line with recommendations.

Besides diet many people are frantically trying to find an answer to the question of what is the best treatment for high blood pressure using herbals. There is no single solution to this question, different people have different reactions to various kinds of herbal medications and products. Many of these products are not all they are cracked up to be, so be sure you do your research and try to stick with products that have been carefully tested if you will be taking anything at all.

Last but certainly not least you have to be careful about what other substances and products you put into your body. Tobacco and cigarettes can be very harmful for your blood pressure, and it’s recommended that you quit as soon as possible. In terms of alcohol, it’s more about moderation. Limit your intake to 1 or 2 drinks per day depending on your size and drink just several times a week and you’ll lower your risk and improve your health.

You don’t need to drastically change your life around to naturally see improvement in your blood pressure. All you need are small changes to elements of your life such as the kinds of foods that you eat, the amount of exercise that you receive and the types of other substances you put into your body such as alcohol and tobacco. By keeping tabs on all of these things you can immediately begin implementing the best way to lower your blood pressure without drugs and major improvements will be right around the corner.

Your Blood Pressure at Home

April 7th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

If you are worried about your blood pressure, you may want to keep an eye on it by monitoring it at home. Always make sure you keep up your regular doctor visits as high blood pressure may lead to many other conditions and can be serious. If you have changed your lifestyle recently and your blood pressure hasn’t changed too, then it can get frustrating.

Keep a record of your blood pressure numbers in a book or on a notepad. You can also take this to the doctor’s office when you go. You can also adjust your diet and other things if the pressure is still elevated above the normal. There is a wide choice of home monitoring equipment you can use. An aneroid monitor has a dial gauge and uses a pointer to read the numbers. A digital monitor comes with a manual or automatic cuff. Using a digital monitor – the reading flashing in LCD or LED on a screen and is easy to read.

blood pressure at home

Finger or wrist monitors are less effective than a regular monitor. They are not as accurate, are prone to being movement sensitive and they cost more, too. If you have large circumference arms, then vbe sure and get the largest cuff you can (they will usually state what it’ll go around on the box). A special size may have to be ordered. If the cuff size is not correct then the reading will be off. Your doctor will be able to offer advice on this. They can also show you how to use the monitor correctly.

Do not drink any caffeine, alcohol or use tobacco products for thirty minutes prior to checking. Use the restroom first as well. A full bladder puts pressure on anyone and you don’t need that added in. Relax and don’t talk at least three to five minutes before taking a reading. Be comfortable and don’t cross your legs or arms. Keep your back straight. As you strap the cuff on, make sure your arm is at the same level as your heart and rest it on a solid surface. Fit the cuff around your arm snug enough so that a finger can pass through. The bottom of the cuff should be an inch from the crease of your elbow, for proper placement.

Do understand what the numbers mean before taking your pressure. Normal is about 120/80 and high is 160/100 or higher. If you are in between you could be hypertensive and should discuss this with your doctor. Because of home monitoring you can get a head start if your blood pressure starts to go up, and therefore, a better chance to make for a healthier lifestyle.

Treating Low Blood Pressure

March 6th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

At times you may feel very thirsty, nauseated, overheated and irritated. You may feel like you are about to faint. It gets difficult to walk or even to get out of the chair. The brain sends the signal to the heart to slow down, send blood to arms and legs and lower the blood pressure. This is when you feel heaviness in your legs. There are two types of low blood pressure.

1. Orthostatic intolerance - the systolic pressure (top) drops less than 20 and the diastolic pressure (bottom) drops by 10.
2. Orthostatic hypotension – the systolic pressure drops more than 20 and diastolic pressure drops around 10.

Mostly middle-aged women are prone to orthostatic intolerance. Aged people who are above 60 are prone to orthostatic hypotension.

Ways to Fight Low Blood Pressure

· Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. It helps to maintain a normal pressure of the blood.
· Salt – People avoid salt to maintain a normal blood pressure. But people suffering with low blood pressure can be liberal with quantity of salt uses in their food. Eat as much salt as you can tolerate as it increases blood pressure.
· Avoid going to over crowded areas as you may feel heaviness or dizziness.
· Have a sweet tooth – start your day with something sweet or some extra sugar in your tea/coffee. Have as many sweet dishes as you like unless you have diabetes. Sweets give you extra energy and immediately normalize the blood pressure.
· At home sit at a low chair such that your knees are at a higher level than your chest. This sends the blood towards heart thus increasing the pressure of the blood.
· Keep your feet on an elevated platform as gravity pull decreases blood pressure.
· Do not stay in a standing position for long. Keep moving your legs or shake them a bit.
· Always carry a chocolate with you. Whenever you feel a drop in your blood pressure or feel low, unwrap the chocolate and eat it as soon as possible. You would feel better with every bite.

ImportantIf your blood pressure drops too low at time then keep your family, friends, relatives and colleagues informed about your problem. Always keep a glucose sachet in your pocket, car, and office and let everyone know where it is kept. Tell them that they need to act immediately if such a situation rises and make a thick paste of glucose in a little water (around 3 sips) such that there is more glucose and less water.

Insert this paste in mouth by using a spoon till the time one regains consciousness. Do not close your eyes. Stay awake as you may go in an unconscious state, which can be very risky. Relax and when you feel better, have something to eat to regain some energy. Once you feel better do visit a doctor as soon as possible. People suffering from low blood pressure often have morning sickness.

They find it difficult to get up from bed. After a bath they feel heaviness in their legs. It takes a lot of effort to do any kind of work. In such a situation eat something sweet the first thing in the morning, take more sugar in your morning tea or coffee. This gives you a boost in your energy and helps you to overcome morning sickness.

Anxiety and Hypertension

February 11th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Doctors, researchers, and medical professionals are not entirely sure what the link between stress levels and high blood pressure or hypertension is, but there certainly does seem to be a connection. Stress itself may even be a risk factor for heart disease. There are numerous possible reasons why stress increases blood pressure and medical professionals are still attempting to determine why stress and hypertension are linked.

One of the possible reasons for the link is that stress and anxiety seem to lead to more risky behaviors like smoking more or exercising less. Many researchers suspect that the link between stress and high blood pressure may be caused simply be the increase in risky behavior. This is one of several theories on the connection.

Another possible reason that there is a connection between high blood pressure and stress is stress hormones. When an individual is under prolonged stress the body will react to it physically as a way of trying to send a signal that something is wrong. The stress hormones that are release may be the cause of the increase in blood pressure.

Some physical signs of high stress levels are dizziness, aches and pains, grinding or tapping teeth, shaking, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, indigestion, and exhaustion. These are just a few of the possible affects that stress can have on the body. Some of the mental signs of symptoms are worry, restlessness, constant worry, loss of humor, lessened creativity, and less interest in things that were once of interest.

Stress comes in a variety of forms and from a variety of sources; for that reason, stress has widely varied affects. Researchers may not completely understand what causes the link between stress and hypertension, but they do recognize that there is a connection between the two. Stress and anxiety can have serious affects on wellness and even lead to a higher risk of heart disease.

Symptoms Of Heart Attack

January 27th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

The heart attack symptoms are the heart of the matter. Are you overly concerned about the possibility of a heart attack? We all know that it is a very serious lifestyle disease that could end a life in a matter of minutes.

When the attack actually takes place, one might feel feverish, nauseous, short of breath, sweat a lot, chest pain, and excessive tingling in the arms. Many victims-to-be act like they are in denial about their condition. They brush aside the signs that are telling them a full-blown heart attack is happening. Necrosis of a region of the heart muscle caused by an interruption in the supply of blood to the heart, usually as a result of occlusion of a coronary artery resulting from coronary artery disease. Heart disease remains the number one reason for death in both men and women. Because many women don’t even know that they have heart disease, it’s important to know the early warning signs and when it’s time to see your doctor.

For men the feeling of heaviness in the chest is often described. This can be felt by women, but only 30% of women who have heart attacks state they experienced any chest pain at all through this process. You can feel pain in the same area as you do when you have eaten something you shouldn’t have eaten. Don’t dismiss heartburn pain. Silent heart attack symptoms do not resemble the classic heart attack symptoms. A known cause of this condition is Silent Ischemia (Decreased blood supply to the heart muscle). Eat low sodium foods, reduce salt intake, avoid top salt. Check your blood pressure regularly. Take proper medication to control blood pressure.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Those mostly at risk for a silent heart attack are people who have had a previous heart attack. Also at risk are diabetics and those over the age of sixty-five and people prone to strokes. Stress and heart attacks are correlated. Interpersonal relationships and financial worries may cause stress leading to heart attacks. If someone’s skin suddenly goes an ashen color and their lips go blue, they will probably need your help anyway, but this can also be the symptoms of a heart attack, generally not on their own, but if they also feel faint and dizzy watch out.

Women do have different heart attack symptoms than men do, but heart disease is just as disabling and just as fatal to women as it is to men. Silent heart attacks can be identified by studying one’s medical history, testing the blood regularly for cardiac enzymes, and measuring one’s heart activity via electrocardiograms. Heart attacks may have the symptoms that you see in movies, but there are some that have no clear manifestations or very mild ones, but don’t let them cheat on you and don’t mistake them for indigestion or anxiety. A heart attack is nothing to mess around with. If you have any of these symptoms, even if you are not sure, especially if you are not sure, please have yourself checked out. With a heart attack, time is critical.

Health is the most important thing in life

January 3rd, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Health is the most important thing in life. Without health we can’t do anything. What is the use of a million dollars if you can’t run along the beach filling fresh air, or taking your dog for a walk, or just being able to get out of the bed in the morning and feel good. Not being able to do any of those things is a heartbreaking situation. So in order to be healthy we need to take care of ourselves, and there are a lot of things we need to do, from healthy food consumption, to regular workout and doctor checks to some other things that will benefit our health. But one of the most serious problems with health is that sometimes even if we do everything right we can’t make a difference, but sometimes we can. Many people don’t know that they have a blood pressure problem until it’s too late, so having a cardiac pressure monitoring device at home is a very useful thing. They don’t call blood pressure the silent killer for no reason.

So here are a few basic blood and cardiac pressure monitor devices for you to take care of your health.

Omron lA1B Pressure Monitor large cuff is an all-around blood and cardiac pressure monitor. I’m reviewing this item especially because it has personalized inflation. And that means that this monitoring device will take all your blood pressure changes in consideration and adjust to your pressure every time you take a measurement. And this item can also store measurements for two different users which includes everything from the reading to the time of that reading in particular. Special benefit of this pressure monitor device is that it comes with a lifelong warranty. So this is the top model for anybody that has pressure issues.

And here we have a good, solid blood and cardiac pressure monitor that is for those who want to measure their blood pressure even though they don’t have a problem with it. Of course this is not only for them anyone can use this item. Zewa automatic blood and cardiac pressure monitor is the easiest monitor to use, you just wrap it around your arm and press start, in just a few seconds you will have your blood pressure and your pulse on the big display. This is the basic type of blood pressure monitor that is mostly used by athletes; you can take it anywhere with you and it comes with a 5 year warranty.

So it’s not just blood pressure monitoring that is important, it’s also important to manage your blood and heart pressure. By managing your blood and heart pressure you will most likely avoid major complications caused by high or low pressure. Managing your blood and heart pressure consists of a healthy diet, regular exercises, and taking dietary supplements. With constant blood and cardiac pressure monitoring and blood pressure management you will certainly find out if your blood pressure is acting up before any damage and complications happen, so you will have the time to go to a doctor and get that taken care of.

Traumatic Injuries

December 26th, 2009 Dan Hicks No comments

Traumatic injuries cause damage to tissues. The incidental rupturing of ancillary and primary blood vessels supplying these tissues causes internal bleeding at the site of injury. The blood supplies normally bring nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and remove waste materials along with metabolic by-products from tissues. With damage though, the delicate piping systems of vessels burst at smaller capillary, arteriole, or venule vessels–or even in larger vessels causing heavy bleeding.

This bleeding is what causes swelling at the site of the person’s injury. The injury is enclosed within the skin, creating increased fluid and blood pressure inside the body at the injured site. When the trauma site fills and expands with bleeding, it tamponades the traumatic site. This may depress or cut off circulation. This occurs by increasing the site’s inner body pressure at or above the person’s normal blood pressure. This pressure is what naturally stops the bleeding at the site.

The heart pumps blood out to the tissues by way of the arteries. About 99% of all blood pumped out of the heart is returned by the venous return system. Being an enclosed plumbing system, the arterial pressure within the capillary bed drives the blood back to the heart by the pressure in the enclosed venous system. The generally low right-sided heart pressure allows naturally decreased pressures to direct blood from the venous systems back into the heart. This, in turn, allows the blood to be re-circulated and be pumped again and again back to the heart. The remainder of blood plasma is returned by the lymphatics.

In addition to the heart, artery, and venous systems, there is a passive lymphatic pipe system carrying the tissue fluids back to the heart. This lymphatic system acts as a cleaning sewage system allowing extra fluid to drain from the capillary beds and injured sites, via the venous system and then to the heart. Lymphatic vessels, like veins, have one-way valves which act as pumps. Passive pumps called lymph nodes are located behind joints or at sites of pressure from physical movement. They are much like a hose with a bulb and a valve attached to another hose. When the bulb is squeezed, the system pumps fluid in one direction only: towards the heart. When a joint is flexed and extended, the bulb is naturally compressed and it pumps moving fluids from the extremity towards the heart. This naturally removes blood, fluid, and potential infections fluid from the site of the injury. This reduces the on-site pressure after bleeding is stopped to allow new circulation and healing.

The elevation of a traumatic point is applied by measuring from the floor directly vertical to the heart, and then measure from the floor directly vertical to the site of injury. This means that the point of injury should be elevated approximately 12-16 inches higher than the position of the heart at any time and from any position, i.e. sitting in the chair with your foot on an ottoman if the foot is the site of injury, is not elevated. The distance to the floor from the foot must be less than the heart to the floor by 16″ or more. Laying flat on a couch with your foot up high on the back of the couch at the head level is elevation of a traumatic site, decreasing pain and removing the fluids for healing.

Internal Hemorrhoids

December 23rd, 2009 Dan Hicks No comments

Preventions and Treatments for Internal Hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoid is a condition where veins in the anus are enlarged or inflamed and appear as hard lumps. It occurs due to increased pressure and strain on the rectal vein. When hemorrhoids occur inside the rectal region these are known as internal hemorrhoids while the external ones are visible around the rectum. Hemorrhoids are categorized depending on their symptoms and formation on the body.

The prominent causes of internal hemorrhoid includes prolonged constipation, eating disorderly foods containing low fibrous contents, staying longer sitting or still-standing. The sports like cycling also sometimes becomes the cause of hemorrhoids. In women, pregnancy is the most frequent cause for occurrence of hemorrhoids. When blood pressure in the area is increased due to certain diseases, it also causes hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids, be it internal hemorrhoids or external, cause annoyance.

While talking about preventions and treatments of hemorrhoids, it is also important to know about the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include difficulty in passing bowl movement and blood stains with stool. Internal hemorrhoid, when over enlarged and appear hanging out from anus are mistakenly external hemorrhoids; but these are, in fact, prolapsed internal hemorrhoid. Swelling, itching and pain around anus and rectum especially at the time of defecation are other common symptoms of hemorrhoids. There are some other diseases like anal fistula, rectal cancer, peri-anal hematoma, anal fissures, and anal abscesses that have similar symptoms like that of hemorrhoids. Procedure of treatment of hemorrhoids vary depending on their condition.

To treat hemorrhoids, two pronged strategy is more suitable; one includes preventive measures while other includes treatment. The preventive part includes keeping hygienic conditions and avoiding scratching the anus, taking fiber rich diet such as vegetables, fruits, whole-meal bread besides consuming plenty of fluids and water, avoiding pressure during bowl movement, using soft toiler paper or cleansing the anal with warm bath. Taking hot baths in the area two to three times daily also helps a lot in overcoming the problem. As preventive measure, very spicy foods and alcohol should be avoided.

In mild condition of hemorrhoids, some preventive measures clubbed with analgesics, herbal remedies, some ointments and topical creams help overcome the problem. Many treatments exist that are very effective in curing an internal hemorrhoid. Usually blood circulation is cut off to the hemorrhoids by applying rubber band ligations with elastic bands and in a few days hemorrhoids are sloughed off with bowel movement. One of the most common non-surgical procedures that is followed in US includes Infrared Coagulation. Electric cauterization and, Laser, and sclerotherapy are some other methods of treatment of hemorrhoids.