Cause of sudden drop in BP

Washington: People who suffer from a sudden drop in blood pressure (BP) when they stand up from a lying position, may face greater chances of heart failure.

The link between this condition, known as orthostatic hypotension, and heart failure was stronger in people aged 45-55 years compared to those between 56-64 years, researchers said.

High BP, which was present in over half of people who developed heart failure, may be partially responsible for the association, the journal Hypertension reports.

"Orthostatic hypotension appears to be related to the development of heart failure along with other conditions known to cause heart failure," said Christine DeLong Jones, resident in preventive medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who led the study.

"Hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease are already known to contribute to a person`s risk of developing heart failure," said Jones, according to a North Carolina statement.

Over an average 17.5 years of follow-up, researchers looked at the link between orthostatic hypotension and developing heart failure.

They defined orthostatic hypotension as a decrease of 20 points or more in the systolic (top number) or a decrease of 10 or more points in the diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure measurements.

The researchers, who based the definition of heart failure on either hospital admission or death certificate diagnoses, found: About 11 percent who developed heart failure had orthostatic hypotension at the start of the study, compared with only four percent of those who did not develop heart failure.

People with orthostatic hypotension had 1.54 times the risk of developing heart failure than those without orthostatic hypotension; however, after excluding those with high blood pressure, the risk fell to 1.34 times.

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How exercise lowers blood pressure

Though it will increase somewhat during the hours after exercise, there is evidence that repeated exercise sessions will gradually lower resting BP, especially in those with borderline or mild hypertension.

Remarkable changes take place in your cardiovascular system when you exercise. However, blood flow to working muscles increases tremendously, which causes an immediate drop in blood pressure. The body responds rapidly increasing heart rate and cardiac output to maintain blood pressure at the level required.

As you stop exercising, blood pressure can fall just as dramatically. This is due to a number of factors:

* When the muscles stop contracting, there is no longer a pump to send blood back to the heart. Moreover, the heart responds by lowering cardiac output, and blood pressure drops.

* Thus, concentrations of metabolic byproducts (such as lactic acid) remain in the bloodstream, which causes blood vessels in the muscle to remain dilated. Allowing blood flow in these areas to remain high, resulting in a fall in blood volume of the heart, which lowers BP.

* Also, body temperature increases with exercise causing the blood vessels in the skin to dilate in order to lose the extra heat. Thus, reduces blood volume in the heart.

For some people, especially those who fail to do a cool-down routine and stand still after exercising, blood pressure drops so much that they faint. However, for most, the reduced BP is a desirable outcome.

Porridge on a daily basis safeguard heart cuts down blood pressure

As per the report by the Daily Express, intake of three parts of wholegrain foodstuff for instance porridge on a daily basis safeguard the heart by cutting down the blood pressure intensity. It express that this might be as effectual as getting prescription.

The review at the back of this tale reveals that wholegrain foodstuff provide a small decrease in blood pressure in medium -aged persons devoid of cardiovascular ailment.

The report did not measure the consequence of porridge itself on physical condition, however contrasted with a diet holding together wholewheat food and oats along with an eating habit of elevated in wholegrain wheat and a pattern of eating elevated in processed grains.

This was a fine - carried out unsystematic restricted examination. In general, the outcome holds up health recommendation that a pattern of eating having suggested quantity of wholegrains be able to have an optimistic consequence on blood pressure that is a significant indicator of cardiovascular physical condition.

This optimistic consequence on blood pressure is able to be anticipated to interpret into settlement in conditions of threat of coronary artery ailment and strokes, though this review did not gauge such health results.

source: topnews.us

Healthy Habits To Keep Our Blood Pressure Down

If we have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, our doctor may recommend that we adopt a few healthier lifestyle habits to help get it under control. Studies have shown that making certain changes in the way we live can significantly lower our blood pressure. Most of these lifestyle changes can also help prevent high blood pressure if we do not already have it — the guidelines for hypertension prevention and management are often one and the same.

Here are some healthier lifestyle habits we should adopt.

* Eat healthily.

There is evidence that people who consume a healthy diet can prevent high blood pressure or lower blood pressure if they already have hypertension. We should aim for a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, nuts and seeds and lean protein sources, such as skinless poultry and fish. It should also be low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and added sugars — and skip the trans fat altogether.

* Reduce Salt Intake

. Limiting the amount of sodium (salt) in our diet can also help control high blood pressure. As a general rule, we should consume less than 2,400 milligrams of sodium(less than a teaspoon) per day, but if we already have high blood pressure, that amount will be lower. The target is between 500mg and 1000mg (quarter to half teaspoon). The lower our sodium intake, the better it is for our blood pressure. We must remember to count the amount of sodium in packaged foods as well as any table salt used, when we are calculating how much we are eating. Ingredients like baking soda, soda, brine, mono sodium glutamate (MSG) and baking powder have high sodium content.

* Maintain a healthy weight

If we are overweight, losing as few as 10 pounds can lower our high blood pressure. Carrying extra weight not only increases our risk of high blood pressure, it also makes us more likely to develop cholesterol problems and diabetes, which are two more risk factors for heart disease. Talk with your doctor about our weight. If we are overweight, our doctor can recommend a safe weight loss program of healthy eating and increased physical activity.

* Keep active

An active lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent or control high blood pressure. In addition to its effects on hypertension, regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress. As long as our doctor says that exercise is safe for us, aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week and incorporate flexibility (stretches) and strengthening exercises into our weekly routine.

* Limit alcohol or stop drinking all together.

Drinking alcohol in moderation is generally not harmful and may even have some heart health benefits, but drinking too much has been shown to lead to high blood pressure and other serious health problems. We must limit our alcohol intake to one drink per day females or two drinks per day for males. One drink is 12 ounces of beer or 4ounces of wine or one and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor, or 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor.

* Stop smoking to limit artery damage

Smoking is not considered to be a cause of high blood pressure, but it can damage the walls of our blood vessels and harden our arteries, making it especially dangerous for us who have high blood pressure. If we don't smoke, don’t start and if we do smoke, make quitting a top priority. Studies have shown that our risk of having a heart attack is reduced just one year after we quit smoking.

* Monitor our blood pressure at home.

There are often no warning signs that we have high blood pressure before it damages our body. That is why it is important to keep track of our blood pressure, to make sure it is under control and being managed properly. Since our blood pressure can fluctuate between doctor visits, we should consider investing in a home monitoring kit and then regularly record our blood pressure readings so our doctor can have a clearer picture of our blood pressure over time.

* Manage stress to manage hypertension

Stress can cause temporary increases in high blood pressure, but scientists are still not sure how stress affects blood pressure over the long term. However, there is evidence that stress can lead to overeating, smoking, drinking and other blood pressure-raising activities. So, we should pay attention to our stress levels and avoid unnecessarily stressful activities and events. We must remember that regular exercise reduces stress as it improves heart health.

* Practice relaxation

Taking time out to unwind each day may help us control our high blood pressure. Find some relaxation techniques that we enjoy and practice them regularly. Examples of relaxation practices include meditating in a peaceful place for 15 to 20 minutes, expressing our gratitude for the positive things in our life and engaging in soothing physical activities such as yoga.

Remember, High blood pressure is the greatest risk factor for death in the Caribbean and in the world. We may not know we have high blood pressure unless we get it checked.

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Minerals That Helps Lower Blood Pressure

A lot of of the risk factors for heart disease can be reduced by making food and lifestyle changes. You can quit smoking, , lower your cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lose weight, and become extra active.

Minerals That Help Lower Blood Pressure:

Foods that are rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium, in particular, have been shown to lower blood pressure.

Beyond Salt – Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium:
Sodium is not the only mineral that is significant in managing blood pressure. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium are all concerned in helping to regulate blood pressure. And, their relationship with blood pressure is generally helpful. An important point to keep in mind is that studies have shown that eating foods rich in these nutrients helps to lower blood pressure.

Calcium: Calcium has several interesting health benefits beyond strengthening bones. Some who include more calcium in their foods tend to have lower blood pressure, weight less, have less body fat, and have a lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

There are several vegetables that are good sources of calcium, and many plant-based foods, such as soy milk, that are formulated to be good sources of calcium.

Potassium:. Potassium allows the body to get rid of extra fluid so that the heart does not have to pump too hard, in that way allowing blood pressure to stay low. It is also vital for regulating the heart-beat. Good sources of potassium consist of most fruits and vegetables, especially oranges, bananas, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Magnesium: Magnesium is another important mineral for maintaining blood pressure under control. Good sources of magnesium contain the dark green vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes.

Hypertension, which occurs when the blood pressure in your arteries is too high, can lead to blood vessel diseases such as strokes, heart attacks, and leg pain caused during walking. As hypertension does not cause any symptoms until the damage is already done, it is important to occasionally have your blood pressure checked.

By Dr. N.Dave

Great Exercise Ideas To Lower Blood Pressure

Exercise can have tremendous benefits when it comes to reducing blood pressure. Overall, regular, moderate physical activity for 30 minutes or more a day most days of the week can lower blood pressure 4 to 9 mm Hg, which is pretty significant.

You don't have to jog or run! There are numerous ways to increase your activity levels that don't even involve formal exercise. First, if you have bad knees I recommend a session or two with a certified personal trainer. The trainer should complete a full assessment of your fitness level, then recommend a program to address specific areas. For instance, if your knees hurt, the trainer may provide you with exercises to strengthen your quadriceps, reducing strain on your knees. Losing weight also can improve knee pain.

Second, start slowly. One of the best exercises is simply walking. If you're not used to doing anything active, start with just a 10-minute walk twice a day. After a week, increase it to 15 minutes. Keep increasing the time and distance until you can comfortably walk for 45 to 60 minutes at a time. You don't have to walk it all at once. Studies find breaking up your exercise into 10-minute increments works just as well as getting it all in one chunk.

Another good option for people with knee or hip problems is swimming. You're practically weightless in the water, and swimming provides a total body workout.

Don't forget to add some weight resistance to your regimen. The trainer can give you exercises you can do at home using only your body and items around the house for resistance. Or you could join a gym or the local Y or rec center and use the machines and free weights provided. Joining a facility is a good idea because you get training, and it's often nice to be around other people while you work out.

If you have a favorite sport you abandoned years ago or one you've always wanted to try, now is the time to go for it. Tennis, volleyball, rowing, cross-country skiing, bowling, golf and many other sports offer fun opportunities for exercise. Or sign up for a dance class, alone or with your partner.

Finally, I urge you to look for unexpected opportunities in your daily routine to "sneak" in physical activity. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park on the outer edge of the parking lot when you shop so you can increase your walking. Walk the dog—several times a day, if possible.

Exercise doesn't have to be some proscribed, set amount of time. It can—and should—become a routine, fun part of your lifestyle!

Low-Carb Diet Lowers Blood Pressure Along With Weight Loss

A low-carbohydrate diet may have health benefits that go beyond weight loss.

A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet was equally good as the weight loss drug orlistat (the active ingredient in Alli and Xenical) at helping overweight and obese people lose weight, but people who followed the low-carb diet also experienced a healthy drop in their blood pressure levels.

"I expected the weight loss to be considerable with both therapies but we were surprised to see blood pressure improve so much more with the low-carbohydrate diet than with orlistat," researcher William S. Yancy, Jr., MD, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, says in a news release. "If people have high blood pressure and a weight problem, a low-carbohydrate diet might be a better option than a weight loss medication."

Researchers say studies have already shown that the two weight loss methods are effective at promoting weight loss, but it's the first time the health effects of each have been compared head to head.

"It's important to know you can try a diet instead of medication and get the same weight loss results with fewer costs and potentially fewer side effects," Yancy says.

Low-Carb Lowers Blood Pressure

In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 146 obese or overweight adults were randomly divided into two groups. Many of the participants also had chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

The first group was advised to follow a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet consisting of less than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, and the second group received the weight loss drug orlistat three times a day, plus counseling in following a low-fat diet (less than 30% of daily calories from fat) at group meetings over 48 weeks.

The results showed weight loss was similar in the two groups. The low-carb diet group lost an average of 9.5% of their body weight and the orlistat group lost an average of 8.5%. Both weight loss methods were also not significantly different at improving cholesterol and glucose levels.

But when researchers looked at changes in blood pressure, they found nearly half of those who followed the low-carbohydrate group had their blood pressure medication decreased or discontinued during the study, compared to only 21% of those in the orlistat group.

Overall, systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) dropped an average of 5.9 points among the low-carb diet group, compared with an increase of 1.5 points in the orlistat group.

Researchers say weight loss itself typically produces a healthy reduction in blood pressure, but it appears that a low-carbohydrate diet has an additional blood pressure-lowering effect that merits further study.

source: webmd