Recognizing and Managing High Blood PRessure

July 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
My blood pressure the other day

Image by BostonTx via Flickr

There has been in increase in the number of people diagnosed with high blood pressure. This condition is very dangerous and can result in serious health risks. An ideal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or lower. If you have high blood pressure that is not controlled you run the risk of experiencing artery damage, aneurysms and heart failure. Treating high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes, as well as medication if necessary.

Symptoms
Many people do not experience symptoms if they are in the early stages of this condition; however, a few may experience headaches and dizziness.

Treatment
The first course of treatment is usually a change in diet. This includes a reduced sodium diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods. It is suggested that the diet contains no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

If an individual is overweight, losing that weight can significantly lower blood pressure. According to medical professionals, even a small loss of just five pounds can lower your blood pressure.

Exercising regularly can also lead to lower blood pressure. Adults should try to exercise at least 30 minutes each day. Other lifestyle changes include quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol.

Depending on the level of the high blood pressure condition, your medical professional may prescribe medication including calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, rennin inhibitors and others. Medications for severe cases include alpha-beta blockers and vasodilators.

It is very important to follow your physician’s instructions and advice to lower your blood pressure to avoid additional health risks.

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5 Fun Ways to Increase Your Lifespan

December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Most people want to live as long as they possibly can, as healthy as they can. Why not find some fun ways to increase your lifespan. After all, living healthy doesn’t have to be all about strict diet and long hours of exercise. Here are 5 fun ways to increase your lifespan:

1. Eat Dark Chocolate
Eating chocolate will not only make you feel happier, but dark chocolate contains large amounts of antioxidants, which prevents the body from aging. It is also reported that eating a small bit of dark chocolate a day may lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure, all while providing an energy boost.

2. Play Brain Games
No matter how old you are, exercising your brain is just as important as exercising your body. Playing brain games and puzzles will keep your mind sharp in a fun way. It is also a great way to socialize with others and to be involved in the world.

3. Have More Sex
When we have sex, a variety of beneficial chemicals are released into the body. Some experts say that frequent sex can extend our life by years. Sex and touching is also a great way to bond with others, increase self-worth, and strengthen relationships.

4. Drink Red Wine
Antioxidants work to protect your body against aging and red wine is jam packed with it. There have been a few studies done on the effects of drinking red wine and all studies show that drinking a glass or two of red wine will keep your body young, thus you may live longer.

5. Play
Humans need to exercise to stay healthy, but who said it can’t be fun exercise. Instead of walking on a treadmill or climbing stairs at the gym, take the kids outside for a good old fashioned game of chase or tag. Get the neighborhood together and play baseball or kickball.

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Yoga Enhances Healthy Living

August 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Yoga undeniably benefits mind, body and soul. Any meditative practice supplements both a general health care program and those designed to assist recuperation from a specific illness or injury. Therapeutic yoga, or integrative yoga therapy, focuses on wellness at the physical, physiological and spiritual levels and is used successfully in connection with many medical conditions, including clinical depression, heart disease, arthritis, insomnia and chronic back pain.
Yoga therapy approaches healing as a journey that balances body and mind and embraces a commitment to life. The integrative healing process strengthens the immune system from the effects of stress and disease by building in the practitioner a positive outlook toward life’s challenges. Research proves that the mind-body connection opens the practitioner up to a greater commitment to life and good health.
The deep, mindful breathing that is integral to the practice of yoga increases lung capacity and substantially reduces stress through stimulation of the body’s relaxation response. Deep breathing techniques reduce mind chatter and calm the practitioner by slowing the release of stress-fighting hormones into the blood stream. Researchers are currently studying yoga’s ability to alleviate the symptoms of depression, which is believed to result from increased oxygen levels in the blood.
Medical professionals are well aware of yoga’s ability to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate, both of which are highly beneficial to heart disease patients. Studies also connect yoga with decreased cholesterol levels. Heart patients are not the only ones to reap benefits from a regular yoga practice; fybromyalgia and arthritis sufferers benefit from stretched muscles and soft tissue and an increased range of motion in their joints. More fluidity and flexibility translates to less pain on movement, as the stretching motion inherent in yoga poses safely releases the stored lactic acid that causes stiffness, pain, fatigue and tension.
This ancient practice brings the mind and body connection into balance by strengthening, relaxing and harmonizing our physical and mental bodies. Yoga should be an essential component of any healthy lifestyle.

Yoga undeniably benefits mind, body and soul. Any meditative practice supplements both a general health care program and those designed to assist recuperation from a specific illness or injury. Therapeutic yoga, or integrative yoga therapy, focuses on wellness at the physical, physiological and spiritual levels and is used successfully in connection with many medical conditions, including clinical depression, heart disease, arthritis, insomnia and chronic back pain.
Yoga therapy approaches healing as a journey that balances body and mind and embraces a commitment to life. The integrative healing process strengthens the immune system from the effects of stress and disease by building in the practitioner a positive outlook toward life’s challenges. Research proves that the mind-body connection opens the practitioner up to a greater commitment to life and good health.
The deep, mindful breathing that is integral to the practice of yoga increases lung capacity and substantially reduces stress through stimulation of the body’s relaxation response. Deep breathing techniques reduce mind chatter and calm the practitioner by slowing the release of stress-fighting hormones into the blood stream. Researchers are currently studying yoga’s ability to alleviate the symptoms of depression, which is believed to result from increased oxygen levels in the blood.
Medical professionals are well aware of yoga’s ability to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate, both of which are highly beneficial to heart disease patients. Studies also connect yoga with decreased cholesterol levels. Heart patients are not the only ones to reap benefits from a regular yoga practice; fybromyalgia and arthritis sufferers benefit from stretched muscles and soft tissue and an increased range of motion in their joints. More fluidity and flexibility translates to less pain on movement, as the stretching motion inherent in yoga poses safely releases the stored lactic acid that causes stiffness, pain, fatigue and tension.
This ancient practice brings the mind and body connection into balance by strengthening, relaxing and harmonizing our physical and mental bodies. Yoga should be an essential component of any healthy lifestyle.

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