Weight Fitness

Blood Pressure – Tips for Lowering and Controlling Hypertension

November 6th, 2009 at 06:20pm Under Health

High blood pressure is a serious health concern. Most people know that having a high blood pressure is bad, but few know really what blood pressure actually is.

It is the measurement of the pressure of your blood pushing on the artery walls. The 2 numeric values that make up your blood pressure represent the pressure when your heart beats and when it as rest. For example, your blood pressure may be measured at 120/80.

It is normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate. It will decrease while you sleep and increase when you are active. A high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 or higher in most people. There is an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and other problems when you have a high blood pressure because the heart has to work harder to function.

There is no one sole cause of high blood pressure. IN some people it is due to another medical condition, medication they are taking, obesity or one of many other conditions.

So how do you reduce your blood pressure to lower your risk of heart and organ problems? Here are some tips.

1. Reduce salt intake
Processed foods are usually high in salt, so avoid them and choose fresh foods. Don’t eat processed, fatty and salty meat. Choose products marked as low sodium and check foods labels to check salt or sodium levels.

2. Lose weight
Many people with high blood pressure are carrying excess weight. Choose low fat foods and reduce your caloric intake. Aim to eat more protein and complex carbohydrates as found in whole grain foods.

3. Reduce caffeine intake
There is no proof that caffeine contributes to high blood pressure, but it does make your heartbeat speed up. Opt for decaffeinated coffee and minimize your intake of any drink containing caffeine.

These tips are just some ideas that you can attempt to lower your blood pressure. They are not certain to work for you, but they will improve your overall health so there is great benefit to trying them. High blood pressure is a serious medical condition, so always seek professional advice before attempting anything new, taking supplements or medications and before drastically changing your diet.

By Paul

Blood Pressure – Your Questions Answered

October 4th, 2009 at 01:48am Under Health

Blood pressure are words used quite often in the English language, but many of us don’t really understand what all the talk is about.

I’ll try to explain it in the easiest possible way. When you are finished with this post, you’ll have the answers to some of your questions.

The best place to start is at the beginning. We first need to understand…

What we are dealing with

We are dealing with the pressure, or strength, of our blood as it pushes on the walls of our arteries.  We measure it with the help of a couple of numbers that are displayed like: 134/79 (This is an actual reading).

The first and larger number let us know the amount of pressure within our arteries while our hearts are busy pumping out life giving blood with every beat. This number is known as ” Systolic”.

The second, and lower of the two numbers informs us of  the amount of pressure our hearts endure in a relaxed state – between beats. This is what is referred to as “Diastolic”.

Contrary to popular belief, our blood supply doesn’t flow constantly throughout our bodies. Instead, it makes it’s journey in  never ending pulses.

The blood’s force climaxes in our bodies as soon as a single beat is finished and diminishes as it prepares for the next. It never stops.

Is my blood pressure normal?

There are no absolute numbers as to what is considered normal, but many do agree that a reading  around 110/70 (read “one ten over seventy”) to 125/80 (”one twenty-five over eighty”) is average for an adult. As we age, the numbers climb and can still be considered in the normal range, but only your doctor can tell you for sure. No matter what, it’s always a good idea to keep a watchful eye on your readings.

What are the effects on our bodies?

Our hearts are under more stress placing us at higher risk for such issues as heart failure, stroke, and heart attacks. It can even be the cause of such problems as eye or kidney issues.

See your doctor regularly, reduce stress, take on a weight management plan, increase your fitness level, and watch your diet. All these thing will help you to keep high blood pressure out of your life.

By Paul