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

Health & Fitness: Why You Need It

September 6th, 2009 at 04:16pm Under Health+ fitness

Everybody wants to have good health, but one of the main factors contributing to such a state is your fitness. Without fitness and exercise your health will suffer. In today’s world we are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Many people now sit in front of a computer for 40 hours or more per week. You can only imagine the effect this takes on your body over the years.

But even if you don’t move around much at work you can make up for it when you aren’t working.

One of the main reasons people don’t exercise is because they simply think they don’t have time. However ‘being too busy’ should never be an excuse for not looking after your body.

Did you know that you can exercise for just 20 to 30 minutes per day and have that activity contribute to a huge number of health benefits? You can reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, your risk of developing arthritis will be lowered and your overall self esteem and wellbeing will rise.

Some of the other major benefits of a health fitness routine include:

- Decreased chance of diabetes
- Weight loss: any type of exercise burns calories.
- Strengthens your immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Assists in blood circulation and detoxification
- Improves confidence and self esteem: Feel good hormones are released through exercise.
- Increases your energy: the more you exercise the more energetic you will be.
- Reduces your cholesterol
- Improves sleep: if you find yourself waking up tired each morning you will notice this subside when you exercise regularly.

“But I Don’t Like Exercising”
This is a common complain but one that can be alleviated through some creative thinking. You may not love running on the treadmill but do you enjoy tennis? Or basketball? Perhaps ice skating? These are all effective fitness activities.

Every single person needs good health and fitness provides the path to it. There should be no excuse for not doing just a few hours of exercise every week. You will be amazed at the difference it makes to your health and the way you feel.

By Paul