Posts by sharry:
Why Overweight Individuals have Increased Risk of Hypertension
October 22nd, 2008A quarter to one-half of all Americans today, based on studies, are overweight. It is sad to know that these figures are not limited to adults. A sharp increase from 5% to 14% of children are overweight now than they were a few decades ago.
The reason for this, experts say, is that the average American exercises less than before. Also, as American families become more affluent, consumption of the wrong kinds of food increases accordingly.
And while schools are doing their share in combating this problem by requiring students to take up Physical Education or JROTC, the growing number of obese children proves that we need to do more.
We all know that being overweight is directly correlated to hypertension. The heart tends to work harder when the body is carrying more weight than it should. this makes it grow larger, then weaker as time goes by.
Hardening of the arteries may also happen, which impedes the blood from circulating around the body.
A blood pressure reading of over 120/80 mm Hg is a sign of hypertension. When you have hypertension, you are more prone to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, dementia, blindness, and impotence.
Studies have shown that overweight individuals are at a much greater risk of suffering from high blood pressure – up to three times more likely – than those who maintain the ideal weight for their height.
There are numerous conventional hypertension treatments out there, from medical therapies to suggestions on how to exercise and eat healthier. However, as I’ve mentioned before in a previous post, in every three individuals, less than one actually use these treatments.
Some of these treatments are expensive, while others have side effects which people would much rather do without.
How about a moderate reduction of weight through exercise? The popular (and most likely honest) reply would be, “I’m too lazy.” Others would argue “I don’t have time to exercise,” which, although valid, is probably just the professionally acceptable way of saying, “I’m too lazy.”
So what’s the deal?
I’ve tried some of the treatments mentioned above, like exercise, weight reduction, and healthier diet, and have found that they are effective in lowering blood pressure. Significant improvements can be seen even with just a 10-pound reduction in body weight.
Still, not all of us are willing to part with the little joys in life. That’s where my Natural Blood Pressure Exercise Program comes in.
With the program, you don’t need long hours or extensive physical activities. You don’t even need to lose weight. What is does is it effectively lowers blood pressure by relieving the body of nerve tension and emotional stress.
Only a few minutes each week is required to do the program.
I am healthier and my hypertension is better controlled by doing these exercises than the other treatments I’ve tried before. Please click on the link found at the upper-right-hand side of this website.
Though it wouldn’t hurt to do something as simple as my exercises and shed a few pounds at the same time, would it?
12 Steps To Prevent High Blood Pressure?
August 26th, 2008Even the medical community who have been doing research on blood pressure for decades say that about 95% of high blood pressure problems have unknown causes, and you can have it without even knowing it, even if you feel healthy. For this reason, you must be on guard and monitor your blood pressure, and have it checked on a regular basis.
Coffee and smoking will both raise your blood pressure temporarily so be sure you don’t smoke or drink coffee for at least thirty minutes before you have it taken. If you’re a smoker, you should know this puts you at greater risk for developing high blood pressure than a non-smoker.
Other reasons that increase your risk include high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, or other medical conditions, or if you’re over the age of 60, or if you are of menopausal age. When you check your blood pressure, it is normal that there will be fluctuations, and a one time high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. Be alarmed when those readings are consistently high, because that is the time when a diagnosis is made. The medications that you are taking may also contribute to the rise in your blood pressure.
There are changes in your lifestyle and diet that you can make to lower your risk of developing and even preventing high blood pressure. Below is a listed of these changes. The more you embrace these changes into your life, the more you lower your risk.
> Limit alcohol to two drinks per day or even less
> Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if needed
> Cut your fat intake to less than 30%
> Limit added salt and be mindful of sodium content in prepared foods
> Exercise regularly at a moderate level of intensity several times a week
> Stop smoking
> Be sure you get at least 1000 mg (milligrams) of calcium every day. Good sources are dairy products, broccoli, canned salmon, figs, tofu and kale
> You also need 2500-3000 mg of potassium daily. Get that from fresh veggies and fruit, nuts and dairy products. Look for low fat brands of dairy products.
> Get 350-400 mg of magnesium daily. You’ll find it in dark green veggies, whole grains, seafood, legumes, nuts, and soybeans.
> Get a good night’s sleep. Inadequate sleep can actually raise your blood pressure even higher if you already have hypertension.
> Relax more. Reduce the stress in your life, particularly if you have risk factors for high blood pressure. Consider taking up yoga or meditation to learn how to relax.
> If you drink a lot of coffee (more than 2-4 cups) every day, consider cutting back or eliminating it altogether. It can help lower your blood pressure, but only slightly.
Another thing that you can do to lower your blood pressure is by using the Natural High Blood Pressure Program I developed. The program helps lower your readings in a natural way.
All it takes are a few simple exercises that you do daily, and requires only a few minutes of your time. Hundreds of people have already successfully lowered their blood pressure in a safe and natural way by using the program.