Posts Tagged ‘Hypertension’
Don't let blood pressure treatment defeat you. It's always a hard task to deal with the problem of living with high BP but it's a task you can handle if you work at it in a logical way. Good BP control means that you need to look at your medications, at your food intake and food choices - and also, of course at your stress levels.
There are several different approaches to controlling blood pressure more effectively.
Lets start with lifestyle. Doctors have researched this area in great depth and have found that there are several aspects of our lives that impact dramatically on our blood pressure levels.
Diet is very important. About a third of those with high blood pressure are very sensitive to salt intake. Even in those who are not overly sensitive too it, added salt will increase blood pressure levels by about ten points on the scale. If you are salt sensitive then the difference is about three times that. Many people who take blood pressure tablets every day would be able to stop or reduce them if they reduced their salt intake.
Fat content in the diet also makes a difference. A diet too high in fat will also cause the blood pressure levels to rise - reduce the fat and reduce your blood pressure. Aim for low fat choices in all of your eating and you should see a significant difference quickly.
Body weight is vital. You can expect a rise of ten points on the BP scale for every ten pounds of weight gain - and the opposite too of course if you reduce your weight. Losing twenty pounds in weight could see you back into the normal BP range very quickly. Now, lets face it, losing weight is never easy - but coping with the side effects of blood pressure medication is not easy either and I guess it's all a choice when push comes to shove.
And finally - don't forget the options open to you when it comes to natural blood pressure remedies and supplements. Several herbal products have a good track record for blood pressure control. Garlic works well - and so does hawthorn berry extract. Take a look at these options because they can make a real difference.
You know what you need to do to improve your blood pressure - so why not get started today?
Want to find out more about blood pressure treatment, then visit Doctor Gordon Cameron's site for more advice about controlling high blood pressure and other great blood pressure support.
By Roberto Sedycias
What is blood pressure? It is the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of our blood vessels. Systolic blood pressure is measured when the heart contracts and diastolic blood pressure is measured when the heart relaxes. These readings can be recorded on a monitor. When these readings go beyond a certain range, it spells danger. There are hardly any symptoms which indicate high or low blood pressure. In fact, high blood pressure or hypertension is called `the silent killer'.
Hence, it is imperative for everyone to monitor them regularly. This can be done by visiting a medical practitioner or at home also. Blood pressure kits are a revolution in this direction. Studies have indicated that it is wiser to measure it at home with a kit than to get it measured by a doctor in his clinic. Results are more accurate and trust-worthy.
However, blood pressure kits need to be tested for accuracy from time to time. This can be done by comparing the readings between ones own kit and one taken by a regular doctor at his clinic. The two readings must nearly be the same.
The device which measures blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. A cuff is wrapped around the arm and tightened by means of a pump. A stethoscope is placed on the artery near the elbow. The air pressure is then released. When the blood first gushes through the blood vessels gives the systolic reading. Diastolic reading is taken when the pulse stops. The acceptable reading on the blood pressure kit is 120/80.
There are a variety of kits to choose from in the market. They vary in design, utility and price. Some kits are manual while others are auto inflated. Depending on the technology used, the features that blood pressure kits offer are:
* Irregular heart beat feature
* Pressure rating feature
* A multiple number of memory readings
* Average reading feature
* Blood pressure classification
* Body fat percentage and BMI
* Time and date feature
* Alarm clock and thermometer
* Excessive motion detection
Most kits measure blood pressure from the arm while some are used on the wrist and a few on the finger. Doctors suggest using the arm type kit as the readings are more dependable. It is as if proximity to the heart gives a better result. Finger type kits are totally discarded now as they showed inaccurate readings. Again, a higher price does not necessarily mean a better product. Research shows that cheaper models of blood pressure kits give more accurate results.
In recent times, man has been drawn towards astrology. This has led to innovations in astrological medicine and treatment. A Rudraksha blood pressure kit has been developed which claims to control blood pressure quite efficiently. However, it lacks medical confirmation.
The Rudraksha kit consists of two Rudraksha beads and a bloodstone pendant embedded in silver. The beads have to be soaked overnight in water. This water is to be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. The bloodstone pendant is to be worn around the neck in such a manner that the bloodstone remains in the area of the heart. Blood pressure is expected to stabilize within a few days.
If we pay attention to the growing number of deaths due to hypertension, then purchase of a blood pressure kit becomes a must for one and all. However care must be taken to buy the proper and accurate blood pressure kit.
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil
