Herbal Treatment for High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Causes Hypertension

Studies done on a small number of populace have shown that hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause memory loss in populace over a period of time.
A large-scale study connecting nearly 20,000 people and in print today in the journal Neurology, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology, has now firmly recognized this.
http://babaramdevmedicines.com/ramdev-medicines/high-blood-pressure.htm
Hypertension or high blood pressure is almost certainly the most important public health problem in developed countries.
It is very common, usually doesn't produce very famous symptoms especially in the early stages.
The good thing is, High blood pressure is easily detect and usually easily treatable. On the other hand, leaving it untreated can lead to a host of evils like heart disease, kidney failure or stroke etc. and may even prove fatal.
Maintain a healthy blood pressure is very imperative to maintain a health and enhanced overall well-being. Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulates blood on the walls of blood vessels.
That is typical for blood pressure to fluctuate all from end to end the day, but if stays high, so high blood pressure experienced.
Blood pressure is the force of your blood nearly against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries.
Your blood pressure is uppermost when your heart beats, pump the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
High Blood Pressure Tips
1.    Read nutrition labels. Almost all package foods contain sodium. Every time you prepare or eat a packaged food, know how much sodium is in one serving.
2.    Keep a sodium diary. You may be astonished at how much sodium you consume each day and the diary will help you decide which foods to decrease or eliminate.
3.    Use spices and herbs instead of salt to period the food you prepare at home.
4.    Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods.
5.    Read nutrition labels. Almost all package foods contain sodium. Every time you prepare or eat a packaged food, know how much sodium is in one serving.
6.    Keep a sodium diary. You may be surprised at how much sodium you consume each day and the diary will help you make a decision which foods to decrease or eliminate.
Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
1.    Watermelons are very effectual in preventing high blood pressure.
2.    Drink one glass of water by adding lemon juice of half lemon into it. Drinking this every two-hour will give you relief from hypertension.
3.    Mix about one tablespoon of amla (Indian Gooseberry) juice and honey together. Taking this mixture every day early dawn will be very effective over hypertension. This is one of the very effective home remedies for high blood pressure.
4.    Take watermelon seeds and khas khas in equal amounts and grind them together. Eating one teaspoon of this mixture with water, every day early morning with an empty stomach. Take this once again in the evening time.
This is also very effective remedy in order to lowering the blood pressure. Try this remedy for about two weeks and see the difference in your blood pressure level.
5.    Early in the morning and also in the twilight, on an empty stomach take one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds. This is one of the very helpful home remedies for high blood pressure . Continue using this remedy for about half of a month for seeing results.
6.    Garlic is also very efficient in controlling the blood pressure. Hence make sure that you use enough of garlic while prepare your food.

High Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure

Blood pressure refers to the blood pressure on blood in the arteries when the blood in the heart to pump by all members of the human body. Blood pressure is created by taking two sizes and is usually measured as follows - 120 / 80 mmHg. Number of (120) shows the upward pressure of the arteries due to cardiac pulsation, and pressure is called systole. Lower number (80) shows the pressure when your heart rest in between pumping, and pressure is called diastole. The best time to measure blood pressure is when you are in a state of rest and sitting or lying down.
Blood pressure varies in one's life naturally. Infants and children normally have a blood pressure is much lower than adults. Blood pressure is also influenced by physical activity, which will be higher at the time of activity and lower when resting. Blood pressure in a single day is different; highest in the morning and lowest during sleep at night.
If the unknown blood pressure higher than usual in a sustainable, people were said to have high blood problems. People with high blood must have at least three blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 mm Hg at rest.

The Blood Pressure Medication

Have you tried changing your lifestyle to help your blood pressure only to find it isn't helping very much? Sometimes lifestyle changes alone aren't as effective as when combined with blood pressure medication.
There are many different kinds of blood pressure medications out there today. Usually two different medications are used rather than one alone. Here are some of the main blood pressure medications:
Alpha-Blockers: This medicine reduces nerve impulses to your blood vessels allowing easier flowing of the blood making your blood pressure decrease.
Alpha-Beta-Blockers: These work just like the alpha-blockers but also slow your heart beat. This means less blood pumps through your vessels making your blood pressure decrease.
Nervous System Inhibitors: This medication relaxes your blood vessels by controlling the nerve impulses making your vessels wider and decreasing blood pressure.
Beta-Blockers: These reduce your nerve impulses to your heart and blood vessels, making your heart beat decrease while dropping your blood pressure.
Diuretics: These are also known as 'water pills,' a very common medication. These diuretics work in your kidney, flushing out all excess sodium along with water from your body.
Vasodilators: These open your blood vessels directly by relaxing the muscle in your vessel walls which then causes your blood pressure to decrease.
ACE Inhibitors: ACE stands for 'Angiotensin converting enzyme.' These inhibitors prevent a hormone called angiotensin II from forming, which will usually cause your blood vessels to narrow. They help the vessels relax which makes your blood pressure decrease.
Angiotensin Antagonists: These block your blood vessels from angiotensin II. When blocked these vessels can widen letting your blood pressure decrease.
Calcium Channel Blockers: These keep any calcium from entering your heart's muscle cells and your blood vessels causing your blood pressure to decrease.
An alternate to taking any medication if possible is watching a few lifestyle habits. For instance a healthy diet can help control your blood pressure. Substitute salt for other seasonings and add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Get at least thirty minutes of physical activity or exercise a day. That doesn't mean you have to exercise thirty minutes all at once. Ten minutes here and there is just as effective.
Try to keep your stress level at a minimum. High stress can increase your blood pressure so find something that relaxes you and helps you de-stress. Do this whenever you find yourself stressed out beyond your means.
Try to cut back on tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Quitting altogether is more beneficial but isn't always easy. Remember there are many resources and products available to help you quit either of these habits.
Sometimes these lifestyle changes will not work alone. Your doctor might prescribe you a blood pressure medication if not two. Just talk with your doctor to find out what would be better for you and your blood pressure. Ask any and all questions and if you are taking other medications tell your doctor. Certain medications including oral contraceptives and cold medicines can increase your blood pressure.

Bodybuilding and Blood Pressure - Vital Tips You Need to Know!

Blood pressure is defined as the force that blood exerts upon the walls of the blood vessels within your body. It's used as a measurement tool for determining cardiovascular and circulatory health. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and other conditions. High blood pressure is caused by a variety of factors, including diet, weight, genetics, daily stressors, and level of physical activity.





Bodybuilders and powerlifters are especially susceptible to high blood pressure, or hypertension. The heart and blood vessels cannot tell the difference between a 300-pound muscle man and a 300-pound obese man when it comes to pumping blood - it's a great deal of extra work no matter what. Diet also comes into play. Bodybuilders consume a great deal of calories each day, including a high level of fats, which do contribute to higher blood pressure. Lifting extremely heavy weights also contributes to higher blood pressure.





Ready to take the plunge into improving about your own blood pressure? First off, you should have your blood pressure tested. As far as specific numbers: 120/80 used to be considered normal, but recently some doctors have lowered that a bit. People who are in top physical shape will have lower heart beats a minute rate, something between the low 40's and 50's. Some take this as a sign of good blood pressure, but this is not always the case. Some people think that by working out often will make the heart stronger, thus lowering blood pressure. But this also is not always the case either. A strong heart does not always mean there is no danger from high blood pressure. Many bodybuilders have high readings and do not know it. Take a look at some of the top pro and amateur bodybuilders. Their faces are often beet red, even when at rest.





Suppose you test higher. That 160/80 would be considered in the "red zone" with regards to high blood pressure - with a greater pressure/force the passing blood extends against the blood vessel walls. The top reading would be of more concern to a doctor. There is no perfect reading, as each of us differs. Family history, mental stress, drinking/drug use, weight, and other factors all have a bearing. High blood pressure is pretty easy to control these days with medication. Whatever your reading, keeping an eye on your blood pressure is a way to ensure you have a long, healthy life. Don't wait - get tested today!





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dane_C._Fletcher

Blood Pressure Monitor Watch: Tips afore Purchasing One

Thinking to buy a blood pressure monitor watch for use at home? There are a many choices of blood pressure monitor watch machines available for you to choose. All of the blood pressure monitor watches are claiming to have more benefits than the other. So, how to choose the right blood pressure monitor watch? And do you really need a blood pressure monitor watch at home? This is the first question that you need to answer. Do not you think it is enough to have your doctor check it for you?

Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally With a Smile

I feel like I'm always making this disclaimer, but here it is again; all of us with high blood pressure should follow our doctor's orders to the tee! There is no doubt about it, those who has been prescribed medication for hypertension should follow that prescription exactly as directed. Even those who are not on medication but are suspected of having high blood pressure should go back for regular checkups to keep an eye on their blood pressure.

Still, having had high blood pressure for over 25 years and now, in recent years having the best blood pressure readings I've ever had, I feel I could give some advice that might help some people get a better handle on their hypertension. So once again, here comes another disclaimer, I'm going to tell you one method that is probably not MDA approved but has worked wonders for me.

Healing Through Laughter

You've probably read in Reader's Digest that laughter is the best medicine. Well, the medical community may have an argument with this hypothesis, but I'll bet there are a lot of doctors who will tell you attitude plays a role in most medical issues; certainly high blood pressure.

I also remember an article, I even believe it was a book about a man who had cancer back in the days when cancer was hardly ever cured. This man had his own peculiar way of augmenting his medical treatments and when he reached remission he gave thanks to one group of guys he thought were very instrumental in helping him overcome the cancer. Who were these guys? None other than the Marx Brothers!

I'm not saying anyone with high blood pressure should go buy a copy of the old movie"Duck Soup" and be done with it, what I am saying is this guy firmly believed laughter helped him fight off cancer.

Compounding Your Misery

There's only so much in life you can do about anything. Trying too hard to overcome any situation, such as being behind on the bills or having a you-know-what for a boss, can only make matters worse. The best thing you can do when dealing with your boss or your financial situation for that matter, is use a little levity.

I start my day by reading a joke of the day. I listen for new jokes and tell them when I have a chance. This is quite a change for me. I used to take everything so seriously and try, try, try to do my best all day long. I still try to do my best but now I try to do it with a sense of humor.

Losing Control On Purpose

I always wanted to be in control of every situation. I'll bet this was really good for my blood pressure, huh? Well, I've given up! That's right I've lost control on purpose. If life wants to deal me a bad hand, so be it. I'll just figure out a joke to tell about it and then most times I'll feel better.

Yes I was once a control freak and my blood pressure was 170/110. I was taking medication and though it helped, my blood pressure readings were erratic. Now, I use relaxation techniques in my leisure time. Actually, it's even a change of lifestyle that I do have some leisure time now. But the real point is, I no longer try to fight my way through life because I accept there will be some down days and I've resigned myself to the fact this is the way life is.

I Never Felt Better

Oh, by the way, my blood pressures is now usually around, 132/72. So, what else can I say? I followed my doctor's orders right along. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be writing this article now because I'd be dead. However, on top of that, I've made some changes to the way I think. Now, I think life is great, it has a lot to offer me, and even though everything can't be great all the time, I now know it's better to surrender to these bad times. And the point of all this is; I've never felt better and I've never done better!

I hope all this helps. But by all means, keep on doing what the doctor says, then have a real good laugh, on me.

High Blood Pressure in Infants

If you are under the impression that high blood pressure or hypertension is a condition limited to adults, think again. Newborns, infants and teenagers could also suffer from hypertension. It is estimated that nearly 5% of kids may have high blood pressure and the chances of a newborn having high blood pressure is unfortunately on the rise.

Newborn babies usually have high blood pressure when they are born pre-term or they have congenital problems with the heart or the kidneys. It has been noticed however that when kids have high blood pressure usually there is a family history of such conditions and/or coupled with a poor lifestyle including bad diets, obesity and inadequate physical activity.

High blood pressure in infants are however, caused by premature birth or they have problems with other organs like the kidneys, lungs, heart or even their vascular system. Premature babies are often born with a condition called broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, which is essentially immaturity of the lungs.

These babies many also have problems like coarctation of the aorta, which means that the major blood vessel which carries blood to the heart is narrowed. High blood pressure in infants could also be due to a blood clot in a kidney blood vessel.

Other causes include side effect of some medications, exposure to hallucinogenic drugs like cocaine while in the womb, some types of tumors, genetic problems or issues related to the thyroid gland functioning. Newborn babies are supposed to have blood pressure as 64/41 and it rises as the baby grows. So an average baby between one-month to 2 years would have the blood pressure reading as 95/58. Slight variations from these figures should not be a matter of concern but more than this medical help should be sought immediately.

Though high blood pressure symptoms are mostly absent from infants but there could be symptoms of the condition that is responsible for the high blood pressure or HBP. These include bluish or pale skin, zero weight gain or growth, frequent urinary tract infections, rapid breathing etc.

Other common symptoms when the infant has very high blood pressure could be easy irritability, vomiting, troublesome breathing and even seizures. To be sure that the infant has indeed HBP, the only way is to measure the blood pressure, which for infants is done using an automatic device.

For instance, if the HBP is due to coarctation of the aorta, the pulses in the legs could be reduced. Other tests to diagnose high blood pressure in infants include angiography, lab tests of blood and urine, X rays of chest and abdomen, ECG and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Treatment for high blood pressure in infants largely depends on the cause behind the condition and may include: drug therapy, dialysis or surgical intervention like transplantation or coarctation repairing. The recovery rate for the infant would again depend on the cause.

For instance, whether the baby is born with other health problems or there has been any damage done resulting from high blood pressure etc. Possible complications could include failure of the heart or kidneys, seizures or any other organ damage.

As a parent you ought to be alert when to seek medical help and these would be when you notice your baby is not gaining weight or has bluish skin, suffers from urinary tract infections often and seems irritable all the time.

Unfortunately there is no way that high blood pressure in infants can be prevented. However there are some steps one can take to reduce the risk of such conditions. For instance, take the advice of a doctor before becoming pregnant, if you have a family history of congenital heart disease, hypertension or kidney disease. Also if you are on medication, taking them during pregnancy may also harm the baby and cause such situations to develop. Thus it is best to consult the doctor before you decide to become a mother.

Incidentally, a study done in the Netherlands involving 450 babies was done, and reported in the August 1, 2007 issue of Insider medicine confirms that babies born to smokers have a high chance of developing high blood pressure. The study also confirmed that babies born to smokers were considerably smaller and shorter compared to those born to non-smokers.

How to Lower Blood Pressure While Pregnant - 6 Helpful Techniques

Gestational hypertension or high blood pressure in pregnancy can be perilous for both the mother and the unborn child. It can reduce the flow of the blood to the placenta, decrease birth weight, and cause premature delivery.

However, the dangers are negligible for as long as women are constantly examined during pregnancy. Preeclampsia, a severe blood pressure situation during pregnancy, usually occurs if the blood pressure gets bad; that is why continuous monitoring is very essential to guarantee a healthy delivery of the baby.

So, what are the methods on how to lower hypertension while pregnant? Listed below are some guidelines that will serve as references.

1. There are a lot of medicines that are not safe to take during pregnancy, although they are considered effective for treating hypertension. Drugs with ACE inhibitors and beta blockers are said to have detrimental side effects while pregnant.

These medicines should only be prescribed under cautious supervision by a professional doctor. Methyldopa has been studied to give best results in treating hypertension during pregnancy.

2. Getting plenty of rest is always recommended for pregnant women with high blood pressure. It is good to take a nap all through the day and avoid getting very exhausted.

3. Get rid of fried foods. Oil can upsurge in your arteries if you constantly eat fried foods or foods rich in concentrated oil. This build up in the arteries constricts the path of flowing blood, thereby elevating blood pressure. In case you want to eat fried foods, balance your diet with fresh vegetables and fruits.

4. Doing a lot of exercise and monitoring your weigh is also advised. During a hypertensive pregnancy, swimming and walking are excellent for pregnant women. During pregnancy, women should avoid gaining too much weight to prevent the heart from getting stressed.

5. Eat foods or take in dietary supplements that are rich in potassium. Foods such as chicken, avocados, tomatoes, orange juice, and bananas are said to be rich in potassium.

6. To reduce your stress levels and help alleviate your blood pressure, try to practice relaxation methods like yoga or breathing exercises. These techniques can be very much useful in reducing tension or anxiety and stirring up relaxation.

Delivery is the only solution if medications, rest, and diet modification do not work even if it calls for premature delivery. Mothers should always be aware of the right techniques to do on how to lower blood pressure while pregnant to prevent any dangerous preterm birth. At the same time, they should remain under the secure care of her doctor to avoid further complications.

How Can I Lower My Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure?

When do we say that a person(s) is suffering with Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure also called as Hypertension has become a very common among us these days. Blood Pressure in short called as B.P. is one's systolic pressure and diastolic pressure measurements. If we consult a doctor he wraps a band around our biceps and records the measurement for example:- 120/80. Here 120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. One may be enigmatic over what are these systolic and diastolic pressures are? Let me explain you....

Systolic pressure is the force exerted by the heart on the blood vessels when it pumps blood whereas Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of blood vessels when heart is relaxed. Both these measurements are important to make a note.

A person suffering from high values of these pressures is said to be having high B.P.

Well, with this understanding lets go deep and know the affects of B.P. But before that lets know the causes

Causes for B.P.?

Over Anxiety, Enormous Exercises, Nervousness are some of the causes to have high reading of the measurements(systolic and diastolic pressures).Before knowing the affect of each of the above causes lets know what happens if we neglect this?Neglecting this may hampers one's health. We may face premature strokes and also heart attacks. It is advised to consult a Physician when the you feel uncomfortable.

Now lets know each factor causing BP in detail

Every one has blood pressure and this varies from individual to individual. Some may have High value which causes health problems. Researchers say that there are some factors which we cannot be controlled on the other hand we also have some factors that we can control in order to keep it in limits. Are you thinking "how can i lower my blood pressure?" So, lets know what are those factors that we can control.

Exercise makes oneself Healthy. Regular exercise contribute for well being and healthy body. A scheduled work out like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling will keep your body fit.

Another important factor is food, What we eat? And How much we eat? is very much a important concern in keeping ourselves healthy. Eating a Fibre rich, Fat low, high protein and Low Cholesterol food such as vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, mangoes, leafy vegetables, pulses etc., will make us healthy. Try to avoid junk food which disturbs your appetite.

Alcohol & Smoking are another important factors on which we can have a regulation. Over consumption of alcohol will affect the human health. We don't say you to stop consuming it completely but limit yourself to a peg or two. We know that Smoking is Injurious to Health. Smoking causes peripheral vascular disease as well as hardening of the arteries. So stop smoking and let your life go rocking.

Add Salt to taste in your food because Excessive usage of Salt in your diet increases B.P. It seems to be puzzling, but its a fact. Sodium is the major content in salt. The human adult needs 1teaspoon of table salt per day on an average this amount to an equivalent of approximately 2 to 3 grams of salt. A low-sodium diet may decrease the likelihood of heart or kidney disease and stroke and also B.P.

Hereditary High Blood Pressure Can Be Reversed in the Next Generation

Hypertension is normally associated with heredity factors. Hereditary high blood pressure is common since almost all families have a family member or members who had history of this disease.

Opposed to this, a scientist named Lewis Dahl performed a research on laboratory animals linking genes as one of the causes of high blood pressure. However, the results proved that majority of the animals did not develop essential hypertension but 1 percent to 2 percent was associated with secondary hypertension.

Meaning, it was due to illness and the blood pressure will return to normal once the illness is treated. Hence, based on the study of Mr. Dahl, high blood pressure is not hereditary.

Providing a conclusion therefore that high blood pressure therefore is associated with the environment, with contributing factors such as food, lifestyle and stress. What we actually inherit are the eating habits, preferences, lifestyle and manner of handling stress which will be prevalent in the environment we grew up in. What we put into our body is what we are projecting, what we developed while living in a specific environment will explain why we put it in our body.

Similarly, it is wise to associate family member if your genes are prone to hypertension. Learn to know by doing a family tree beginning with the information about; age, relative with blood pressure, weight, regular exercise habits, and the likes.

Sometimes proper communication with the afflicted family member is necessary to get a first-hand information of his food and lifestyle habits.Based on all information gathered, an analysis can be made.

Once the family tree is made, take note of the following data:

1. A consistent or repeating pattern on family members that was afflicted with the disease. Tracing can start from grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all the way to the great-great origins. Segregating the men from the women with high blood pressure.

2. Overweight family members either lacking regular exercise or obesity will show up in the later years. Noting if those fitness buffs are affected by high blood pressure.

3. Lastly, if ever there are family members who are fond of alcoholic beverages, note if they have high blood pressure.

From the above, an analysis is feasible that hereditary high blood pressure will crop-up based on percentage of occurrences. There is no longer the need to experiment since one way or the other, your family member or even you will have high blood pressure. Therefore, proper dietary intake and lifestyle will now change for the better.

If a person then was brought up with the values of taking care of the body, then, it is also his body that will take care of him in the twilight years of his life.Hence, hereditary blood pressure can be compensated by teaching the next generation the gentle care of one's body.

Exercise to Help High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure has the distinction of being known as a silent killer. This is because people suffering from hypertension show may not show any outward signs of this ailment. And, whether it's poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress or just some sort of genetic hiccup, the average American's blood pressure is shooting higher and higher as the years go on. There are other reasons for this increase as well. Certain ethnic groups are more prone to high blood pressure than others and the United States has sizeable communities of almost every ethnic group so, on average, the U.S is showing a higher percentage of people with this problem.

Poor diet is another. Americans literally eat tons and tons of processed food, which has long-term side effects that contribute to poor health in general. And of course stress is a major problem as well. Americans tend to work more and have less downtime than our parents did. Where we used to be able to survive largely on one income, those days are gone and now most families are dual-income families.

But the number one reason hypertension has become such an issue for Americans is because of our lack of exercise. To lower blood pressure, exercise has been proven time and again to be the best method. Yet, with demands for work, children, school, church, and other commitments, it is extremely hard to find time to exercise.

So which blood pressure exercise would be most beneficial to you? Well, consider this excerpt from the Mayo Clinic, one of the most highly regarded medical facilities in the world:

"How are high blood pressure and exercise connected? Regular physical activity makes your heart stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort. If your heart can work less to pump, the force on your arteries decreases, lowering your blood pressure."

Don't be scared off by the phrase "regular physical activity." This simply means pick something you like and do it on a regular basis. You can walk, run, job, bike, swim, even use a rowing machine. Just do it for a minimum of 20 minutes a day at least four to five times a week. That's the best way to start. This exercise will strengthen your heart, as the Mayo Clinic excerpt says, and putting less burden on your heart will make you healthier overall.

There's also a secondary benefit to aerobic exercise, in that in a larger majority of people, exercise has proven to be a good stress reliever. This is a two-for one deal! You are eliminating two of the main causes of hypertension. A third benefit is that regular exercise means you'll lose weight, which should lower your blood pressure even more.

So start your exercise program sooner rather than later. Do some jumping jacks, go for a jog, row on your rowing machine. Anything you do to strengthen your heart will be a good way to help eliminate hypertension.

Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

If you've recently visited the doctor and found out you have both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, you are at very high risk for debilitating problems such as heart attacks or strokes. High blood pressure and cholesterol both have to do with decreasing the health of your blood vessel system. this is vtial to life because you need your blood to travel freely from your pumping heart to your working arms, legs, brain, and other organs.

Lower blood pressure and cholesterol can save your life if you know how to do it properly.

First, Let's talk about high blood pressure...

High blood pressure is when your blood vessels constrict (shrink) causing the blood to force itself through a smaller space. You can already see how this can cause problems. This increases the chance for plaque to built clots and also reduces blood flow to vital organs which can cause circulatory problems.

High Blood Pressure can Cause:

Heart Attack
Stroke
Reduced Blood Circulation

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Many times,. nobody knows what causes this problem, but we do know that being African American increases your chances. Lack of exercise, smoking, and eating salty foods also increases your chances. In addition, not enough potassium and too much alcohol consumption can also increase your risk.

It is difficult to really find out what causes this problem, but I'm sure you have some idea. If you don't maybe it is caused by high salt intake. Think about what you eat and see if your food has higher salt content that you thought. If you eat canned or prepackaged foods, chances are you are eating a vast quantity of salt and don't know it.

Old age also has something to do with high blood pressure. When we get older our bodies are less likely to handle the bad habits as they did in the past.

Let's Talk About High Cholesterol...

High cholesterol is a problem that develops when our bodies contain too much bad cholesterol (LDL) and not enough good cholesterol or (hdl). So what is good and bad cholesterol? First, cholesterol is a substance our bodies use to protect cells. Cholesterol is transformed by the liver into 2 different types of cholesterol. Good cholesterol makes sure to remove extra cholesterol from the body, while bad cholesterol brings more to the cells. The bad cholesterol is the culprit so you need to learn how to reduce the those levels.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

The cause of high cholesterol is similar to high blood pressure. Poor habits like lack of exercise and high fat foods increase your chances. Most of us eat foods like beef, pork, and other fatty meats, but we usually lack the necessary vegetables, fruits,and nuts that offer benefits and reduce cholesterol. In addition, having high cholesterol and heart disease running in the family never helps.

How to lower High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

There's good news and bad news here:

Good News - You can lower blood pressure and high cholesterol with the same strategies
Bad News - These strategies require real work and effort

Exercise - Running

Obviously exercise is important, but especially running. Think about it, if you run, every limb in your body is moving. If your biking, your arms and your chest are completely still. When you run, your arms are flailing, your legs are stomping, your lungs are fluctuating.

A word of warning: start off slow and build up to a faster pace in time. If you have not exercised in a long time, walk fast every day for a week before you even start to jog. Start to jog for a week slowly and then if you could handle that start running at a slow pace.Always ask your doctor before you start an exercise regiment. In some cases, running can be harmful because high blood pressure constricts blood movement. This is why you start slow. Think about it though, if you successfully run daily you will increase blood movement and expand those vessels. This is what running does for people. Your vessels expand naturally to make room for blood movement. When you stop running, your blood can safely move through wider more luxurious veins.

Running also helps increase the good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol in the body, This is the easy natural way of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Eating the Right Foods

Most people with high cholesterol and blood pressure have diets consisting mostly of fast food. Before I talked about how many of us like to eat fatty and salty foods, remember? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and certain fish are essential for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Some people don't realize this, but they eat fish, a normally healthy food, but don't realize how high the salt content is. Many salt water fish contain almost 150% and more of our daily requirement for salt. This is just something that happens naturally since the fish lives in the water. Eating fish like trout is a great alternative is halibut, trout, or cod.

Vegetables of all kinds are good for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Food like:

Broccoli
Apples
Grapes
Walnuts

Eating these foods will help with both problems. Make sure the nuts are still in the shell or prepared without any sale at all. You really can make this much worse by adding salt to your diet.

Taking a Supplement

The most important of all proven strategies is taking a supplement designed especially for decreasing both high blood pressure and cholesterol. These supplements are designed for accomplishing both tasks. With a special blend of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering ingredients, you will find quick effective results.

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure Quickly

In most cases, the secondary diseases that follow the high blood pressure manifest long time after the hypertension and it's symptoms appear. To provide a treatment for hypertension and to lower blood pressure quickly it is significant to discover it's existence in the beginning phase, before it can generate extremely bad harms to the other organs in the body. The fact that the people are more aware of this problem and they are conscious that they have to lower their blood pressure quickly and also the publicity made for the screening programmes that can detect high blood pressure in a very early stage contribute to the favorable results in the treatment of hypertension.

The lowering of blood pressure quickly in the beginning phase can lead to the decrease of the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. To lower the blood pressure quickly, patients which are pre-hypertensive should change their lifestyle. And this becomes more important if we take into consideration the fact that it hasn't been proved yet that medicines lower quickly blood pressure for these patients.

For the treatment of high blood pressure, in order to lower blood pressure quickly, it is necessary to note the blood pressure reading. To quickly lower the blood pressure that is higher than 140/90 mm Hg, people have to modify their lifestyle and take the right medicines. For the people whose diastolic pressure stays at a borderline level which is under 90 mm Hg and constantly situates above 85 mmHg, a more aggressive treatment is indicated for lowering quickly the blood pressure. There are cases when the borderline diastolic pressure generates end-organ harm, which in most cases related with systolic hypertension and some factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and particularly at the patients which are older than 65 years, who are smokers and have hyperlipemia and diabetes.
To lower the blood pressure quickly, no matter the phase of hypertension, the patients can begin with any of the distinct classes of medication with the exception of the alpha-blocker medications, because they can be combined only with another anti-hypertensive medication and only in certain medical cases. Some patients who need to lower blood pressure quickly at times have coexisting medical conditions in which situation a certain class of anti-hypertensive medication or a combination of which may be considered as the first approach in the treatment of hypertension. The fundamental reason behind this is to assure a lower blood pressure quickly and at the same time to treat the coexisting medical condition.

Blood Pressure Basics

There are no hard and fast figures which represent a normal blood pressure. And very often doctors and other experts cannot even decide between them what an ideal blood pressure range is for an adult.

However it is usually agreed that somewhere between 110/70 and 125/80 is considered to be an average blood pressure for a grown person, though someone with naturally low blood pressure may be closer to a range of 100/60

A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered to be high, though as a person gets older, this falls into the more normal range for people.

Blood doesn't circulate in an even stream around the body, but travels in a constant series of spurts. Therefore the pressure peaks in the blood vessels just after a heart beat and then ebbs until the next one. This is a continuous process.

The two blood pressure figures represent the pressures when the forces are at their peak and at their lowest ebb. The stronger the arteries are, the more they resist the force of the blood and the lower the blood pressure.

As a person gets older, and the elasticity of their arteries weakens, the figures tend to rise. However the lower figure should still be under 90 until that person at least reaches their sixties.

Many studies looking at blood pressure in both black and white people have found there is a higher prevalence of hypertension (High blood pressure) in black people than there is in white. This has led to further research in determining whether this is racially determined or just based on socioeconomic and dietary factors.

Some people suffering high blood pressure may find they just can't pinpoint a cause for their problem. They may be fit, have a very healthy lifestyle yet their blood pressure remains consistently high for no apparent reason. This is called Primary or essential high blood pressure. However if the raised blood pressure is due to an underlying medical problem, it is known as Secondary High Blood Pressure.

Nearly one in four people in the Western world have high blood pressure. Many people don't appreciate it is a dangerous condition that can lead to a heart attack kidney failure or stroke if it is left untreated. Yet there are thousands of people unaware they have high blood pressure who are walking around with a lethal time bomb ticking away inside them.

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How to Keep a Normal Blood Pressure

The dangerous thing about most medical conditions that relate to the heart, such as high blood pressure, are that there are often no symptoms that indicate a problem. The only way to know if your heart is healthy is to see a doctor once a year for a checkup.

Getting a blood pressure reading is imperative in diagnosing high blood pressure. If you haven't had your blood pressure taken before the procedure is painless, non-invasive, and easy.

Basically, the nurse on hand will wrap a cuff around your arm, inflate it and then deflate it, while listening to your heartbeat. What they are looking to determine is the force of the blood circulating through the blood vessels.

There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading and these numbers indicate the force of the blood upon entry and exit from your heart. These numbers are termed systolic and diastolic.

When the nurse or your doctor writes the down the reading it will look like a fraction. The systolic number will be on top while the diastolic number will be on the bottom.

What Is A Normal Blood Pressure Reading?

A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80. There is a condition that is called pre-hypertensive and it has readings that range from 120/80 up to 139/89. Stage one hypertension is will have a blood pressure reading of 140/90 up to 159/99. Stage two hypertension will show a reading over 160/100.

How To Maintain Normal Blood Pressure

There are many ways to maintain normal blood pressure, but most importantly you need to get regular exercise (30 min. - 1hr a day). Regular exercise will help keep you fit and will give your heart the workout that it needs. Exercising regularly also maintains the flow of your circulatory system thus eliminating any artery clogging or build up that can cause heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

To maintain a normal blood pressure level you also want to eat a diet of organic food (mostly fruit, vegetables and nuts). Minimize the amount of processed food that you eat.

Not only is processed food fattening and addictive it is also made with chemicals (read the ingredients) that are foreign to the human body. These foods leave you at high risk for things like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Stop Smoking And Lower Your Stress

Smoking can also contribute to high blood pressure so stop. Stress is also a big contributor to high blood pressure, and most medical conditions for that matter, so you need to learn how to lower the amount of stress in your life if you want to be healthy.

Take up yoga or tai chi, exercise regularly, learn to meditate, eat right, and you will conquer stress. This is very important as to lower your susceptibility to hypertension; you must learn to handle stress properly. Good luck on your journey towards health and wellness!

Foods Good For High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

It seems that doctors the world over are all too ready to prescribe medication rather than to suggest natural methods of lowering high blood pressure (hypertension). Most of these medicines can have undesirable side-effects, so it is wise to look for natural methods.

It has been shown that a healthy diet containing high levels of potassium, magnesium and calcium can lower and help control high blood pressure. Just as important, a healthy diet should include essential fatty acids, but as little as possible saturated fats, salt and sugar. Below is just a short list of foods good for high blood pressure.

SPINACH Spinach is rich in magnesium and helps prevent heart disease. It also contains folate which protects the body from homocysteine, an excessive amount of which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Cook for as little time as possible. Better still, eat raw in salads.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS Sunflower seeds are rich in potassium, magnesium and phytosterols which can aid in the reduction of your cholesterol level. (High levels of cholesterol can cause narrowing of the arteries and blood vessels which raises blood pressure).

BANANAS Bananas are rich in potassium and have a high fiber content. Try to eat at least two bananas per day.

SOME FATS ARE GOOD! Unsaturated fats can help reduce cholesterol and provide essential fatty acid that the body needs. Fish contain omega-3 which prevents heart disease. Try eating oily fish such as trout, salmon and mackerel. It will be a lot healthier for you if you grill, bake or steam the fish. Do not add salt when cooking. Sardines, too, are a good choice. Fresh fish are best, but if you must buy tinned fish check the label to make sure the salt content is low.

GARLIC Garlic helps thin the blood and stops blood vessels clogging, so reducing blood pressure. Try chewing a clove or two of garlic each day. If you don't want to lose all your friends you may prefer to take it in the form of a supplement.

TOMATOES Tomatoes are rich in calcium and potassium, and contain vitamins A, C and E. Tomatoes also contain lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that is reputed to lower the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants found in tomatoes can prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and sticking to the blood vessel walls, which would raise blood pressure. Drinking tomato juice is a great way to enjoy tomatoes. If you own a juicer, make your own. If you have to buy tomato juice make sure it's a pure juice with no added salt or sugar.

BROCCOLI Broccoli is full of nutrition. Not only is it high in potassium but it contains chromium that helps regulate blood sugar and insulin. Don't over cook it. Place it in a pan with just enough water to cover it, that way it will retain more nutrients. Better still, steam it. When I'm preparing broccoli I always cut off a few florets and eat them raw. Try it, they're delicious!

HAWTHORN Hawthorn dilates the arteries and improves the flow of blood, so lowering blood pressure. Use a mixture of leaves and flowers to make a tea. Place two teaspoonfuls in a cup and add boiling water. Leave to infuse for around twenty minutes before straining. Drink two or three cups of the elixir per day.

How to Use Grapefruit to Lower High Blood Pressure

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. If you are a women, and even if your not, here is what you need to start doing.

The food you eat is critical in determining if you will have high blood pressure and if you can lower it. Eating less meat and eating more fruits and vegetables can lower your blood pressure.

High blood pressure occurs when fats, cholesterol, and nutrients in the food you eat start to accumulate along your artery walls. This narrowing of your arteries restricts the flow of your blood, increases your blood pressure and making you more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.

If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high trigylcerides, grapefruit has been found to reduce the effects of these conditions.

So which is better yellow or red grapefruit? Well, in a study made where people who had a history of high cholesterol, those that ate the red grapefruit had the most effect in lower their blood pressure. The yellow also lowered blood pressure but not as much as the red grapefruit.

It was found in this study that grapefruit had a better effect in lowering blood pressure than statin drugs.

Red grapefruit are extra high in anti-oxidants and these nutrients are able to reduce your trigylcerides: the yellow are not.

Eat the red grapefruit when available and when it is not eat the yellow. Eat at least one - two per day. If you eat ½ just before your meal or drink a glass of fresh grapefruit, you can expect to lose 1 or 2 lbs during the month. By eating 2 grapefruits a day expect to lose more weight.

Eating grapefruit has many health benefits, but one other is in controlling your insulin level. Studies have shown that those that eat grapefruits have lower insulin and glucose levels in their blood.

It is believed by researchers that grapefruit enzymes help to control insulin increases that happen after you eat. These enzymes help digest your food better and this results in less nutrients being stored as fat.

Grapefruit has also been found to be caner preventative. It's the phytonutrients - antioxidants - and especially lycopene that has been found helpful in preventing cancer.

Grapefruits are high in fiber, vitamin C, Vitamin A, and antioxidants - carotenoids, limonoid glucosides, flavonones.

You can buy red and yellow grapefruits from November to May here in the US. If you don't have any in your area go online and order some.

CAUTION: If you are on any drugs, do not eat grapefruits in combination with taking drugs. Grapefruit enhances the effect of drugs and can cause symptoms of overdose.

Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Review - Don't Buy Until You Read This

A blood pressure monitor cuff is a part of a medical device that is used to check an individual's blood pressure. This is important because both high and low blood pressure can be a sign of a more serious medical problem. A blood pressure monitor consists of a cuff to restrict blood flow and a manometer, which is used to show the pressure. The restricting of the blood flow is done so that the device can read the pressure, so the cuff is a vital part of this entire operation. Many times, this is used at the same time as a stethoscope, so that a measurement on the pressure can be taken when there is restriction and when there is no restriction.

In order to use a blood pressure monitor, the actual cuff is placed around the person's arm somewhat tightly. It must be tight enough to get a good reading and at times this can be uncomfortable. The arm must be at the same place on the body as the heart, so the person is usually seated and the arm must be raised and supported. This is why the blood pressure monitors that you see in a pharmacy come with a seat and a raised tube, as the arm must be placed into the cuff at heart level. It is also very important that the correct size of cuff be used on each individual person. If the cuff is too small, it will restrict blood flow too much, which will cause the reading to be inaccurate and, in most cases, too high. Likewise, if the cuff is too large, the reading will appear to be much lower than it actually is.

The cuff will be inflated until the artery has been completely closed. The doctor can then slowly release this pressure while using a stethoscope to listen to the brachial artery. When the pressure is released, the blood flow will start once again, which is recorded by the doctor as well. This noise can be heard by the doctor in his or her office, but if you are in a louder location, it can be much more difficult to hear and the pulse rate is simply felt by the doctor. In either case, this is the most common way to take a person's blood pressure, as it is very accurate.

The reason why a blood pressure monitor cuff is such a significant piece of equipment is because it can help measure elements of a cardiac cycle. All the examiner has to do is look at the manometer, which can be either mercury or digital, and he or she will have an idea of the pressure that is being released. There are many different health conditions that can be noticed by a it, so it is vital that one of these items is around in every doctor's office and it can also be important for anyone with a background in first aid to have around, just in case a problem arises.

An increasing number of people are now choosing to keep one around the home, as it is a great way to monitor blood pressure, especially for those who are in a high risk bracket. For example, an individual who has suffered a stroke in the past will be asked by a doctor to constantly monitor his or her blood pressure. This is because once the BP gets too high, there is an increased chance of another stroke occurring. It can be a major hassle for these people to get to the pharmacy every few days to have this done, so keeping at least one device at home is probably the best way to go about it.

Another way in which it can come in handy around the house is if an individual is taking blood pressure medication. Sometimes, certain environmental issues can cause this medication to stop working, as no medication is perfect. If you have a monitor around the house, you will be able to tell if this medication is not doing what it is supposed to be doing, which will allow the individual to get medical attention before it is too late. The complications that can arise from this medication being unsuccessful can be deadly, but having a monitor can help alert you that something is wrong before something major occurs.

Basically, this is a tool that is great to have around because any number of complications can be avoided or detected early as a result of a heart related problems. While this device is not a life saver on its own, it can definitely lead to a life being saved, especially if someone in your household is at a high risk for any sort of blood pressure problems. Those who have had heart attacks or strokes, in particular, can benefit from having an Omron blood pressure monitor cuff around their homes, just in case they feel as though something is wrong. Knowing that there is a problem with your blood pressure can make the decision to go to the hospital easier, which can be important if something is ever seriously wrong. You can find a blood pressure monitor cuff in many different styles, price ranges, and colors, so the choice is truly up to you when you decide which one you use.

Foods To Be Avoided For High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure if left unchecked results in increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and leads to target organ damage such as LVH, retinal changes and vascular changes. The main objective in the management of hypertension is prevention of target organ damage and reduction of cardiovascular risk. The management requires a multi-prolonged approach. Although it is widely accepted that drug therapy is essential for optimal Blood pressure control, it should not be forgotten that non-pharmocological measures are also important in the management of hypertension.

What are the foods to be avoided in high blood pressure? This is very common question my patients often ask me. On one hand, it is exceedingly complicated and complex and has been the continued focus of research by doctors and physicians. On the other hand, the vast majority of dietary recommendations for hypertension have resemblance and similarities to general healthy diet recommendations.

Following Foods should be avoided if you have High blood pressure:

1. Alcohol

The association between alcohol and high blood pressure is well documented both in population and clinical studies. An Alcohol intake of about 80 g/day (Equivalent to four pints of beer) has been shown to raise Blood pressure particularly in patients of hypertension. Blood pressure tends to fall when alcohol is stopped or reduced and remains low in patients who continue to abstain. Patients with hypertension should avoid Alcohol. As alcohol can raise blood pressure directly, is also an important factor in damaging walls of blood vessels, which can elevate the blood pressure further and make it more difficult to treat, while at the same time increasing the risk of complications. Limit consumption of Alcohol to no more than two drinks per day in most men and one drink per day in women and lightweight men.

2. Salt

A restriction in dietary sodium intake can reduce the incidence of hypertension. Studies have shown that there is a clear relationship between dietary salt intake and Blood pressure and people who consume less salt have a smaller rise in Blood pressure with advancing age. Salt restriction to about 100mmol/day (2.4 gm sodium or 6 gm sodium chloride) has been shown to produce a significant reduction in systolic Blood pressure to about 8-14 mm Hg in several randomized placebo-controlled studies. In some people, eating too much salt can make blood pressure much worse and In other cases the same salt consumption may have no effect.

More salt intake will result in more retention of fluid by kidneys and this will lead to more pre-load on heart, that will result in more blood pressure. You should avoid salt in your diet if you really want to control your blood pressure. If you are already a patient of hypertension, then reduce salt in your diet as it just accentuates the problem. You can lower your blood pressure to a great extent if you reduce salt consumption in your diet. You should not have more than 6 grams (100mmol/day) of salt per day. Pizza, canned foods, frozen diners, broths, canned soups and salad dressings have high sodium so try to avoid these foods. If you are non-vegetarian then make sure you are including white meat like chicken and fish rather than red meat in your diet.

3. Fats

Food that is rich in fats should be avoided. Foods High in Fat are as follows:

Fats and oils (like margarine, vegetable oils, butter, lard, salt pork, meat drippings, gravy, and fat back)

Cream, ice cream, Whole milk, 2% milk.

Most pies, pastries, cakes.

Most cheeses (like cream cheese, cheddar, American)

Many snack foods (like nuts and chips)

Fatty meats (like corned beef, regular ground beef, ribs, sausage, hot dogs, bacon, bologna, salami,)

Fried foods (like French fries and fried chicken)

Most cookies contain high fat content

Many fast foods are also rich in fats

Saturated fats are not good for heart and blood vessels. Low density lipoprotein LDL is main factor which causes thickening of blood vessels so causing extra strain on blood vessels in patients of high blood pressure. The balanced high blood pressure diet should include mild amounts of saturated and trans-fats (red meat, fast food), and moderate amounts of other fats (olive oil and canola oil).

4- Caffeine Intake: The evidence from the literature is rather conflicting and the effects of caffeine seem to depend on multiple variables such as daily dose, preexisting Blood pressure and coffee drinking habits. The ingestion of 250mg of caffeine has been shown to cause an increase in systolic blood pressure ranging from 6mm of Hg in normal individuals to 10 mm Hg in patients with hypertension and an increase in diastolic blood pressure of 5 mm Hg in normal individuals to 8.5 mm Hg in patients of hypertension.

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Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - A Real Issue!

The words of Linus Pauling enforces the seriousness of this article on Magnesium and high blood pressure. Twice a Nobel Prize winner, he once said, "You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency."

How often have you read that statement? 10 times, 50 times, 100 times? But who's taking it to" heart"!

Do we think as time moves on, somehow, somewhere, someone will invent a synthetic substance compatible with the make-up and wonderful design of the living cell, or replenish the soils around the globe with all the minerals that our bodies need?

Linus Pauling uttered those words years ago. Has anything changed? This article is a reminder that it hasn't and that there is a link between low magnesium and high blood pressure.

You may find the information timely in your case because the Western World is suffering a crisis and the rest of the nations are catching up. High blood pressure, coronary heart disease and heart attack are almost reaching epidemic proportions. Some would argue that they have already.

Am I exaggerating? Certainly not! This is a real problem that touches almost everyone and its high time we sat up and took notice. Contrary to popular believe we need as much as 420mg of magnesium a day for men and 320mg for women, but some of us are not even getting half that amount.

Taking charge of your own health will serve as a protection, if you are careful not be distracted by all the misleading noise out there that gives high blood pressure a twist to its label "the silent killer". What will it cost us to stop and listen to that wee, small voice trying to be heard amongst all the clatter, understand what's being said and take action? A little of our time and the price of a few hamburgers each month compared to the rising cost of medical treatment or our very lives if we fail to act soon enough.

Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - The Missing Link?

People with hypertension should be familiar with sodium and potassium, the two most talked about minerals in connection with the condition. They interact with each other, helping regulate, several systems in our bodies which include blood pressure and hydration. If we get the balance wrong then a chain reaction of events can throw our systems into chaos. The irony is, we are not juggling with all the balls needed in this nutritional balancing act.

Magnesium is also a very important component, but the fact is, its importance has been dampened down. A few dedicated scientists and doctors are totally frustrated by the sheer apathy they receive when trying to convince not only the individual, but whole nations to pay attention to this most important but ignored nutrient. Paul Mason is a fine example. He has shown over and over again with the proof of many scientific trials that magnesium is a, if not the missing link to heart disease and control of high blood pressure.

Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - Examples of how Magnesium Affects Blood Pressure

Syndrome X is a complication of several symptoms all related to one another. Magnesium is essential for calcium and potassium assimilation. Muscles in the arterial walls will contract If the calcium level within the cell is too high, whereas magnesium causes these muscles to dilate. Doctors call it "Nature's Calcium blocker" because it does the same job that Calcium channel antagonists do, modulate vascular tone. It also stimulates nitric oxide, a mechanism at work when we exercise, helping to relax and dilate blood vessels.

High levels of calcium but low levels of magnesium can cause persons to become obese especially
concentrating most of the weight gain around the stomach. These people are highly likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes and insulin secretion, known factors contributing to heart attack.

Magnesium and High Blood pressure - Other Causes of Magnesium Deficiency

There is evidence to suggest that the lack of Vitamin D may be a root cause of magnesium deficiency. As we smear on the uv sun block we are in effect hampering the production of vitamin D which is manufactured from sunlight. Most foods contain very little apart from fish. Fish oil capsules are a popular way of making sure we get our vitamin d as well as other nutrients like omega 3.

The continued use of diuretics is another factor causing depletion starting with the wasting of potassium which leads to the loss of magnesium. Adding to the chaos, too much calcium and age related factors involving absorption of minerals are known to cause low magnesium levels.

Magnesium and High Blood Pressure - Finding a Source

Magnesium is missing or almost missing from bottled water which health-conscious people are habitually drinking to avoid the risk of contaminants such as heavy metals and chlorine. At the most you will only find about 30% of magnesium RDA in bottled water, making it a less than adequate source. The question is, from where do we get the other 70%.

There are a few food sources, like pumpkin seed, soy beans, oat bran or spinach, however it can be rather tiring and frustrating having to continuously work out which minerals and how much each food item contains. Apart from that, as I noted previously, the soils are depleted of these vital nutrients, so the chances of getting enough from these foods will vary depending where the produce is coming from.

A wise and easier choice would be to supplement the diet with a balanced mineral, trace mineral and vitamin solution, because although there is an abundance of good quality potassium, calcium, vitamin d, and magnesium supplements on the market, caution must be exercised when deciding how much to take of each one in conjunction to the effect on the others. And remember, they have to be easily absorbed into the intestines to bring maximum benefits.

Whether you suffer from cardiovascular disease, or desire to stay healthy and guard against these death dealing illnesses, give your body all the nutrients it needs to work efficiently. This rule of nature not only applies to magnesium and high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease or heart disease but, as Linus Paulus said, "....every sickness, every disease and every ailment...."