Posts Tagged ‘Killer’

Over 5 million Canadian are living with hypertension and don’t know it. There are usually few warning signs. Learn more about hypertension and why its often called the silent killer. Dr. Charlotte Jone, PhD, MD, from the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine is a part of this educational video. In addition to being a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, she is the Medical Director of the AHS (Calgary zone) Hypertension and Cholesterol Center. Learn more about the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine: www.medicine.ucalgary.ca Video by Blood Pressure Canada hypertension.ca

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High blood pressure or hypertension – to give it the correct medical term – is regarded as the

silent killer. It is a disease of the modern age. The fast pace of life and the mental and physical

pressures caused by the industrial and metropolitan environments give rise to psychological

tensions. Worry and mental tension increases the adrenaline in the blood stream and this, in

turn, causes the pressure of the blood to rise.

The blood which circulates through the arteries within the body supplies every cell with

nourishment and oxygen. The force exert by the heart as it pumps the blood into the large

arteries creates a pressure within them and this is called blood pressure. A certain level of blood

pressure is thus essential to keep the blood circulating in the body. But when the pressure

becomes too high, it results in hypertension which is caused by spasm or narrowing of the small

blood vessels, known as capillaries, throughout the body. This narrowing puts more stress on

the heart to pump blood through the blood vessels. Hence, the pressure of the blood to get

through rises in proportion to the pressure on the heart.

The blood pressure is measured with the instrument called sphygmomanometer in millimeters of

mercury. The highest pressure reached during each heart beat is called systolic pressure and

the lowest between the two beats is known as diastolic pressure. The first gives the pressure of

the contraction of the heart as it pushes the blood on its journey through the body and indicates

the activity of the heart. The second represents the pressure present in the artery when the heart

is relaxed and shows the condition of the blood vessels. The blood pressure level considered

normal is 120/70, but may go up to 140 /90 and still be normal. Within this range, the lower the

reading, the better. Blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/95 is considered border line area.

From 160/96 to 180/114 , it is classed as moderate hypertension, while 180/115 and upward is

considered severe. A raised diastolic pressure is considered more serious than the raised

systolic pressure as it has a serious long-term effect. The higher the pressure the greater the

danger it causes to the wall.

Symptoms

Mild and moderate hypertension may not produce any symptoms for years. The first symptoms

may appear in the form of pain toward the back of the head and neck on waking in the morning,

which soon disappears. Some of the other usual symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, aches

and pains in the arms, shoulder region, leg, back, etc., palpitations, pain in the heart region,

frequent urination, nervous tension and fatigue, crossness, emotional upset, tiredness and

wakefulness.

A person suffering from high blood pressure cannot do any serious work, feels tired and out of

sorts all the time. He may experience difficulty in breathing and suffer from dyspepsia.

Hypertension, if not eliminated, may cause heart attacks or strokes or other disability conditions

such as detachment of the terina.

Causes

The most important causes of hypertension are stress and a faulty style of living. People who

are usually tense suffer from high blood pressure, especially when under stress. If the stress

continues for a longperiod, the pressure may become permanently raised and may not become

even after removal of the stress. An irregular life style, smoking and an excessive intake of

intoxicants, tea, coffee, cola drinks, refined foods, destroy the natural pace of life. The expulsion

of waste and poisonous matter from the body is prevented and the arteries and the veins

become slack. hardening of the arteries , obesity, diabetes and severe constipation also lead to

hypertension. Other causes of high blood pressure are excessive intake of pain killers, common

table salt, food allergies and eating a high fat, low fibre diet, processed foods deficient in

essential nutrients.

The kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure through secretion of rennin, a

natural chemical. If increased rennin is secreted by the kidneys, more salts are retained in the

body, which leads to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and consequently to an

increase in the blood pressure. Repeated infections and inflammation in the kidneys can also

give rise to hypertension.

The Cure

The modern medical treatment of high blood pressure is highly unscientific as it brings down the

pressure by drugs without making any effort to remove the underlying causes. Drugs may

temporarily reduce blood pressure,but they do not cure the condition and are harmful in the

ultimate analysis. All drugs against hypertension without exception, are toxic and have

distressing side effects. The safest way to cure hypertension is to remove the real cause. The

natural way of dealing with it is to eliminate the poisons from the system which cause it. Persons

with high blood pressure should always follow a well-balanced routine of proper diet, exercise

and rest. Diet is of primary importance. Meat and eggs cause the blood pressure to rise more

than any other food. The pressure is lowered and blood clotting diminished by partaking of a

higher fruit content, lower protein and non-flesh diet. A natural diet consisting of fresh fruits and

vegetables, instead of a traditional diet, is helpful in getting rid of the poisons from the body. A

hypertension patient should start the process of healing by living on an exclusive fruit-diet for

atleast a week, and take fruits at five-hourly intervals thrice in the day. Oranges, apples, pears,

mangoes, guava, pineapples, raspberry, water-melon are the best diet in such cases. Bananas

and jack fruit should not be taken. Milk may be taken after a week of fruits only diet. The milk

should be fresh and should be boiled only once. The patient can be permitted cereals in his food

after two weeks.

Vegetables are also good for the patient of hypertension. They should preferably be taken raw. If

they are cooked, it should be ensured that their natural juices are not burnt in the process of

cooking. Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, onion, radish, cabbage and spinach are

best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little salt and

the juice of a lemon added to them so as to make them more palatable.

Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure

and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasms of the small arteries.

Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of

dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The

average dosage should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the blood pressure.

Indian gooseberry (amla) is another effective food remedy for high blood pressure. A

tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning

in this condition. Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a

rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is

essential for preventing capillary fragility.

Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. It was proved in recent

experiments that a substance extracted from watermelon seeds has a definite action in dilating

the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure.

Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and

hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low

incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt-intake. They have also found that

people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. The

two essential nutrients seem to help the body throw off excess sodium and are involved in

important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in

abundance in fruits and vegetables and calcium in dairy products.

Exercise plays an important role in curing hypertension. Walking is an excellent form of exercise.

It helps to relieve tension, builds up the muscles and aids in the circulation of blood. As the blood

pressure shows signs of abating, more exercise like bicycling, swimming, jogging should be

taken. Yogic asanas such as surya namaskar, makrasana,matsyasana, vajrasana,

ardhapadmasana, pavan-muktasana, shavasana and simple pranayama like anuloma-viloma

and abdominal breathing are beneficial. All asanas should, however, be discontinued except

shavasana if the blood pressure is above 200 milimeters.

Water Treatment

Prolonged neutral bath daily for an hour or so at 90 o to 95 o will be beneficial. Cold compress

should be kept on the head during this bath. Other water treatments include hot foot or leg bath

for 10 minutes, hot compress over the heart replacing it as bath cools down.

Persons suffering from hypertension must ensure at least eight hours of restful sleep, because

proper rest is an important aspect of the treatment. Most important of all, the patient must avoid

over-straining, worries, tension, anger and haste. He must try to be cheerful and develop a

contented mind. The natural treatment may take sometime but it is the safest and best way to

get rid of this disease.

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HYPERTENSION – A SILENT KILLER .

Hypertension a common disease that result from the consistent constant elevation of the systolic or diastolic pressure above 140/90 mmhg , the diagnosis of hypertension requires that elevated readings be present on atleast three occassions during several weeks .Hypertension causes no symptoms to motivate a person to seek treatment . When symptoms do occur , they signify either secondary causes of hypertension or effects of sustained elevation of Bp on target organs . When you consider the types of hypertension , it is of two types – primary hypertension and secondary hypertension .

PRIMARY HYPERTENSION :
It accounts for more than 90% of all cases and has no known case , although it is theorised that genetic factor , hormonal changes , and alterations in sympathetic tone all play a role in its development .

SECONDARY HYPERTENSION :
It develops as a consequence of particular underlying disease or condition . Now let us see the major risk factors of hypertension according to its types ,

Primary hypertension – The identified risk factors in primary hypertension are as follows :
1 , age – onset between 30 – 50 years of age , increases over 65 years of age .
2 , sex – males in young adulthood and early middle age , females after the age of 55 years .
3 , race – African-Americans as in caucasians .
4, family history .
5 , obesity .
6 , smoking .
7 , high salt diet .
8 , elevated serum lipids .
9 , alcohol .
10,sedentary life style .
11 , diabetes mellitus .
12 , socio-economic status .
13 ,emotional stress .

Secondary hypertension – Major risk factors of secondary hypertension include the following ,
1 , Coarctation or congenital narrowing of the aorta .
2 , Renal disease such as renal artery stenosis parenchymal disease and reno vascular disease . 3 , Endocrine disorders such as pheochromocytoma , cushing syndrome , hyper and primary aldosteronism .
4 , Neurologic disorders such as brain tumours , quadriplegia and head injury .
5 , Sleep apnoea .
6 , Medications , oestrogen replacement theraphy , oral contraceptive pills , and non – steroidal anti – inflammatory drugs .
7 , Pregnancy – induced hypertension . These are the major risk factors of hypertension which should be known to all , to prevent the hypertension

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often characterized as the silent killerand for good reason. Although it affects an estimated one in five North Americans, many people dont experience any symptoms. As a result, less than one-quarter of sufferers actually receive treatment. Left untreated, however, it can severely damage the cardiovascular system, leading to death from stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.

Most high blood pressure patients are candidates for medications, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. However, statistics show that of the 20 to 30 million individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure, less than half stay on their medication for more than one year. Moreover, 60 per cent of those who lower their medication do so because of side-effects. Given this information, the use of nutritional and botanical supplements, along with the adoption of a healthier lifestyle, can be of immense benefit in fighting this hidden killer.

Lifestyle and Dietary Approaches

If you wish to either prevent or treat high blood pressure, changing how you eat, sleep, and respond to stress are very important considerations. In the eight-week DASH trial conducted by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 1997, 70 percent of volunteers who eliminated meat and sugar, decreased unhealthy fat intake, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption decreased blood pressure to below 140/90 mm/Hg compared to just 45 percent of those who only ate more fruits and vegetables.

Individuals with high blood pressure should decrease sodium intake to approximately three grams per day and add at least four daily servings of foods rich in potassium (beans, spinach, melon, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, avocados). Decreasing sodium intake alone has reduced blood pressure by 8.4 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic. Moreover, alcohol intake should be reduced to less than two drinks per day. Research has shown that a shift from five to two drinks daily can decrease blood pressure by 8 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic.

A structured exercise program is another important factor. In one study, an average weight reduction of 4.5 kg by individuals who were 10 to 65 per cent overweight led to a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after just six months. In addition, stopping smoking is a must for anyone diagnosed with hypertension.

Stress Management and Sleep

Those with high blood pressure need to employ stress management and relaxation techniques. This concept was investigated by Dr. D. Shapiro and associates from the department of psychiatry and bio behavioural sciences at the University Of California Los Angeles School Of Medicine. Individuals with a mild to moderate increase in blood pressure were given blood pressure-lowering medications and then divided at random into two groups. One group performed simple stress management techniques, while the other did not. Remarkably, 55 percent of those who employed stress-reducing strategies were able to remain medication free, compared to only 30 percent in the control group, as found after a one-year follow-up examination.

A good nights sleep is also important. Researchers from the University of Pavia in Italy found that high blood pressure patients deprived of sleep had significant increases in blood pressures and heart rates, especially during the evening.

CoQ10, Magnesium and Fish Oil

Several supplements have proven to be of great value in the fight against hypertension. One is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone. One study of 18 patients with high blood pressure concluded that 100 milligrams of CoQ10 daily for 10 weeks lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 10.6 and 7.7 mm/Hg respectively.

In addition to CoQ10, 480 mg of magnesium oxide daily for two months decreased blood pressure on average by 2.5 mm/Hg systolic and 1.4 mm/Hg diastolic over 24 hours in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension. (Those employing magnesium therapy are cautioned that this may lead to episodes of diarrhea.)

Fish oils rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are also helpful adjuncts in the control of blood pressure. Individuals with mild increases in blood pressure were given either two grams of EPA and 1.4 g of DHA from fish oil (approximately 12 1,000-mg capsules of an 18 percent EPA/12 percent DHA mixture) or a placebo every day for four months. After only eight weeks, blood pressure was reduced by 6 mm/Hg systolic and 5 mm/Hg diastolic. Individuals wishing to try this high-dose fish oil approach should also increase vitamin E intake to 800 IU per day.

Garlic and Reishi Mushroom

For those with mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure, garlic and reishi mushroom may be of value. The use of standardized garlic (Allium sativum) supplements at a dose of up to 900 mg per day for 12 to 16 weeks decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with moderate elevations in blood pressure. In fact, one study concluded that garlic supplements decreased standing diastolic pressure from 101 to 90 mm/Hg and systolic pressure from 171 to 150 mm/Hg after 12 weeks.

Unlike garlic, the use of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum or Ling zhi in Chinese) in the treatment of hypertension is not well recognized. However, the conclusions of a recent trial suggest that it may be another helpful, natural, blood pressure-lowering agent. Fifty-five individuals on anti-hypertensive medications with moderate increases in blood pressure were given either 55 mg of concentrated reishi mushroom extract or a placebo, three times a day for one month. Unlike the 14 individuals in the placebo group, those taking the concentrated mushroom extract had a significant reduction in blood pressure.

In conclusion, high blood pressure is a serious problem that affects one in four adults. It is important that individuals afflicted with this problem adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes quitting smoking, reducing stress, eating better, losing weight and increasing exercise. These changes, along with the judicious use of supplements and herbal therapies, can help combat this silent killer.

Alistrol Natural Supplement

Alistrol is a patented, proprietary blend of natural ingredients that have been used for centuries to help support healthy blood pressure. Use Alistrol everyday to help maintain healthy circulation and support cardio-vascular health. Time-tested for safety, the herbal extracts in Alistrol have no known side effects.

Studies confirm this unique blend of natural ingredients support healthy heart function. Helps maintain healthy arteries, helps support blood flow and central and peripheral vascular circulation. Furthermore, Alistrol helps maintain blood flow to the heart and supports healthy blood pressure in the pulmonary artery and all arteries in general.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the pressure of blood against the walls of the main arteries. Two readings, systolic (when the heart is contracting) and diastolic (when the heart is relaxing), are measured by a device that records pressure changes in millimetres of mercury (mm/Hg). Various factorsage, stress, diet, exercisewill affect the readings. The following chart shows a continuum of blood pressure values including both healthy and unhealthy states.

Blood pressure

Systolic

Diastolic

Ideal

Less than 120 mm/Hg

Less than 80 mm/Hg

Mild hypertension

140 to 159 mm/Hg

90 to 99 mm/Hg

Moderate hypertension

160 to 179 mm/Hg

100 to 109 mm/Hg

Severe hypertension

More than 180 mm/Hg

More than 110 mm/Hg