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Blood pressure levels is generally known as high blood pressure levels. It truly is dangerous due to the fact cardiovascular system performs tougher and knocks out blood vessels towards the human body using a quicker fee. this also causes hardening of bloodstream. An individual is supposedly struggling with blood pressure if hypertension depend is 140And90 or maybe more. Blood pressure levels heightens the odds of heart problems and help illness. Blood pressure levels is referred to as hushed awesome since it indicates no warning signs or notice click to get payday loans Severe warning signs of high blood pressure levels are problems, fatigue, a feeling of sickness, visible disruptions.
The harder your bmi, more are the odds of stress with your artery rooms. Loss of focus will lead to blood pressure. Trim down sodium intake. too much sodium within the diet plan can cause liquid maintenance. Worry is a major factor leading to blood pressure. calm down yourself and take it easy. Trim down tobacco and drinking intake.
To maintain Blood pressure levels under control, keep a with your diet plan. Feed on balanced diet that may be lacking in calories and fat. use natural herbs, spices and sea salt-free flavoring in as an alternative to sea salt. Some home remedies can even be experimented with management blood pressure. have a pawpaw, vacant abdominal day-to-day for any 30 days. never take nearly anything for 2 time. Sip 8-10 glass of ionized normal water day-to-day. Carry 2 tsp of red onion veggie juice and fifty percent tsp honies for 1-fourteen days.
You can measure your hypertension in your house when using the gear sphygmomanometer. It features a stress process technique. Some of them use a stethoscope. A sphygmomanometer is definitely the more mature type of gear that options hypertension employing a gleam of mercury. Anyone consuming your stress will place a cuff around the top of your adjustable rate mortgage, power up this cuff and hear for appears to be through the stethoscope put on your adjustable rate mortgage. Computerized products normally talk with battery packs where you can digital camera readout. they will often try to remember and also create your blood pressure measurements.
Monitoring your hypertension which has a digital camera hypertension watch works, simple to do and requires just one instant per description. The guide The cost of living Watches are simple to use and in the economy priced. they can be clear, digital camera present screen, adjustable rate mortgage cuff is easy to use and inflation lamp is perfect for fast inflation. All grown ups ought to have their hypertension checked car should be done each five-years but preferably on a regular basis.
High Blood Pressure Levels – Normal Treatment
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Vintage Campbell's Soup Advertisement " Control Your Blood Pressure - Chart " Fremont NebraskaVintage Campbell's Soup Advertisement " Control Your Blood Pressure - Chart " Fremont Nebraska
Sign of illness found in lungs
Published: October 24, 2011
OU Health Sciences Center researchers found that reduced lung function might be a sign of diabetes in Native Americans, according to a new published paper.
The study was conducted by the Center for American Indian Health Research at the OU College of Public Health. Researchers looked at Native American men and women with and without diabetes and measured lung functions.
They found decreased lung function often preceded signs of diabetes, College of Public Health professor and researcher Fawn Yeh said. Lung function tests measure the strength of the lungs, air capacity , exhaling capacity and exhaling speed
The lung function was a possible indictor of type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by an inability to eliminate sugars from the blood because of an insulin resistance, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Doctors test blood glucose and sugar levels to determine whether a patient is diabetic, Yeh said, and lung impairment develops prior to this .
The study is not definitive enough to say decreased lung function will be a sure predictor of diabetes, but it is a step in the right direction, Yeh said. Diabetes is often part of a larger problem called metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome consists increased fat in the blood, reduced High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood pressure and high glucose levels, according to the study paper. It can lead to diabetes and heart disease.
Yeh is now working on trying to find why Native Americans might have decreased lung function and how it is related to metabolic syndrome, she said.
“We know obesity is related and are trying to understand why, and that might be inflammation,” Yeh said. “It is a very common cause of other complications like kidney disease, but how inflammation causes reduced lung function and why some of them cause kidney disease or eye disease not clear to me.”
This is one of the first studies to look specifically at Native American populations, which has one of the highest diabetes rates in the U.S., according to the paper.
“Oklahoma has very high rates of diabetes driven by a growing problem with overweight and obesity,” said Gary Raskob, dean of the OU College of Public Health, in a press release. “Our state has very high rates of chronic obstructive lung disease, largely due to smoking. The fact that a diabetic patient may be at greater risk of lung disease strongly supports the need to address tobacco use, as well as obesity.”
It is important doctors be aware that diabetes patients, especially Native Americans, might have reduced lung function so they know to look for it, Yeh said.
“This is a new area that doctors need to pay attention to in diabetic patients,” Yeh said. “They might have some lung problem but because it is not serious enough the doctor did not try to treat or prevent it to get worse.”
This study is published in the October 2011 issue of Diabetes Care, a journal that focuses on diabetes and heart disease in Native American populations.
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3 Stars - Ling Zhi Reishi Persimmon Hypertensive Tea - 30 Tea BagsThis product is made from selected persimmon leaves, mulberry leaves, loquat leaves, and Ling-Zhi (reishi mushroom). Pour fresh, bubbling boiling water over tea bag in cup, steep 2 to 3 minutes depending on the strength desired. User 2~3 tea bags per day
No, it’s not bad. Forget the diatolic (67) becuase that’s fine. the only thing which could be considered bad is the systolic or the 147 number. if that number was arrived at by a single measurement in a physician’s office, it is very likely not hypertension but “white coat” syndrome.
Many people get anxious just by being examined in a doctor’s office and that anxiety elevates their BP. That phenomena is familiar to all physicians and it’s called “white coat syndrome”. That could be why your systolic is 147. It’s also worth noting that it wasn’t very long ago that the high normal limit for systolic BP was 140. the medical community didn’t lower it to 120 because the “norm” had changed but because they had better drugs to use to control the BP and wanted to encourage physicians to prescribe more to keep BP lower. In other words, they didn’t change the limit because it needed to be changed but because they could change it for the long term benefit of the individual.
If you’re concerned about your BP, buy a BP meter. if you do, you’ll want to take the mesurements often but at your most relaxed time of day…such as just before bed. always use the left arm while realxed and sitting up with both feet on the floor. Keep a record of your BP and then show it to your physician after a few months to see what he thinks. Chances are you’ll find it’s normal. And, if it’s not it may be controlled by simple things such as diet and exercise.
BP varies widely during the course of a normal day so it’s important to not be concerned about a slightly high reading during a time of stress or activity. if you suspect your are hypertensive, just learn to monitor your own BP. Get to know your body so you can care for it. It’s the only one you’ve got.
Is 146 over 67 bad for high blood pressure?
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3 Stars - Ling Zhi Reishi Persimmon Hypertensive Tea - 30 Tea BagsThis product is made from selected persimmon leaves, mulberry leaves, loquat leaves, and Ling-Zhi (reishi mushroom). Pour fresh, bubbling boiling water over tea bag in cup, steep 2 to 3 minutes depending on the strength desired. User 2~3 tea bags per day
AROUND 300 people from barangays Looc and Canjulao in Lapu-Lapu City benefited from the Health Care fair initiated by Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) last Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
The activity included family planning lecture, free massage, prostate check-up, physical check-up, eye check-up, blood sugar and blood pressure testings, bone screening, distribution of free medecines and health and herbal drinks.
Commodore Zyril Carlos, Navforccen commander, headed the activity, which was one of the highlights of Navforcen’s 34th anniversary celebration.
“Health is wealth. it is just right that we should be concerned of our men’s health and other people’s. We want to reminded them about healthy living,” he said.
Carlos said they have already conducted activities, in cooperation with the rotary club of Mactan and the Lapu-Lapu City government, as part of the celebration.
These included the mangrove planting, bloodletting, giving of wheelchairs to disabled persons in partnership with the Department of Health, static display at SM Mall and Navforcen’s involvement in recent disaster management council operations. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA
Lapu-Lapu residents avail of Navforcen’s health services
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New Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression BandageCombat medics, trauma doctors, and emergency responders all recommend this Israeli Battle Dressing (IBD) or Israeli Emergency Bandage for the treatment of gunshot wounds, puncture wounds, deep cuts, and other traumatic hemorrhagic injuries. In fact, this is the same bandage that is included in the U.S. Military's IFAK, or individual first aid kit. This is the large, six-inch bandage, and can be used one-handed for self-treatment or can be applied by a care giver or first responder to help staunch blood flow and stabilize the patient for evacuation or treatment. It can be used on the head, leg, arm, torso, or elsewhere on the body.
Although primarily designed to help staunch blood flow by applying pressure to the wound site, the 70-inch long elastic portion of the bandage can also be used in the field to construct a sling, to bind a strain or sprain, to secure splints to the broken limb, or even as an improvised tourniquet. The IBD is self contained. It does not require clips, Velcro or pins to use and there are no loose parts that can get lost or misplaced in an emergency.
This bandage is vacuum packaged in a compact, sterilized package with instructions for use on the back. The package is small enough to carry in your BDU pocket or a MOLLE pouch. A highly recommended piece of safety gear for those going into harms way.
OVER the years, we have been receiving interesting questions from our readers. since our column is also posted on Inquirer-Globalnation and half a dozen other newspaper websites, we get queries from around the world. once again, we are sharing some of the most interesting ones with you in this column today.
How can one with normal EKG develop a heart attack?
Heart attack occurs when a part of the muscles of the heart is deprived of blood. This condition can happen when one of the tiny spaghetti-sized arteries to the heart gets blocked, either by a blood clot
induced by high cholesterol blood level, or by spasm, or a dangerous heart rhythm disturbance. When the cause is obstruction from a clot, the autopsy will show it, but not when a temporary spasm or fatal heart
irregularity was the cause of the heart attack. therefore, someone who just had a normal EKG a few hours or days or weeks before can still suffer a heart attack, given the appropriate trigger circumstances. Foremost among the aggravating risk factors include high cholesterol diet, lack of exercise, obesity (mild to
severe), high blood pressure, diabetes, family history. Heart attack is treacherous, and it can be a silent one. This is why a regular medical check-up, starting from age 30, even as a baseline examination for future reference, is essential. those with probable symptoms should undergo a cardiovascular evaluation, to include blood tests and a stress EKG as deemed necessary by the attending physician.
Does position during sex influence gender of the baby?
This is a myth. Misinformation that coitus from
behind, compared to the so-called “missionary style,” increases the likelihood opf producing a male baby is simply not true. There is no scientific basis to this claim.
Is eating red meat really unhealthy?
We have written about this several times in the past, but it is worth repeating that red meat (pork, beef, etc), for one thing, is not an essential food item. It provides protein, but protein can be derived from healthier sources like fish, white meat of chicken, some vegetables, soy beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, some fruits. if children at age one is not exposed to red meat, and fed milk from grass-fed cows (not those fed with corn, soy products, antibiotics,
hormones), fish, vegetables, some fruits, they will grow up with healthier DNAs and boosted immune system to prevent diseases most of us have today, like high blood pressure, cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, and especially cancers, where red meat plays an important role in their development.
Is it true that spices are good for us?
Yes, this is true. Spices, like peppers, garlic, onion, ginger, scallion, curry, cumin, cilantro, dill, basil, paprika, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, cinnamon included, etc., are powerhouses, boosters of the immune system. The great antioxidants, poly-phenols, plant sterols in them, strengthen the bodily
resistance to illnesses and stress. they are also good substitute for salt to make food more palatable, since moderation in salt intake is healthier for all of us, especially for those with high blood pressure and or heart ailments.
Since chemo-drugs for cancer are toxic, are herbals better?
For patients with cancer today, there are no herbals that can cure them of the malignancy. Chemotherapy and or radiation are still their best bet, with our without surgical resection, depending on the stage and or what the surgeon finds. if all else fails, then I would try anything, if I were the patient. But statistical data, without a question, favor chemotherapy and or/radiation as more effective modalities than herbals and other non-proven treatments. (See related article on Apple’s Steve Job’s below).Of course, researchers are continuously looking for chemo agents that would be toxic only to the cancer cells but not to the patient.
Do “erection pills” help lack of libido in women?
The anti male erectile dysfunction (ED) pills like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, do not help in treating libido, in women or even in men. these pills are not aphrodisiacs. they act to induce erection in men but studies not have found them to have the same “sex” effects among females. There is no drug today that improves libido; the genuine aphrodisiac has not been discovered yet. Rhino horn, cactus extracts, or even ginseng have no aphrodisiac effects, as claimed. The ED pills have been most effective among men with ED and powerful aid among those who have mild or no erectile dysfunction but have stress related ED.
Did red meat cause Steve Job’s pancreatic cancer?
I have tried to research information about this but have not found any direct information about the probable cause of the pancreatic cancer was that killed the Apple co-founder, chairman and CEO. Studies have shown that eating red meat, especially barbequed meat with charcoal-burnt black residues on the meat, increases the risk for the development of pancreatic cancer, colon cancer and other malignancies. while his was a variety of pancreatic cancer (neuro-endocrine type) that was slow-growing, he refused surgery and opted to try unconventional herbal therapy, etc., for nine months. in the end, he regretted having done so, according to his biographer, Walter Isaacson. Steve Jobs realized that he had wasted those precious nine months that allowed the cancer to spread, and that surgery could have possibly saved his life.
To read more about these topics, read the new 800-page health guide, entitled Lets Stop “Killing” our Children, available in eBook format that can be downloaded from the internet, and in soft and hardbound versions, at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and xlibris.com. View book and details at www.philipSchua.com
*Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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Long-Term Blood Pressure Control: What Can We Do? (DOI: 10.3810/pgm.2011.01.2249) (Postgraduate Medicine)There are unique problems associated with the long-term control of blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension. Many of these problems warrant specific discussion for the primary care physician. Up to one-third of high-risk patients are estimated to have uncontrolled hypertension. Although long-term control is essential to avoid complications of cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease, it can become troublesome because of challenges with patient compliance and adherence to medication regimens. This may be due to low tolerability profiles, complicated regimens, or prohibitive costs. Trials have shown that a combination approach may reduce side effects with complementary therapies such as a calcium channel blocker (CCB)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) combination. Combination therapy can be used in any patient group not responsive to monotherapy, or who remain 20 mm Hg higher than their BP goal. This method may achieve the goal of reaching target BP sooner as a first-line approach and, in a fixed-dose combination, may be a more economic choice as well as a simpler regimen for the patient. Together with supportive measures, CCB/ARB combinations are a compelling alternative for the long-term treatment of hypertension.Original Publication Date: January 2011
With heart failure, the heart muscle can’t pump adequate blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. It tries to compensate by enlarging so it can pump more blood, growing thicker muscle mass and pumping faster. the blood vessels try to be helpful, too, narrowing to keep blood pressure up. and the body diverts blood to the heart and brain, since they are the most vital organs, but that shorts the supply needed by other tissues and organs. Eventually, it can’t mask what’s happening, but sometimes people do not know for months or even years that their hearts are failing because of those masking “helps.”
Blood pressure is a mathematical formula that looks at the pressure exerted on vessels when the heart is beating “over” the pressure in blood vessels between beats — 120/80 is considered optimal.
The researchers coined the term “isolated diastolic hypotension” to describe a condition where the diastolic or between-beat pressure is less than 60 mm Hg and the systolic blood pressure is not low, measured at above 100 mm Hg. the researchers said it’s similar to a condition called isolated systolic hypertension, when the systolic blood pressure alone is elevated (above 140 mm Hg), but the diastolic is not elevated. That is common in older adults and it, too, increases the risk one will experience heart failure.
“Our findings showed that older adults who have low diastolic blood pressure but not low systolic blood pressure were more likely to develop new-onset heart failure than those with higher levels of diastolic blood pressure,” said Dr. Ali Ahmed, study senior investigator, professor of medicine in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care and also director of Alabama’s geriatric heart-failure clinic. “Older adults with low diastolic blood pressure also had higher risk of death.”
The researchers found that those who control their high systolic blood pressure with medications can also develop isolated diastolic hypotension.
Low diastolic, high systolic blood pressure a dangerous combination
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Identifying and Managing Factors That Interfere with or Worsen Blood Pressure Control (Postgraduate Medicine)Abstract: Hypertension is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Even moderate blood pressure (BP) elevation can have a significant impact on outcomes. Maintaining BP within recommended levels significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, more than one-third of people receiving treatment for hypertension in the United States have uncontrolled BP. When faced with a patient whose BP is no longer controlled, clinicians need to develop a differential diagnosis of potential contributing factors. These factors may include BP measurement issues, poor adherence to antihypertensive medications, therapeutic inertia on the part of clinicians, lifestyle changes, secondary causes of hypertension, or ingestion of substances that interfere with BP control. Patients who demonstrate a deterioration in BP control should be questioned about adherence, recent changes to diet and lifestyle, signs and symptoms of secondary causes of hypertension, and use of any concomitant medications or other substances that may be known to increase BP or interfere with antihypertensive therapy. Common substances that can interfere with BP control include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, antidepressants, decongestants, alcohol, or other stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines. Because of the high prevalence of both osteoarthritis and hypertension among elderly people, NSAIDs are a common potential factor in this age group. In the face of worsening BP control, clinicians must actively investigate potential contributing factors and appropriately increase or adjust antihypertensive therapy.Original Publication Date: March 2010
We’ve all heard of people with high blood pressure but until we receive the diagnosis ourselves we may not investigate what it really means. we all need a certain level of blood pressure to pump blood through our bodies. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers (such as 120/80). The first number is called systolic pressure (measured when the heart is beating) and the second number—the diastolic reading—measures when the heart is relaxed.
If your blood pressure is high then your blood vessels are under too great a pressure, putting you at risk for heart attack or stroke. Risk factors include a natural increase with age, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and stress.
Just because you have high blood pressure doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive in controlling it. You can change lifestyle habits to help keep blood pressure under control. Maintaining a healthy weight is a big part of that decision. even losing a modest amount of weight can make a significant impact on your health.
The DASH eating plan is often recommended for lowering blood pressure. You want to be eating a nutrient-rich diet that is low in sodium and fat (especially saturated fats).
- eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day
- at least two servings of lower fat dairy products
- whole grain breads and cereals
- limiting salt and added condiments (at the table and while cooking)
- limiting fast food and soft drinks (plus other high-fat and sugary foods)
- eating healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and canola in small portions
Remember to try and keep stress manageable by making room in your schedule for rest and relaxation. And make sure you have your blood pressure checked by a doctor every two years even if you have normal blood pressure, and more often if you already have higher blood pressure.
What Does a High Blood Pressure Diagnosis Mean?
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Overweight Children Nearly three Times More likely to Have High Blood Pressure, Study Finds by Brenda GoodmanWebMD Health News
Oct. 3, 2011 — Children who are overweight compared to their peers are nearly three times more likely to have high blood pressure, a new study shows.
The study, published in the journal Hypertension, followed 1,111 school-aged children in Indiana for an average of four years.
Twice each year, researchers visited schools to take blood pressure measurements and record the kids’ heights and weights.
About 40% of the children in the study were above the 85th percentile on growth charts for their height and weight. when children are above the 85th percentile, doctors consider them to be overweight.
Among the overweight kids, 14% had blood pressure that was higher than normal, while only 5% of normal-weight kids had elevated blood pressure.
The study also found that extra pounds are especially dangerous for kids who are already big.
“For an overweight and obese child, if you increase your BMI [body mass index] percentile a little bit, that would increase your blood pressure strongly,”says researcher Wanzhu Tu, PhD. Tu is a research scientist at Regenstrief Institute and professor of biostatistics at Indiana University School of Medicine, both in Indianapolis.
“In the same way,” Tu says, for just a little bit of weight loss “you could benefit greatly in terms of blood pressure.”
The risks of overweight were the same, regardless of the child’s sex or race. About 42% of the kids in the study were black.
Findings Troubling
Pediatricians say the study is wake-up call.
“We’ve tended to look at the overweight category as a lower-risk category,” says Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD, chairman of the department of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. he was not involved in the research.
“This suggests to me that we really need to worry about kids who are in that overweight category,” says Daniels, who is also pediatrician-in-chief at Colorado Children’s Hospital.
Other experts say the findings are concerning because having high blood pressure has been shown to set kids up for health complications.
Not only are children with high blood pressure much more likely to turn into adults who have high blood pressure, but newer studies have shown that kids can get the same kinds of organ damage — to the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys — that doctors once thought was only a problem for adults with the condition.
One study even found that kids with high blood pressure have subtle changes in the brain area that controls attention, problem solving, and working memory.
“For physicians, we have to take much more seriously this concept of the childhood origins of adult diseases and look beyond the weight and beyond the blood pressure level because we’re finding more evidence, subtle evidence, of injury,” says Bonita Falkner, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
“So it’s not going to be a risk that’s going to be in the future. It’s a risk that’s now,” says Falkner, who wrote an editorial on the study, but was not involved in the research.
“It jacks up the concern about preventing childhood obesity and also not waiting until they are obese,” she tells WebMD. “Even overweight can be problematic for children.”
Overweight Kids Risk High Blood Pressure
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Restless leg syndrome is a condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, usually when individuals are sitting or lying in bed. the sensations tend to make sufferers want to move their legs and body in an effort to ease the discomfort or find a more comfortable position.
The condition can cause sufferers to lose sleep. A recent study published online on Oct. 10 in the journal Hypertension looked at the relationship between women with restless legs and high blood pressure. Overall, women with restless legs were 20 percent more likely to have high blood pressure compared to women without restless legs.
Also, the more frequent the episodes of restless legs, the higher the blood pressure tended to be. Individuals suffering from 15 or more episodes of restless legs in a month were found to be at 41 percent increased risk of high blood pressure compared to those without the condition.
If I were to think of one cause to explain the association between restless legs and high blood pressure it would be magnesium deficiency.
It’s no panacea, but I have found magnesium to be generally very effective in reducing and controlling the symptoms of restless legs. Magnesium is one nutrient that is essential for proper muscle function, and a lack of it can cause symptoms ranging from restless legs, to tight muscles, muscle fatigue, and a tendency to cramping.
There is also muscle in the arteries. In theory, magnesium deficiency could cause tightness here too, which might push blood pressure up. In fact, there is evidence published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in July 1984 of low magnesium levels in individuals suffering from high blood pressure and evidence that magnesium therapy can be effective for lowering blood pressure.
The fact that restless legs and high blood pressure are commonly found together suggests that they often have the same cause. my experience and some science indicate that a common cause may be magnesium deficiency.
Dr. John Briffa is a London-based physician and author with an interest in nutrition and natural medicine. his website is DrBriffa.com
Restless Legs and High Blood Pressure in Women
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Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin
DALLAS – April 5, 2011 – UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified one reason people with hypertension experience an even greater increase in their blood pressure when they exercise, and they’ve learned how to prevent the rise. A study in a March issue of the Journal of Physiology reported that hypertensive people who exercise undergo decreased blood flow and oxygen in muscles. the scientists also identified a specific type of blood pressure medication that minimizes this effect.
“while there are many hypertension medications effective at lowering blood pressure at rest, very few are effective during exercise,” said Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study. “People with high blood pressure need to exercise not only to help their blood pressure, but also their overall cardiovascular health.” Dr. Vongpatanasin said that some people with high blood pressure stop exercising out of fear of heart attack or stroke, and that sometimes physicians counsel those patients to limit activity because of those concerns. While it’s been known that blood pressure increases during exercise in people with hypertension, a mechanism behind the action and a way to block it in humans hadn’t been identified previously. Dr. Vongpatanasin and colleagues had 13 participants with mild hypertension and 13 with normal blood pressure perform hand grip exercises under regular conditions, followed by activity under conditions that affect a part of the nervous system that controls blood pressure. They found increased nerve activity in hypertensive participants during exercise but not in those with normal blood pressure. Blood flow and oxygen levels in the arm muscles also fell more rapidly in the hypertensive group. “In normal people, the body can increase blood flow to the working muscle despite increase in nerve activity, which tends to cause blood vessels to constrict,” Dr. Vongpatanasin said. “Hypertensive patients have increased nerves and impaired ability to maintain muscle blood flow adequately.” Researchers then treated study participants with two types of blood pressure medications. An angiotensin receptor blocker, which prevents the hormone angiotensin from increasing blood pressure, increased blood flow during exercise. a diuretic that reduces blood pressure by stimulating sodium loss did not. “since nerve increases weren’t reduced during treatment, we believe the angiotensin receptor blocker works directly on blood vessels to improve blood flow,” Dr. Vongpatanasin said. The next step, she said, will be to see if other hormones associated with angiotensin are involved in similar responses. Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study were Zhongyun Wang, research associate in internal medicine; Debbie Arbique, advanced practice nurse in internal medicine; Dr. Gary Arbique, associate professor of radiology; Beverley Adams Huet, assistant professor of clinical sciences; and Dr. Jere Mitchell, clinical professor of internal medicine and physiology. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center also participated. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ George M. O’Brien Kidney Research Core Center at UT Southwestern and a Clinical and Translational Sciences Award from the National Center for Research Resources. Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/heartlungvascular to learn more about heart, lung and vascular clinical services, including the hypertension program, at UT Southwestern.
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Media Contact: LaKisha Ladson 214-648-3404 lakisha.ladson@utsouthwestern.edu To automatically receive news releases from UT Southwestern via email, subscribe at www.utsouthwestern.edu/receivenews
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Dangerous blood pressure increases during exercise can be blocked, UT Southwestern researchers find
Related Reading:
Identifying and Managing Factors That Interfere with or Worsen Blood Pressure Control (Postgraduate Medicine)Abstract: Hypertension is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Even moderate blood pressure (BP) elevation can have a significant impact on outcomes. Maintaining BP within recommended levels significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, more than one-third of people receiving treatment for hypertension in the United States have uncontrolled BP. When faced with a patient whose BP is no longer controlled, clinicians need to develop a differential diagnosis of potential contributing factors. These factors may include BP measurement issues, poor adherence to antihypertensive medications, therapeutic inertia on the part of clinicians, lifestyle changes, secondary causes of hypertension, or ingestion of substances that interfere with BP control. Patients who demonstrate a deterioration in BP control should be questioned about adherence, recent changes to diet and lifestyle, signs and symptoms of secondary causes of hypertension, and use of any concomitant medications or other substances that may be known to increase BP or interfere with antihypertensive therapy. Common substances that can interfere with BP control include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, antidepressants, decongestants, alcohol, or other stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines. Because of the high prevalence of both osteoarthritis and hypertension among elderly people, NSAIDs are a common potential factor in this age group. In the face of worsening BP control, clinicians must actively investigate potential contributing factors and appropriately increase or adjust antihypertensive therapy.Original Publication Date: March 2010
