Tag Archives: congestive heart failure

New Year’s Resolution “Less Salt!

Are you having a difficult time sticking to all those New Year’s resolutions you set for yourself? One easy modification you might make in your lifestyle that can lead to a more fit life for this year and years to come is lessening the quantity of salt in your diet, and it is not too late to start – now!

Many of us consume too much table salt. Normally, we consume about 3500 mg each day. Table salt provides sodium which is an essential mineral to our survival. But the typical person takes in 20 times more than needed!

An overabundance of sodium can lead to fluid retention resulting in congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and inflamed feet and ankles (known as edema).

Doctors regularly suggest a low sodium diet for individuals with these conditions. A low sodium diet contains fewer than 1500 mg of sodium per day or less than one little spoon of table salt.

Where Does All of that Sodium Come From ?

A massive source of sodium in our diet comes from bistros and packed meals. Examples of high sodium foods include canned soups, pre-packed frozen meals, lunch meat and potato chips. Fast food resturants account for well over 75% of our sodium intake. Though many feel that they eat a low sodium diet because they do not use the salt shaker, it really accounts for only about 10% of our daily salt intake.

How Are You Able To Lower Your Sodium Intake?

There are lots of methods to cut down the amount of sodium you consume. Adding spice blends, flavored vinegar, citrus juices and fresh herbs to your dishes are all great options. The most significant thing you can do might be to avoid fast foods. Most fresh foods like unprocessed meat, fish, fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and are healthy, tasty choices to processed or packed foods. A few examples of more healthy, low sodium options are noted below.

Foods to Avoid:

Pretzels, chips

Biscuits, instant cereal

Canned soups

Soy and barbeque sauce

Healthy/Low Sodium Alternatives:

Unsalted or low salt nuts, seeds, and popcorn

Multi grain cereals

Low sodium bullion

Lemon juice, vinegar

An interesting point : if you can stick to a low sodium diet, your tastes can be retrained over a brief period of time and you’ll find that you soon don’t miss the salt shaker!

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Achieve-Life.

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From Your Heart to Your iPhone – Technology Review

A smart-phone app under development for heart-failure patients allows them to keep track of the pressure inside their heart as measured by an implanted sensor. That data could help patients adjust their medication to maintain a healthy pressure, much as diabetics do with insulin and blood sugar readings.

Called Pam+ (for “patient advisory module”), the app is being developed by researchers at the University of Southern California in collaboration with medical device maker St. Jude Medical. the researchers hope it will help patients better manage their health and reduce hospitalizations, which are responsible for much of the $40 million in health-care costs linked to heart failure.

In congestive heart failure, pressure builds up in the circulatory system and the heart fails to pump blood adequately to the rest of the body. Fluid pressure changes by the day, and monitoring those fluctuations continuously is essential to treating heart failure effectively. a number of implanted devices are now under development to monitor this pressure, giving patients and doctors real time data.

The PAM+ app works in conjunction with an external device—developed by St. Jude and currently in clinical tests—that is placed over the heart, where it charges the implanted sensor and downloads data from it.

The data is forwarded to a server at St. Jude that analyzes it and returns, via the app, the latest readings and information about ongoing trends. a patient who has regularly monitored his or her heart pressure over a week will see a graph of pressure readings along with the message “Your heart thanks you.” Users can easily share their data with their health-care team and family.

“We want patients to be able to access data but also to be rewarded and encouraged on a daily basis, so they don’t feel like their whole life is a diet,” says Leslie Saxon, a cardiologist and director of the Center for Body Computing at USC, who helped develop the device.

Previous research conducted by Saxon showed that remote monitoring can improve the health of heart-failure patients and lower health-care costs. she unveiled a prototype of the app at the Body Computing conference in Los Angeles today.

Users get points for monitoring their pressure—points that might eventually be tied to iTunes or Amazon credit. “Even a traditional payer would love to reward this type of behavior,” says Saxon.

She believes an app like this can also change the nature of doctors’ visits. rather than a physician giving a patient the latest test results, taken at a few points in time, the patient can show the doctor measurements of heart pressure over weeks and months, and together they can discuss the trends these reveal.

From Your Heart to Your iPhone – Technology Review

Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Monitor Blood Pressure at Home

Approximately one out of three adults in the U.S. has hypertension or high blood pressure according to the Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. Hypertension is a major risk for congestive heart failure, stroke, heart disease and kidney disease which are the leading causes of death in the U.S. Hypertension may affect all people of all ethnic backgrounds and all ages. Unfortunately, individuals may have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms.

Hypertension can be monitored at home and can be easily detected. A blood pressure monitor for home is a good investment which brings tremendous impact on your health especially if you are aware that you have pre-hypertension or hypertension which may pose a risk for stroke and heart disease. also, the monitor confirms cases of the so-called white coat hypertension or rising pressure only in the presence of a doctor. The monitor is also helpful even if you have normal readings so you can proactively manage your health to prevent hypertension.

Using a wrist blood pressure monitor extremely helps in monitoring the pressure of your blood anywhere. It is relatively inexpensive compared to arm monitors. It comes in digital, fully-automated technology to make monitoring much easier for anyone. You don’t have to roll up your sleeve to use it. Simply put the cuff on your wrist, press the button and the readings appear on the easy-to-read screen.

To prepare for taking the reading with wrist blood pressure monitor, you should avoid caffeine, food, alcohol intake or tobacco at least 30 minutes before taking the measurement. You should sit and relax for at least five minutes before taking your reading with legs uncrossed and your feet comfortably positioned on the floor. when taking your measurement, take slow breaths. It also helps you to relax when you close your eyes while the wrist blood pressure takes your readings.

The reading is presented by two numbers with a slash separating them. The first number is the systolic pressure and the second number after the slash is the diastolic pressure. It has mmHg attached to the numbers which stands for millimeters of mercury. The normal reading is 120/80 mmHg or lower, so a reading of 140/90 mmHg means you have hypertension. if the reading is somewhere in between, then you have pre-hypertension.

Having a wrist blood pressure monitor helps you in management of your health by being aware of the pressure of your blood. It helps you avoid or minimize the risk of stroke, heart disease, congestive heart failure or kidney problems associated with hypertension.

Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Monitor Blood Pressure at Home

Hawthorn plant found to be helpful with some heart ailments: You Docs

Does hawthorn lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular functioning?

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), a flowering shrub, has been used to help heart problems since the first century. and guess what? it works. while the ancient remedy isn’t a slam-dunk for congestive heart failure and high blood pressure, there’s evidence that it helps.

In lab research, using hawthorn extract after a heart attack helps prevent the kind of damage that leads to congestive heart failure. after many small human studies suggested that hawthorn lowers high blood pressure, a double-blind trial in 2006 found that when diabetics taking prescription medicine for high blood pressure also took hawthorn extract daily, their pressure was even lower.

Hawthorn’s lovely pink and white flowers, leaves and berries all contain a host of plant nutrients called flavonoids. these substances increase blood flow, protect blood vessels and, in animal studies, make bad blood fats skedaddle like bad guys in a Western when the new sheriff hits town.

Despite all of this encouraging info, talk to your doctor before taking it. even though hawthorn extract is widely available without a prescription, it interacts with some prescription drugs, making them dangerously potent.

Health tip of the week: Good for you and tasty, too

Think a Hawaiian vacation makes you feel great just because, well, it’s a vacation? no doubt about that. but it’s possible that two of the islands’ favorite goodies may be acting like secret agents to help that feeling:

Macadamia nuts. that macadamias are so rich in unsaturated fats — more than almost any other nut — appears to make up for the fact that they also contain some saturated fat. The heart-healthy proof: When people with moderately high cholesterol ate a diet with a handful of macadamia nuts mixed in daily for five weeks, they lowered total and lousy LDL cholesterol about 9 percent more than when they just ate an average American diet.

If you eat macadamias, though, use them to replace a source of unhealthy fat in your diet; don’t just add them to what you already eat. (Walnuts help your arteries, too. Although we’re talking Hawaiian specialties today, we’ll say that walnut-crusted fish is a favorite).

Pineapple. this juicy fruit contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain that may help tame an achy back or bum knee. Bromelain seems to soothe cells by reducing the migration of white blood cells to areas where there’s inflammation — like sunburned skin, injured muscles and arthritic joints.

If you’re not a pineapple fan, you can get bromelain straight from a supplement. that might even be better, since you can get far more from it than you can from fresh pineapple. Try about 100 milligrams of bromelain a day for sore joints, if your doc approves.

Dr. Michael Roizen is chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and co-founder and chairman of the RealAge Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Mehmet Oz is a professor and vice chairman of surgery at Columbia University, as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at new York Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center. to submit questions and find ways to grow younger and healthier, go to RealAge.com, The You Docs’ online home.

Hawthorn plant found to be helpful with some heart ailments: You Docs

First-time PHun Walk set for Sunday in Edison

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

EDISON — an inaugural walk will be held Sunday at Roosevelt Park to raise awareness of and help find a cure for a rare but serious illness.

Pulmonary hypertension, which has no cure, causes abnormally high blood pressure of the arteries in the lungs, resulting in the overworking of the right side of the heart.

Melanie Kozak, who has been battling pulmonary hypertension for 14 years, said the condition begins when capillaries and tiny pulmonary arteries in the lungs become narrowed, blocked or destroyed. This makes it harder for oxygen-rich blood to flow through the lungs, which raises pressure within the arteries in the lungs. As the pressure builds, the heart’s lower right chamber, the right ventricle, must work harder to pump blood through the lungs, eventually causing the heart muscle to weaken and possibly fail.

Among the possible causes of pulmonary hypertension are any condition that causes chronic low oxygen levels in the blood, autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs, birth defects of the heart, certain diet medications, congestive heart failure, a history of a blood clot in the lung, or obstructive sleep apnea. Some of the symptoms include shortness of breath or light-headedness, fast heart rate or palpitations, and ankle and leg swelling.

Kozak, who is helping to host Sunday’s event, said this is the first walk being held locally to raise awareness of the disease and raise money for a cure.

“There are only ways to manage the dis- ease as of right now,” she said.

Kozak was diagnosed at the age of 21.

“my primary doctor was not aware of the disease… he said he read about the disease in school,” she said. “I have traveled all around for doctors. Luckily after all the doctors I have seen, I recently found a doctor at Beth Israel in Newark that I go to now.”

Kozak, who runs support groups for people with the disease in Wayne and Red Bank, said many times pulmonary hypertension can be misdiagnosed, particularly if a person is overweight or has anxiety attacks. Hundreds of people in New Jersey have been diagnosed with the disease, she said .

The various types of treatment involve around-the-clock medicine pumps, inhalers and some pills. in some cases where these do not work, a person diagnosed may require a lung or double-lung transplant.

The inaugural Power for PH: PHun Walk for a Cure will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a 2-mile walk around the lake area. Tickets are $25. Children are free, and pets are welcome. Registration includes breakfast and lunch, a goody bag and 10 raffle tickets. All types of walkers are welcome, and they are encouraged to participate as much as health and interest allow. the event will include a band, raffles and activities for children. All proceeds go to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

The event is being held in honor of 3- year-old Olivia Marie, who has been battling the disease since birth and has to be attached to medication via a pump at all times.

For more information, email powerforph@gmail.com.

First-time PHun Walk set for Sunday in Edison

What is the normal blood pressure on age 51?

I want to know the normal blood pressure on age 51 differentiate from youngest people or the same? some people says that above 40 , the blood pressure will be different that 140/90, like this, is it correct?

I am approximately the same age. I have high blood pressure and am on medications. The norm for me now is 120 over 70.
The doctor is very pleased with this as it was 190/110.
I believe the medium is 120/70.

ask your family doc next time you see him.

There is no "normal" blood pressure. each individual differs because of their body's HEMOSTASOS (I think that's the correct spelling) which means the stable enviroment inside the body. some people have PVD (poor circulation) DVT (deep vein thombosis) or CHF (congestive heart failure) all of these conditions could change one's BP. a baseline is usually determined by what a persons pressue is on a consistant basis. 120/80 may be good for one person but most people who are generally active may have a BP of 110/60 and feel completely fine. Another person could have a BP of 160/90 and that may give you or I a splitting headache.

120/80 is normal
140 is high

Blood pressure is the same for all no matter the age>
120/70 is the norm. if it's 140/90 then you might be in Prehypertension and should consult with your DR

You need to get your Dr's advise on that, not yahoo answers

120 over 70 is text book healthy. But I was once 130 over 80 and the doc was happy.

technically it would be 151/75, however, the new guidelines still want almost everyone's BP down to about 110/60. The older you get, the more atherosclerosis leading to arteriosclerosis you are prone to. This alone makes it harder to control the blood pressure because the arteries loose their elasticity. Watch your salt, walk the mile everyother day in 20 minutes or less and good luck.

What is the normal blood pressure on age 51?

High blood pressure is the silent killer

We’ve all heard the story of the active, vibrant man or woman, in the prime of life, who suddenly collapses and dies with no warning signs or prior symptoms of a health condition. after their death, it’s learned that they had a serious health threat that was undetected — and many times, this health condition originates with high blood pressure.

High blood pressure has gained the reputation as “the silent killer” because it has no symptoms in the early stages and, left untreated, can cause serious health problems. People with blood pressure-related health issues are often unaware until they experience a major health emergency, such as a heart attack. even if a person is aware that they have high blood pressure, they may not consider it serious and don’t take steps to monitor or manage their risk.

If not controlled, though, over time high blood pressure causes heart damage including hardening of the arteries, angina (chest pain), heart disease, heart attack and congestive heart failure. in addition to its effects on the heart, untreated high blood pressure can also contribute to stroke, kidney damage, vision loss, memory loss, fluid in the lungs, poor circulation in the legs and erectile dysfunction.

Nearly 75 million U.S. adults — one in three people — have high blood pressure. Several factors influence your risk for high blood pressure. Some are beyond your control: a family

history of high blood pressure, age or gender. others have roots in lifestyle choices, such as a poor diet (high in calories, fat, sugar and especially sodium), excess alcohol consumption, inactivity or being overweight. Stress, smoking and sleep apnea have links to high blood pressure, but are not scientifically proven to be direct contributors.

Age- and gender-related risks change over time. As we age, the blood vessels become less flexible, which can contribute to increased blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), men are more likely than women to have high blood pressure, up until age 45. From ages 45 to 64, men and women have equal risk level and thereafter, women have a much greater risk of high blood pressure.

A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above is considered high blood pressure. first heart attacks, first strokes and congestive heart failure have been seen among people with blood pressure readings as low as 140/90 mm Hg, according to the AHA.

Blood pressure between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg is considered prehypertension. Prehypertension means you don’t currently have high blood pressure, but are at risk for developing it in the future. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as losing weight, cutting the amount of sodium in your diet or exercising can delay or prevent high blood pressure. your doctor may also prescribe medication to control your blood pressure, if other measures are not effective.

How do you know?

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked. Children usually receive a blood pressure check at an early age by their family doctor and this continues through the teen years as part of an annual checkup.

Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years, according to the AHA, or more frequently if your blood pressure is high. your doctor can recommend the right schedule for you, based on your health and individual risk factors.

If you’re not already in the habit of having your blood pressure checked, make an appointment with your doctor for a routine physical, which includes a blood pressure check. It’s best to have your blood pressure checked by a doctor or other qualified health professional in a health care setting such as a doctor’s office or your local hospital.

— Marilyn Knaub, M.D., is with the Chester County Family Medicine and Geriatrics and on staff at Jennersville Regional Hospital.

High blood pressure is the silent killer

Tag Archives: congestive heart failure

New Year’s Resolution “Less Salt!

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From Your Heart to Your iPhone – Technology Review

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Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Monitor Blood Pressure at Home

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Hawthorn plant found to be helpful with some heart ailments: You Docs

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First-time PHun Walk set for Sunday in Edison

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What is the normal blood pressure on age 51?

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High blood pressure is the silent killer

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