Food Remedies

Food Remedies mai

if you have elevated blood pressure, it is important to consume low-fat, low-sodium, high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables and plant foods. Flaxseed oil and foods high in potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids, are all beneficial for people with high blood pressure. It is believed that vitamin C's ability to widen and relax blood vessels is connected to its blood pressure lowering capability. Garlic and onions have also been shown to reduce blood pressure due, possibly, to their sulfur containing compounds. Some studies have shown that substances found in celery subdue production of hormones that raise blood pressure.

Lowering Your Blood Pressure is Up to You

Today, more and more people are having their blood pressure tested and controlled. But many others either never bother to check their blood pressure or stop following their doctor’s orders.

Unfortunately, high blood pressure will not simply go away. Ignoring it is very dangerous. You must accept that treatment is important. You must also accept that, while it’s up to the doctor to prescribe the best treatment to lower your blood pressure, it’s your job to follow through with that treatment.

"Follow through" includes making lifestyle changes and having your progress checked, since your treatment needs probably will change over time. For instance, some people need to cut back more on sodium, lose weight, or begin taking a drug; other people may be able to reduce or, in some cases, stop taking drugs.

If you need help making changes, contact your doctor, a pharmacist, registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist, or other health care professional.

Only by taking change of your health will you get the most from your treatment. So start now to lower your high blood pressure: Treat it for life!

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure (hypertension) is often called a silent killer because you can have it for years without knowing it. In fact, about 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, but about 30 percent of them don't know it.
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. Your blood pressure normally varies during the day. It can even vary slightly with each beat of your heart. It increases during activity and decreases with rest.
Many people may not view high blood pressure as life-threatening. But uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase your risk of serious health problems. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be detected with a simple test — and once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

DIET FOR HYPERTENSION

The cause for high blood pressure is not known in majority of the cases. The most common form of hypertension is known as essential hypertension or idiopathic hypertension. Some time high blood pressure may be due to disease of kidney, hormonal glands, mechanical obstruction of blood flow, neurogenic, pregnancy induced or may be due to some medication. They are known as secondary hypertension because this hypertension is secondary due to some other cause. This type of high blood pressure can be cured if we can treat the cause where as in primary hypertension we can only control not cure. This control can be achieved by making minor changes in life style including diet and some time with medication. Obesity and hypertension together will increase the chance of developing other cardiovascular complications and if diabetes also present the risk will multiply. It is also a major risk factor for heart diseases, kidney failure and strokes.

Risks:
Genetic factors or hereditary.
Diet - Excessive energy intake leads to obesity and tends to increase blood pressure.
Psychological factors - The stress and strain also plays a major role for high blood pressure.
Other factors - Renal, hormonal or any other disease can also happen hypertension.
Mechanical obstruction to blood flow - arteriosclerosis
Drugs - contraceptive pills, steroid

The lowdown on high blood pressure

Many men don't even think about their blood pressure. Well, maybe you do, when someone makes you mad or you get really upset about something. Aggravating events tend to cause a temporary rise in blood pressure.

What we're talking about here is something more serious: "hypertension," or high blood pressure that remains elevated over time. This condition can be a symptom of something else going on in your body or, uncontrolled, it can signal problems to come. Keeping your blood pressure under control is tremendously important to your overall health. High blood pressure is one of several factors associated with cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer of Americans...both men and women. Cardiovascular disease claims more lives annually than all cancers combined, killing approximately one million people in the U.S. each year. It disables countless others.

High blood pressure is often silent -- or without symptoms -- until a major problem develops. That's why it's essential to see your primary care physician for checkups on a regular basis. Such checkups can literally save your life. Your doctor can help you prevent high blood pressure or, at minimum, treat it at an earlier stage when it's easier to manage.
The lowdown on high blood pressureBlood pressure is the force of the flowing blood against the walls of the arteries. It's measured in two numbers ...for example, '140/90.' The first number (140) is systolic pressure, the pressure when the heart contracts and pumps the blood through the body. The lower number (90) is diastolic pressure, the pressure between pumps, when the heart is resting.

120/80 is considered normal. You have high blood pressure (hypertension) if your blood- pressure reading is equal to or greater than 140/90 for extended periods of time. Elevated blood pressure means your heart is working harder than normal, putting both your heart and arteries under a greater strain.

FACT: As many as 50 million Americans either have high blood pressure or are taking high blood pressure medication.

Using Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Using Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Individuals with high blood pressure should not only put away the salt shaker, but eat more fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products, according to a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

One in four American adults has high blood pressure, which increases risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

For the first time, the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee recommends adding fruits, vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy products to a reduced-salt diet to help prevent or lower high blood pressure.

In its statement, the Nutrition Committee recommended a diet rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium and low in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Diet for High Blood Pressure

PurposeDiseases of the heart and blood vessels are the number one cause of death in the United States. People with hypertension, or high blood pressure, are more likely to develop these diseases. Therefore, it is important to try to lower elevated blood pressure.

Hypertension cannot be cured in most cases. It can be successfully managed with lifestyle changes and/or medication. Reducing the amount of sodium in the diet can help bring blood pressure levels down.

Nutrition FactsWith proper food selection, a diet for high blood pressure can be varied and adequate in all nutrients, including vitamins and minerals.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has developed these definitions that appear on food packages to assist consumers watching their sodium intake:

• 
  "low sodium" means the food has 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving
• 
  "very low sodium" means the food has 35 milligrams or less of sodium per serving
• 
  "salt-free" means the food has 5 milligrams or less of sodium per serving
• 
  "light in sodium" means the food has at least 50% less sodium than the original version of the food
• 
  "reduced sodium" means the food has at least 25% less sodium than the original version of the product

What do the numbers mean?

Blood pressure is really two measurements, separated by a slash when written down, such as 120/80. You may also hear someone say a blood pressure is "120 over 80."
The first number is the systolic blood pressure. This is the peak blood pressure when your heart is squeezing blood out. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure. It's the pressure when your heart is filling with blood--relaxing between beats.
A normal blood pressure is less than 130/85. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have something called "prehypertension."

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure at more than one visit to see if you have high blood pressure.

How often should I have my blood pressure checked?
Even in children, blood pressure should be checked occasionally, beginning at about age 2. After age 21, have your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 years. Do it more often if you have had high blood pressure in the past.

Why is cholesterol important?

Why is cholesterol important?The major risk factors for developing a stroke or heart failure are the level of blood pressure, level of cholesterol and whether you smoke or not. It is therefore very important if you have raised blood pressure to stop smoking and lower your cholesterol level as far as possible. In relation to cholesterol it can, like blood pressure, be lowered by changes in diet but if you are at sufficient risk or the level is high enough, it may be necessary to take tablets.

What is cholesterol?There are two types of cholesterol:

LDL (low density lipoprotein) - this settles in your arteries, narrows them and can block them

HDL (high density lipoprotein) - this removes LDL cholesterol from arteries

Your doctor will want to know your total cholesterol level as well as the ratio of the bad cholesterol (LDL) to good cholesterol (HDL). You should be aiming for a high HDL cholesterol and a low LDL cholesterol.

High Blood Pressure Diet

There are certain foods that lower blood pressure, or at least help you in that direction. Here are some suggestions for a high blood pressure diet:

Do a trial decrease of salt intake and increase potassium intake. Only about 1/3 of people with hypertension have salt-sensitive hypertension and respond to a sodium restrictive diet. Balance between minerals is more important. If it does not help, do not restrict sodium unnecessarily.

Increase fiber intake - aim for at least 2 servings of vegetables per day, preferably more.

Decrease intake of sucrose/refined sugars.

Avoid caffeine.

Avoid alcohol.

Eliminate trans fatty acids and all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats from the diet.

Emphasize foods that are rich in potassium, including fruits, vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables), nuts/seeds, legumes, and whole grains.

DASH diet: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension: (based on 2,000 kcal per day). The goal of this high blood pressure diet is to increase nutrients and fiber while decreasing fat and cholesterol. This diet has been shown to significantly decrease blood pressure. There are lower calorie variations of this diet, to promote weight loss.

Grains and grain products: 7-8 servings per day.

Vegetables: 4-5 servings per day

Fruits: 4-5 servings per day.

Low fat or fat free dairy foods: 2-3 servings per day

Meats/fish/poultry: 2 or fewer servings per day.

Nuts/seeds/legumes: 4-5 servings per week

Fats/oils: 2-3 servings per day.

Sweets: 5 servings per week.

When combined with low salt, the diet is even more effective.

How Can I Reduce High Blood Pressure?

How Can I Reduce High Blood Pressure?

This information sheet discusses the following steps for treating your high blood pressure:

1. Lose weight if you’re overweight.
2. Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt.
3. Be more physically active.
4. Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks a day for men.
5. Take medicine the way your doctor tells you.
6. Know what your blood pressure should be and work to keep it at that level.

High Blood Pressure

According to recent estimates, nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. In fact, many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. This is why high blood pressure is often called the "silent killer." The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.
What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?
Your risk for high blood pressure increases as you age and if you have a family history of heart disease. Other risk factors include: smoking, being overweight, taking birth control pills, or using excessive amounts of salt.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important.

Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.
High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. Some people may not find out they have it until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause: The heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. Small bulges (aneurysms) to form in blood vessels. Common locations are the main artery from the heart (aorta), arteries in the brain, legs, and intestines, and the artery leading to the spleen. Blood vessels in the kidney to narrow, which may cause kidney failure. Arteries throughout the body to "harden" faster, especially those in the heart, brain, kidneys, and legs. This can cause a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or amputation of part of the leg. Blood vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed, which may cause vision changes and can result in blindness.

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