120/80 is commonly recommended blood pressure for healthy people. In India, 100-130 Systolic and 70-85 diastolic blood pressure is most common. Doctors generally give precautions to heart disease and diabetic patients when systole crosses 130. But, according to a research study published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, systolic blood pressure of 130-140 is actually good for patients suffering from Coronary artery disease and diabetes. According to this research study conducted by University of Florida scientists, systolic pressure of less than 120 and diastolic pressure of less than 80 is actually not good for these patients. But, when systolic blood pressure crosses 140, such diabetic patients are more prone (50% increase in risk) to heart attack and death. For Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease patients: Good Systolic blood pressure: 130-140 Bad: Less than 120 Worst systolic blood pressure: More than 140 So, Systolic Blood pressure of 130-140 is actually good for diabetic and heart disease patients. But, blood pressure of more than 140 is very harmful for such patients. Heart disease (especially myocardial infarction) is the most common cause of death in diabetics. Advice: When a patient comes with a systolic blood pressure of more than 140, try to reduce it to 130-140 levels. But, doctors should not concentrate on intense reduction to 110-120 levels. … [Read more...]
High B.P increases heart disease risk
Increase in blood pressure raises the risk of getting heart disease, according to University of California researchers. They analysed the medical data of 4, 646 adults who took part in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The research study was published in “The Journal of Archives of Internal Medicine”. Persons who are unable to control their blood pressure are at high risk for heart diseases. 30% of US population are living with high blood pressure which is at high risk for getting heart diseases. 75% of survey participants who had high blood pressure also had other chronic diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, heart failure and vascular diseases. Most of these people generally fail to control even with medication. One should maintain blood pressure less than 130/80 mm of Hg. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mm of Hg or diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mm of Hg. According to the data, high blood pressure is common in older and African American adults. TV watching and blood pressure: Children who spend more time watching television are at risk of getting blood pressure in the later life. The children are generally obese due to lack of physical exercise and increase in psychological stress (due to watching TV). These children are generally junk food eaters. One can stay away from chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer by modifying lifestyle changes and regular screening measures. 50% of these chronic diseases are preventable. … [Read more...]
Good Cholesterol and heart disease risk
Good cholesterol (HDL, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) plays crucial role in reducing risk of heart diseases irrespective of amount of bad cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol). Higher the patient’s HDL; lower the risk of stroke or cardiovascular disease. Even if you can reduce LDL to low levels, it is of no use if you don’t have sufficient HDL. This was revealed in a research study by Sydney Heart Research Institute on 9,700 patients who are on Lipitor (Atorvostatin, cholesterol lowering drug) medication. The research study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Image courtesy: Kansas School of medicine. But researchers failed to give proper details on the protective mechanism of HDL cholesterol irrespective of LDL cholesterol. But it is very difficult to raise HDL levels. Niacin is the only drug that can raise good cholesterol levels but it has serious side effects. Statins can reduce only bad cholesterol levels but have minor effect on good cholesterol levels. Reducing bad cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol) levels reduce heart disease and stroke risk by 50%. If we can develop a magic that can elevate HDL Cholesterol without side effects, we can cut heart disease risk by 90%. It is good to keep LDL Cholesterol level under 100 mg/dl and HDL cholesterol level above 50 mg/dl. Smoking, uncontrolled blood pressure, unhealthy diet habits and stressful life are other major risk factors. Physicians should now concentrate on HDL levels otherwise patients are still at risk of heart diseases even though their LDL levels are under control. … [Read more...]
High Blood Pressure and Childhood Obesity
Blood pressure levels in children and youth are rising after decades of decline, according to a research study by a Morehouse school of Medicine. This study was done by analysing data of national health surveys conducted in 8-17 year age group between 1963 and 2002 published in “Circulation”, journal of the American Heart Association. Childhood obesity increased in all racial and ethnic groups in the recent times. One centimetre increase in waist circumference will raise blood pressure by 10% and pre- high blood pressure by 5%. Prevalence of high blood pressure showed a downward trend between 1963 and 1994 surveys and upward trend from 1999 onwards. High blood pressure is a major health problem and a common risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Normal blood pressure was defined as having both systolic pressure and diastolic pressure below the 90th percentile. Pre-High BP was defined as either a systolic or diastolic blood pressure above the 90th percentile but below the 95th percentile or having blood pressure levels above 120/80 mm Hg, but below 95th percentile. High Blood pressure was defined as either systolic or diastolic blood pressure at or above the 95th percentile. Pre-high blood pressure is relevant because the long-running Bogalusa (La.) Heart Study found that children whose blood pressure was chronically at or above the 90th percentile showed signs of early organ damage as young adults, such as greater thickening of the heart wall or higher amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine. Researchers used 2 kinds of overweight measurements: 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) – General overweight. 2. Waist circumference – Abdominal obesity. Changing eating habits and sedentary lifestyle are major factors for rise in childhood obesity. … [Read more...]
Relationship between Blood pressure and elements
The plants and elements that decrease high BP (proved in clinical trials) are: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Co Enzyme Q10, Fish oil and Flock seed oil are important ones. Elements: 1. Potassium: Deficiency of potassium in food definitely shows its effect on BP. By taking foods that contain more potassium, the high BP can be controlled. It decreases systolic blood pressure by 3.11 mm hg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.97mm. 2. Sodium: It is present in more quantities in the salt (as sodium chloride), which we use for taste in the foods. By taking less salt, the heart diseases can be reduced by 25 %( 1/4th of total heart diseases). 3. Magnesium: Decreased intake of mg leads to rise in the BP level. 4. Co-Q10: Co enzyme was first of all found in the muscles of cow’s heart and later on found in the human beings. Human body can produce it by itself. Co-enzyme is also present in, meat, fish and soya bean oil etc. It acts like Vitamin E and neutralizes the free radicals (which are harmful). Co-Q10 helps the blood to flow freely in the blood vessels and controls the high BP. 5. Fish oil: Omega 3 fatty acids present in the oil, decreases the high BP to some extent. The dose is 3 grams per day. It contains EPA, which acts on the heart to control BP. 6. Flacks seed oil: It also contains Omega 3 fatty acid containing Alfa-lenolenic acid, which reduces the BP by 5 mm of Hg both systolic and diastolic. If one table spoon of flack seed oil is taken daily, it provides sufficient amount of fatty acids to control the high BP. … [Read more...]
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