How My Friend Lowered His Blood Pressure
Right now I'm hoping my wife won't find any "honeydo's" for me because I don't have to drive anywhere, the weather's nice, and I'm hoping to soak up some sun and read a newspaper or two.
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about the number of Americans, possibly a third or more, who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, in medical lingo. The thing is, many of them have it, but don't even know it, until it's too late. High blood pressure is often referred to, as "The Silent Killer," because it often attacks with no warning, causing strokes, heart attacks and heart failure.
Now, what causes high blood pressure?
A number of answers are sodium intake, heavy use of alcohol, saturated fat, body type, sedentary lifestyle, and huffing - which is what I call smoking. Then there's "essential hypertension" which means it's there even if we can't find a specific reason for it.
If you weigh more than you should, and if so you're definitely not alone, and if you have an office job where you can sit all day, and you don't exercise, than you are probably already on the primrose path to high blood pressure. Not to mention the extra fat around the midriff that increases the odds.
Salt wouldn't be so bad if people didn't dump so much on their plates, which seems to be the norm here in Florida at least. This can lead to water retention which, in turn, can lead to hypertension. Or aggravate it if you already have it.
I see bunches of bananas whenever I go to the grocery store. And I try to eat one every day for the potassium. But apparently I'm one of the few because Americans aren't getting enough potassium in their diets, a problem which can lead to high levels of sodium.
And let's not forget huffing and excessive alcohol, which are just about the worst habits for your health.
Before we go any further, I should say I'm no teetotaler. Even though I drink very rarely, I'm not going to chastise you for doing the same, or even having a special occasion cigar, even though I don't partake in that.
But I will tell you this: constant boozing and smoking will hurt you in the long run, if you even get to have a long run. But boozing and smoking, if you already HAVE high blood pressure, is just suicidal.
To lower your blood pressure, start with simple lifestyle changes like exercising one day at a time and eating better one day at a time. Then it can become two days at a time. Remember you can't change years of habits overnight and you shouldn't try.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
When I visited him in the hospital he said, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" It doesn't have to be that way. Start making small changes, and pretty soon, before you even know it, you'll be lighter, and happier. - 17268
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about the number of Americans, possibly a third or more, who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, in medical lingo. The thing is, many of them have it, but don't even know it, until it's too late. High blood pressure is often referred to, as "The Silent Killer," because it often attacks with no warning, causing strokes, heart attacks and heart failure.
Now, what causes high blood pressure?
A number of answers are sodium intake, heavy use of alcohol, saturated fat, body type, sedentary lifestyle, and huffing - which is what I call smoking. Then there's "essential hypertension" which means it's there even if we can't find a specific reason for it.
If you weigh more than you should, and if so you're definitely not alone, and if you have an office job where you can sit all day, and you don't exercise, than you are probably already on the primrose path to high blood pressure. Not to mention the extra fat around the midriff that increases the odds.
Salt wouldn't be so bad if people didn't dump so much on their plates, which seems to be the norm here in Florida at least. This can lead to water retention which, in turn, can lead to hypertension. Or aggravate it if you already have it.
I see bunches of bananas whenever I go to the grocery store. And I try to eat one every day for the potassium. But apparently I'm one of the few because Americans aren't getting enough potassium in their diets, a problem which can lead to high levels of sodium.
And let's not forget huffing and excessive alcohol, which are just about the worst habits for your health.
Before we go any further, I should say I'm no teetotaler. Even though I drink very rarely, I'm not going to chastise you for doing the same, or even having a special occasion cigar, even though I don't partake in that.
But I will tell you this: constant boozing and smoking will hurt you in the long run, if you even get to have a long run. But boozing and smoking, if you already HAVE high blood pressure, is just suicidal.
To lower your blood pressure, start with simple lifestyle changes like exercising one day at a time and eating better one day at a time. Then it can become two days at a time. Remember you can't change years of habits overnight and you shouldn't try.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
When I visited him in the hospital he said, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" It doesn't have to be that way. Start making small changes, and pretty soon, before you even know it, you'll be lighter, and happier. - 17268
About the Author:
Dr. Bill is an orthopaedic surgeon and anti-aging expert. For heart health, he takes this kind of pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
posted by X - Men at
9:49 AM
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