Posts Tagged coronary heart disease

Creating Your Healthy Life – Hypertension

What is  ”Hypertension” or “High Blood Pressure”?

Blood pressure can be defined as the pressure or force that is applied against the artery walls as blood is carried through the circulatory system. It is recorded as a measurement of this force in relation to the heart’s pumping activity, and is measured in millimeters of mercury. The top number, systolic pressure is the measurement of the pressure that occurs when the heart contracts of beats. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, is the measurement recorded between beats, while the heart is at rest.

Hypertension itself is not a disease but, rather one warning of the manifestation of a disease. It is an indicator that the force required for blood flow is greater than normal. Because the heart is working harder than normal, high blood pressure increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, kidney failure and atherosclerosis. When the heart works harder, over a period of time, it tends to enlarge. High blood pressure also causes the arteries to become scarred, hardened and less elastic. This in turn can limit the amount of blood flowing to the organ; can cause blood clots in the arteries; and can ultimately damage the heart, brain and kidneys. Because persons with hypertension may not exhibit any symptoms, they often go undiagnosed until complications occur. This is why it is known as the “silent killer”!

Risk factors associated with hypertension that can be controlled are lifestyle related: obesity, lack of exercise, diet, stress, use of certain medications, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Hypertension is a powerful indicator of disease in other body systems. Thus, it is not just a blood pressure reduction numbers game therefore it is worthwhile to consider associated underlying cardiovascular disease and treatment protocols when treating hypertension as well as the individual’s unique response to various conventional and integrated therapies. Conventional doctors treat hypertension in one or both ways, 1) change lifestyle and eating habits 2) prescribing medications. Alternative practitioners seek to address the underlying cause and correct it.

Maintaining adequate dietary minerals may protect against high blood pressure as well as adding nutrients which may reduce or eliminate the need for anti-hypertension medications. Individuals wanting to replace drugs with a supplement protocol must do so with the cooperation of a physician and have their blood pressure taken regularly.

Heart Healthy For A Better Life

What does it mean to eat or BE Heart Healthy? Well, I like to define it as consuming foods that are low in fats and sodium and other ingredients that may foster heart diseases or the potential for obesity. Some heart healthy facts many people may or may not be aware of, and in either case don’t really pay very close attention to are as follows:

• Over 60% of Americans are over-weight
• Over 1/3 of Americans are OBESE
• Over 20% of pre-school children are over-weight
• 1/3 of our teens are over-weight
• 40%-70% of children and teens live with obese parents
• Obese adults develop high risk factors for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
• There is an alarming increase in diabetes due to the obesity epidemic
• About 80% of diabetics will develop cardiovascular diseases and die as a result
• 75% of cardiovascular disease patients will die of coronary heart disease
• Coronary disease, in this country, begins at ages of 5 and 6
• 1 out of 6 high school graduates will have Atheroma [high cholesterol]

I urge you to really take a look at those numbers. It’s amazing to me that people can turn their heads to the very real and very threatening problems that we as a people and a country currently face. We cannot continue to teach our children that the lifestyles that lead to obesity are acceptable. It all starts with the parents and what their children see them doing as they grow up. It’s been said time and time again, but we MUST set a better example because if we don’t, who will? Do you trust others to teach your children how to be heart healthy and conscious? Simply being overweight contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, certain cancers, gallstones, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis… just to name a few.

Changing ones diet is a good start, however to truly transform yourself and your family, you must take on a deeper change… a lifestyle change. Many experts suggest consciously adopting the Mediterranean Diet as an alternative to fast food, take out, and other high fat diets. The heart healthy Mediterranean Diet coupled with regular, moderate exercise has proven to be able to conquer weight related problems as well as many of the other diseases

It is up to you to make the changes you know you and your family need to make to live an overall better life. Make the decision to go heart healthy today, pass these ideas and lifestyle to your children, and enjoy the benefits of a long, healthy life with your family!