Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure

What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition that will catch up with most people who live into older age. Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. When it's too high, it raises the heart's workload and can cause serious damage to the arteries. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

Hypertension Symptoms
High blood pressure is sometimes called a silent killer because it may have no outward symptoms for years. In fact, one in five people with the condition don't know they have it. Internally, it can quietly damage the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, and kidneys if left untreated. It's a major risk factor for strokes and heart attacks in the U.S.


What Causes Hypertension?
Normal blood pressure readings will fall below 120/80, while higher results over time can indicate hypertension. In most cases, the underlying cause of hypertension is unknown. The top number (systolic) shows the pressure when your heart beats. The lower number (diastolic) measures pressure at rest between heartbeats, when the heart refills with blood. Occasionally, kidney or adrenal gland disease can lead to hypertension

    Prehypertension: A Warning Sign
    Almost one-quarter of Americans have prehypertension. Their blood pressure is consistently just above the normal level -- falling anywhere between 120 and 139 for systolic pressure or 80 to 89 for the diastolic pressure. People in this range have twice the risk of developing heart disease than those with a lower reading. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure.


The Hypertension Danger Zone
You have high blood pressure if readings average140/90 or higher -- for either number -- though you may still have no symptoms. At 180/110 and higher, you may be having a hypertensive crisis. Rest for a few minutes and take your blood pressure again. If it is still very high, call 911. A hypertensive crisis can lead to a stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, or loss of consciousness. Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis can include a severe headache, anxiety, nosebleeds, and feeling short of breath.


Who Gets High Blood Pressure?
Up to the age of 45, more men have high blood pressure than women. It becomes more common for both men and women as they age, and more women have hypertension by the time they reach 65. You have a greater risk if a close family member has high blood pressure or if you are diabetic. About 60% of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.


Hypertension and Race
African-Americans are more likely to develop hypertension -- and to develop it at a younger age. Genetic research suggests that African-Americans seem to be more sensitive to salt. In people who have a gene that makes them salt-sensitive, just a half-teaspoon of salt can raise blood pressure by 5 mm Hg. Diet and excessive weight can play a role, as well.


Hypertension and Sodium
Sodium, a major component of salt, can raise blood pressure by causing the body to retain fluid, which leads to a greater burden on the heart. The American Heart Association recommends eating less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. You'll need to check food labels and menus carefully. Processed foods contribute up to 75% of our sodium intake. Canned soups and lunch meats are prime suspects.


    Hypertension and Weight
    Being overweight places a strain on your heart and increases your risk of high blood pressure. That is why diets to lower blood pressure are often also designed to control calories. They typically call for cutting fatty foods and added sugars, while increasing fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and fiber. Even losing 10 pounds can make a difference.

Hypertension and Caffeine
If caffeine can make you jittery, can it also raise your blood pressure? It might have a temporary effect, but studies haven't shown any link between caffeine and the development of hypertension. You can safely drink one or two cups a day, according to the American Heart Association.

Hypertension and Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure. Guidelines from the American Heart Association state that if you drink alcohol, you should limit the amount to no more than two drinks a day for men, or one a day for women. They define a drink as one 12-ounce beer, four ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits, or one ounce of 100-proof spirits.


Hypertension and Stress
Stress can make your blood pressure spike, but there's no evidence that it causes high blood pressure as an ongoing condition. However, stress may affect risk factors for heart disease, so it may have an indirect connection to hypertension. Stress may lead to other unhealthy habits, such as a poor diet, alcohol use, or smoking, which can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Anti-Aging Tips For Men

Anti-Aging Tips For Men

The wish to retain youthfulness is prevalent in both men and women. To hold on to the youth or to prevent oneself from looking old specially before the age, it's important to know some anti-aging secrets. Unlike the regular view, nowadays men too are interested in anti-aging processes because they too are subject to the aging process, though it starts later than in women.

Biologically, men aging process starts later than in women but due to constant shaving, some typical habits and diet, men look much more aged than their actual age. Here are some anti-aging tips for men.

Get Rid Of Habits – Smoking, the so called sign of manliness, adds tons your aging process. Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels including those which provide oxygen to your skin tissues. Thus leading to wrinkles and dry skin. Alcohol on the other hand expands the blood vessels, more than needed, this causes patches and sagging of the skin.

2.Sun Protection – Men who feel that using a cap or scarf is not trendy need to understand that these two things are the most important in the anti-aging process. Early morning Sun is a great source of Vitamin D, which is very good for skin but when the Sun rays get harsh by mid day, they can cause dead skin and dangerous tanning. Over exposure to Sun rays, can damage the elasticity of your skin and contribute to the wrinkles and fine lines of aging.

3.Skin Care – Due to constant practice of shaving, the skin gets prone to dryness and premature aging, the anti-aging tip would be to use shaving cream with moisturizing content, shave in the direction of the hair growth, use warm water and apply aftershave to save the skin form infection and also to prevent dryness.

Other Skin Care Tips

1.Drink Plenty of water.
2.Keep your skin clean by using cleansers or by washing the face with milk twice a day.
3.Go for body and face massage. This enhance the blood circulation, which on the other hand adds glow to skin.
4.Get good sleep. This relaxes your muscles and rejuvenates them adding on to your energy level.

4.Exercise – Aging signs are seen not only on the face but also in the body structure. Your muscles tend to sag, the skin becomes loose and you also lack strength. To avoid all of this, it is important for you to exercise. 30 mints morning walks followed by aerobic exercises should be part of your daily activity. Yoga can also be very helpful but under proper guidance.

5.Diet For Anti-aging -

1.Spinach And Beans – These are great source of compound minerals. It prevents are cures wear and tear of skin cells. It prevents wrinkles and aging process of the skin.

2.Grape Juice - Grape juice is a great source of antioxidant polyphenols, which maintains the elasticity of the skin and prevents sagging of the skin.

3.Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes is a great source of fighting sun damage. It helps your skin fight against the ill effects of ultraviolet rays.

4.Mustard Seeds – Mustard seeds are a great source of Vitamin E, which is known for it's qualities of making one look younger.

These five anti-aging tips for men are quite effective and will not only prevent you but also check your aging process. It might take some time for it to show results but naturals ways are always the best to opt for/

Health Benefits of Kiwi Fruit

Health Benefits of Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi fruits are rich in many Vitamins, flavonoids and minerals. In particular, they contain a high amount of Vitamin C (more than oranges), as much potassium as bananas and a good amount of beta-carotene.

Studies in Italy, though, performed on 6-7 year old children, have also demonstrated additional health benefits to the respiratory tract. In particular, children that were fed 5-7 portions a week of citrus and kiwifruits had 44% less probability wheezing compared to children eating less than once a week.

Shortness of breath was reduced by 32%,night time cough by 27%, severe wheeze by 41%, chronic cough by 25%, and runny nose by 28%. This results is not only traceable to the content in Vitamin C or Potassium, but in substances which are still largely unknown contained in kiwi fruit.

These substances are most likely flavonoids that help protect our cells from oxidative damage, and are therefore considered very helpful in protecting our DNA from mutations and damage.

Protection from Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)
A series of studies published by the Archives of Ophthalmology have proven that consuming 3 or more servings of fruit per day (including kiwi fruits) can reduce by 36% the risk of developing an eye-related disease called ARMD (the primary cause of vision impairment in adults), if compared to people who only consume 1.5 servings of fruit per day.

The study was conducted on 110.000 women and men and lasted several decades. Surprisingly, the study found that while vegetables were not correlated with an improved resistance to the disease, fruits containing high amount of Vitamin C,A and E (the most common antioxidant vitamins) helped significantly in protecting against ARMD.

Anti Oxidant properties of Kiwi Fruit
It is important to note that kiwi fruits contain a remarkable amount of Vitamin C, E and A. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that has been proven to protect our body from free radicals, dramatically improving the health of individuals who consumed it regularly against all kinds of disease, from cardiovascular problems to cancer and obesity.

Vitamin E has been proven to have similar effects, but is fat-soluble and thus is complimentary to Vitamin C in its functions. Kiwi fruits contain both these vitamins in high amount, which help protect our body against free radicals from all fronts.

Kiwi fruits have a high fiber content
The high content in dietary fiber helps improving diseases such as diabetes, by controlling sugar levels, and cancer color, since fiber binds to toxic compounds in the colon and helps us expel them.

Fiber has also been proven to reduce cholesterol levels, improving the conditions of patients with cardiovascular diseases and lowering the probability of heart attacks.

Summary of Kiwifruit Health Benefits
Eating kiwi fruit is clearly a healthy choice, and it is particularly useful in these cases:
Prevents Asthma
Prevents wheezing and coughing, especially in children
Protects our DNA from mutations
Provides a healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamins
Helps prevent colon cancer thanks to a high fiber content