Dr. John's Health Matters
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The articles posted here are from various sources who are duly acknowledged. I would appreciate being immediately notified, if any copywritten material needs to be removed. This blog is not intended to replace the qualified advice of a licensed health practitioner. Readers should exercise their own judgment. Enjoy, subscribe, participate and tell others :)
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Posts tagged "pressure"
Wednesday, Sep 2nd, 2009 ↓Melons can fight blood pressure →
Sept 2, 2009 (Presstv.com)—Following a diet rich in potassium-rich fruits and vegetables such as melons, commonly found in summer, can help lower the blood pressure.
Potassium chloride had long been used to lower blood pressure levels. A new study, however, finds any increase in potassium intake can also lead to similar results.
According to the study recently conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the high potassium content of certain fruits including fresh melons can help athletes and those suffering from high blood pressure.
Scientists concluded that increasing potassium intake has the same effect as taking potassium chloride.
The US Department of Agriculture officials hence urged adults to get some 4,044 milligrams of potassium from food and beverages each day.
“Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon are particularly high in potassium,” said lead researcher Lona Sandon, adding that one fourth of a cantaloupe contains 800 to 900 milligrams of potassium, roughly 20 percent of the recommended daily value.
Two cups of watermelon contains nearly 10 percent of the recommended daily value.
Dried apricots, avocados, figs, kiwi, oranges, raisins, dates, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and even grapefruit are other good sources of potassium.
Tags: melon blood pressure hypertension vegetable potassium lower prevention treatment fruit cantaloupe watermelon apricot avocado fig kiwi orange raisin date bean potato tomato grapefruit
AHA limits sugar intake to protect heart →
Aug 27, 2009 (Presstv.com)—While Americans eat more than 22 teaspoons of sugar per day, the American Heart Association urges individuals to limit their sugar intake in order to remain healthy.
“For the first time we’ve created specific recommendations about the amount of sugars that can be consumed in a heart-healthy diet,” said Rachel Johnson lead author of a report published in Circulation.
According to the report, too much sugar not only leads to obesity but also places the individual at a greater risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
The new guidelines revealed that women should eat less than 100 calories (equal to six teaspoons or 25 grams) of added processed sugar per day.
The limit for moderately active women aged 51-55 is as low as 5 teaspoons (80 calories) and for sedentary women aged 71-75 is as low as 3 teaspoons (48 calories).
As for men, the permitted sugar amount is reported to be less than 150 calories, equal to nine teaspoons or 37.5 grams.
The new guidelines recommend active men aged 21-25 to eat less than 18 teaspoons (288 calories) and sedentary men aged 46-50 to eat less than 9 teaspoons (144 calories).
AHA officials say that the guidelines are only for “added sugars” used to make foods and drinks rather than the natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or milk.
They therefore urged food and beverage companies to limit the sugar content of their products.
PKH/HGH
Tags: heart disease cardiovascular disease diabetes high blood pressure hypertension stroke diet nutrition teaspoon calorie processed sugar content limit risk
High Blood Pressure Linked To Memory Problems In Middle Age →
Aug 26, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—High blood pressure is linked to memory problems in people over 45, according to research published in the August 25, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study found that people with high diastolic blood pressure, which is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading, were more likely to have cognitive impairment, or problems with their memory and thinking skills, than people with normal diastolic readings.
For every 10 point increase in the reading, the odds of a person having cognitive problems was seven percent higher. The results were valid after adjusting for other factors that could affect cognitive abilities, such as age, smoking status, exercise level, education, diabetes or high cholesterol.
The study involved nearly 20,000 people age 45 and older across the country who participated in the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study and had never had a stroke or mini-stroke. A total of 1,505 of the participants, or 7.6 percent, had cognitive problems, and 9,844, or 49.6 percent, were taking medication for high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is defined as a reading equal to or higher than 140/90 or taking medication for high blood pressure.
“It’s possible that by preventing or treating high blood pressure, we could potentially prevent cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia,” said study author Georgios Tsivgoulis, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.
Research has shown that high diastolic blood pressure leads to weakening of small arteries in the brain, which can result in the development of small areas of brain damage.
For full article, see link above.
Tags: memory high blood pressure cognitive impairment artery brain dementia damage stroke
Tags: supplement metabolic syndrome cardiovascular heart blood pressure extract root obesity cholesterol insulin isoflavone kudzu stroke disease
Health Tip: Choosing a Backpack →
Aug 23, 2009 (Therapytimes.com)—Along with pens, paper and notebooks, for many youngsters, a backpack is a back-to-school necessity.
The U.S. National Safety Council offers these safety guidelines for selecting a backpack:
- Look for features that offer better support, comfort and safety.
- Choose a backpack with padding in the back to minimize pressure.
- Opt for a backpack that has belts around the hip and chest to more evenly distribute the contents.
- A backpack with lots of compartments is better, as it also helps evenly distribute the weight of school supplies.
- Look for compression straps at the bottom or side of the backpack to bring the contents closer to the back.
- Look for reflective material so your child is easier to see if walking in the dark.
— Diana Kohnle
Tags: backpack napsack support comfort safety padding back pressure belt weight distribute compartment compression strap reflective
Tags: school anxiety stress children child yoga breathing walking listening attention calm emotion reduce technique meditation academic social pressure
Hypnosis Going Mainstream: Doctors Urged to Use Hypnosis to Alleviate Patient Pain During Some Procedures →
Aug 24, 2009 (NaturalNews.com)— A psychiatric researcher has called upon the United Kingdom’s medical regulatory body to add hypnotherapy to its list of approved treatments for a much wider variety of conditions, in a presentation at a joint conference of the joint conference of the Royal Society of Medicine, the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis and the British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis.
“It is time for hypnosis to work its way into the mainstream of British medicine,” said David Spiegel of Stanford University. “There is solid science behind what sounds like mysticism and we need to get that message across to the bodies that influence this area. Hypnosis has no negative side-effects.”
Spiegel said that hypnosis is an effective treatment for a wide spectrum of conditions including allergies, high blood pressure and pain. He also urged that the procedure be used in lieu of anesthesia during some surgeries.
“It makes operations quicker, as the patient is able to talk to the surgeon as the operation proceeds, and it is cheaper than conventional pain relief. Since it does not interfere with the workings of the body, the patient recovers faster, too,” he said. “It is also extremely powerful as a means of pain relief. Hypnosis has been accepted and rejected because people are nervous of it. They think it’s either too powerful or not powerful enough, but, although the public are skeptical, the hardest part of the procedure is getting other doctors to accept it.”
Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville of Liege University Hospital in Belgium said that she has carried out more than 6,000 operations using a combination of hypnosis and local anesthesia.
“The local anesthetic is used only to deaden the surface of the skin while a scalpel slices through it. It has no effect inside the body,” she said. “The patient is conscious throughout the operation and this helps the doctor and patient work together. The patient may have to move during an operation and it’s simple to get them to do so if they remain conscious. We’ve even done a hysterectomy using the procedure.”
Sources for this story include: www.guardian.co.uk.
Health Tip: What's Behind My Low Blood Pressure? - MedicineNet - Health and Medical Information Produced by Doctors →
Aug 20, 2009 (Therapytimes.com) — Many people worry about high blood pressure and how to bring it under control. But low blood pressure also can be a medical problem, perhaps leading dizziness, fainting or fatigue.
- A side effect of medications, such as certain antidepressants, diuretics, painkillers or heart medicines.
- Alcohol use.
- Heart failure or heart attack.
- Dehydration.
- A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Advanced diabetes.
- Going into shock.
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
— Diana Kohnle
Tags: blood pressure risk cause dizzy fainting fatigue hypotension medication antidepressant alcohol heart failure attack dehydration allergic reaction shock arrhythmia
Juice Health Benefits →
(NaturalNews.com)— Some mornings on my way to work, I drop by the local Jamba Juice store a block from my office and down 16 ounces of carrot juice and four ounces each of wheatgrass juice and a green tea energy drink. I drink this cocktail for overall health and vitality. The wheatgrass is full of vitamin K and amino acids, the carrot juice is packed with beta-carotene, and the green tea gives me a boost of caffeine and antioxidants to get my day started.
However, this is not a story about general health maintenance. It is about “targeted” juices that have predictable and rapid therapeutic effects on specific health conditions. Let’s start with a very common problem: high blood pressure.
Celery Juice Lowers Blood Pressure
When you think about lowering blood pressure, celery probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But this crunchy vegetable deserves some serious attention. Loaded with potassium and magnesium, celery contains something even more important: 3-n-butyl-phthalide, a compound that relaxes the smooth muscle cells in the arterial walls, allowing the arteries to dilate and effectively lowering blood pressure.
One of the physicians at Whitaker Wellness decided to put celery to the test. Every day for a month, she and her father juiced and drank one bunch of celery, mixed with a little orange juice for flavor (it’s somewhat bitter on its own). Her father’s systolic blood pressure went from 148 to 128 and hers went from 120 to 105. Imagine results this dramatic without dangerous prescription drugs!
Another great juice for people with hypertension is Low-Sodium V8 Juice. It works on two fronts to lower blood pressure. First, it contains a particularly high dose of potassium (840 mg per eight ounces) that helps keep blood pressure in check. Second, according to a study recently published in JAMA, it is an effective blood thinner, which further contributes to its antihypertensive effects. For Ted, one of my longtime patients, simply drinking 12 ounces of Low-Sodium V8 Juice daily was enough to keep his blood pressure in the normal range.
For full article, see link above.
Tags: juice antioxidant vitamin amino acid celery cabbage stomach blood pressure cardiovascular therapeutic vegetable digestion cherry cranberry pain relief anthocyanin flavonoid gout uric acid urinary tract infection mannose prevention
Tags: baby IVF metabolic disease blood pressure glucose level high obesity fat reproductive genes fetal growth nutrients
Prehypertension, Obesity And Kidney Disease Risks →
Aug 11, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—People with prehypertension are not at increased risk of kidney disease if their body mass index (BMI) is under 30.0 kg/m2, a first-ever examination of the combined effect of blood pressure and body weight on the risk of kidney disease shows.
The study was by a team of medical researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Prehypertension is a relatively new medical classification introduced in 2003 in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on High Blood Pressure (JNC-7), and is defined as systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg. Studies from the United States and Asia have shown that prehypertension can increase the risk of serious kidney disease, but because more than 30 percent of the US and European populations can be classified as prehypertensive, treating everyone with this condition would be an enormous undertaking, the researchers observed.
At the same time, obesity is also known to lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death from chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a result of diabetes and hypertension. These increased risks have led medical researchers to consider whether people with prehypertension should be considered for treatment if they have other cardiovascular risks, such as obesity.
For full article see link above.
Tags: kidney risk prevention weight obesity overweight bmi hypertension cardiovascular blood pressure heart disease diabetes prehypertension body
Exercise is Healthy for Mother and Child During Pregnancy →
Aug 8, 2009 (Mercola.com)—Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, according to a new report. Exercise can strengthen and improve overall musculoskeletal and physiologic health as well as pregnancy related symptoms.
Exercise such as aerobics, impact and nonimpact activities, resistance training and swimming:
- Eases back and other musculoskeletal pain
- Lowers maternal blood pressure
- Reduces swelling
- Improves post-partum mood, including sadness
Sources: 
Eurekalert August 3, 2009
Tags: exercise pregnant pregnancy fetus physical activity strength musculoskeletal aerobic resistance training swimming pain back blood pressure swelling sadness
Beetroot Juice Boosts Stamina, New Study Shows →
Aug 7, 2009 (sciencedaily.com)—Drinking beetroot juice boosts your stamina and could help you exercise for up to 16% longer. A University of Exeter led-study shows for the first time how the nitrate contained in beetroot juice leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring.
The study reveals that drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to an extent that cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training.
The research team believes that the findings could be of great interest to endurance athletes. They could also be relevant to elderly people or those with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases.
The research team conducted their study with eight men aged between 19 and 38. They were given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests, involving cycling on an exercise bike. On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before completing the same cycling tests.
After drinking beetroot juice the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes, which is 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo. This would translate into an approximate 2% reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance. The group that had consumed the beetroot juice also had lower resting blood pressure.
For full article se link bove.
Tags: beetroot juice stamina exercise physical activity tired tiring oxygenm uptake use training endurance blood pressure supplement
Whey protein may improve heart health: Study →
Aug 5, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—A whey-protein-rich ingredient may improve blood vessel function in healthy individuals, reports a new randomised, double-blind study supported by Glanbia.
Two weeks of supplementation with a proprietary peptide (NOP847, Glanbia Nutritionals) resulted in a 1.5 per cent improvement in blood flow, report researchers from the University of Connecticut in the open access Nutrition Journal.
According to the researchers, the whey protein-derived ingredient, isolated from hydrolysate, may work via an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity.
ACE inhibitors work by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II, thereby improving blood flow and blood pressure.
“The results of this preliminary study suggest that in individuals with normal endothelial function, the acute ingestion of a peptide derived from whey improves both conduit and resistance vascular responses,” wrote the authors, led by Kevin Ballard.
If further studies support the vascular benefits of the ingredient, it could see it enter the already buoyant heart health market. According to a recent market research conducted by Frost & Sullivan, the market is dominated by four ingredients: phytosterols; omega-3s; beta-glucans and soy protein.
For full article see link above.
Tags: whey protein heart supplement blood vessel function flow ace inhibitor blood pressure prevention endothelial cardiovascular
