Archive for the 'Blood Pressure' Category

Aug 18 2006

No Amount of Tobacco is Safe

Published by barbara under Lung or Respiratory Concerns, Blood Pressure, Getting & Staying Healthy, Heart Concerns, General Health

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This news release points out once again that smoking of any sort is not good for you. Just yesterday I met a young woman who had a four month old baby. She had just quit smoking one week ago. She deserves lots of congratulations as she is going extremely well given many of her challenges. She was rightly worried that her mother continues to smoke, even when caring for the infant. That is rude beyond belief to me.

Second case in point. I saw a woman yesterday who has smoked for many years. Her blood pressure has been creeping up over. When I saw her just weeks before I told her to take her blood pressure and pulse at home BEFORE she had a cigarette, and then again right after. The results were even more dramatic that I suspected they would be. Her blood pressure rose by nearly 40%!!! If you smoke, try this yourself…it will give you that final push to stop smoking for good.
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Any Tobacco Use Raises Heart Attack Risk
08.17.06, 12:00 AM ET

THURSDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) — All types of tobacco use or exposure — smoking, chewing, or secondhand smoke — boost a person’s risk for heart attack, Canadian researchers say.

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario analyzed data from more than 27,000 people in 52 countries and factored in other lifestyle traits — such as diet and age — that could affect heart attack risk. They found that any form of tobacco use or exposure was harmful.

Publishing in the Aug. 19 issue of The Lancet, they found that moderate and heavy smokers had a three-fold increased risk of a heart attack and light smokers (8-10 cigarettes a day) had a two-fold risk.

The risk decreased with time after a person stopped smoking, the study said. Among light smokers, there was no excess risk 3 to 5 years after they quit smoking. Moderate and heavy smokers still had an excess risk of about 22 percent even 20 years after they kicked the habit.

The researchers also concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke increased the risk of heart attack in both former smokers and nonsmokers. People with the highest levels of secondhand smoke exposure (22 hours or more per week) have about a 45 percent increased risk of heart attack, the study said.

Chewing tobacco doubled the risk of heart attack, the researchers found.

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You’ll find more information about smoking and quiting at the OlderWiserWomen Smoking Cessation page.

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May 07 2006

You can reduce your risk of having a stroke

Published by barbara under Vascular Concerns, Stroke, Blood Pressure, Exercise, Nutrition, General Health

May is Stroke Awarness Month and the American Heart Association | American Stroke Association has launched new guidelines for stroke preventon.

Here are some things that you can be doing:

  • Get your blood pressure checked. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a significiant risk factor. You can reduce your risk of stokes due to hypertension with proper treatment.
  • Dont’ smoke and eliminate your exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • If you have diabetes, it is imperative that you maintain tight control of your blood pressure, as well as your cholesterol.
  • If you already have hypertension reduce you intake of sodium (salt) to no more than 2.3 grams per day and increase your potassium intake to (4.7 gms per day) - eat a diet high in fruit, vegatbles, low-fat dairy products and low in saturated and total fat.
  • Lower your total cholesterol to acceptable levels.
  • Be physically active (moderate-intensity) for at least 30 minutes a day. That’s one brisk walk for 30 minutes.

The American Stroke Association recently launched Power To End Stroke, an aggressive education and awareness initiative to reach African Americans, who are at greater stroke risk than other ethnic groups. For more information on stroke or the Power To End Stroke campaign, call 1-888-4STROKE, or visit the American Stroke Association Web site: strokeassociation.org/power.

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Mar 13 2006

Blood-Pressure Drugs May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

Published by barbara under Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, Blood Pressure, General Health

This latest study does not surprise me at all. We’ve known for years that keeping one’s blood pressure normal can reduce the risk of dementia related to vasular causes (vascular dementia).

It seems the more we learn about the effects that high blood pressure has on us, the better off we really are at keeping it low (not just normal).

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Blood-Pressure Drugs May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk
03.13.06, 12:00 AM ET

MONDAY, Mar. 13 (HealthDay News) — Taking medications to lower blood pressure, particularly diuretics, may help reduce risks for Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests.

Experts speculate that high blood pressure may increase the risk of the brain-wasting disease. That means drugs that ease hypertension — another name for high blood pressure — might also lower Alzheimer’s risk.

In fact, “we found that among people taking anti-hypertensives, there was an overall 40 percent reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease over a three- to four-year period,” said study co-author Peter P. Zandi, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Continue reading…

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Jul 12 2005

Fish Oils and your Heart

Published by barbara under Blood Pressure, Getting & Staying Healthy, Heart Concerns, General Health

For the last several years I’ve subscribed to a monthly newsletter for health care professionals that prescribe medications called “Prescriber’s Letter” (that was a surprise!). I always like it because it gets beyond the hype that we all hear when a pharmaceutical rep comes to the office to “educate” us on their wares. This is one newsletter that does not even allow pharmaceutical company support, and they will often tell you what is wrong with the info we get from reps.

That said, the July issue of Prescriber’s Letter starts with some information on fish oil supplements. It seems that mainstream medicine is finally taking Omega-3 fatty acids more seriously than before. (Western, mainstream medicine is slow and conservative!).

Here are some facts and recommendations:

  • Eating fish at least once a week cuts sudden cardiac death by half (American heart association)
  • Recommendations include 1 gram per day of fish oils from diet or supplements for those who already have heart disease. It seems to decrease risk for further events by 15%
  • If you have high triglycerides, higher does (2-4 gram/day) of fish oils can lower those levels by up to 45%!
  • Which fish is good? Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, herring, etc.
  • If you don’t eat fish or enough fish, find a good fish oil supplement. Look for “USP-verified” seal on supplements.
  • Consider the toxicity of the fish, an artificial coloring (farm raised salmon are apparently being colored), etc. Some fish oil supplements may have less contaminates – it is still something to consider.

Of course the pharmaceutical companies will be coming out with prescription medication that will contain omega 3’s. However, if you can get your levels down with fish oil supplements, fiber, and proper eating…you are ahead of the game.

Fish oils also seem to have antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory properties and a mild blood pressure lowering effect….all good things.

Be aware that flaxseed and some nuts which also contain omega-3 fA’s, alpha-linolenic acids (ALA), but it seems to be different that one ones found in fish.

Alpha-linolenic acid may also help decrease heart disease and arthrosclerosis (gunky vessels) but does not seem to affect triglycerides.
In order to boost levels of ALA try eating a handful of walnuts, almonds or pecans daily. If you’d rather, have 1-2 tablespoons/day of ground flaxseed or ½ to 1 teaspoon/day of flaxseed oil.

I personally use ground flaxseed on lots of things. I sprinkle it on oatmeal or other cereals, fruit salads, yogurt and cottage cheese dishes I make with fruit, etc. I even throw some in the blender when making up smoothies.

Another side note. When you are looking for supplements, make sure you are getting more Omega-3’s. Many products have both O-3’s and O-6’s. You need only a few 6’s. You want the O-3’s. And, remember not all products are equal, and if you purchase a 90 day supply for $5.00 – you probably paid for nothing.

Another tool for you to use to decrease your risk of heart disease…which is the number one cause of death in women. (You’ve already quit smoking and are exercising - right?)

Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP
OlderWiserWomenâ„¢

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