High Blood Pressure Early Treatment Options

By Stephen Morgan

In the early days, Healthcare Professionals were reluctant to prescribe Drugs for patients with a High Blood Pressure reading of less than 160/100 Hg. Levels such as these were viewed at the time to be not necessarily dangerous and did not warrant the use of drugs.

The rationale behind this that Doctors felt that the side effects of the drugs used at the time would possibly be of more danger to the patient than the high blood pressure readings.

Nowadays this approach to the treatment of High Blood Pressure has changed. Both of the above perceptions relating to the danger of the side effects and the mild nature of the blood pressure readings have lead to the discontinuance of this practice.

Recent research has firmly established the value of treating “stage 1 Hypertension” (a reading of between 140/90 – 159/99 Hg) with medicines if necessary. It is now also considered prudent to treat patients who also suffer from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure if their readings are as low as 130/80 Hg. The sensitivity of medicines nowadays is such that blood pressure levels can be controlled with much lower dosages meaning that the danger of side effects can also be reduced.

There has never been a greater variety of medicines for raised blood pressure available to General Practitioners from which to choose. These “antihypertensive drugs” also include many types of medicines where there is a combination of several different types of medication. The newer types of medicines quite often have a different chemical makeup and structure compared to the traditional medicine but quite often produce nearly identical effects on the human body.

The variety and sophistication of medicines is such now that General Practitioners can produce care plans and treatment programmes tailored to the individual patient and in most cases prescribe medicines that have little side effects to the patient and protect against possible further complications down the line.

A major difference in the treatment programme nowadays is that General Practitioners can quite possibly provide one single course of medicines that can treat conditions like raised blood pressure and accompanying medical problems like congestive Heart Failure.

The common initially accepted approach to raised blood pressure Treatment nowadays is to start slow & low and then build gradually where possible gradually increasing the dosage of the medicine prescribed until the hypertension level sinks to a normal level. If this is not shown to work or causes troublesome side effects then a wide number of replacement medicines are available for use.

The presently accepted course of treatment for Stage 1 Hypertension is to start with one drug and add a second if the blood pressure reading does not respond or decrease to normal levels. The target levels here are 140/90 Hg. For those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease then the ideal targets are reduced to 130/80 Hg. For “Stage 2 Hypertension” (the old levels of conventional High Blood Pressure) then the accepted course of action is to start with at least 2 drugs. Again if the response to this is not within an acceptable timeframe then the idea is to start an additional course of medication using another drug alongside the first two.

Just when you think that raised blood pressure can be controlled with purely medicines. Results improve dramatically to all of these programmes when the medicines are accompanied by a better diet, a reduced consumption of alcohol and a willingness to stop smoking.

‘Nuff said really.

Stephen Morgan writes for High Blood Pressure and further details about this subject and other associate matters can be found at High Blood Pressure Treatment

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Morgan

               

Heart Disease Signs Symptoms Information

By Jose Santiago

Of the numerous types of cardiovascular conditions, the one that is most likely to lead to a heart attack is what is known as Coronary Heart Disease or more appropriately, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). One Condition increased cardiovascular risk is diabetes and high cholesterol level.

You want reduce the risk for CAD. Highly variable cyclic training has been linked to increased anti-oxidant prodcution in the body and an anti-inflammatory response, a more efficient nitric oxide response,which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system. Also increased metabolic rate response which can assist with weight loos and decrease cholesterol level. To summarize, some of the potential benefits of variable cyclic training compared to steady state endurance training are improved cardiovascular health, increased anti-oxidant protection, improved immune function, reduced risk for joint wear and tear, reduced muscle wasting and increased capacity for the heart to handle life’s every day stressors. In addition, regular cardiovascular exercise can increase the concentration of hemoglobin in blood, allowing the body to become more efficient at transporting oxygen to the cells that need it, as well as removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. Antioxidants protect arteries as well as the heart itself in several ways.

A daily dose of fish oil has helped prevent, slow or even reverse the hardening and narrowing of arteries in heart disease in some studies. Reduce the cholesterol decrease the arteries become rigid and hard to produce coronary arteries disease.

Cholesterol only affixes itself to arteries in order to coat and cover up the abrasions and protect the underlying tissue like a waterproof bandage. Therefore cholestero is an important function of the body, but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be cause of heart attacks and strokes. The latest studies suggest that chronic inflammation of the lining of arteries is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. For this reason you need to remember these free radicals in your arteries and veins promote the plaque build up in our arteries leading us to incrased risk of heart disease.

Other sustance related to CAD is homocysteine. Homocysteine is chemical compound and is formed from S-adenosyl methionine reaction. The elevations of homocysteine occur in rare hereditary disease homocystinuria. This chemical product cause heart attacks by puching holes in arteries, starting plaque formation and then causing clots fo form in the plaques.

The person with CAD have several symptoms. The most commond is chest pain and short of breath. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. One disease confuse with coronary heart disease is heart burn. Heart burn can be cause by eat spicy foods, caffeinated beverages, alcohol and even stress can lead to symptoms. If more people recognized the signs of heart attacks or coronary arteries disease and acted sooner, more people would survive them. One reason that people don’t always recognize the warning signs of heart attacks is that they act differently. Also remember, heart attacks in diabetics occur at a younger age than they do in non-diabetics.

Heart attacks and coronary arteries disease can be prevented by preventing the development of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries.

About the Author: Free People Information Online

               

Weapons in the Battle Against Heart Disease

By Jon Stout

Heart disease and stroke are our nation’s number one killers. As we become more sedentary and more obese, heart disease is occurring in more severe forms and at younger ages. But, there are ways to avoid heart disease, if you understand the associated health issues and how to control them. Here’s an overview of the contributors to heart disease and how to minimize your risk by managing your life.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol comes in two forms. LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins) is what is known as “bad cholesterol”. When too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can build up in the inner walls of your arteries, where it forms plaque that hardens and narrows the arteries. This condition is called atherosclerosis. Narrow arteries make it easy for a clot to form and cause a block, and they also restrict blood flow. Peroxidation is the process that turns the cholesterol into the hard plaque that sticks to arterial walls.

HDL cholesterol or (high density lipoproteins) is what we refer to as “good cholesterol”. HDL cholesterol carries bad cholesterol away from the heart and deposits it to the liver so that it can pass from the body. We need this cholesterol to be high, because it protects us. When your HDL levels are too low, the LDL cholesterol is in control.

It’s important to understand your cholesterol levels and do your best to improve them if they’re not where they should be. Dietary cholesterol comes from animals and animal products. Eating a diet that’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol; avoiding things like butter, egg yolks and red meat, can help lower your LDL levels considerably. When you eat fat, make it the sort that raises your HDL levels, by including olive oil, canola oil and nuts in your diet.

Your cholesterol level is also affected by your heredity. Some families just have higher cholesterol than others, regardless of how much they watch their diet. If you fall into this category, you may need medication in addition to a healthy diet to get your cholesterol numbers in line.

High Blood Pressure

The second important component in heart disease is blood pressure. High blood pressure has no symptoms, but it can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney failure if unmanaged.

The pressure of your blood puts beats against the walls of your veins and arteries. This weakens the arterial walls and causes stress on the heart. The pressure can also cause little nicks in the arterial walls. Your body tries to repair these nicks by creating little blood clots. However, if these clots become too big, or break off and get stuck in an artery (particularly one already narrowed by plaque), it can result in a heart attack or stroke. That’s why keeping your blood pressure under control lowers your risk of heart disease. Have your blood pressure checked regularly to determine if you’re at risk. A healthy blood pressure is one that is right around 120/80.

The Big Five

To get your lifestyle under control and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels so that you can minimize your risk of heart disease and stroke, there are four things you need to do.

Exercise

Exercise is critical for preventing heart disease. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week. Regular exercise lowers cholesterol and blood pressure naturally, and can help keep your weight in check.

Eat Right

Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet. Instead, focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein like fish and chicken. If you’re overweight, get down to a healthy weight for your height. A heart healthy diet will help you lose the extra pounds, too. Avoid processed foods with ingredients like enriched flour and high fructose corn syrup.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking significantly increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Get Those Anti-Oxidants

In the last few years, we’ve come to understand how powerful anti-oxidants are in the fight against disease. Anti-oxidants fight the free radicals that our body creates each day as we process our food. Without anti-oxidants to fight them, these free radicals damage our bodies’ cells and DNA. This leads to disease and premature aging.

If you’re eating a heart healthy diet, you’re probably already getting a fair amount of anti-oxidants already, since fruits and vegetables are very good sources. However, there are a few anti-oxidant powerhouses that you really should add to your diet. Be sure you’re getting:

The Best Fruits and Veggies – Artichokes, blueberries, red beans, pomegranates and tomatoes are potent anti-oxidant sources. If you’re not eating these regularly, add them to your diet.

Green Tea – Research has shown that the flavonoids in green tea, particularly EGCG, are some of the most potent anti-oxidants around. There have been many studies that have associated green tea with a lower risk of heart disease. In particular, one study reported on UK Tea Council showed green tea to have a positive effect on many aspects of heart disease.

This study reported that green tea helped lower cholesterol, had anti-inflammatory properties, protected arteries and blood vessels and protects against blood clots. This information is powerful when you consider how simple it is to add green tea to your diet.

So, arm yourself with the weapons to beat heart disease before it’s too late. Heart disease can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle – so make sure you’re prepared to avoid this serious killer.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company’s fine line of teas.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Stout

               

Know The Early Signs Of A Heart Attack Your Life Could Depend On It

By Mike Herman

Learn these important early signs of a heart attack to make sure you get help early before more damage occurs. Successful recovery for heart attack victims depends heavily on early treatment.

The first hour after signs of a heart attack begin is known in the medical community as the golden hour. The chances of recovery greatly improve if treatment begins within this first hour.

Still many people don’t get the help they need as quickly as they should. Many people have the mistaken impression that a heart attack will have strong and violent signs. They incorrectly think that there will be no doubt as to what is happening. In most cases, that is far from the truth.

Beginning Signs Of A Heart Attack

Yes, there are a few heart attacks that are sudden and intense. There’s no question about what’s happening. In most cases, heart attacks begin slowly. Mild pain or discomfort is the only sign. This causes people to wait too long before they get help.

Its important to realize that pain and discomfort is your body’s way of alerting you that something is not right. Its important to pay attention to your body and act quickly especially if heart attack is even a remote possibility. Memorize the common early signs of a heart attack so you can make sure you and your friends and family get the help they need quickly.

Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes is one sign of a heart attack. This pain can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can come and go.

Areas of the upper body can also experience pain during the beginning of a heart attack. This includes both arms, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach.

Shortness of breath is another early sign of a heart attack. It can occur with or without chest pain. Cold sweat, nausea, and lightheadedness can also be present in the beginning of a heart attack.

Its important to act quickly. If you or someone you know has any of the above symptoms don’t hesitate call 911 or get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

It’s much better to get checked and find out another its another cause than to ignore symptoms and find out later its a heart attack. Don’t be concerned about being embarrassed if there’s nothing wrong.

It’s much better to get checked than to risk damage to your heart or even death.

If you need additional information about symptoms of heart problems, including symptoms of angina, click on over to 4HealthConcerns.com/HeartDisease and find the help you need.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Herman