High Blood Pressure and Stress - Are They Related?

One main question that is asked regarding high blood pressure is if stress plays a big factor. Researchers have a hard time answering this question, but through research of my own, I hope to get you some facts about high blood pressure and stress.

First of all, stress is not a good thing to have when dealing with high blood pressure. It is known to release mass amounts of hormones that increase your heart rate making your blood pressure go higher.

That fact alone tells you that stress is not a good thing to have if you suffer from high bp. You need to look at your daily schedule and take all of the things out that are causing you to get stressed out.

But, does stress make someone develop high bp? That is what puzzles a lot of medical researchers. They are pretty unclear of a set answer. Personally, I don't think that it alone will make you have constant high blood pressure. I think that you need a combination of other problems to have constant high bp.

So, let's talk a little more. Let's say that you have high bp already and you have been stressing all day over a public speech that you have to give at the end of the day. You can find that your blood pressure is going to be even higher all day that day.

The same is true if you do not suffer. If you are stressing all day long, you will have a higher blood pressure throughout that day, and some researchers believe that if this happens often enough, stress could set on high blood pressure all of the time requiring either medication or other form of treatment.

It can be a real tricky topic to discuss when we are talking about it's relationship to blood pressure. If you have had it for a while now you need to start now and get rid of the anxiety that is in your life day to day. Anxiety is a bad thing since it makes you produce more hormones that are responsible for increasing your heart rate. It is your enemy if you suffer from high blood pressure.

As far as treatment, you will most likely be prescribed medications to keep your bp normalized. This can be alpha blocker, beta blockers, etc.

The bad thing, however, is that these medications have nasty side effects that take a toll on your body and could cause you to get even more stressed out. The good thing is that there are other treatments available that are proven to get rid of high blood pressure and stress!

Did you know that most people who suffer from high blood pressure and stress do not even know they have treatment options available, and don't know what they are doing that could be triggering their high blood pressure?

Don't be left in the dark. Find out how you can get rid of high blood pressure and stress for good!

High Blood Pressure and Stress - More Information Here!

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Hypertension Warning Signs

Hypertension is a condition that's pretty hard to detect. But there are some hypertension warning signs that you should be aware of in able for you to take appropriate action, while it is still early.

Hypertension warning signs are very important, since they usually show up when your condition is already close to being very serious. So once you see the signs, you shouldn't ignore them. Take them seriously, and consult your physician as soon as possible.

If you come from a family that has prevalent history of hypertension, then you must take it as a sign that you are at much higher risks in developing the condition yourself. Persistent headaches are another too. Most people ignore headaches and usually mistake it for simple stress or fatigue, but this should not be the case. Because, a headache wouldn't occur if nothing is wrong with your body.

Another one of the hypertension warning signs includes heart palpitations. The higher your blood pressure is, the more your heart beats faster. Your heart rate is actually doubled than your normal rate. If this happens, you can experience palpitations, which just worsen your condition, since it could lead to even more blood flow.

Change in your sight can also be one of the signs. Since there is more blood flow in your head region, the small vessels in your eyes have a hard time accommodating the extra blood. This then causes your eyes to have white spots and other problems.

If you want more and detailed data on hypertension warning signs, there are a lot of ebooks that you can download that can help you out on pinpointing the signs. Remember, it's better to act now rather than wait for other consequences

Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about women's issues, parenting and other health related stuffs. Click on the link to learn more about Hypertension Warning Signs...

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High Cholesterol and Heart Disease - What Can We Do About It?

High cholesterol level is not a major cause of coronary heart disease

Contrary to the major opinion that high cholesterol is the major cause coronary heart disease, there are many research result that will lead us to have another opinion. Coronary heart disease is caused mainly by atherosclerosis. Some of us think that high cholesterol level will lead to building blockage in the blood vessel. Many people had a low cholesterol level (may be because of the cholesterol lowering drugs) but still got the coronary heart disease. On the other side, there are many people had a high cholesterol level, but they do not get the disease.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting arterial blood vessels. It is commonly referred to as a "hardening" or "furring" of the arteries. It is caused by the formation of multiple plaques within the arteries, known as coronary heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is a condition where the walls of the arteries are damaged and narrowed by deposits of plaque (cholesterol and other fatty substances, calcium, fibrin, and cellular wastes), eventually blocking off the flow of blood. Plaque deposits can result in bleeding (hemorrhage) or formation of a blood clot (thrombus). When hemorrhage or thrombus blocks the flow of blood through the entire artery, a heart attack or a stroke occurs. High cholesterol levels - particularly the cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein ("LDL", a protein found in blood) - are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. But LDL by itself is not dangerous, read the fact about oxidized LDL in this article.

Lipoprotein (a) is still a mystery

Studies have identified Lipoprotein (a) as a putative risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases as coronary heart disease and stroke. Lipoprotein (a) concentrations vary over one thousand fold between individuals, from <> 200 mg/dL. This range of concentrations is observed in all populations studied so far. The mean and median concentrations between different world populations show distinct particularities, the main being the two- to threefold higher Lipoprotein (a) plasma concentration of populations of African descent compared to Asian, Oceanic, or European populations.

High Lipoprotein (a) in blood is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and stroke. Lipoprotein (a) concentrations may be affected by disease states, but are only slightly affected by diet, exercise, and other environmental factors. Commonly prescribed high cholesterol-reducing drugs have little or no effect on Lipoprotein (a) concentration. Niacin (nicotinic acid) and aspirin are two relatively safe, easily available, and inexpensive drugs known to significantly reduce the levels of Lipoprotein (a) in some individuals with high Lipoprotein (a); they should be used under the supervision of a qualified physician.

High Lipoprotein (a) predicts risk of early atherosclerosis similar to high LDL, but in advanced atherosclerosis, Lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor not dependent on LDL. High Cholesterol level do not have correlation with Lipoprotein (a) level.

Oxidized LDL

Normal LDL in plasma is not oxidized. Oxidation of LDL is believed to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Macrophage cells preferentially take up oxidized LDL, become loaded with lipids, and convert into foam cells. Foam cells accumulate in fatty streaks, early signs of atherosclerosis and leading to heart disease. Humans produce autoantibody against oxidized LDL, and the levels of such autoantibody are higher in patients with atherosclerosis. The identification of LDL oxidation as a key event in atherosclerosis suggests that it may be possible to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by antioxidant supplementation. Vitamin E is the major naturally occurring antioxidant in human lipoproteins

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols.

Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes, causes oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells.

Summary

Atherosclerosis can lead to coronary heart disease. Lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor of coronary heart disease. Oxidation of LDL is believed to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. We can prevent the oxidation of LDL by taking antioxidant.

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Be Heart Healthy With Home Remedies For High Cholesterol

If you want your heart to be healthy and stay healthy, you need to lower down your cholesterol and what better way to start than trying out home remedies for high cholesterol? A great majority of people find it hard to lower down their cholesterol simply because these happen to be the foods they like to eat. However, if you only knew the damaging effects of high cholesterol to your body, you will be encouraged enough to try and cut down on the fat.

High cholesterol can lead you to develop damaging, if not fatal conditions. If allowed to carry on the habit without addressing it, you carry the risk of developing a fatty liver, clogged arteries, high blood pressure, and worse Myocardial Infarction. Home remedies for high cholesterol can help you lower down your cholesterol count and even prevent it from escalating to dangerous levels.

Most home remedies for high cholesterol include incorporating heart-healthy foods to the diet. One is to eat garlic or take a capsule of it twice a day. Garlic can help lower down your LDLs or your bad cholesterol while increasing your HDLs or your good cholesterol. You can also try eating ginger since this can also lower down your cholesterol as well as thin out your blood giving you improved blood circulation. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids has also been known to substantially lower down your cholesterol as well as Lecithin.

The following remedies are very common for treating high cholesterol:

1. Eat raw garlic daily.

2. Eat 2-3 apples every day.

3. Walnuts can treat high cholesterol levels.

4. Consume tomatoes, you can either eat them fresh, in a salad, or drink tomato juice.

5. Eat soy products to lower cholesterol levels.

6. Sunflower seeds are very good remedy for cholesterol.

7. Eat food that contains fiber.

8. Make a cup of lemon grass tea, add 2 teaspoons of honey and drink slowly.

9. Make a cup of tea, add 3 cinnamon sticks and drink.

10. Eat or drink grapefruit daily.

Yet other simple remedies for high cholesterol that most people seem to overlook include a change in lifestyle. This means that if you were sedentary before, be active now. Try some exercises, starting out slowly and gradually increasing the pace. Avoid habits that can just be as damaging as high cholesterol such as too much smoking and consumption of alcohol.

Try being aware of the condition because the more you know the better you can prevent it from occurring. For instance, be aware of the difference of LDLs and HDLs. Both are considered cholesterols, however, each have different types of actions. While LDLs are considered your bad cholesterol because it plays a great role in increasing your cholesterol count, HDLs are considered your good cholesterols because it lowers down your cholesterol count. Being aware of this fact alone can help you to avoid LDL-rich foods and increase your intake of HDL-rich foods. Having a high cholesterol count requires that you have a lot of money, what with the maintenance that is required to keep you alive. These simple home remedies for high cholesterol are not only cheap; they prevent your cholesterol count from increasing in the first place, saving you a lot of money and saving your life.

The author is the owner of http://www.homeremediesguru.com.

For more information about home remedies for high cholesterol visit http://www.homeremediesguru.com/cure/high_cholesterol.aspx.

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Tryglicerides - Controlling Your Levels

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood used to store energy, as they play an important role in metabolism as energy sources and transporters of dietary fat. Measured as part of a blood test that measures your cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of fat that circulate in your blood. They are not present only in the body through the consumption of fats, but also through the carbohydrate consumption.

Triglycerides are also made in the liver from carbohydrates and proteins, where they are transported in blood as part of lipoprotein particles, where they are removed as they move through the circulatory system where they break down to form other fats used to build cells within the body. Alcohol abuse can cause elevated levels as well as the increased consumption of sugar.

Contrary to popular belief, a low fat diet is not the solution to lowering your levels. Research suggests that a low-fat diet will produce a result opposite to the desired effect, and the levels will actually increase. This phenomenon is not surprising since insulin resistance may be one of the driving factors behind elevated levels. The proper way to control your levels is by reducing their sugar and grain intake.

Triglycerides are also becoming a primary heart health concern for many people. They should not immediately be branded as bad, they are necessary for survival and are at the core of our bodies energy storage, but that too much of a good thing can prove damaging and even deadly.

Aaron H Prather owns and operates http://www.tryglicerides101.com an informational site about tryglicerides and cholesterol and how to lower them with a proper diet. Tryglicerides

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Technology in Heart Surgeries

If you are in need of cardiothoracic surgery there are places using the latest in technology that help speed up your recover and improve your chances of less trauma to your body. The name of this technology is the da Vinci robot and it is one of the latest developments in surgical technology. This robot does not operate on you like R2D2 could. It doesn't have any computing power with which to think on its own. It is more of an extension of the surgeon's arms and allows the surgeon to be very precise. Surgeons are very good at what they do and many have extremely fine motor skills but it is hard to be as precise as a robot can be. The robot doesn't move unless you move it. It doesn't shake unless there is an earthquake and it doesn't have any second doubts. With this precision comes a few benefits.

One is the size of the incision. A smaller incision results in less blood loss and less trauma to the operation site on the body. This often results in a quicker recovery time and less scarring. These incisions can also save the patient from the pain and trauma of sternotomy and rib spreading and allows the incisions to be made on the side of the body. This type of robotic heart surgery also may result in less risk of infection, less blood loss and need for blood transfusions, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, considerably less pain and scarring and a quicker return to normal activities. The long term survival rate may also be improved. Some forms of robotic surgery also have other advantages.

One common use of the da Vinci robot is to repair the mitral valve as an alternative to open heart surgery. This operation allows the surgeon to use very small incisions and have unparalleled precision to repair the valve while possibly increasing the likelihood of success without using artificial valves. There is a great deal of information on this topic that is available for those who may be candidates for this type of surgery. Repair to the valve is preferable in many cases and may provide you with many significant advantages as compared to having the valve replaced with and artificial valve. Some of these advantages may include not having to take life-long blood thinners, less need for a reoperation, reduced risk of some surgical complications, improved heart function and a higher probably of a long term survival rate. Some studies show that the da Vince robotic operating system may allow surgeons to complete as much as fifty percent more repairs to the valve than they could using an open surgical approach. As with any surgery these benefits cannot be guaranteed even though using the da Vinci robot is considered safe and effective, it may not be appropriate for every individual.

If you are a potential candidate for cardiothoracic surgery then you may want to consider checking with your doctor to see if using the da Vinci robot is an alternative for you. Robotic heart surgery may be an incredible advantage in some surgeries both today and in the future.

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Heart Conditions May Be Helped With Rehab

If you've recently been diagnosed with congenital or acquired heart disease then you may be a candidate for a cardiac rehabilitation program. To be a likely candidate you don't have to fall in the category of those who have had a heart attack. You may also be a candidate without having had heart surgery or other heart procedures. The decision is for you and your doctor to discuss. If your physician thinks you are a likely candidate and has prescribed a cardiac rehab program it might be to help improve your hearts functional capacity, to reduce symptoms and to produce a greater sense of well-being for you. If you have any one of the following conditions, you may be in favor of discussing the possibility of being in a cardiac rehabilitation program with your doctor: Congestive heart failure, Angina pectoris, Myocardial infarction, Post-open heart surgery, Post-heart transplantation, Balloon angioplasty, Pacemaker, Congenital heart disease, Arrhythmias, or Rheumatic heart disease.

To determine if you should be in a program, you and your doctor will discuss the course of action and may include some other professionals in the discussion. Of course your cardiologist or cardiovascular surgeon will probably be a key member of the team that determines what you will be doing. A physiatrist will also be on the team. They are medical doctors with specialized training in physical medicine, rehabilitation and pain medicine. You may also have on your team an internist, a rehabilitation nurse, and a physical therapist. If you need to change some of your eating habits your team will probably include a dietitian. More and more focus is on the whole health regimen that includes what you eat.

If need be, an occupational therapist will help you maximize your skills and abilities to get you on track to have all of the skills needed for living a fulfilling life. If needed a speech and language therapist will be a team member as will a psychologist or a psychiatrist. A few more team members may include a recreational therapist, an audiologist, a chaplain and a vocational therapist.

Choosing one of the hospitals in the Chicago area is important to your program. You want to choose the hospital with the program that is designed to fit your individual needs. If you have specific heart problems or disease then you need a cardiac physician or a team of cardiac professionals to monitor your program for the outcome you are expecting. The goal of a good program should help you reverse your symptoms if possible and maximize cardiac functionality. It may include instituting a progressive exercise program to build your fitness level and increase capacity. There will probably be some educational classes to help you change your lifestyle if need be. Habits such as smoking and diet will be a major focus for some. Stress management may be a part of your program if you need to reduce anxiety and the level of daily stress. When needed, preparing you to return to work and equipping you with the tools to deal with the physical and psychological demands of your job will also be a focus in your program.

If you are a candidate for a cardiac rehabilitation program then making sure you have the right team and facility is important. A cardiac rehab program will help you get your life back on track. The best choice of hospitals in the Chicago area will be one that fits into your specific needs to help you get to the level of health you desire.

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Heart Disease? Here Are Five Tips That Can Help Lower the Risk

While breast cancer gets all the attention, it is heart disease that is the number one killer of women. Women do suffer fewer heart attacks than men, but they are less likely to survive them. This means that both women and men should be mindful of the risk of a heart attack and take those steps necessary to reduce the risk of suffering one.

1. Check your blood pressure. Higher blood pressure levels occur when the arteries are narrowed due to plaque buildup in the vessels. As this pressure increases, it can dislodge pieces of arterial plaque into the bloodstream which can then lead to a heart attack. If you do not know what your blood pressure is, you can either buy a blood pressure monitor at your neighborhood drugstore or see your doctor. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the blood pressure the better.

2. Are you carrying extra weight? If you are overweight, this seriously increases your risk of having a heart attack. So if this is the case, lose weight. And if you're carrying extra weight or on your midsection, it is very important that you lose it because this weight increases the strain on your heart, your back and your legs.

3. Determine your cholesterol levels. You should have these checked at least once a year. Plaque deposits on the walls of your arteries are caused by high cholesterol. The more of the plaque builds up, the narrower the vessels become. Cholesterol has three main components: LDL, HDL and triglycerides. It is thought that HDL lowers total blood cholesterol by helping remove the plaque on the walls of your arteries. On the other hand, LDL is what causes the plaques to stick to your arteries in the first place. Triglycerides are a fatty substance in the blood and high triglyceride levels have been linked to heart disease. It is best to have a blood cholesterol level of 200 mg/dl. if you're a level is higher than this, you should see doctor who may prescribe cholesterol lowering medications.

4. Change your diet. Reduce the amount of fatty and greasy foods you eat and heavy up on whole grains, vegetables, fresh fruits, and low-fat dairy products. You can get the protein you need through lean beef, pork and chicken supplemented with fish and seafood. Also, it is a good investment to take a multivitamin daily to make sure you're getting all the necessary nutrients.

5. Find out if you have diabetes. If you develop diabetes this puts you at risk for developing heart disease in the years ahead. If it proves that you are diabetic, your doctor can help you get your blood sugar under control with insulin shots or a change in diet. In fact, Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled simply by doing more exercise and changing to a healthier diet.

Heart disease is not a good thing but at least it gives you warning signs. If you pay attention to these and work with your doctor, you can lower your risks and decrease your chances of suffering a heart attack.

A common cooking ingredient that can ward off colds

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Pulmonary Heart Disease

Pulmonary heart disease - is a very serious form of heart disease. If there is a change in the structure of the right ventricle located in the heart, due to respiratory problems. Pulmonary heart disease affects nearly 1 million people a year. Many things can increase your risk for developing pulmonary heart disease such as smoking, obesity or poor sleeping habits. Pulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonýale) occurs when pulmonary arterial pressure is elevated secondary to dysfunction of the lungs and its vasculature and produces right heart failýure.

Pulmonary heart disease is historically known as a chronic condition that has in most instances proved to be incurable and results in a very low survival rate. Today though, there are some new treatment options available that seem to have generally improved the prognosis for pulmonary heart disease. Pulmonary heart disease you are talking about is pulmonary edema. It can occur without any reason or cause, but the most common reason is heart problem, which lasted for a long time and was left untreated. Pulmonary heart disease includes pulmonary valve stenosis and pulmonary valve regurgitation. Both these lesions are rare although pulmonary regurgitation is more common than pulmonary stenosis.

Pulmonary heart disease in clinical practice is often seen as Heart Zang disease with chronic changes in lungs, chest cavity, pulmonary artery, which causes an obstruction of lung circulation. Those changes result in high pressure in pulmonary artery and enlargement of the right half of heart combined with failure of the right half of heart. Pulmonary heart disease occurs when the blood flow into the lungs is slowed or blocked because of lung problems. This circumstance increases the pressure on the lungs and the heart requires working harder to oppose this added pressure, which in the end can become pulmonary heart disease.

Pulmonary heart disease is a change in structure and function of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of a respiratory disorder. Exactly that is a complication of lung disorders where the blood flow into the lungs is slowed or blocked causing increased lung pressure. Pulmonary heart disease includes pulmonary valve stenosis and pulmonary valve regurgitation. Both these lesions are rare although pulmonary regurgitation is more common than pulmonary stenosis.

Coronary heart disease occurs when plaque develops within the arteries that pump blood into the heart. The disease progresses over time, and symptoms are often non - existent until the condition manifests itself in the form of a heart attack. Cor pulmonale may lead to congestive heart failure (CHF), with worsening of respiration due to pulmonary edema, swelling of the legs due to peripheral edema and painful congestive hepatomegaly. This situation requires diuretics (to decrease strain on the heart), sometimes nitrates (to improve blood flow) and occasionally inotropes (to improve heart contractility). Coronary heart disease is the most frequent type of heart disease of all, and is also the leading reason of heart attacks. Coronary heart disease is a term that refers to damage to the heart that happens because its blood supply is decreased, and what happens here is that fatty deposits build up on the linings of the blood vessels that provide the heart muscles with blood, resulting in them narrowing.

Signs vary greatly, depending on the extent to which the lung is involved. Simple, uncomplicated embolism produces such cardiopulmonary signs as dyspnea, tachypnea, persistent cough, pleuritic pain and hemoptysis. Sign up and add some content to the process. This link describes the obvious advantages of opening participation to interested parties.

Treatment is also aimed at the underlying condition that is producing cor pulmonale. Common treatments include antibiotics for respiratory infection; anticoagulants to reduce the risk of thromboembolism; and digitalis, oxygen, and phlebotomy to reduce red blood cell count. Treatment includes bed rest, medications such as digitalis , control of excess salt and water retention, and elimination of the underlying cause. See also congestive heart failure . Treatment is not always successful.

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