Healthy Heart Review

Do you know someone that has had a stroke but you are not sure of what that actually means?   This article will help you to understand what having a stroke means. A stroke is a cardiovascular disease caused when the blood supply stops flowing to your brain. 

A stroke will occur usually when a blood vessel that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or becomes clogged by a blood clot or some other mass.  This means that part of the brain will not receive the blood and oxygen that it requires to function.

When part of the brain does not receive enough oxygen the nerve cells that affect the function of the brain cease to work.   This means that the part of the brain that controls the functions of our bodies cannot work or cannot work as effectively as they did prior to the stroke.  If a severe stroke has taken place the body may never be able to heal itself and fully function again.

As you can imagine a stroke can be devastating not only to the person suffering from this disease but also for their loved ones.   Read the rest of this entry »

Ancient medical traditions such as Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine have always used natural remedies to cure many ailments. Each has a long and venerable history, which through trial and error, has discovered many herbs and plants that can treat conditions ranging from life threatening to mildly inconvenient. In fact, there are herbs that have been discovered from these ancient traditions that can lower high blood pressure if used correctly. They are thought to work best at the pre-hypertension stage with blood pressure readings between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg. This article will cover four useful plants and the active ingredients that will help to lower high blood pressure.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn has a number of species that have been used in many ancient medical traditions to improve digestion. The species Crataegus laevigata is thought to be useful in lowering high blood pressure. There have been a number of clinical trials conducted to confirm or deny this contention. At this stage the tests seem to have had mixed results. Some tests show a marked difference in blood pressure for people taking a hawthorn extract over the placebo cases. Other tests show no significant change in blood pressure. For those that believe in Hawthorn, it is thought to open up blood vessels for better blood flow as well as hinder the production of a special enzyme angiotensin which causes high blood pressure. Furthermore, Hawthorn is believed to have antioxidant properties that can help reduce LDL cholesterol build up or plaque on the artery walls, which is a major cause of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba has almost gone mainstream as a herbal cure all for many ailments. You will find it in supplement form or more recently in energy drinks or fruit juices. Although many claims as to it’s effectiveness remain contentious it is thought to promote the flow of blood through the body through the dilation of blood vessels. It is also thought to stimulate the circulatory system and function on the blood clotting abilities of the body.

Dandelion

Dandelion (taraxacum officinale) has diuretic affects on the body. It can help to rid the body of excess fluids and impurities that may be raising your blood pressure. Dandelion has been used for hundreds of years for many problems, including high blood pressure. It also has a high quantity of vitamins and minerals such as many B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C which are all essential for a healthy heart.

Guelder Rose or Cramp Bark

The bark was originally used for relief against cramps but it is also noted to relax the cardiovascular system and relieve high blood pressure. It is popularized by American Indian traditions where it was added to drinks or food. Very little clinical research has been done on Guelder Rose and there are no reported side effects to taking the bark.

If you plan to try these herbs and plants as a supplement you should talk to your doctor first. The supplements may conflict with a medicine you are currently taking. Your doctor will also be aware of the situation and be in a better position to assess the changes in your high blood pressure or other areas of your health.

Excessive Cholesterol is also a major factor in high blood pressure as it can cause plaque build up in the arteries. Find out how to increase good cholesterol and foods to eat to lower bad cholesterol thus promoting a healthier heart at www.lowcholesteroldieting.com Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

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Blood pressure is the force of circulating blood against the wall of arteries. Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure).

There are two types of blood pressure-high and low. The systolic pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle. The diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, especially when it’s present with other risk factors.

High blood pressure can occur in children or adults. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and steps which include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, preparing foods with less salt and sodium and cutting smoking and alcohol. When blood pressure and blood flow decrease beyond a certain point, the perfusion of the brain becomes critically decreased. This leads to lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness and fainting which causes low blood pressure.

In today’s busy life, stress is becoming a part of life which is a common cause of blood pressure. Avoid stress at any cost. Cut down high sodium intake in your food. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Always consult a physician before buy a blood pressure machine to monitor blood pressure. Take directions of using it in a right way. The safest way is to use digital monitoring equipment as it is user-friendly and gives accurate measurement.

The side-effects of high blood pressure are dizziness, depression, impotence, liver damage and fatigue. High blood pressure also causes swelling of the brain. This can be a life threatening condition. Low calcium intakes have high rates of high blood pressure. Dairy food like low-fat selections of milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. Potassium rich food will help protect some people from developing high blood pressure. Many fruits, vegetables, dairy foods and fish are good sources of potassium.

Make it a point to visit your physician regularly and get your blood pressure checked. This will help in running down from the risk of high/low blood pressure.

Andrew Adler is a well know author who writes on health related sites, like Q-link, Hair Loss Products & Resperate System

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