What is High Blood Pressure?

Posted on March 17, 2010

Hypertension or High blood pressure refers to high blood pressure in the arteries; Arteries are blood vessels carry blood from the pumping heart to all organs and tissues.

Hypertension and pre-hypertension both damage our blood vessels. This increases the danger of failure of the kidney, stroke and heart disease.

What do the numbers mean?

Blood pressure is actually two measurements which are separated by a slash when it is written, such as 120/80. The primary one is called systolic blood pressure. It is the culmination of blood pressure when the heart is made of whole blood. The next one is called diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is the type of pressure in which the heart fills with blood and relaxing between beats.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Posted on February 14, 2010

In the last decade, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of deaths from heart attacks. In 1970, nearly a million Americans died of cardiovascular disease; now the annual toll is below 600,000. The cause for this improved mortality rate are unknown, but most experts believe that the increased awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and their correction have played an important role in cutting the death toll.

What Are “Co-mobidities” and Why Are They Important in Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Posted on December 5, 2009

It's only recently that we've discovered that the same inflammatory processes that drive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also are responsible for complications that affect other internal organs. For example, heart disease, which is a common complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation.

Couple that with the fact that many patients with rheumatoid arthritis have other heart “unhealthy” risk factors such as corticosteroid use, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It's no wonder the incidence of heart disease manifested by heart attacks and strokes are a significant cause of both morbidity as well as mortality.

We know that inflammation starts in the lining of an artery and sets up conditions favorable for the development of a plaque that eventually leads to narrowing of that artery.

Weight Loss - Effortlessly Strip Away Inches From Your Waist & Stomach

Posted on July 31, 2009

You know you need to lose weight. As if your home scale isn't pointing out that fact every day, your doctor exclaims it bluntly every time you see him. But it's so much work - changing your diet, giving up the foods you love, getting up early to exercise . . . You've tried every defense known to man. How can you stir up the burning desire to do the work necessary to achieve the weight loss you desire?

Before you can generate the energy to lose the weight, you need to get motivated! You need to consider all the positive benefits your weight loss will bring you. Need a really good reason to get started? How about five!

Obesity Handouts and Weight Management Handouts

Posted on June 25, 2009

Aim for a Healthy Weight (44 pgs) - Why Is a Healthy Weight Important? eaching and maintaining a healthy weight is good for your overall health and will help you prevent and control many diseases and conditions. We know that an increase in weight also increases a persons risk for heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease, gynecologic disorders, arthritis, some types of cancer, and even some lung problems (see Box 1). Maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits, including feeling good about yourself and having more energy to enjoy life. Stay Active and Feel Better (Bilingual) - Physical activity is good for your whole family. Do any of these situations sound like your life? I always feel so tired and worn out. My whole family is putting on weight. I know we better do something soon. Walking up two flights of stairs leaves me out of breath. When my husband and I were first married, we would take long walks every day and go dancing. Now all we do is sit in front of the television. I dont have an extra half hour every day to exercise…but I know it is good for my health. Watch Your Weight (Bilingual) - Here are some of the changes Juan and Lupe made. These tips can work for you, too! Plan ahead… 1. Get up 15 minutes early in the morning. Eat breakfast at home. Include fruit, bread, and skim milk. 2. Prepare a healthy lunch the night before. Include grains, fruits, vegetables, and small portions of leftovers. 3. Take a piece of fruit to snack on in between jobs. Drink water instead of soda. 4. Eat smaller portions at dinner. Add a salad with low fat dressing and add vegetables. 5. Get active at work, at home, and in your spare time. Walk or use the stairs instead of the elevator. Active at any Size (24 pgs) - for very large people who T HERE may be special challenges are physically active. You may not be able to bend or move in the same way that other people can. It may be hard to find clothes and equipment for exercising. You may feel self-conscious being physically active around other people.Facing these challenges is hard"but it can be done! The information in this booklet may help you start being more active and healthier"no matter what your size! Binge Eating Disorder - How do I know if I have binge eating disorder? Most of us overeat from time to time, and some of us often feel we have eaten more than we should have. Eating a lot of food does not necessarily mean that you have binge eating disorder. Experts generally agree that most people with serious binge eating problems often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel their eating is out of control. People with binge eating disorder also may: ? eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes ? eat until they are uncomfortably full ? eat large amounts of food even when they are not really hungry ? eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat ? feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating. Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight Loss Program - Choosing a weight-loss program may be a difficult task. You may not know what to look for in a weight-loss program or what questions to ask. This fact sheet can help you talk to your health care professional about weight loss and get the best information before choosing a program. Do You Know the Risks of Being Overweight? - Body mass index (BMI) is a tool that is often used to determine whether a persons health is at risk due to his or her weight. BMI is a ratio of your weight to your height. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy; a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight; and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. You can use the table on the following page to determine your BMI. Find your height in the left-hand column labeled Height. Move across to your weight. The number at the top of the column is the BMI for that height and weight. Pounds have been rounded off. Tips for Adults - Better Health and You - A balanced eating plan and regular physical activity are the building blocks of good health. Poor eating habits and physical inactivity may lead to overweight and related health problems. By eating right and being active, you may reach or maintain a healthy weight. You may also improve your physical health, mental well-being, and set an example for others. Weight Loss For Life - There are many ways to lose weight, but it is not always easy to keep the weight off. The key to successful weight loss is making changes in your eating and physical activity habits that you can keep up for the rest of your life. The information presented here may help put you on the road to healthy habits. Weight Loss and Nutrition Myths - Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. Fad diets often promise quick weight loss or tell you to cut certain foods out of your diet. You may lose weight at first on one of these diets. But diets that strictly limit calories or food choices are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight. Physical Activity and Weight Control - Physical Activity and Weight ControlPhysical activity is important for physical health, emotional well-being, and achieving a healthy weight. Physical activity may help you control your weight by using excess calories that would otherwise be stored as fat. Most foods and many beverages you eat and drink contain calories, and everything you do uses calories. This includes sleeping, breathing, digesting food, and of course, moving around. Balancing the calories you eat with the calories you use through physical activity may help you maintain your current weight. Body Composition - What is it? Body composition refers to the constituents of your body - lean mass, fat mass, and water. Scales weigh total body mass. What the scale does not tell you is whether that weight is fat, lean (which includes bone, ligaments, and muscle) or water. Your body composition is more important than your weight in determining fitness and health. Eating Disorders - An eating disorder is an illness that affects ones ability to realistically judge his/her own appearance and moderate his/her behavior around food and exercise. It is estimated that 10% of our population are actively eating disordered. Eating disorders are not about food or exercise: these are just the focus points of the disorder. People with extremely high expectations, compulsive personalities, need for control, or fearful of growing up are characteristically more likely to develop eating disorders. About the Author:

John Bates, Wellness In The Workplace and wellness plan, tells you all about loosing wieght. This obesity handout is helpful for all who wants free assessment of the health coach.

Memory Problems in Old Age Caused By Obesity?

Posted on February 15, 2009

Previously, it was showed that obesity is
connected to high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases.
However, being overweight or obese in old age is not necessary linked
to memory loss, according to recent study.

The study conducted during a six year period involved almost 3,900
people over age 65 in Chicago where thirty-seven percent were
overweight and twenty-five percent were obese. At the beginning of the
study, the participants were given four cognitive tests and the
experience repeated every three years during the study period.

The study`s results showed no significant changes for the overweight or
obese subjects. In fact, underweight participants had a cognitive
decline over time.

5 Great Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Quickly

Posted on December 20, 2008

For people with high blood pressure, medication sometimes is not sufficient to lower it to healthy levels. Consequently, they have to find additional ways help lower their blood pressure. Uncontrolled and prolonged high blood pressure can lead to serious complications; including, kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. That is why you need to do every little bit you can to bring it under control. Here are some natural ways to lower your blood pressure that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

1. A Piece Of Dark Chocolate Will Keep The Doctor Away.

The Information You Need If You Use This Ace Inhibitor To Treat Your High Blood Pressure

Posted on November 24, 2008

High blood pressure is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While there is no cure for hypertension, there are many medications available to help treat it. Vasotec is one such medication. Vasotec is an ACE inhibitor that works by preventing the formation of angiontensin II within the body. By preventing this, it opens up arteries which improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

Important Information

As with most high blood pressure medications, it is very important to drink a lot of fluids while on Vasotec. This medication can cause dehydration from diarrhea, sweating, and other sickness if while on it you do not drink a lot of water. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing you should avoid this drug therapy.