Lower Pressure Blog

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Chronic high blood pressure — higher than 130/80 — takes a toll on your arteries, heart, kidneys, and brain. Lower it, and you reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Many cardiologists are realizing that the best defense may not be medication in most cases. Cardiologists say it can absolutely be done without the help of medication. In fact, lifestyle changes are the first approach they often try in patients with hypertension. So what are the best ways to lower your blood pressure without pills?

According to Dr. Ron Blankstein, a preventive cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Section Leadership Council.

And also Dr. Jennifer Haythe, an assistant professor of medicine and co-director of the Women’s Center for Cardiovascular Health at the Columbia University Medical Center. They recommend the following tips to effectively lower your blood pressure.

7 Proven Ways Lower High Blood Pressure

Lose Those Extra Pounds

Losing even a few pounds may make a difference Maintaining a healthy weight provides many health benefits. If you are overweight, losing as little as five to 10 pounds may help lower your blood pressure.

A few great reasons to manage your weight. Being overweight puts you at greater risk of developing health problems.

A little weight loss can bring a lot of health gains.

Did you know you might experience health benefits from losing as few as 10 pounds? Even a small weight loss can help manage or prevent high blood pressure in many overweight people (those with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater). Weight loss reduces the strain on your heart.

Being overweight puts extra strain on your heart, increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure and damage to your blood vessels that can lead to serious health threats.

Increase The Proper Nutrition

There’s good evidence plant-based diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes will lead to lower blood pressure and weight loss, Blankstein noted. You’ll also naturally get more potassium, which is associated with lower blood pressure.

At the same time, banish processed foods.

“You have to stick to real foods, which are foods that haven’t been taken by a company and processed and put in a box or plastic bag,” Haythe said.

Bottom line: Your weight and eating style should be at the core of your strategy.

“The combination of weight loss and diet together is incredibly powerful for lowering blood pressure. I have patients who have had enormous success doing that,” Blankstein said.

Reduce Salt Intake

We need sodium to live, but too much salt leads the body to hold on to more fluids and that causes volume changes inside blood vessels. Over time, blood pressure rises.

“The problem is, salt is everywhere,” Haythe noted.

“It’s not just the salt that you add with the shaker,” Blankstein added. “Most of the sodium we get in our diet is found in various processed foods — things like canned soups, chips, cold cuts, pickles and even bread.”

He recommended consuming less than 2 grams (2,000 mg) of salt — or less than one teaspoon — a day for people who are trying to lower their blood pressure. That can be very effective, he said.

Get Off The Couch

Exercise improves circulation and cardiac output, and has a dilating effect on your blood vessels, Haythe said. It raises blood pressure at the moment, but in an appropriate way, both doctors noted. Long-term, exercise actually lowers your resting blood pressure.

“Our blood vessels learn to relax when we’re not exercising. So the benefits with exercise are not necessarily at the time of exercise, but in general afterward,” Blankstein said.

Why your doctor should measure blood pressure in both arms He advised cardio over weightlifting and considered the general recommendation of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, five times a week, to be “the absolute minimum.” An hour of exercise a day on most days of the week is better.

Squeezing in a workout, but then just sitting the rest of the day is still not enough activity: Regularly get up and move, Blankstein said. He recommended aiming for 10,000 steps a day.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension), your doctor may advise you to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink.

Preventing high blood pressure:

Limiting alcohol consumption can also help to prevent high blood pressure.

If you drink, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.

I’ve read that red wine is heart healthy — can I drink as much as I’d like? There are new and exciting findings, but as the research authors say “Unfortunately, this isn’t the all clear to open a bottle of merlot. To get the human equivalent dose of resveratrol used here, you’d need to drink an impossible amount of red wine every day”. So, it’s a matter of moderation.

Stress Management

When it comes to preventing and treating high blood pressure, one often-overlooked strategy is mindfulness. If you often find yourself tense and on-edge, try these seven ways to reduce stress.

• Get enough sleep. Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can negatively affect your mood, mental alertness, energy level, and physical health.
• Learn relaxation techniques. Meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are powerful relaxation techniques and stress-busters.
• Strengthen your social network. Connect with others by taking a class, joining an organization, or participating in a support group.
• Hone your time-management skills. The more efficiently you can juggle work and family demands, the lower your stress level.
• Try to resolve stressful situations if you can. Don’t let stressful situations fester. Hold family problem-solving sessions and use negotiation skills at home and at work.
• Nurture yourself. Treat yourself to a message. Truly savor an experience: for example, eat slowly and really focus on the taste and sensations of each bite. Take a walk or a nap, or listen to your favorite music.
• Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your spouse, friends, and neighbors. If stress and anxiety persist, talk to your doctor.

Add Supplements To Your Diet

Beyond changing your diet to minimize exposure to foods that increase blood pressure and emphasizing foods that reduce blood pressure, a number of nutritional supplements have been confidently demonstrated to reduce blood pressure. Several supplements, including vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, and anthocyanins, correct inadequate intakes of these nutrients that commonly occur with modern lifestyles.

Restoring them allows us to mimic the nutrient intakes of traditional cultures. Other supplements exert unique blood pressure-reducing effects independent of correcting nutritional deficiencies.

With so many ways to lower your blood pressure, you have many ways to help yourself. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure speak with your physician about implementing these into your regimen. From my own experience, I know adding these really helped me. They will also help you.

Once a month my wife and I go to our favorite falafel place and have falafel and salads for dinner. That was until I started making falafel at home. It isn’t as time-consuming at you may think. The only drawback, now my wife can ask for a falafel dinner anytime she has a craving for it.

This homemade falafel recipe is absolutely delicious and remarkably crispy! Be sure to allow 4 hours soaking time for the chickpeas, preferably overnight. Then, the falafel mixture is super easy to make in a food processor. Recipe yields 12 to 13 falafels.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup dried (uncooked/raw) chickpeas, rinsed, picked over and soaked for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator
• ½ cup roughly chopped red onion (about ½ small red onion)
• ½ cup packed fresh parsley (mostly leaves but small stems are ok)
• ½ up packed fresh cilantro (mostly leaves but small stems are ok)
• 4 cloves garlic, quartered
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ teaspoon (about 25 twists) freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

With an oven rack in the middle position, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour a ¼ cup of the olive oil into a large, rimmed baking sheet and turn until the pan is evenly coated.

In a food processor, combine the soaked and drained chickpeas, onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Process until smooth, about 1 minute.

Using your hands, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time. Shape the falafel into small patties, about 2 inches wide and ½ inch thick. Place each falafel on your oiled pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, carefully flipping the falafel halfway through baking, until the falafels are deeply golden on both sides. These falafel keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for several months.

We collected dozens of great heart healthy recipes for you – Here they are…

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The Best Way To Lower Your Blood Pressure

The best and most effective way to lower high blood pressure naturally is through exercise. Many studies have examined exercises like walking, jogging/running, and bicycling.

They found that each of these workouts can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure. However,not many studies have looked at the connection of water exercise or swimming and blood pressure.

Now we do know that exercise helps reduce blood pressure, and causes weight loss. So we could surmise that water aerobics could lower your blood pressure.

But some studies have suggested that swimming might not be all that effective in reducing resting blood pressure. Partly because the blood pressure of trained swimmers, as a whole, is higher than the blood pressure of other endurance athletes.

Swimming has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure. Here is a short video about the health benefits of swimming:

Studies on swimming and blood pressure

A study was done to investigate the effects of a 10-week water aerobic exercise on the resting blood pressure in patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension referring to Tehran University Clinics.

Forty men with stage 1 or 2 essential hypertension were assigned to two groups. The intervention group and the control group. Subjects in the intervention group participated in a supervised 10-week water aerobic training program.

The program consisted of 55 min sessions, 3 days per week on alternate days. While those in the control group were not involved in any regular training program during this period. Blood pressure of the participants was recorded and compared at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Another study from 2010, researchers studied the effect of one year of swimming training on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity. The subjects went from 0 to 7 km per week of swimming.

What They Found

The data suggested that a 10-week course of water aerobic exercises (including swimming training) reduces the systolic and mean arterial blood pressure of the participants by 12 points.

Based on this study, a 10-week water aerobic exercise has an impressive effect on the resting systolic blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.

Similar results were shown in the 1 year study. where swimming training significantly lowered SBP by approximately 17 mmHg.

Conclusion

Exercise as a lifestyle modification can be recommended for all individuals with hypertension. Even small reductions in blood pressure are associated, in long-term, with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases.

If you suffer from hypertension or cardiovascular disease, water workouts are a fun way to exercise your heart. This helps lower high blood pressure naturally. If you don’t have a pool of your own, consider joining your local YMCA or a gym that has an indoor pool.

What is the best exercise for you? Discover here…

For some of us sleep is a luxury. But sleep is necessary and is critical to good health. Sleep allows your body to repair itself. Getting enough good sleep also helps you function normally during the day.

How Much Sleep Do I Really Need?

Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep each night. However, more than one in three American adults say they don’t get the recommended amount of sleep. While this may be fine for a day or two, not getting enough sleep over time can lead to serious health problems—and make certain health problems worse.

Lack of Sleep And Your Health

Adults who sleep less than 7 hours each night are more likely to say they have had health problems, including heart attack, asthma, and depression. Some of these health problems raise the risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. These health problems include:

• High blood pressure. During normal sleep, your blood pressure goes down. Having sleep problems means your blood pressure stays higher for a longer amount of time. High blood pressure is one of the leading risks for heart disease and stroke. About 75 million Americans—one in three adults—have high blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that causes sugar to build up in your blood, a condition that can damage your blood vessels. Some studies show that getting enough good sleep may help people improve blood sugar control.
• Obesity. Lack of sleep can lead to unhealthy weight gain. This is especially true for children and adolescents, who need more sleep than adults. Not getting enough sleep may affect a part of the brain that controls hunger.

In Fact Job stress, high blood pressure and poor sleep may be a recipe for an early death, German researchers report. That’s the finding of research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

n a study of nearly 2,000 workers with high blood pressure who were followed for almost 18 years, those who reported having both a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who slept well and didn’t have a trying job, the investigators found.

Over time, sleep problems can hurt your heart health.

Sleep apnea happens when your airway gets blocked repeatedly during sleep, causing you to stop breathing for short amounts of time. Sleep apnea can be caused by certain health problems, such as obesity and heart failure.

Sleep apnea affects how much oxygen your body gets while you sleep and increases the risk for many health problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. It is more common among blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans than among whites.

Insomnia is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As many as one in two adults experiences short-term insomnia at some point, and 1 in 10 may have long-lasting insomnia.8 Insomnia is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Over time, poor sleep can also lead to unhealthy habits that can hurt your heart, including higher stress levels, less motivation to be physically active, and unhealthy food choices.

What can I do to get better sleep?

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends.
• Get enough natural light, especially earlier in the day. Try going for a morning or lunchtime walk.
  Get enough physical activity during the day.
• Try not to exercise within a few hours of bedtime.
• Avoid artificial light, especially within a few hours of bedtime. Use a blue light filter on your computer or smartphone.

• Don’t eat or drink within a few hours of bedtime, especially alcohol and foods high in fat or sugar.
• Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.
• Work with your health care team to identify obstacles to good sleep, including other medical conditions.

I have some of these and I found them very helpful in getting quality sleep. And just maybe you will too.

Looking for an alternative to the everyday humdrum sandwich? look no further. Try these delicious Asian Chicken Wraps for a heart healthy alternative. Add sprouts for a gentle addition to this already healthy meal. You can also substitute the white flour wrap for a  spinach or sun-dried tomato wrap.

Some of our readers who are doing a low carb diet or the wheat belly diet may choose to substitute the actual wrap with lettuce leaves.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 cup shredded leftover white meat chicken, skin and fat removed
• One 1-pound package coleslaw mix, or 5 cups shredded cabbage
• 3 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, thinly sliced
• 5 scallions, white parts and 3 inches of the green, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce
• Four 8-inch whole wheat tortillas

Instructions:

1) Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet.

2) Add the chicken, coleslaw mix, mushrooms, scallions, ginger and garlic.

3) Stir-fry over medium-high heat for 3 minutes, or until the coleslaw has wilted.

4) Stir in the hoisin and garlic chili sauce.

5) Reheat the tortillas in the microwave following package directions.

6) Place one-fourth of the chicken and vegetables in each wrap. Roll up and serve immediately.

NOTE: No leftover chicken in the fridge? Poach 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts by placing the chicken in a covered pan with stock halfway up the sides. Bring to a simmer. Check with the point of a knife after 4 to 5 minutes. Or place the chicken in a microwave-sage dish with broth or water to cover the bottom of the dish.

Cover with wax paper and cook on High for 4 minutes. Check for doneness. If not opaque throughout, microwave on High for another 1 to 2 minutes (juices should run clear when the chicken is pierced with a knife).

We collected dozens of great heart healthy recipes for you – Here they are…

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir.

With “shelter in place” orders a thing of the past, many people are longing to back out into nature. Why do we have such a strong urge to be out in the flora and fauna? What is it in nature that lifts our spirits and our mental attitude? This week will discuss just how good being in the outdoors is good for you

I am a “Biophiliac” one who seeks connections with nature. I have four pairs of hiking boots, three backpacks, and various other hiking paraphernalia. Stick me in the middle of the woods, the mountains, or the desert and I will feel at home. This is my sanctuary, my cathedral. It is the place where I come for solace, to meditate, to pray, and let nature caress and heal my soul from the weary week. For me as well as many others, you will find us out here and not at the mall.

I have numerous hiking maps and dreams. My two biggest dreams are to hike the “Scottish Highlands” and to hike the “Camino de Santiago” or “The Way of St.James”. Even if you live in a city and the only thing you have is a park, even the park can be a place of respite. But what is it about nature that touches us so deeply and so profoundly that it rejuvenates us like nothing else on earth?

Albert Einstein, had this to say about nature, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything else better.”

Nature reduces our anger, fear, and depression and increases our positive mood and psychological well-being. This not only increases our happiness, it makes us feel better physically.

Time in nature also brings us out of ourselves and our narrow concerns and connects us to a larger world where we find beauty and interest. Thus the environment is connected not only to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health but to purpose and community.

Connected But Disconnected

According to a “Nielsen Company Audience Report”, adult Americans on average spend about 10 hours and 39 minutes consuming some type of media every day. This included how much time we spend daily using our tablets, smartphones, personal computers, multimedia devices, video games, radios, DVDs, DVRs, and TVs.

We are the most connected generation ever. Sadly though we are the most disconnected group globally to have ever walked the earth. Around the table in America kids sit eating with their cells phones. I am sure a number of adults also do the same thing. No one talks much anymore.

We are disconnected from ourselves, our families, our neighbors, friends, and society as a whole. Unless they have Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Sorry I know there is more, but I don’t have time for social media.

It is no wonder that we have lost our wonder. Maybe in order to save the soul of society and ourselves, we need to get back to nature and quickly.

What Nature Does For Us

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to your physical well being, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones, and helping you get better sleep. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.

Research performed in hospitals, offices, and schools have found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on stress and anxiety.

In addition, nature helps us cope with pain. Because we are genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other natural elements engrossing, we are absorbed by nature scenes and are distracted from our pain and discomfort.

This is nicely demonstrated in a now classic study of patients who underwent gallbladder surgery; half had a view of trees and half had a view of a wall. According to the physician who conducted the study, Robert Ulrich, the patients with the view of trees tolerated pain better, appeared to nurses to have fewer negative effects, and spent less time in a hospital. More recent studies have shown similar results with scenes from nature and plants in hospital rooms.

The Psychological Impacts

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) states that a natural environment offers a setting where you can restore your ‘directed attention’. Directed attention is the conscious attention you need for cognitive tasks, and this cognitive focus can become fatigued after prolonged mental activity. Most people live out a relatively hectic lifestyle in a human-made environment, filled with social and professional demands.

Nature offers a completely different setting, which gently distracts you from the stresses of civilized life. This is when ‘un-directed attention’ (or the subconscious) can take over. This means that nature recharges your mental batteries! ART focuses on explaining how nature improves cognitive performance, but only indirectly explains how nature reduces stress and improves mood.

Choosing The Path Less Traveled

Humans were never meant to be confined by concrete and steel 100 percent of the time. Within these environments, it’s easy to feel like just another face in the crowd. But when we step into nature, we are reminded all living organisms are connected.

So as the bands lift across the nature get outdoors. many of use have had to shelter in place for 10 weeks or more. Fell the sunshine on your face. If you have grass kick off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. Go out and breathe deep. We all need this. We were never meant to be cooped inside the house all the time. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for it.

This is a great way to lower your high blood pressure with out the toxic side effects of some hypertension medication. In fact more and more physicians are looking for alternatives. As their patients are becoming more informed about the medications they take, some physicians are realizing the need for a more natural approach to doing so. Here are eight natural remedies to help you lower your blood pressure.

1. Black Cummin Seeds

Black Cumin seeds, also known as Nigella sativa seeds, have been traditionally used as a spice but also revered for their medicinal properties. Studies suggest that daily use of black cumin seed extract for 2 months may have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild hypertension (HT).

It also helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels, which is further beneficial for cardiac health. Similar results were seen when 70 healthy volunteers aged 34 to 63 years were given Nigella sativa oil for 8 weeks in a clinical trial. Take 100 and 200 mg of Nigella sativa seed extract twice a day, or 2.5 mL Nigella sativa oil twice every day.

2. Flax Seed

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the natural precursor of the cardio-protective long-chain n-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds protect heart health by reducing serum cholesterol, stabilizing blood pressure, and improving glucose tolerance. It’s also a potent antioxidant and so easy to add to any dish.

According to research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil (8d/day) lowers blood pressure. Another study found that there’s a significant reduction in both Systolic BP and Diastolic BP following supplementation with various flaxseed products.

Since whole flaxseed can pass virtually undigested through the human body, its best to grind flaxseed to enjoy their nutritional benefits. This makes it very easy to stir a spoonful or two into any cooked dish, beverage, smoothies or even salads. Add 30 grams of milled flaxseed to your diet every day.

3. Buchu

Buchu is primarily used in western herbal medicine for urinary or bladder infections, infections anywhere in the genito-urinary system and as a warming and stimulating tonic to the kidneys and for kidney disorders.

It soothes the burning and irritation from conditions such as cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis. It can also be used in formulas to help with the prevention or treatment of bladder stones, bladder weakness, kidney stones, bedwetting, urinary incontinence, blood in the urine and nephritis. 

Its leaves are rich in essential oils such as diosphenol which acts as a stimulation to the production of urine. This means it can be used to eliminate water retention, help to lower high blood pressure and assist with shedding excess weight.

4. Guelder Rose Bark

Also known as “Cramp Bark”. Viburnum opulus otherwise known as Guelder Rose bark is also one of the herbs for high blood pressure. It is a highly effective heart tonic and relaxes the muscles and the arteries and veins.

Guelder Rose bark is known to calm the cardiovascular system and to relieve nervous tension which is sometimes related to high blood pressure. It is a highly valued tree for the medicinal remedies and purposes it can give.

5. Annona Muricata:

Is also known by its Spanish name Guanabana or also called soursop. The long, prickly fruit comes from the graviola tree, an evergreen native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It’s also known as custard apple, guanabana and Brazilian paw paw.

Practitioners of herbal medicine use soursop fruit and graviola tree leaves to treat stomach ailments, fever, parasitic infections, hypertension and rheumatism. It’s used as a sedative, as well. In treating hypertension it helps block the angiotensin 1 enzyme which is also what an ACE inhibitor is used in the treatment of hypertension.

6. Blond Psyllium:

Indian plantago has a number of unique properties that makes it suitable to be widely used in traditional medicine around the world.

This perennial herb has been used as a traditional medicinal plant for centuries to treat several illnesses including colds, hepatitis, skin diseases, infectious diseases, problems related to the digestive organs, respiratory organs, reproduction, circulation, and it is used to reduce fever.

Several biological activities have been attributed to plantago leaves including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-fever, immune modulator, and anti-hypertensive effects and it has also been used to neutralize internal and external toxins.

7. Commelina Virginica:

Virginia dayflower is a perennial herbaceous plant in the dayflower family. It is native to the mideastern and southeastern United States, where there are wet soils. Whole plant extract has been reported to decrease the tension of phenylephrine-stimulated isolated guinea pig aorta rings by 15% to 35%.

8. Lumnitzera Racemosa:

Black Mangrove is a small tree found on the coast of India and on the Andaman and Nicobar Island. According to local traditional medicine, the fruits of this plant are curative in skin disorders and useful for treating snake and insect bites.

Anti-hypertensive action has been studied for the aqueous acetone extract of the plant. The anti-hypertensive activity of eleven hydrolysable tannins contained in the leaves of L. racemosa has been investigated. From the screening in spontaneously hypertensive rats, corilagin, castalagin, and chebulinic acid were identified as the major active substances.

Concluding Thoughts

Personally, I use three of these natural remedies but I only use 1 consistently every morning. The one I use every morning is Divya Mukta Vati. Every morning I take 2 tablets with a glass of water. Now mind you I am on the lowest dose of hypertensive medication prescribed by my doctor. I think it makes him feel better.

Along with using RESPeRATE and diet my blood pressure the other morning was 110/62. That is the best I have registered ever since keeping records. I have been taking the Mukta Vati for the last 80 days.

The recommended daily dosage for these herbs usually will be found in the packaging of the individual herbs themselves, or can easily be found on-line

The appropriate dose of herbs depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions.

Individuals using herbs as a natural herb to lower blood pressure as remedy should also check for interactions with current medications they are taking.

I believe strongly in alternative forms of medicine. They truly work for many people. At the same time there is also a lot of hype out there, so please get knowledgeable about what you want to do and see someone who specializes in this area. You would not want a plumber performing open heart surgery on you. So be smart, read, research and then decide.

A word of caution

When choosing an alternative approach to your healthcare ensure you research the information thoroughly. If you are currently taking medication please ensure that you get information about drug to drug interactions. For example, if you are taking a blood thinner, you would not want to add turmeric to your natural alternatives to medication. Turmeric acts as a blood thinner. I hope you have found this articles helpful and informative. Stay safe and healthy.

High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

One way your physician may try to control your hypertension may be by prescribing you a beta blocker medication for you to take.

What are Beta Blockers?

The first beta blocker ever to be used was developed in 1964 by Pharmacologist James Black. Dr. Black won the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his development of this medication. It was called Propranolol and is still used today.

Beta blockers are medicines that work by temporarily stopping or reducing the body’s natural ‘fight-or-flight’ responses.

Since beta blockers are so versatile, they are especially helpful for heart patients who often have multiple conditions, such as hypertension plus angina, says Dr. Andrew Eisenhauer, a cardiologist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Whether beta blockers are best suited to help you lower your blood pressure will depend on the particulars of your cardiovascular health and other medical conditions. Each type of antihypertensive drug works a little differently (see chart) and for many patients with high blood pressure, a combination of medications is necessary.

How Beta Blockers Work?

Beta blockers “block” the effects of adrenaline on your body’s beta receptors. This slows the nerve impulses that travel through the heart. As a result, your heart does not have to work as hard because it needs less blood and oxygen. Beta blockers also block the impulses that can cause an arrhythmia.

Your body has 2 main beta receptors: beta 1 and beta 2.

Some beta blockers are selective, which means that they block beta 1 receptors more than they block beta 2 receptors. Beta 1 receptors are responsible for heart rate and the strength of your heartbeat.

Nonselective beta blockers block both beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. Beta 2 receptors are responsible for the function of your smooth muscles (muscles that control body functions but that you do not have control over).

Foods To Avoid When Taking a Beta Blocker?

Like any medication, you should read all of the information provided to you by your physician and avoid any other medications, foods or beverages that can interact with the drug and/or reduce its effectiveness.

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Watch How Mark Lowered His Blood Pressure Naturally. It was 150/100, this morning it was 110/79 Watch Video

High Sodium Foods:

Like high-fat foods, high sodium foods cause the heart to work harder. If you are on beta blockers due to high blood pressure, salt is especially a bad idea as it contributes to high blood pressure.

Foods that are usually high in salt include canned soups, pre-packaged seasonings, foods containing MSG, diet soda, and softened water. Your physician can assist you in planning a low-sodium diet plan.

Fatty Foods:

Avoid fatty foods while on beta blockers because over time they increase the heart’s workload, states Dr. Paul Barney, author of “Doctor’s Guide to Natural Medicine.

You should especially avoid deep-fried foods, high cholesterol foods, and saturated fats. Emphasize foods containing monounsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil and almonds. While some fat is necessary for your diet, choose fats that will not contribute, or contribute less, to heart disease.

Other Foods and Drinks to Consider

High Potassium Foods:

You should avoid foods that are high in potassium because beta blockers can limit the uptake of potassium from the bloodstream, according to Dr. James Balch, author of “Prescription for Drug Alternatives”.

High potassium foods include papaya, bananas, prunes, cantaloupe, raisins, oranges, and pears. You should also avoid salt substitutes, according to Balch, because they tend to be high in potassium.

Since beta blockers function in slightly different ways, ask your physician if you can eat any high potassium foods and if so, in what portion size.

Caffeine Products:

The anti-anxiety effects of beta blockers can be reduced by heavy caffeine intake, as caffeine has the potential to increase anxiety overall. Specifically, caffeine may interact with the beta blockers propranolol and metoprolol, causing an increase in blood pressure.

Propranolol and metoprolol are commonly prescribed to treat heart disease and high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about appropriate caffeine intake while you are on beta blockers. The Texas Heart Institute notes that you should avoid drinking or be eating caffeinated foods, drinks or prescriptions while on beta blockers.

Beta Blockers and Exercise

In case of heart patients, beta blockers put a cap on the maximum heart rate and therefore, it does put restrictions on their exercise and stamina. It may be difficult to exercise at the start after you have started your first course of these drugs.

Slowly, you must learn to cope up with it. Selective beta blockers generally do not cause, as much of a problem, as non-selective ones. Understand the limits of your stamina and exercise accordingly.

If you have been monitoring the degree of exertion achieved during a cardiovascular exercise routine, by monitoring the heart rate, you may have to consider measuring that in a different way.

Your heart rate will not be a very good indicator anymore, due to the threshold limit set by beta blockers. Consult your doctor and plan a different exercise regimen, which is compatible with your modified condition.

Beta Blockers Side Effects

Common beta blockers side effects are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and weight gain if you are taking medicine for diabetes (type 1 and type 2).

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Watch how Julie Lowered her Blood Pressure Naturally. It was 170/110, this morning it was 120/80 Learn More…

There are other important side effects and serious adverse effects of this drug class that includes, blurred vision, insomnia, hair loss, disorientation, CNS system effects, and serious heart problems.

Beta blockers interact with several other drugs, for example, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clonidine (Catapres), Phenobarbital, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin, and diabetes medications, including insulin.

Other side effects include but are not limited to:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Other important side effects include:

• Rash
• Blurred vision
• Disorientation
• Insomnia
• Hair loss
• Weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue

Less Common Side Effects Include

• Depression
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing or trouble breathing
• Loss of sex drive/erectile dysfunction
• Trouble sleeping
• Swelling of the hands or feet
• Slow heartbeat
• Skin rash
• A sore throat
• Memory loss or confusion
• Back or joint pain

Cautions You Should Be Aware of

If you have asthma or diabetes, talk to your doctor before taking a beta blocker. These drugs may trigger a severe asthma attack and can mask signs of low blood sugar. Let your doctor know about all other medical conditions you have before starting on a beta blocker.

Also, tell your doctor about all the medicines you’re taking, especially:

• Other medications for high blood pressure
• Antidepressants
• Drugs for diabetes (including insulin)
• Medications for asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Allergy shots
• Antacids that contain aluminum
• Over-the-counter (OTC) a cough, cold, or allergy medicines

A Final Note To Our Readers

Beta blockers can also affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, causing a slight increase in triglycerides and a modest decrease in high-density lipoprotein, the “good” cholesterol.

These changes often are temporary. YOU SHOULD NOT abruptly stop taking a beta blocker because doing so could increase your risk of a heart attack or other heart problems.

If you do need to stop taking a beta blocker then your doctor may advise a gradual reduction in dose. These medicines sometimes react with other medicines that you may take. So, make sure your doctor knows of any other medicines that you are taking, including ones that you have bought rather than been prescribed.

Laughter is a normal and natural physiologic response to certain stimuli with widely acknowledged psychological benefits. However, current research is beginning to show that laughter may also have serious positive physiological effects for those who engage in it on a regular basis.

The physical responses of laughter are very fast. After our senses are exposed to something “funny”, an electric current runs through our nervous system to our cerebral cortex. The higher brain functions in the left hemisphere decode the words and the syntactical structure in a very analytic approach to the information, while the more creative right hemisphere understands the humor, or “gets it”.

The 10 Health Benefits of Laughter

1.Laughter Is A Stress Buster

When one smiles, the movement of the facial muscles sends signals to the brain which in turn triggers the release of certain neurotransmitters called endorphins. These chemicals act as natural pain killers, make us feel happy and reduce our stress levels. The more one stimulates the brain to release the chemicals the more one feels calm and composed. Says clinical psychologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, Dr.Sanjana Saraf, “When you are stressed, the body secretes stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol becomes more active when we are anxious or sad or angry as a result of which, the body initiates a sympathetic reaction. On the other hand, happy thoughts initiate a parasympathetic reaction.”

2.Aids in Respiration

Have you experienced a sense of relief after a hearty laugh? This is because laughter involves deep exhalations which lowers the heart rate and blood pressure and you enter a calmer state. Similar to deep breathing, laughter has a cleansing effect that is especially beneficial for patients suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

3.Improves Social Relations

Frequent mood swings and anger issues only complicate the problem between friends and family members. This usually ends up disrupting the overall balance of the household and often is the reason for break ups and divorce. Gurgaon-based expert clinical psychologist, Dr. Prerna Kohli (PhD) tells us how laughter affects one’s social relations, “It is a well-known fact that laughter reduces stress. A stress free person is an enjoyable companion, who would you rather be with – someone who is stressed and dumping their emotional garbage on you or someone who is fun, entertaining and makes you laugh? Laughter is great for the mind, body and soul, and is akin to jogging for the soul. Laughter brings positive energy and rejuvenates the relationship. Laughter is the biggest stress buster.”

4.Boosts Your Immune System

Laughter can even go so far as to help you stay healthy. It has been widely studied that laughter can stimulate antibody cells to develop at faster rates by changing the body’s chemistry through hormonal shifts. This increase in antibodies means that the body is able to fight off illness and infection easier. T-Cells are a type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Studies have shown that the efficiency of T-cells is actually increased in a subject who regularly laughs and adds those hormonal advantages to their overall system.

5.Regulates Your Blood Pressure

For anyone with high blood pressure, try to laugh more and watch your blood pressure decrease. Studies have shown that “mirthful laughter” causes an initial increase in arterial blood pressure due to the physical act of laughing, but that rise is followed by a decrease to below the normal resting blood pressure. This is further proof that laughter does indeed improve circulation and can reduce blood pressure, which is one of the major causes of heart disease and cardiac issues for many people.

6.Improves Your Memory

Along with the improved brain function that laughter can provide, it can also work to improve memory in a different way. The connections and associations that the brain forms while “learning” can be widened and made more complex by combining basic learning with an emotional response like laughter or humor. Varying the levels of association with different parts of our brain (pleasure, amusement, logic, reason, etc.) remembering facts and recalling details is easier because there are more linkages present in our memory.

7.Enhances Your Mood

Studies have shown that the simple act of laughing or smiling can improve the mood and happiness levels in subjects versus other activities. Laughter has been found to have an analgesic quality that reduces even unconscious pain, causing an improvement in mood. Even forced laughter, without a normally humorous stimulus, works to improve mood. Therefore, even if you don’t have anything funny to laugh about, it will probably put you in a better mood just to participate in the physical act of laughter. Your brain does not actually register whether the stimulus is genuine or not, since people often find unusual things funny, or laughing at inappropriate times. Research suggests that good mood may lead to a greater preference for healthy foods overindulgent foods.

8.Provides Cancer Therapy

Several studies have shown the direct positive impact of laughter in cancer treatment. A number of cancer survivors have used humour as a complementary therapy since laughter is linked to improving natural killer cell activity, increasing disease resistance and decreasing morbidity in those with cancer or other chronic diseases.

9.Laughter Can Help Relieve Pain

So now you know that endorphins make you feel happy. But did you know they’re also a natural pain reliever? While laughter itself won’t take your pain away, it can help relieve it. Basically, the more endorphins in your body, the greater your threshold for pain.

In a study that looked at the effect of laughter on 70 aged care residents, those that participated in humour therapy reported a decrease in pain compared to those that didn’t. They also reported feeling happier and less lonely, suggesting that a wholesome hit of humour can be an effective non-medical intervention.

10.Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture.

Challenge yourself to laugh more

Laugh the next time someone tells a joke. Think about funny moments in your everyday routine. Set a goal to watch a comedian’s stand-up or spend time with your funny friends or family. Laugh. Isn’t it nice? Practice laughing. Once you get laughing, notice if your muscles feel less tense and if you are more relaxed. That’s what we’re talking about. Don’t you feel better? The chances are, you will. That’s the power of laughter.

Humanity has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century, but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. — Mark Twain