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Browse published articles attributed to Andy Krals, with full-archive search.
Another simple and clinically proven technique for lowering blood pressure without drugs is called "hand grip isometrics." Isometrics are when a muscle is tensed but without moving. For example, if you make a fist with your hand and squeeze – that’s an example of an isometric exercise.
If your doctor has told you that you have high blood pressure and you’re tempted to just ignore it, bad idea. Here are the top ten risks of ignoring high blood pressure: Risk Factor #1) Artery Damage. Arteries can harden and thicken under excessive pressure. Risk Factor #2) Aneurisms. An aneurism is when an artery in the brain balloons outwards. Aneurisms aren’t always a problem by themselves. What they can lead to is very serious – a stroke.
Stop what you’re doing right now. Feel how much tension you have in your abdominal muscles. Chances are, you’re “sucking in your gut.” Now stop and notice how you’re breathing. Chances are, you’re taking shallow breaths, and you’re breathing with your chest?
What's the #1 most dangerous side effect of blood pressure drugs - the one that you won't find on the label? First, an overview of the 8 classes of high blood pressure drugs, how they work, and their commo "listed" side effects: First ACE inhibitors – rn(ACE) inhibitors prevent your body from making Angiotensin II - a natural substance our bodies produce that, among other things, can cause our blood vessels to narrow, thicken and stiffen. Angiotensin II also triggers the release of a hormone associated with increased water and sodium in the body.
What 9 herbs and supplements might lower your blood pressure (*and which common candy can make it go up)? 1) Garlic. A few smaller studies seem to suggest that garlic might help lower your blood pressure. Larger, more clinically sound studies are needed to establish a definite connection.
What are “White Coat Hypertension,” “Masked Hypertension” and “Morning Hypertension”? “White Coat Hypertension” means that when you go to the doctors’ office, the stress of just being there might cause a false reading. “White Coat” refers to the white coats often worn by doctors. It’s estimated that for up to 25% of people, their doctors’ office blood pressure is higher than it is normally. For many people, this can lead to a misdiagnosis and needless and potentially harmful medication.
First let’s take a look at the top 11 health benefits of exercise, many of these you probably haven’t heard of:
Salt Causes High Blood Pressure – Right? “In the West, the connection between salt and hypertension has been convincing enough that many patients with high blood pressure have been forbidden to eat any but the smallest amounts of salt. This implied that salt was somehow an enemy. Now it is known that such restrictions were too severe…” Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra MD, page 238
One of the most powerful ways to control your blood pressure is by simply “telling” it to go down. Before we go into how you can “tell” your blood pressure to go down, let’s take a look at the mind-body connection. Take a moment right now and pay attention to how you feel. Are you calm, relaxed, or maybe a little stressed? Whatever you’re feeling, it’s a chemical in your blood.
There’s a lot of confusion out there about health and alcohol. Sometimes we hear things like “wine is good for your health;” other times we hear all about alcohols’ dangers. So where’s the truth? As with so many things in life – the truth is actually somewhere in the middle. Moderate alcohol consumption actually has some clinically proven health benefits.
Interestingly, yes, there is indeed a connection between the weather and blood pressure. In a study published in the British Medical journal, researchers concluded that, “For each age, sex, and treatment group systolic and diastolic pressures were higher in winter than in summer. The seasonal variation in blood pressure was greater in older than in younger subjects and was highly significantly related to maximum and minimum daily air temperature measurements but not to rainfall.”
That irritating “Type A” supervisor at work is exactly the type of person to have high blood pressure, right? Actually, not necessarily. In nearly all cases, high blood pressure has no symptoms whatsoever. So how can you tell? Have a test: Option #1) Get one done for free. You can go to your supermarket or pharmacy and use one of their “Free Test” machines. Unfortunately, these machines often haven’t been serviced in years. Ask the pharmacist when the last service was. If you get a confused look with a shrugged shoulder, it’s not a good sign.
First, let’s take a moment and clarify some definitions. People often wonder what’s the difference betwee “high blood pressure” and “hypertension”? They’re just different names for the same thing. You might have seen that blood pressure always has two numbers, for example, 120/80. The bigger number is called “systolic” and the smaller number is called “diastolic.” “Systolic” is the maximum pressure when your heart contracts. “Diastolic” is the lowest pressure when your heart relaxes. For example, if your blood pressure is: “120/80”
We all know what stress feels like – but did you know that it’s all nothing more than a bunch of chemicals in our blood? When we experience something stressful, our adrenal glands make adrenaline and glucocorticoids. These chemicals make our muscles tense, our hearts race, our blood vessels constrict and, hence, our blood pressure spikes. In nature, this rush means the difference between catching something to eat or being something to eat – the “fight or flight” survival instinct.
Today we’re going to cover the 12 health benefits of Guided Breathing: Health Benefit #1) Deep Relaxation/Less Stress. We are surrounded by too many stress triggers and not enough relaxation triggers. When we take the time to regularly break the stress cycle, the health benefits are incredible. Even wrinkles can be reduced or prevented through better blood flow and reduced stress. 2) Better Sleep. Guided Breathing is an excellent, drug-free cure for insomnia. In addition to feeling and looking more rested, a great nights’ sleep is essential for healthy living.
So, how could something as simple as breathing control blood pressure? 1) One theory is that it’s actually not so much about relaxation and has more to do with helping the body get salt out. When people are under stress, they tend to take shallow breaths. This “inhibitory breathing” in turn, makes the blood more acidic and makes the kidneys less efficient at removing sodium from the blood. In research conducted by Dr. David Anderson of the National Institute of Health, inhibitory breathing was linked to elevated salt and higher blood pressure.
First, some interesting facts about caffeine... 1) It's the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world - an estimated 90% of adults in Western countries consume it daily. 2) Small doses of caffeine help reduce pain and speed up the effects of other pain relievers like aspirin by up to 40%. 3) Green tea, oolong tea and black tea are all the same leaves from the same plant, they're just processed differently.
When we go to the doctor, we deserve to get the best care medicine has to offer, science-based and unbiased. Regrettably, the truth is often far from it.
1) Stop smoking. Tobacco hardens your arteries and the walls of your blood vessels. If you can’t quit cold turkey, ask your doctor for help in developing a plan. Plus, let’s face it… smoking is so… last century. 2) Time to get some exercise – normally an average of at least 30 minutes a day. You don’t have to join a health club and start grunting in the weight room – even moderate walking is great. Ask your doctor to help you develop a plan that’s right for your needs. Exercise is a habit just like any other, once you get in the swing, you’ll get addicted to feeling great.