I'm feeling good this morning because there's no driving on the agenda. Hopefully I'll get to soak up some sun and finish the newspaper before my wife brings around her to-do list.
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about the number of Americans, possibly a third or more, who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, in medical lingo. The thing is, many of them have it, but don't even know it, until it's too late. High blood pressure is often referred to, as "The Silent Killer," because it often attacks with no warning, causing strokes, heart attacks and heart failure.
The question is often asked, "What causes high blood pressure?"
There are several factors like a sedentary lifestyle, low potassium, body type, sodium intake, saturated fat, alcohol, and huffing. I call smoking "huffing" because everyone who smokes, huffs. And there's "essential hypertension" which is when we can't find a specific reason for it, but just the same it's there.
Now, if you happen to be overweight, and more people are overweight every day, or if you sit around all day on your job, and don't exercise, you're probably already on the road to high blood pressure. And the more fat around your midsection, the more trouble you're likely to be in.
Sodium isn't bad in and of itself. But here in the Sunshine State, I see people pouring the stuff on every plate they consume. Tasting the food in the first place isn't even an issue, they just always add more. Too much salt can lead to water retention, then high blood pressure, or make it worse.
Every time I go to the grocery store, I see piles of bananas. I try and eat at least one every day, because they happen to be very rich in potassium. But apparently, most Americans don't eat the bananas they buy, because they aren't getting enough potassium in their diets. And not having enough potassium may lead to high levels of sodium.
And none of this factors in alcohol use and huffing, which is about the worst thing you can do to your body.
Now I'm no teetotaler. I have a drink now and then and so can you. And I'm not going to complain about a special occasion cigar, even if I won't partake.
But I'll tell you this: smoking and constant drinking, in the long run, will hurt you - if you get to have a long run. And if you have high blood pressure, doing either is suicidal.
Simple lifestyle changes are a great start for lowering your blood pressure. Eat better one day at a time. Exercise a little one day at a time. Then one day can turn into two days. Remember that it took a good deal of time for your body to form the shape it's in, so don't think you can fix everything overnight. Trying to do so will piss you off at the best or worse, hurt yourself.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
At the hospital he told me, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" You don't have to go down that road. Small changes will pave a new one for you. - 15438
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about the number of Americans, possibly a third or more, who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, in medical lingo. The thing is, many of them have it, but don't even know it, until it's too late. High blood pressure is often referred to, as "The Silent Killer," because it often attacks with no warning, causing strokes, heart attacks and heart failure.
The question is often asked, "What causes high blood pressure?"
There are several factors like a sedentary lifestyle, low potassium, body type, sodium intake, saturated fat, alcohol, and huffing. I call smoking "huffing" because everyone who smokes, huffs. And there's "essential hypertension" which is when we can't find a specific reason for it, but just the same it's there.
Now, if you happen to be overweight, and more people are overweight every day, or if you sit around all day on your job, and don't exercise, you're probably already on the road to high blood pressure. And the more fat around your midsection, the more trouble you're likely to be in.
Sodium isn't bad in and of itself. But here in the Sunshine State, I see people pouring the stuff on every plate they consume. Tasting the food in the first place isn't even an issue, they just always add more. Too much salt can lead to water retention, then high blood pressure, or make it worse.
Every time I go to the grocery store, I see piles of bananas. I try and eat at least one every day, because they happen to be very rich in potassium. But apparently, most Americans don't eat the bananas they buy, because they aren't getting enough potassium in their diets. And not having enough potassium may lead to high levels of sodium.
And none of this factors in alcohol use and huffing, which is about the worst thing you can do to your body.
Now I'm no teetotaler. I have a drink now and then and so can you. And I'm not going to complain about a special occasion cigar, even if I won't partake.
But I'll tell you this: smoking and constant drinking, in the long run, will hurt you - if you get to have a long run. And if you have high blood pressure, doing either is suicidal.
Simple lifestyle changes are a great start for lowering your blood pressure. Eat better one day at a time. Exercise a little one day at a time. Then one day can turn into two days. Remember that it took a good deal of time for your body to form the shape it's in, so don't think you can fix everything overnight. Trying to do so will piss you off at the best or worse, hurt yourself.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
At the hospital he told me, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" You don't have to go down that road. Small changes will pave a new one for you. - 15438
About the Author:
Dr. Bill is an orthopaedic surgeon and anti-aging author. For heart health, he recommends this form of pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
