Lower Blood Pressure Natrually

High blood pressure can be easy to ignore as there are often no symptoms- but did you know that this disease could literally make you “loose your mind”?

Vascular dementia is often caused by either one or several strokes, ranging from severe to so small they go unnoticed, which damage various parts of the brain impairing memory and overall cognition. The resulting symptoms, such as forgetfulness, are often hard to distinguish from Alzheimer disease. Hypertension is believed to be one of the main risk factors for vascular dementia due to its propensity to cause strokes.

Vascular dementia is preventable, and one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is maintain healthy blood pressure levels. If you are looking for a natural way to lower blood pressure naturally, be sure to look into the Zona Plus.

Recent research published by the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago indicates that loneliness could be directly tied to high systolic blood pressure in some older Americans.

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The study involved 229 participants aged 50-68 years from Illinois. Even after accounting for other factors, such as access to medical services, demographic variables and psychological factors, loneliness was shown to be linked to increases as great as 30 points systolic. For instance, the scale the researchers used to measure loneliness had 6 main levels. For every increase in level, there was an associated increase of 5mmHg in systolic blood pressure, such that those ranked in the top third of the scale had systolic blood pressure that was 10-30mmHg systolic higher than those in the bottom third of the scale.

While the researchers do recognize some of the limitations of their study, they do conclude, “Given the rapidly aging U.S. population, the health risks associated with social isolation and loneliness will place a growing proportion of these physiologically vulnerable individuals at increased risk for poor cardiovascular health.”

» More: Loneliness may be Responsible for High Systolic Blood Pressure

Lowering your blood pressure is the number one thing you can do to lower your risk for stroke, according to the American Heart Association. For many people in the pre-hypertensive range (less than 140mmHg systolic or 90mmHg diastolic) their blood pressure is too high by just a few points, but for the severely hypertensive just a few points can be the difference between life and death. The following is a list of things that cause at least a temporary rise in blood pressure, and that ceasing to do can often quickly lower blood pressure.

1. Smoking
   While smoking does seem to temporarily raise blood pressure, a direct long term connection has yet to be found. However, smoking and tobacco do damage blood vessels and arteries which causes them to contract. These narrower passageways do contribute to high blood pressure and hypertension.
2. Caffeine
   While there is some controversy, researchers tend to agree that caffeine does slightly raise blood pressure in the short run and over time individuals who consume large quantities of coffee are more likely be diagnosed with hypertension.
3. Stress
   We know there is a tie between stress and hypertension, but the exact relationship is unknown. However, certain stress reducing activities such as meditation, exercising and listening to relaxing music have all been proven to lower blood pressure.
4. Cold medicines Many cold medicines contain decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine) which work by constricting blood vessels and may temporarily raise blood pressure. If you are hypertensive, be sure to check with your Doctor before using any decongestants.
5. Non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
   Pain medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen cause a temporary rise in blood pressure; however, drugs such as Asprin and Tylenol seem don’t seem to have the same effect. Be sure to check with your Doctor, especially if you are stage 2 hypertensive, before beginning any OTC pain medications.
6. Alcohol
   Heavy drinking (3-6 alcoholic drinks per day) has been definitively tied to high blood pressure. Less research has been done on lighter drinking, but there is enough evidence to strongly recommend that hypertensive individuals in particular should consume no more than 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day.

For many simple lifestyle changes and increased awareness can make a big impact in their battle against hypertension. However, if you find yourself still struggling with hypertension and want a way to naturally lower your blood pressure, check out the Zona Plus.

If you are using medications to control your hypertension, make sure you are fully aware of their side effects. In 2004 the American College of Sports Medicine wrote a full report on exercise guidelines for hypertensives. Included in the report were the following warnings for hypertensives on medications:

• Antihypertensive medications such as beta blockers and diuretics impair the ability to regulate body temperature during exercise in hot and/or humid environments
and provoke hypoglycemia (88,206). Thus, people using these medications should be educated on the signs/symptoms of heat illness, the role of adequate hydration, proper clothing to facilitate evaporative cooling, the optimal times of the day to exercise, the importance of decreasing the exercise dosage (time and intensity) during periods of increased heat or humidity, and methods to prevent hypoglycemia. In addition, beta blockers can substantially alter submaximal and maximal exercise capacity, particularly in those without myocardial ischemia and with nonselective
agents.
• Because antihypertensive agents such as alpha blockers, calcium channel blockers, and vasodilators may provoke hypotensive episodes after abrupt cessation of activity, extending the cool-down period is generally recommended (88,98).
Retrieved 3/10/2009 from http://www.ms-se.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/msse/media/0304.pdf

Should you decide you are interested in a natural way to lower blood pressure, check out Zona.com.

Migraines have long been recognized as incredibly painful but considered not harmful in the long run; however, new research shows that migraines have a strong correlation to stroke.

Did you know that high blood pressure can lead to stroke? Find out how the Zona Plus can help lower your blood pressure naturally!

Researchers have found that people who get migraines with auras have two to three times the risk of stroke or heart attack compared to people who don’t get migraines. It is not yet determined if the auras increase the risk of stroke, as much of the research has focused only on migraine suffers with auras. The reason for migraines remains elusive; however, there are few main hypotheses.

Certain schools of thought theorize a hole in the heart of migraine suffers, found in 10-20% of all people and in about 50% of those with migraines, increases the risk of stroke.

Another theory is that migraines are due to neurotransmitters misfiring, eventually leading to weakened blood vessels throughout the body which makes people more susceptible to stroke. While yet another hypothesis is that the vascular system of people who get migraines is inherently dysfunctional, contracting and expanding when they should not, pressing on nerves, which would sometimes lead to a painful migraine. These dysfunctional vessels would often spasm without notice, eventually damaging the vascular system paving the way for a stroke. One third of those with migraines have been found to have blood vessel damage, a rate almost five times higher than a normal population.

-Did you know the Zona Plus not only lowers blood pressure naturally but can also reverse the effects of endothelial dysfunction?

None of the theories have been proven, but it is clear that migraines are a serious threat to cardiovascular health. The researchers suggest that people with migraines make lifestyle changes to improve cardiovascular health, such as not smoking, but also add that migraine suffers should not panic. If normal stroke risk is 15 per 100,000 and it is double for migraine suffers with auras, it is still only 30 per 100,000.

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» More: Migraines Sufferers Have Increased Risk of Stroke

New research seems to show a tie between low blood pressure and depression as well as high blood pressure and anxiety. It also reveals that antidepressants raise blood pressure.

Looking for ways to lower blood pressure naturally? Check out “How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally”

Depression was long believed to actually raise blood pressure, but a study published in Hypertension was able to show that it is actually the antidepressant drugs, particularly tricyclic antidepressants, raised blood pressure and increased the risk of hypertension. Over 2,600 participants were used in the study and after accounting for variables such as age, sex and education, they found that patients taking a tricyclic antidepressant has as much as 9% higher systolic and 11% diastolic mean blood pressure. Their risk of stage 1 hypertension was double and triple for stage 2 compared to the control group.

“Doctors should at least be aware of a potential blood-pressure rise that could be linked to TCA use, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure or others who are at risk for hypertension,” said head author Carmilla Licht of VU University Medical Center.
» More: Antidepressants Tied to High Blood Pressure

New research suggests a strong tie between excessive daytime sleepiness and cardiovascular death.

Did you know?
In 2006 73,600,000 deaths in the US were attributed to high blood pressure!
Learn how the Zona Plus can help lower blood pressure naturally!

A study published by the American Heart Association, called The Three Cities Study, focused on 8,269 people residing in France who were over 65 years old and who did not live in care facilities. Researchers found that those who reported excessive daytime sleepiness had a 49% increase in relative risk of dying from cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure compared to those who did not report excessive sleepiness. Their risk of overall death also increased by 33%.

Since the study focused on only a certain geographic area and because of a response rate of less than 40%, it is difficult for any conclusions to be drawn from the study. It is also unknown if the observed association between sleepiness and cardiovascular death points to a cause and effect relationship, and if it does, it is unknown which is the core cause.

Controlling high blood pressure is arguably the number one way to fight cardiovascular disease. For more information about lowering blood pressure naturally, see www.zona.com.
» More: Beware of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

New research suggests that potassium may essentially “cancel out” the negative hypertensive effects of sodium. In a study of almost 3,000 participants urine samples were collected intermittently over either 18 or 36 months. The participants, all 30-54 years old and had blood pressure just below levels considered high, were tracked for 10-15 years. Those who had high sodium levels were 20% more likely to suffer from various forms of cardiovascular disease; however, these results were not considered statistically significant. In contrast, those who had the highest sodium-to-potassium ratios were 50% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. This significant finding has the potential to totally chance the way people view sodium and hypertension.

The study recommends that healthy individuals between 19-50 years old should consume 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day (one teaspoon of table salt) and that should consume 4.7 grams of potassium, assuming they have no personal medical contradiction to said recommendations.
» More: Sodium to Potassium Ratio May Be Key in Controlling Hypertension Naturally

Dogs have always been considered “man’s best friend” and new research seems to indicate that the bond between pets and humans has significant health benefits- including lower blood pressure.

Several studies have been done to better understand the relationship between health and pet ownership. Dr Deborah Wells in an article published in the British Journal of Health Psychology reported that dogs owners in particular tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, healthier overall and have fewer minor ailments and serious medical problems when compared to the general population.

Another study focused specifically on pet ownership and hypertension. A group of 48 New York stock brokers with hypertension were placed on ACE inhibitor therapy (lisinopril) and half of them got either a cat or dog. Resting blood pressure for the two groups throughout the experiment followed virtually the same course, dropping roughly 35/20 mmHg. However, those who had acquired pets had much lower blood pressure and heart rates during times of stress, about 8 to 13 mmHg systolic and 5 to 10 mmHg diastolic. The study hypothesized that it was the increased social support offered by a cat or dog that led to the more stable and lower blood pressure.
» More: Pets Shown to Lower Blood Pressure