High Blood Pressure

[mommysboy]

Am I right in thinking a good diet to prevent/reduce high blood pressure will include plenty of fresh fruit and veg, grains, spuds, beans, and lean cuts of meat.  And things to be reduced will be food high in salt, processed food,  and alcohol?

 

I've had a wretched few months regarding grave family illness, and life stress.  I'm also lacking sleep on account of our kid not sleeping at night.  Is this a likely factor?

[daveAustin]

Yep, eating properly is a given, but indeed stress is an absolute <removed> (excuse French) for things like blood pressure and acid reflux.

 

• Staying hydrated and satiated with electrolytes is a given out here regardless
• Suggest using coconut oil instead of veg oils when you fry
• Braggs apple cider vinegar making body more alkaline
• Veg smoothies are great
• Pork is hard to digest for humans
• Have a read about raw garlic and lowering blood pressure
• Consider periodic fasting... give your body a break
• I've always felt best when fittest and breathing deeply

[mommysboy]

2 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Yep, eating properly is a given, but indeed stress is an absolute bastard (excuse French) for things like blood pressure and acid reflux.

 

• Staying hydrated and satiated with electrolytes is a given out here regardless
• Suggest using coconut oil instead of veg oils when you fry
• Braggs apple cider vinegar making body more alkaline
• Veg smoothies are great
• Pork is hard to digest for humans
• Have a read about raw garlic and lowering blood pressure
• Consider periodic fasting... give your body a break
• I've always felt best when fittest and breathing deeply

 

Cheers Dave- good stuff!

[Ace of Pop]

Had to Smile Today .Studied BP Chart from around the World .They differ in their opinions like TV posters as to Ideal BP in relation to age.[emoji381][emoji382]


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[NancyL]

I've found that my BP can be substantially reduced if I get enough sleep, don't consume salty foods (difficult to do with Thai foods) and don't over indulge in alcohol.  And meanwhile, over time there are amazing improvements if I can get my weight down and BMI into the appropriate range.  

Every time in my adult life where I've been able to maintain my BMI in the optimal range for more than six months, my BP has been normal without meds.

Sad but true.  I wish there were a pill I could buy to make up for bad habits.

[NancyL]

Meanwhile I don't wish for the magic day in the distant future when I'll be eating right and have my weight under control. I take meds that do a nice job of keeping my BP under control and record daily readings to see when it's time to consult my doctor about whether it's time to cut back on meds due to the benefits of exercise and weight loss.

[Ace of Pop]

My White Coat thing was ridiculous 12 years ago.Not caused by White Coats ,but by being amongst many people,rush hour drive,that bloody height n weight machine,made to fit a Wendy House.It disappeared when I cut all ties with my commercial world,I was wrong it was Hypertension Denied.Just a though.[emoji381]



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[mommysboy]

14 hours ago, NancyL said:

Meanwhile I don't wish for the magic day in the distant future when I'll be eating right and have my weight under control. I take meds that do a nice job of keeping my BP under control and record daily readings to see when it's time to consult my doctor about whether it's time to cut back on meds due to the benefits of exercise and weight loss.

 

I think that is a very good strategy.

 

 

[mommysboy]

7 hours ago, Ace of Pop said:

My White Coat thing was ridiculous 12 years ago.Not caused by White Coats ,but by being amongst many people,rush hour drive,that bloody height n weight machine,made to fit a Wendy House.It disappeared when I cut all ties with my commercial world,I was wrong it was Hypertension Denied.Just a though.



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Yes, I imagine sometimes it just is what it is.  Obviously, we wear out as we age.  I am going to be very careful about attributing it to this and that.  You and NancyL have done the right thing.  But I have very little wiggle room anyway: I am ideal weight, keep fit, don't drink, and my diet isn't so bad. I am currently extremely stressed following bereavement and financial bombshells.

 

In the meantime, I am doing all the right things: quitting salt, eating plenty of fruit and veg, exercising more.  Stress! well that's a difficult one, because it's a bit like stopping a speeding train.

 

I'm inclined for a full check up as I haven't had one for a couple of years.

Edited March 2, 2017 by mommysboy

[Sheryl]

"Am I right in thinking a good diet to prevent/reduce high blood pressure will include plenty of fresh fruit and veg, grains, spuds, beans, and lean cuts of meat.  And things to be reduced will be food high in salt, processed food,  and alcohol?"

Yes, although alcohol in moderation does not have negative effect in BP

 

I've had a wretched few months regarding grave family illness, and life stress.  I'm also lacking sleep on account of our kid not sleeping at night.  Is this a likely factor? Yes, certainly

 

You don't mention just how high your BP is, and that is a factor in whether it is safe to wait for lifestyle changes to kick in,  vs. needing to treat now

[mommysboy]

36 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

"Am I right in thinking a good diet to prevent/reduce high blood pressure will include plenty of fresh fruit and veg, grains, spuds, beans, and lean cuts of meat.  And things to be reduced will be food high in salt, processed food,  and alcohol?"

Yes, although alcohol in moderation does not have negative effect in BP

 

I've had a wretched few months regarding grave family illness, and life stress.  I'm also lacking sleep on account of our kid not sleeping at night.  Is this a likely factor? Yes, certainly

 

You don't mention just how high your BP is, and that is a factor in whether it is safe to wait for lifestyle changes to kick in,  vs. needing to treat now

Yes I was a bit ashamed to admit it: normally it is 120/80,  sometimes higher and lower,but has kicked up 160/95.  To say I was shocked is an understatement!

 

The doctor (actually the eye surgeon) said he would check it again on my next visit on Monday, and merely advised avoiding salt and eating well. We'll see, but if it has not improved then I will visit the appropriate department right after the eye test.

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

"Am I right in thinking a good diet to prevent/reduce high blood pressure will include plenty of fresh fruit and veg, grains, spuds, beans, and lean cuts of meat.  And things to be reduced will be food high in salt, processed food,  and alcohol?"

Yes, although alcohol in moderation does not have negative effect in BP

 

I've had a wretched few months regarding grave family illness, and life stress.  I'm also lacking sleep on account of our kid not sleeping at night.  Is this a likely factor? Yes, certainly

 

You don't mention just how high your BP is, and that is a factor in whether it is safe to wait for lifestyle changes to kick in,  vs. needing to treat now

 

OOOps!  I wonder if this is a factor : When researchers tested blood pressure while people smoked, they discovered that within five minutes of lighting up, the subjects’ systolic pressures rose dramatically — more than 20 mm Hg, on average — before gradually declining to their original levels over the next 30 minutes. This means the typical smoker’s blood pressure soars many times throughout the day. Like people with labile hypertension (in which blood pressure may jump frequently in response to daily stresses), smokers may suffer “part-time” hypertension. For example, smokers with a prehypertensive reading of less than 140/90 mm Hg may actually have stage 1 hypertension every time they puff a cigarette.

 

Recently, In UK, I brought a quite powerful vaper as opposed to the Mickey Mouse ones I'd been using in Thailand.  I also had to buy far stronger liquid. Come to think of it I am spinning at times.  Probably, ingesting more than conventional cigarettes.

 

Also, I have been using more neurofen than usual as my eyes have been stinging- mild 'surfers eye it seems, but it really makes my eyes sore at the corner which makes sleep difficult. I thought it was sinuses.

 

Edited: Blimey. I'm vaping now.  Uncorrupted my heart rate is around 50-55.  It's pounding like the clappers at this very moment.

Edited March 2, 2017 by mommysboy

[Sheryl]

smoking is a HUGE risk factor for hypertension as well as coronary artery disease. I'd rank that even about the avoidance of salt as things you should do.

 

Also, weight loss will almost always lower BP, if you have any excess weight to spare.

 

A single isolated BP reading cannot diagnose hypertension. BP is not static, it goes up and down continually and anyone will have a temporary spike if in pain or badly stressed. Get a home monitor and check around the same time every day for a while and see. Omron brand (arm type not wrist type) is good.

[tropo]

4 hours ago, mommysboy said:

Yes I was a bit ashamed to admit it: normally it is 120/80,  sometimes higher and lower,but has kicked up 160/95.  To say I was shocked is an understatement!

 

The doctor (actually the eye surgeon) said he would check it again on my next visit on Monday, and merely advised avoiding salt and eating well. We'll see, but if it has not improved then I will visit the appropriate department right after the eye test.

 

 

You shouldn't have to rely on a doctor's visit to check your blood pressure. You need a personal home monitor (sphygmomanometer)...  yesterday! I like the new Omron wrist monitors. I don't know if they have them here as I bought mine on eBay from the US.

 

A lot of people claim they aren't accurate, but mine reads true to the one at the clinic. I've used it side-by-side with armband monitors and got exactly the same results.

 

You're so stressed out about your new reading, that you could be much higher than your normal levels, just by the stress (worry) of going to get checked. It will, for sure, be abnormally high.

[Ace of Pop]

I had a Clothes Peg thing put on my finger,new machine this week at Hospital.I read the BP bit Ok , but not all the other readouts Any ideas.?


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[pmarlin]

Exercise, don't smoke, moderate alcohol drinking and reduce salt in your diet. It worked for me.

[tropo]

3 hours ago, pmarlin said:

Exercise, don't smoke, moderate alcohol drinking and reduce salt in your diet. It worked for me.

Which begs the question, what is moderate alcohol drinking? Abstaining could be the best solution.

 

It could be a bit like eating chocolate - can you stop at one piece? I keep chocolate out of the fridge so that I don't indulge in the moderate eating of it.

[mommysboy]

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

smoking is a HUGE risk factor for hypertension as well as coronary artery disease. I'd rank that even about the avoidance of salt as things you should do.

 

Also, weight loss will almost always lower BP, if you have any excess weight to spare.

 

A single isolated BP reading cannot diagnose hypertension. BP is not static, it goes up and down continually and anyone will have a temporary spike if in pain or badly stressed. Get a home monitor and check around the same time every day for a while and see. Omron brand (arm type not wrist type) is good.

 

Vaping.  Its a similar action but quite different.  It does however contain nicotine. I'm making an effort to stop since the nicotine is a likely factor.

 

 

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Anyone read about black garlic?  Very tasty....like chocolate.  They took my BP right before a root canal...I said roi hoksip?  (160). No. 131/83. I said Will take it considering the circumstances and complete lack of good pain meds for dental treatments here.. 

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, tropo said:

Which begs the question, what is moderate alcohol drinking? Abstaining could be the best solution.

 

It could be a bit like eating chocolate - can you stop at one piece? I keep chocolate out of the fridge so that I don't indulge in the moderate eating of it.

This is a very important point: I don't know if it is the same for everyone but I find cigarettes, alcohol, chocolate, cakes, and cookies to be things where moderation is more painful than doing without.

 

I also have observed that what I and many other people describe as light or moderate often turns out to be heavy usage.

[Sheryl]

Quite true, and anyone other than those who really can take just 1 drink and readily stop, is probably better off just abstaining.

[mommysboy]

My BP returned to near normal today: 128/70.  I think I get very anxious about these tests.  But I have changed my diet so that I eat more fruit and vegetables, including spinach.  I'll also be changing my vape liquid to minimal nicotine, with a view to stopping completely.

[mommysboy]

On 03/03/2017 at 5:20 PM, Sheryl said:

Quite true, and anyone other than those who really can take just 1 drink and readily stop, is probably better off just abstaining.

Alcohol sucks really.  I can't see that it is at all beneficial, because it has a bad effect on the digestive system. A glass of wine with a meal maybe, but how many people can say it stops there- 5% I'd guess. 

[muskoka]

I would be cautious about reducing salt intake too much. Perhaps the quality of salt consumed is the important question. Your body needs salt to survive, but normal table salt is chemically stripped of the minerals normally found in natural "unprocessed" salt. We lose salt conuinually, esp via urine & sweat. This has to be replaced somehow. I use HImalayan pink salt. Some reading...

 

Quote

I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came.

https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/JFK-Speeches/Americas-Cup-Dinner_19620914.aspx

 

Health U-turn: Leading heart doctor says eat MORE salt

HEALTH guidelines on salt intake are too low and may increase the risk of a fatal heart attack, the former president of the World Heart Federation warns.

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/775072/heart-attack-salt-intake-increase-doctor

 

Quote

"Our bodies absolutely need the sodium in salt to function. Each message sent along a nerve begins with a flood of sodium ions rushing across the cell’s outer membrane. Sodium is also responsible for controlling our blood pressure and for keeping our cells properly filled with fluid. It’s a non-negotiable nutrient."

 

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jul-aug/08-what-seasoning-is-essential-for-life-deadly-at-high-doses-and-confusing-to-neuroscientists

[tropo]

48 minutes ago, muskoka said:

 Health U-turn: Leading heart doctor says eat MORE salt

HEALTH guidelines on salt intake are too low and may increase the risk of a fatal heart attack, the former president of the World Heart Federation warns.

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/775072/heart-attack-salt-intake-increase-doctor

 

 

We should also take into consideration the climate. It's hot and humid all year round in Thailand - a lot more salt is expelled in sweat than in cooler countries.

[Sheryl]

That is quite true, but it is still possible to take in way too much sodium, even in a very hot climate, if one eats a lot of processed foods. That is the really big culprit.

 

If someone is sweating a lot then I would not restrict them from adding a moderate amount of salt to their food or eating  fresh foods  cooked with (reasonable amounts) salt. But processed foods are loaded with incredible quantities of sodium,  and are best avoided.

 

They are bad in may other ways,too (trans fats, all manner of additives etc).

[mommysboy]

As Sheryl says, salt is in all processed food and if this predominates in your diet then you are eating way over the guidelines- hot country or not.

 

I understand that a large minority of people are totally unaffected by salt as far as BP is concerned, but I dont know if it has any other effects on the organs.

 

Over the years I have had periods of feeling fatigued, headachy, like a summer chill and then found what I thought was 24 hour flu stopped after eating something salty.  So there is a valid point here. 

 

Salt is a relatively minor antagonist. If someone concentrates on solely reducing salt, I think there is a danger of missing a few very big elephants in the room. 

 

Personally, I am overhauling my diet completely.  I'm not expecting this to be an easy task.

 

I was looking at the effects of exercise today and was surprised to learn that it may not be about duration and intensity.  Light, frequent exercise, just moving really, may be more beneficial. 

 

 

 

 

[Ace of Pop]

I seem to have a Salt Censor built in.I get muscle cramps if I cut out salt.Just have a tiny bit and it's gone.This happens only when we get hi temperatures


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