Foods You Should Avoid if You Suffer From High Blood Pressure

 

A considerable number of people today are suffering from a condition known as high blood pressure or hypertension. It is the condition where the speed of the blood inside the blood vessels increases to an alarming level. This weakens the walls of the vessels and also causes the heart to pump at a faster pace. This fast pumping of the heart results in the over-exertion of the heart, and that can cause many heart diseases. However, this condition can be lessened by eating a specific food. It can also be aggravated and made worse by the use of certain foodstuff.

1. Salt

Salt is the prime culprit when it comes to high blood pressure. When the sodium content in our diet is increased, it disturbs the delicate ionic balance of the human body. This results in the kidneys being unable to filter the blood properly as the blood has a high level of sodium content. When the kidneys do not produce proper urine, the water content of blood increases which increases blood pressure. According to nutritionists, the daily intake of sodium for a healthy individual, so that he/she does not suffer from hypertension, should not exceed 1500 milligrams.

 

2. Canned Soups

 

Canned soups may look extremely nutritious when you are looking at their advertisements in which they promote the use of healthy veggies that provide nutrition. However, in reality, canned soups are a major aggravator of hypertension. These canned goods are loaded with a sodium content that increases the speed of the flow of blood. Therefore, while selecting a canned soup, a person should make sure he goes for a can with a “low sodium” label on it.

 

3. Processed Meats

Processed meats have been made to last longer and to stay unspoiled. They are used to make quick sandwiches and are considered nutritious. However, these meats contain a large amount of sodium content.

 

4. Chinese Take-Outs

 

Chinese take-outs are a favourite for people these days. When living in a fast-paced society, places that offer these budget-friendly and quick food items are considered saviours. However, this is not the case. Chinese take-out places use oils that are sodium content rich. That is why sautéed veggies in a Chinese place look so shiny. Also, Chinese take-out contains a large quantity of canned sauces as well as other sodium-rich ingredients that cause hypertension.

 

5. Frozen Pizzas

 

Frozen pizzas are considered to be a quick fix when lunch isn’t cooked or when you feel too lazy to get something to eat. Pop them in the oven and wait till the cheese starts the melt and the dough turns crispy and golden. However, to conserve the frozen pizzas, a large amount of salt is used. This high sodium concentration aggravates blood pressure and causes various heart diseases.

 

6. Pickles

 

Pickles are salted and preserved vegetables that are dipped in oil or vinegar for fermentation and flavour. These pickles are eaten as a side as well as put in various sandwiches and burgers all around the world. The extremely high sodium content in these aggravates blood pressure and can turn even a simple cucumber into a sodium bomb. 

 

7. Baked Cookies

 

Baked cookies may look healthy because of the brilliant smells and the amazing taste of it. Plus, the idea of something being freshly baked sounds very healthy and nutritious. However, baked cookies are rich in sugar content, and this sugar also causes a spike in blood pressure. Furthermore, in slices of bread, pastries, and croissants – salt is added. This salt increases blood pressure levels due to an increased level of sodium in the bloodstream.

 

8. Bacon

 

Bacon is a calorie bomb. They are sticks of fats that are fried in cholesterol pools. The worst thing is that people eat this for breakfast and breakfast is the most important and vital meal of the day. Therefore, eating something this unhealthy, this early in the morning has even more adverse effects than eating it at another time would. Due to the fat content of bacon, the blood pressure rises, and this results in overexertion of the heart.

 

9. Red Meat

 

Every doctor’s first advice to a person suffering from high blood pressure is to avoid or altogether boycott red meat. Red meat is a major source of haem iron to the body. This haem iron is directly related to the blood pressure levels of the human body. The red meat also contains more sodium content than white meat and sea-food; therefore, the use of red meat should be lessened to control blood pressure and avoid hypertension.

 

10. Donuts

 

Donuts are every age group’s favourite snack. However, these little snacks are incredibly unhealthy. They destroy the oral health of a person by acid deposition inside the mouth. They cause obesity which directly co-relates with hypertension and exertion of the heart. Consumption of donuts also spikes sugar level which causes a further aggravation of the blood pressure levels.

 

In conclusion, the list is not final. There are many food types that may not be good should you from suffer high blood pressure. Please consult your medical doctor or a dietician.

 

HendrikDB

 

Source: https://lovemyfamilymag.com/

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is when you have high blood pressure and protein in your urine during pregnancy. It can happen at any point after the 20th week of pregnancy, though in some cases it occurs earlier. You may also have low clotting factors (platelets) in your blood or indicators of kidney or liver trouble. This condition is also called toxaemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia. Eclampsia includes high blood pressure resulting in seizures during pregnancy.

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of all pregnant women get preeclampsia.

What causes preeclampsia?

Doctors cannot yet identify one single cause of preeclampsia, but some potential causes are being explored. These include:

•genetic factors

•diet

•blood vessel problems

•autoimmune disorders

There are also risk factors that can increase your chances of developing preeclampsia. These include:

•being pregnant with multiple foetuses

•being over the age of 35

•being in your early teens

•being pregnant for the first time

•being obese

•having a history of high blood pressure

•having a history of diabetes

•having a history of a kidney disorder

Nothing can definitively prevent this condition. Early and consistent prenatal care can help your doctor diagnose it sooner and avoid complications. Having a diagnosis will allow your doctor to provide you with proper monitoring until your delivery date.

Symptoms of preeclampsia

It’s important to remember that you might not notice any symptoms of preeclampsia. If you do develop symptoms, some common ones include:

•persistent headache

•abnormal swelling in your hands and face

•sudden weight gain

•changes in your vision

During a physical exam, your doctor may find that your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher. 

Urine and blood tests can also show protein in your urine, abnormal liver enzymes, and platelet levels.

At that point, your doctor may do a nonstress test in their office to make sure the foetus is moving normally. A nonstress test is a simple exam that measures how the foetal heart rate changes as the foetus moves. An ultrasound may also be done to check your fluid levels and the health of the foetus.

What is the treatment for preeclampsia?

Delivery of your baby is the only cure for preeclampsia.

During pregnancy, your doctor will monitor and manage your condition to ensure you and your baby stay healthy. If you’re at week 37 or later, your doctor may induce labor. At this point, the baby has developed enough and is only minimally premature.

If your preeclampsia is mild, your doctor may recommend:

•getting bed rest

•reducing your salt intake

•drinking more water

•making regular visits to the doctor

In some cases, you may be given medications to help lower your blood pressure.

If your condition is serious, your doctor may want to admit you to the hospital for more thorough monitoring. You might be given intravenous (IV) medications to lower your blood pressure or steroid injections to help your baby’s lungs develop quicker.

Delivery might be the only safe option if the preeclampsia is severe enough to endanger the health of you or the foetus. This can be the case even if your baby will be delivered prematurely. The signs of severe preeclampsia include:

•changes in the foetal heart rate that indicate distress

•abdominal pain

•seizures

•impaired kidney function

•fluid in the lungs

You should see your doctor if you notice any abnormal signs or symptoms during your pregnancy. Your main concern should be your health and the health of your baby.

What are the complications of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia can be fatal for both mother and child if it’s left untreated. Other complications can include:

•bleeding problems

•breaking away of the placenta from the uterine wall

•damage to the liver

Complications for the baby can also occur if they’re born too early.

During pregnancy, it’s important to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. This includes eating a healthy diet, taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid, and going for regular prenatal care check-ups. But even with proper care, unavoidable conditions like preeclampsia can sometimes occur. This can be dangerous for both you and your baby.

Talk with your doctor about things you can do to reduce your risk of preeclampsia and about the warning signs. If necessary, they may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for additional care.

Is Salt Good for You?

 Salt is important to good nutritional status. Too little can cause disturbances in tissue-water and acid-base balance, which is important to good nutrition.

A sodium deficiency is a health condition where a body fails to receive an adequate supply of sodium. Sodium deficiency can become extremely prevalent in excessive temperatures, which cause the body to perspire heavily and patterns of dehydration will set in. Sodium deficiency can lead to shock if the blood pressure is decreased too severely.

 Check out why:

Sodium is a mineral that your body must have in order to function properly. The primary source of dietary sodium is sodium chloride, or salt, more than three-quarters of which comes from processed foods. Although sodium is vital to a number of routine body functions, too much can have adverse effects, particularly for people who are sensitive to sodium. Excessive sodium can cause hypertension, which in turn can lead to other health problems.

Sodium is a mineral that carries an electrical charge, known as an electrolyte. Electrolytes facilitate muscle contraction and nerve cell transmission. Ions of sodium, potassium and chloride trigger muscle contractions and nerve impulses when they shift places across cell membranes. A nerve cell at rest has positively charged potassium ions inside the cell and is surrounded outside the cell by positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. When stimulated, potassium ions rush out of the cell as sodium ions rush in, creating an electrical signal or nerve impulse. A similar scenario occurs during the contraction of muscles.

Sodium also works in concert with potassium to maintain normal water balance in the body. Each of the minerals chemically attracts water to itself, thus assuring that optimal levels of hydration are maintained both inside human cells and outside the cells, in the extracellular spaces that surround them. In healthy people the body has a built-in mechanism to guard against the effects of occasional excess levels of sodium, but continued intake of high amounts of sodium can eventually override this safety valve and lead to hypertension.

Remember, diets too high in sodium can lead to high water retention and hypertension. Overall, salt is generally nontoxic to adults, provided it is excreted properly. The maximum amount of sodium that should be incorporated into a healthy diet should range from 2,400-3,000 mg/day.

WARNING: CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE REGULARLY!!

Source: www.healthyeating.com

Sleep linked to blood pressure

Women who regularly get fewer than seven hours of sleep each night may have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, a new study suggests.

British researchers found that among more than 10 000 adults who were followed for five years, women who routinely slept for six hours or less were more likely than their well-rested counterparts to develop high blood pressure.


Compared with women who said they typically got seven hours of sleep a night, those who logged in six hours were 42 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure, while those who routinely slept no more than five hours had a 31 percent higher risk.


There was, however, no clear relationship between amount of sleep and blood pressure among men, the study authors report in the journal Hypertension.


What the study shows: The findings suggest there may be a "gender-specific" relationship between sleep deprivation and high blood pressure, according to the researchers, led by Dr Francesco P. Cappuccio of Warwick Medical School in Coventry.


The exact reason for the finding is unknown. A number of studies have linked poor sleep quality to an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.


Much of this research has focused on people with the breathing disorder sleep apnoea, but some evidence suggests that sleep deprivation, in the absence of any overt sleep disorder, also takes a health toll.


For their study, Cappuccio and his colleagues used data from a long-term health study of 10 300 white British civil servants between the ages of 35 and 55 years old.


How the study was done: The researchers focused on participants who were free of high blood pressure in the 1997-1999 phase of the study and were reassessed in 2003-2005.


During these two phases, 76 percent and 68 percent, respectively, of the original group were included the evaluations.


At reassessment, 20 percent of the study participants were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure, and the risk was greater among women who were "short sleepers."


Risk factors for heart disease - such as smoking, being overweight or having a sedentary lifestyle - did partially contribute to the relationship.


However, an independent link between sleep and blood pressure still remained.


Lack of sleep affects nervous system: Experts speculate that sleep deprivation may contribute to high blood pressure by keeping the nervous system in a state of hyperactivity, which in turn affects systems throughout the body - including the heart and blood vessels.


According to Cappuccio's team, more studies are needed to confirm that sleep duration, itself, affects blood pressure levels -- and why these effects might be different in women and men.


Reuters Health