HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND YOU.

The Pan-African community; not people, our community is a World.

Greetings,

High blood pressure is often cited in literature as being the " silent killer. " Many of us will live in a " pre-hypertensive ", or worse, a full-fledged stated of high blood pressure for many years with no symptoms whatsoever. The frightening reality is that high blood pressure is often the culprit of the development of heart disorders that number in the dozens, varied types of strokes ( with varied intensities ), IMPOTENCE, which I'll used as an attention-getter in just a second, kidney disease, and too many other terrible disease states to mention.

Most pre-hypertensive states or full-fledged high blood pressure has " non-specific " origins. In other words, the causes, many times, are genetic, or cannot be pinpointed as being a secondary cause to other disorders. However, VERY high blood pressure usually has some detectable underlying cause ( hormonal, cardiac, neurological, ex. ) in nature.

First of all, we should all make a $20 to $30 investment in home monitoring devices. CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO CHOOSE CUFFS OF THE CORRECT FIT, OR MISLEADING READINGS OF HIGH, NORMAL, OR LOW BP WILL BE MADE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. Consulting with a health care person should precede the purchase of battery operated, blood pressure monitors.

What are " high " and " low " numbers ? Well, the standard is 120 over 80. This means that a " healthy " reading is one that registers the " high " number recorded at home or in a physicians office as 120, and the " low " number as 80. High and low are most commonly referred to as the " systolic " and " diastolic " pressures, respectfully. The " high " or " systolic " pressure is the pressure that the pumping heart " goes up against " when pumping blood. The low number is the pressure exerted of arteries and veins during the brief period of time the the heart " rests " ( a second or so between pumps ). There is now a ratio, however, that is referred to as a " pre-hypertensive " state. This state is indicated by any reading of a systolic pressure between 120 to 139, and a diastolic reading between 80 to 89. One or both of these numbers may be high. In cases where one of the two numbers is high, the highest reading is the one that should be referenced. High bp is systolic over 140, and/or diastolic over 90.

Now, let's consider two social scenarios that will hopefully inspire all of us to take this condition seriously. If you are a woman, imagine that you've had a stroke. Beforehand, you had healthy sexual relations with a mate, husband, ect. However, you will now face years of physical therapy and being bedridden. Additionally, IMAGINE KNOWING THAT YOUR MATE, HUSBAND, BOYFRIEND, ETC. IS STILL SEXUALLY VITAL. We'd know have a scenario that transcends physical health, and branches out into mental and emotional health.

Secondly, if you are a man, consider the scenario of becoming impotent AND being told that drugs such as Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra or unfeasable for you to take, because you also have a weakened heart. You formerly had healthy sexual relationships with a mate ( ect., ect ) who is STILL sexually healthy. The same scenario that applied above applies to you as well. BOTH OF THESE SCENARIOS OCCUR MILLIONS OF TIME A YEAR, AND SADLY, MANY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF YEARS OF UNDETECTED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HAD BEEN ADDRESSED.

Very quickly, here are some things that can be used to lower high bp. First, aerobic exercise ! One should engage in aerobic excersize in the morning for the following reason. During the night, a healthy person's blood glucose levels drop, because if we get enough sleep ( and most of us don't ), we go between 6 to 8 hours without eating. The is a level, however, that the blood glucose level cannot fall below. The brain doesn't store the " stuff " that can be broken down into carbohydrates when energy is needed by the body. Therefore, if we take a brisk " power walk " or jog that lasts as little as 10 to 30 minutes, the blood glucose level will fall, because the glucose is needed to enable on to have the energy to engage in a brisk walk. So the body " says ", " I need to find some glucose somewhere. " DO NOT EAT BEFORE SUCH A WALK !!!!!! The goal is to get the body to convert stored and cholesterol into the glucose needed to maintain the " set point ". If one eats beforehand, the body will use the food consumed for energy rather than fat resevoirs in the body.

After brisk morning excersize, one should rest for at least 30 minutes, allowing the body to break down as much fat as possible. Drinking water during this period is fine. However, drinking anything with sugar in it will make much of the exercising a waste of time. Why ? Because once again, the body will use the sugar ( or a meal consumed before the exercise ) as energy that fuels the workout INSTEAD OF TAPPING INTO YOUR FAT RESERVOIRS. Additionally, eating oatmeal with cinnamon at least once a week after exercise is great. Cinnamon has " insulin like " properties that can aid healthy people ( as well as diabetics ) maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Additionally, oatmeal " sweeps " bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. When one does eventually eat after brisk morning exercise, a small protein shake and healthy fat " fish or flax oil ", along with fresh fruit is great. The metabolism will be high for a couple of hours after the above regime.

Finally, one great trick for good health is to drink small amounts of water when we are NOT thirsty. By the time our bodies tell us that we are thirsty, oxidative damage that occurs with dehydration has occurred on the microscopic level. Additionally, eating small but healthy snacks every hour or so between meals GREATLY establishes healthy metabolic balance.

Three cheers to great health ! Three cheers to blood pressure maintenance. Without good health, none of us will be useful participants of " the cause. "

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