Anxiety and Blood Pressure

Anxiety and Blood Pressure An anonymous user said,

I tend to freak out when I go to the doctor’s office and have my blood pressure taken. This means that they always comment on how high it is (last week I had the usual – for me – numbers of 127/92 with a pulse of 133. I’m not worried about my pulse because it’s usually in the 80s when I take it at home. The blood pressure, however, worries me. I want to know if anyone knows how to get over the fear of having blood pressure taken. I want to get over it, but my anxiety gets in the way.

It is normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day. Everyone, regardless of health, will see changes in blood pressure based on their diet, amount of sleep, activity level, and Stress. Anxiety definitely affects blood pressure but interestingly enough in addition to making it higher it can sometimes make it lower as well.

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?


Anxiety will not lead to Hypertension (long-term high blood pressure). Despite this, having episodes of anxiety may lead to temporary but dramatic changes in your blood pressure.

In cases when you experience those temporary spikes daily, they may lead to damage of the Kidneys, heart, or blood vessels just like chronic high blood pressure would. Additionally, anxiety tends to increase the chances of resorting to unhealthy habits like overeating, drinking alcohol, or smoking, each of which can also increase your blood pressure.

There are also certain medications that increase the blood pressure as a side effect and these include those for mental health conditions such as anxiety, including norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and serotonin.

How Does Anxiety Affect Blood Pressure?
When you experience anxiety, this is your fight or flight system being activated despite the lack of danger present. This system leads to multiple physical changes designed to help you respond to a threat or predator. When these changes occur outside of dangerous situations, however, they can be distressing.

Various types of anxiety will have different effects on your blood pressure, but the following are some of the possible effects.

• Increased Heart Rate. When you are anxious, your heart rate will increase (to give more blood to areas which will need it for fight or flight). The issue is that this increased cardiac output leads to increased pressure, raising your systolic heart rate (although the diastolic usually remains the same).


• Contracting Ventricles. Contracting ventricles are directly related to your heart rate. Blood usually goes through your ventricles with the same pressure but when you suffer from anxiety, the ventricles will contract while the blood pumps through them and this leads to an increase in pressure.


• Hypoventilation. It is important to remember that not every blood pressure change will increase the level. Hyperventilation is low blood pressure and can also be due to anxiety. People tend to breathe poorly when anxious and this means breathing out large quantities of carbon dioxide. This leads to the body being weaker so the blood vessels dilate and the blood pressure lowers. Although blood pressure may decrease, it rarely gets dangerously low.

What Can I Do to Reduce Effect of Anxiety on Blood Pressure?
Here are some suggestions:

1. Find a Good Doctor
You will notice that the anxiety associated with having your blood pressure taken decreases drastically if you are comfortable with your doctor. The best way to accomplish this is to visit the same doctor every time as this will help you build a rapport. This also reduces any surprise they feel at your freaking out.

2. Monitor at Home
You should also do your best to monitor your heart rate and blood pressure at home to keep track of your levels. Some people are overwhelmed or intimidated by large old-fashioned monitors you find at the doctor’s office, but you can find smaller, battery-operated wrist cuffs. Not only measure your blood pressure, but be sure to write down your numbers. This will give your doctor a better idea of how you are truly doing. It can prevent you from going on unnecessary medication that a bad doctor may simply prescribe because they don’t understand your fear.

3. Exhale Slowly
While you are having your blood pressure taken, try to take long and slow exhalations. This can help relax you and keep your reading nice and low. Try to breathe out longer than you breathe in.

4. Take It Twice
Ask your doctor to take your blood pressure twice during your visit: once at the beginning and once at the end. Chances are that your anxiety will have decreased by the end of your doctor’s appointment so your second reading will better indicate your normal level, even if it is still slightly high.

5. Reward Yourself
If you are truly dreading your doctor’s visit, plan a reward for afterwards. Pick something that you will enjoy such as getting a new CD, a manicure, your favorite dessert, or a new book.

6. Don’t Go Alone
Sometimes it can help a great deal if you have someone with you at the doctor’s office. Simply have them hold your hand and you will probably notice you are more relaxed. You can even ask the doctor to take your friend or family member’s blood pressure also if it will reduce your anxiety.

How to Control High Blood Pressure

How to Control High Blood Pressure There is a saying that goes “what you do not know cannot hurt you”. This is the case when it comes to High blood pressure (HBP), also known as Hypertension. High blood pressure is also called the “silent killer” because many people do not have visible symptoms and are thus subsequently unaware that they have HBP. Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the US have high blood pressure—this is according to the American Heart Association.

However, uncontrolled HBP can damage body organs and increase the risk of vision loss, kidney disease, Stroke and coronary Heart disease. Your doctor may prescribe medication such as Ace Inhibitors or beta blockers that will help control blood pressure. However, these medications do have side effects like insomnia, dizziness and Leg Cramps. It is, therefore, advisable that you take natural measures to control your blood pressure. These measures have proven to be both safe and effective.

How to Control High Blood Pressure


If you have already been diagnosed with HBP (systolic pressure of over 140 and diastolic pressure of over 90) you might worry about taking medications to lower those numbers.

Your lifestyle plays a major role in treating your HBP. If you manage to successfully control the blood pressure with just having a healthy lifestyle, you may reduce, delay or avoid the need for medication. The following lifestyle changes will help you lower your blood pressure and even keep it down.

1. Lose Those Extra Pounds
When your weight increases, so does your blood pressure. By just losing ten pounds (about 4½ Kg) you will have helped lower your blood pressure. If you lose more weight, your blood pressure also goes down. If you are taking medication for your blood pressure, losing weight makes it more effective. You can talk to your doctor and decide on a target weight and how to achieve it.

Other than shedding a few pounds, watch your waist line. When your waist carries too much weight, you are at a greater risk of HBP. In general:

• Men are at risk if they have a waistline that measures over 102 centimeters (40 inches).


• Women are at risk if their waistline measures over 89 centimeters (53 inches).


• Asian men are at risk if they have a waistline that measures over 91 centimeters (36 inches).


• Asian women are at risk if their waistline measures over 81 centimeters (32 inches).

2. Increase Exercise
Exercise helps to lower your blood pressure and also helps you lose weight. Consult your doctor first before exercising because your blood pressure might be very high, then your doctor might want to have it under control first before you start exercising. Exercises that will most likely lower your blood pressure include skiing, skating, tennis, cycling, swimming, aerobic dancing, stair climbing, jogging, walking and any other exercise that will elevate and sustain your pulse for about 20 minutes. People who have hypertension should not try non-aerobic exercises like chin-ups, push-ups and weight lifting as they may be dangerous. They should only be done with the doctor’s consent.

3. Choose a Healthy Diet
Eat a diet that contains dairy products (low-fat), vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Skimp on cholesterol and saturated fat to lower your BP by up to 14mm Hg. This eating plan is known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet encourages sodium reduction in a diet and consumption of nutrient rich foods that will help to lower your BP like magnesium, calcium and potassium. DAS diet is also recommended to prevent Diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Cancer and Osteoporosis. Changing your eating habits is not easy but the following few steps will help you adopt a healthier lifestyle:

• Have a food diary. In it, write down all things you eat. You can start small by writing down all the foods you eat in a week. You will be surprised to see your true eating habits. Monitor the food you eat, when and why you eat it.


• Boost potassium. Potassium lessens the effects sodium has on your blood pressure. Foods like vegetables and fruits are the best potassium sources instead of supplements. Consult your doctor on which potassium levels best suit you.


• Shop smart. Before going to a supermarket, make a shopping list to avoid picking up junk food. When shopping, take your time to read food labels and keep on track with the healthy eating plan whenever you eat in restaurants.


• Cut yourself some slack. Even though DASH is a lifelong diet guide, it does not mean that you can discard all the foods you love eating. It is completely okay to occasionally treat yourself to foods that are not on the DASH menu like mashed potatoes with some gravy.

4. Decrease Intake of Sodium
People like the elderly, African Americans, and those who have a family history with HBP are more likely to have a salt sensitive HBP. As such, people with HBP should lower their sodium levels to 1,500 mg per day (half a teaspoon of salt contains 1,200 mg of sodium). When taking processed foods, watch the sodium levels. Instead, season food with lemon, herbs, salt-free seasonings and spices.

5. Limit Intake of Alcohol
People who take more than two alcoholic drinks daily have a 1 to 2 times increase in hypertension. Association between HBP and alcohol is quite noticeable especially when alcohol intake exceeds 5 intakes daily—the more the alcohol, the stronger the link to hypertension.

The National Institute on Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism says a standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (80-proof) and 5 ounces of wine. Each alcoholic drink roughly contains the same absolute alcohol amount, approximately 12 grams or ½ ounce.

6. Quit Smoking
If you are a smoker or use tobacco, you should quit. Smoking can increase your chances of getting HBP and damage your blood vessels. Smoking can also make HBP related health problems worse. If you find it hard to quit smoking, join a support group. There are many community groups, workplace and hospitals that offer classes to help you quit smoking.

7. Reduce Intake of Caffeine
Caffeine effects on blood pressure have long been debated upon by scientists. One scientist from Duke University Medical Center found that consumption of 500 mg of caffeine (8 ounce coffee cups) increased a person’s blood pressure by 4 mm Hg. The effect lasted until bedtime. Caffeine tightens blood vessels and magnifies Stress effects. When a person is stressed, the heart pumps more blood boosting blood pressure. Caffeine exaggerates this effect.

8. Manage Stress
Anxiety or stress increases blood pressure temporarily. Take time to find out your sources of stress, for example, finances, illness or work. Thereafter, consider safe ways of reducing or eliminating them.

It you are unable to eliminate all stressors, find a healthier way of coping with them. Take deep-breathes, mediation, yoga or a massage. If self-help proves futile, try professional counseling.

Check this video out on tips to control HBP:

Blood Pressure during Exercise

Blood Pressure during Exercise Your blood pressure varies throughout your day depending on what you are doing. The more active you are the harder your blood has to be pumped and this then causes the blood pressure to rise. Normal pressure should rise during exercise and then return to normal once you are finished. If the pressure rises too high and/or does not return to normal, there may be a problem. However, if you do exercises consistently, it will help to lower high blood pressure. Learn about how. Why does Blood Pressure Increase during Exercise?
When you are exercising your muscles need more oxygen. The heart then pumps more blood around your body with more powerful contractions which will make your blood pressure increase. Your systolic blood pressure increases during exercise as the cardiovascular system delivers more blood to the working muscles and your diastolic blood pressure stays roughly the same or decrease slightly. High Blood Pressure during Exercise
Normal Blood Pressure and Hypertension
The normal blood pressure varies for many different reasons, such as age, amount of physical activity, profession etc. The average is 120/80 mm Hg, but it can range anywhere from 90/60 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure rises above 140/90mmHg, it is a cue for hypertension. High Diastolic Blood Pressure during Exercise
In most cases, the diastolic rate changes vary little if any while you exercise. If there is an increase, though of more than 20 mm hg or if the diastolic rate becomes 100 mm hg it is pertinent to discontinue exercise right away. If you have high blood cholesterol levels, which is known as Hypercholesterolemia, or coronary artery disease your diastolic rate can increase significantly while you are exercising. The following can help you to understand the diastolic rates and their categories:

• Diastolic rate of 80 or under- normal


• Diastolic rate of 85-89- cause for concern


• Diastolic rate over 90- hypertension


• Diastolic rate between 90 and 99- stage 1 hypertension


• Diastolic rate of 100-109- stage 2 hypertension


• Diastolic rate over 109- stage 3 hypertension

It is imperative to note that hypertension not only requires more energy for the heart to be able to pump the blood, but it can also lead to congestive heart failure as well. High Systolic Blood Pressure during Exercise
A normal range for a systolic rate during exercise is between 160 and 220; if you are overweight the rise in blood pressure is somewhat higher. If you fall into the normal range and your pressure reaches 190 after exercising, this is a good cue that you will suffer from high blood pressure in the future. Weight lifters also have significantly higher systolic rates, this is because while they lift weights, there is a reduction in the amount of oxygen, because their muscles constrict. This requires the muscles and organs to get more oxygen rich blood. Any and all overexertion can lead to Heart Attacks or Strokes, so it is important not to overdo it. Regular Exercise Can Lower High Blood Pressure
Why can exercise help?
Regular exercise can help to lower your blood pressure, as long as you keep it up. That’s because exercises make the heart stronger so that the heart can pump more blood with less effort. By maintaining exercising and being more active you can lower your systolic rate 4-9 mm Hg, which is more or the same as some of the prescription medications that the doctor would normally prescribe. Therefore, you can possibly just exercise and not have to take those medications. As we all know exercise is good for all of us for so many reasons and this is just another great reason to exercise regularly and not to stop, because if you discontinue the regular exercising, the blood pressure will jump right back up. It does take about 3 months initially for the exercise to begin to lower your blood pressure. How much exercise do you need?
It is recommended that you exercise either 2½ hours of moderate exercise or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, or even a combination of the two. Moderate exercises, which can be any aerobic exercise that increases both your heart and breathing rates, include exercises, such as swimming, bicycling, jogging, walking (speed, or power), etc. Tips on exercise
Household chores, such a scrubbing, mopping, mowing, raking etc. are also included in the moderate exercise category. So, why not do 30 minutes once a day only five days a week or 20-25 minutes seven days a week. If you think about it does not really take all that much extra work, and you can achieve it by just pumping up the regular way you do things, like walking or cleaning. If necessary you can even do a few quick bursts a day, they count too. Warnings:
It is always necessary to consult a physician before beginning any exercise routine to treat hypertension. There are concerns that a doctor must discuss with you and also they can help you to design the proper workout for you. If you have any underlying factors, such as high cholesterol and Diabetes, there are major concerns, such as developing hypertension, so again it is necessary to consult your physician to be safe, rather than sorry. Extra care should also be taken about exercise when you are having high blood pressure.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure

Causes of Low Blood Pressure With each beat of your heart, blood is being pushed against your arteries. The amount of pressure created by this process is known as your blood pressure. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is often regarded as a healthy outcome. However, hypotension can also indicate underlying conditions that need treatment. If your low blood pressure is causing you to feel dizzy or tired, it is time to speak with your doctor.

What Is a Low Blood Pressure Reading?
There are two phases of blood pumping against your arteries that are measured when checking your blood pressure. They are the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. When you see them written out, you will see a two numbers written like a fraction. The number on top is the systolic pressure, and the number on the bottom is the diastolic pressure.

• Systolic pressure is the measurement of the pressure on your arteries when your heart is actively pumping blood, and happens during a heartbeat.


• Diastolic pressure is the measurement of the pressure on your arteries when your heart is between beats, and is not actively pumping blood.

A healthy blood pressure reading will have a systolic pressure between 110 and 140, although this pressure is not considered low until it drops below 90. The healthy range for diastolic pressure is between 60 and 90.

When determining if your blood pressure is low, both the systolic and diastolic pressures do not need to be below the normal threshold. Only one of these pressures falling below normal qualifies as hypotension.

• Low systolic pressure is when your systolic reading falls below 90.


• Low diastolic pressure is when your diastolic reading falls below 60.

What Are the Causes of Low Blood Pressure?


Your blood pressure will naturally vary, and variances in the measurements don’t necessarily indicate a problem. Depending on things like the position of your body, the rhythm of your breathing, you level of Stress, the physical condition you are in, any medications you might be taking and the food and beverages you are consuming all influence the pressure placed on your arteries. Your blood pressure is naturally lowest at night when your body is at rest, and will rise substantially when you wake. With this in mind, even the time of day can have an effect on the outcome of your blood pressure measurements.

Several conditions can cause low blood pressure, like:

1. Pregnancy
Due to the rapid expansion of the Circulatory System during pregnancy, a woman’s blood pressure typically drops during this time. This is a normal response to pregnancy, and will likely return to normal after giving birth.

2. Heart Problems
Since blood pressure is directly related to the pumping of the heart, conditions like a very low heart rate, problems with the heart valves, Heart Attack and heart failure can all cause the blood pressure to be lowered.

3. Severe Allergic Reaction
Certain reactions can cause a dangerous reaction known as anaphylaxis. Food, some medications, venom from insects and latex can all trigger anaphylaxis. Common symptoms include problems breathing, swollen throat, itching and HIVes.

4. Medications

• Diuretics like furosemides and hydrochlorothiazide cause lower water levels in your body, which can lower your blood pressure.


• Alpha blockers like prazosin and labetalol, as well as beta blockers like atenolol, propranolol and timolol can have an effect on your blood pressure.


• Drugs for Parkinson’s disease like pramipexole or medications that contain levodopa, and antidepressants like doxepin, imipramine, protriptyline and trimipramine are famous for lowering blood pressures.


• Erectile dysfunction medications like sildenafil or tadalafil can also lower your blood pressure.

5. DailyLife Causes
Many every day influences can cause a drop in your blood pressure.Your blood pressure will naturally increase with age, but movement and eating will have a more substantial effect and cause it to drop.

• Poor diet that is lacking in certain nutrients like B-12 and folate can cause anemia, a condition that causes an insufficient amount of red blood cells to be produced, causing low blood pressure.


• Even mild Dehydration can cause a change in your blood pressure.


• Stress causes your heart to beat faster, raising your blood pressure. If you are more relaxed, your heart slows and your blood pressure will drop.


• Exercise might raise your blood pressure for a while, but a healthy body that is in shape will have a lower resting heart rate, and lower blood pressure.


• Warm temperatures might cause your blood pressure to fall a bit, and your blood pressure will be lower after you have eaten because digestion is a lot of work that requires the use of a lot of blood.

6. Other Causes

• Endocrine problems: Thyroid disease or adrenal deficiency can both cause the blood pressure to be low. Low blood sugar and in some cases Diabetes can also affect your blood pressure.


• Severe infection: Infections that enter the bloodstream like Septicemia cause a dangerous drop in your blood pressure leading to Septic Shock, which can be fatal.


• A dramatic loss of blood can cause a dramatic lowering of you blood pressure, as there is less blood pumping through the arteries.

What Are the Possible Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure?
Symptoms of low blood pressure include:

• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded


• Fainting


• Trouble concentrating


• Blurry vision


• Nausea


• Cold and clammy skin that is pale


• Breathing that is rapid and shallow


• Fatigue


• Depression


• Unquenchable thirst

Note: Most of the time, low blood pressure isn’t serious. However, if you notice any of the symptoms above you should consult your doctor, because constant low readings could imply some more serious problems. And when symptoms occur, keep a record of them and the time they appeared as well as the things you were doing.

How Is Low Blood Pressure Treated?
Most of the time, low blood pressure requires no treatment. If the condition is severe, you may need to receive blood delivered through an IV, medication to improve the heart and the pressure or antibiotics if there is an infection. If you experience a drop in blood pressure caused by standing too quickly, your doctor will likely look at causes like medications you are taking or not drinking enough fluids. Your doctor might also suggest wearing compression stockings to prevent blood from collecting in your lower body.

Is High Blood Pressure Hereditary?

Is High Blood Pressure Hereditary? High blood pressure or Hypertension is a medical condition in which the blood continues to put more force on the walls of your arteries. The excess pressure can cause health problems over time. Your blood pressure is the combination of the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries and the total amount of blood your heart pumps throughout the body. Your blood pressure will be on the higher side if your heart pumps more blood and your arteries are narrow. There are steps to take to lower your risk of developing hypertension, but many people believe they cannot do much because hypertension runs in the family. Is it really so? Let's find out more.

Is High Blood Pressure Hereditary?
The truth is that high blood pressure can be hereditary considering the fact that family members share behaviors, genes, environments, and lifestyles that make them more susceptible to developing hypertension. Experts believe that genetics have a role to play in the development of hypertension, and the risk increases even more when heredity combines with some unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as eating unbalanced diet and smoking cigarettes.

However, it is also true that you cannot control certain factors that increase your risk for high blood pressure. For instance:

• Age: Your blood pressure goes up with age, so you are likely to develop hypertension when you do not practice healthy lifestyle habits as you grow old.


• Race or Ethnicity: Statistics show that whites are less likely to develop hypertension as compared to blacks. Similarly, blacks are at a greater risk of developing hypertension as compared to Pacific Islanders, Asians, Hispanics, Alaska Natives, or American Indians.

Your risk of developing high blood pressure increases also withsome environmental factors – such as Obesity, smoking, or lack of exercise. Is high blood pressure hereditary? Many studies have helped answer this question to some extent and found that there are 29 genetic variations across 28 regions of the genome that increase your risk of developing hypertension. Researchers are conducting new studies though to help identify genes that affect your blood pressure.

Other Factors That Increase Your Risk
Is high blood pressure hereditary? There is some evidence that it is. However,hypertension is generally a combination of several factors working together.Some risk factors include:

• Obesity: Your risk of developing hypertension and Heart disease increases when you are obese. You are overweight if your body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 30. Anyone with a BMI greater than 30 is considered obese, and one in three children in the United States falls in this category. Excess weight raises your triglycerides and blood cholesterol levels, puts additional strain on the heart, and lowers good cholesterol levels. You can lower your blood pressure by losing 10-20 pounds, but be sure to achieve this through healthy dieting and exercise.


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  Sedentary Lifestyle: Your Circulatory System becomes affected depending on how active you are. An inactive lifestyle puts you at a higher risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, Stroke, and blood vessel disease. Besides, you are more likely to become obese due to a sedentary lifestyle.


• Gender-Related Risk Patterns: Men are more likely to develop hypertension by the age of 45 as compared to women. The percentages are usually the same for both men and women from ages 45 to 64. After the age 64, women are at a greater risk of developing hypertension as compared to men.


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  PoorDiet: You need to stick to healthy eating habits and eliminate anything that is high in fats, calories, and sugars. High salt intake may also increase your risk for hypertension, but some people are more salt sensitive and get affected easily with a high salt diet. Excess salt intake leads to Water Retention that can put excessive burden on the heart.


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  Excess Alcohol: Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk for hypertension dramatically. You may also have to deal with issues such as stroke, heart failure, and irregular heartbeats. Drinking too much alcohol may also increase your triglycerides levels and increase risk for Alcoholism, obesity, and Cancer. Avoid alcohol if possible but at least try to drink in moderation. Men should not have more than two drinks a day, whereas women should limit it to one drink per day. One drink equals a 4oz glass of wine, a 12oz beer, 1oz of hard liquor and 1.5oz of 80-proof liquor.

• Stress: Not being able to manage stress in the right way increases your chances of developing hypertension. Your blood pressure increases temporarily when you are under stress, but being under stress for long can cause damage to your cardiovascular system. Some people begin overeating when they are stressed, and these bad dieting habits increase body weight, thus increasing your risk for hypertension.


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  Smoking: Both smoking and being exposed to second-hand smoke increases your risk of having hypertension and damaged arteries. You increase your risk even more when you have other risk factors and smoke as well.


• Sleep Apnea: In this condition, you stop breathing for a short time while sleeping. This potentially life-threatening disorder can make you feel tired during the day because you have to go through several sleep-wake cycles during the night. Sleep apnea also increases your risk for other medical problems such as Diabetes, heart failure, and stroke.

High Blood Pressure in Children

High Blood Pressure in Children

It is a common perception that high blood pressure or Hypertension affects older people. The fact is that high blood pressure can affect people of any age group. It is often noted in younger age groups and these days the incidence of high blood pressure in children is on the rise.

If not treated properly, high blood pressure can damage vital organs like eyes, kidneys, heart and brain. With early detection and optimal management, this damage can be avoided and kids with hypertension can lead a normal and active life.

What Counts as High Blood Pressure in Children?

Hypertension generally has no specific symptoms and the only way to find out if it is present is to get it checked regularly. The same is true for children, and the blood pressure of all kids aged 3 and above should be regularly checked.

Normal adult blood pressure values are determined and it is easy to interpret and compare the results with the standard levels. However, the situation is not that simple with children.

A child is diagnosed with hypertension when the blood pressure is higher than 95th percentile of children of the same age, gender and height. Generally, 3 readings are taken before reaching a diagnosis, as the first reading can be higher because of fear or anxiety associated with doctor’s visit. Constant ambulatory BP monitoring is used to minimize this Stress and get accurate readings. During this process the child has to wear a BP cuff all day, and blood pressure readings are taken multiple times.

For a detailed explanation of how blood pressure is measured in children, please watch:

What Causes High Blood Pressure in Children?
Obesity
The most common cause of hypertension in kids is obesity. At the age of 7, half of the kids with hypertension are obese, and 85-95% of teenagers with high blood pressures fall under this category. Along with hypertension, obesity is also associated with other serious medical problems like Diabetes and Heart Diseases.

Underlying Medical Problems
In some cases high blood pressure results from an underlying medical problem like kidney or heart disease. This is called secondary hypertension and once the cause is treated, the blood pressure returns to normal.

Side Effects of Medicines
Some medicines are known to cause elevated blood pressure, and if the child is on any of them, the blood pressure readings can be high. It is also an example of secondary hypertension and the blood pressure returns back to normal when the causative drug is discontinued.

Genetic Factors
There is frequently no definitive cause for essential or primary hypertension. This type of hypertension is more common in children with a family history of high blood pressure or of African-American origin.

How Is High Blood Pressure in Children Treated?
Lifestyle Changes

• Watch the weight: Obesity is the most common cause of hypertension in children and it is extremely important to shed the extra pounds for better blood pressure control.


• Get active: 60-90 minutes of physical activity is necessary for children on a daily basis, encourage them to be active and limit the time they spent sitting in front of TV or computer screens.


• Eat right: Try to swap the sugary cereals and white bread with whole grain options and give them plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.


• Cut back on salt: The recommended daily allowance of salt for kids is 1.2 grams for the age group 4-8 years, and 1.5 grams for older children. Add less salt while cooking and carefully read the labels on processed food to check how much salt they contain.


• Stock and shop wisely: Kids normally munch on whatever is available at home, so try to shop and stock healthy options.


• Involve the family: Kids need a lot of support to deal with any kind of medical problem. Try to encourage everyone at home to be supportive and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

You can control your child’s blood pressure effectively by strictly following the treatment plan advised by your physician and getting the blood pressure monitored frequently. With a healthy diet, active lifestyle and proper monitoring, complications can be avoided and the child can lead a healthy and happy life.

Medication
Medications are generally not prescribed for mild hypertension in children. Usually, lifestyle modifications, losing extra weight and treatment of any underlying condition can offer proper control. However, if these measures are not successful, the child may need to be on medication. The duration of treatment can vary and medicines may be needed for a short while or for an indefinite period of time.

The most commonly used medications to treat high blood pressure in children include:

• Diuretics: These remove extra fluid and salt from the body, resulting in lowering of blood pressure.


• ACE inhibitors, alpha blockers and calcium channel blockers: These keep the blood vessels dilated, resulting in better blood flow and reduced blood pressure.


• Beta blockers: Medicines belonging to this group counter the effects of adrenaline, which is a stress hormone and is responsible for a faster heart rate. Blockage of these effects results in lowering of heart rate and blood pressure.

Foods to Avoid with High Blood Pressure

Foods to Avoid with High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or Hypertension is a very common condition. Most people with hypertension don't have any symptoms and have no idea they have it. It is for this reason that hypertension is often referred to as the "silent killer". The scary statistics are that by 2030, 41.4 % of all adults in the United States are expected to have hypertension.The risks of high blood pressure are cardiovascular disease like Heart Attack or Stroke.

Foods to Avoid with High Blood Pressure
Hypertension can be avoided by making certain lifestyle changes. One of the most important lifestyle changes you can make is to modify your diet. What you eat can affect your body positively and may even reduce your high blood pressure. The main culprit to target is your salt (sodium) intake. A high salt intake is directly related to hypertension.There are some foods to avoid if you have high blood pressure:

1. Deli Meat


These processed meats, although convenient and very delicious, are full of salt and nitrites. When used in combination with bread and pickles to make your favorite sandwich, the salt content rises considerably. A high salt intake will lead to high blood pressure.

2. Chinese Takeaway


Soy sauce and teriyaki sauce are widely used in Chinese takeaway food. These sauces are very high in salt (sodium). Most stir-fries use high quantities of oil to give that delicious crunch and shine to your favorite vegetables.

3. Frozen Pizza


This frozen product is one of the foods to avoid with high blood pressure because it is laden with salt to preserve the taste of the ingredients on the pizza. The toppings, which are usually cheese, tomato sauce, cured meats, also add to the total salt level of that very convenient frozen meal.

4. Commercially Prepared Baked Products


The manufacturing process of baked food, such as donuts and croissants, requires high levels of salt, sugar and fats. Eating too many of this type of food will also increase your chances of Obesity, further impacting your blood pressure.

5. Canned Products


The canning process requires high levels of salt for preserving the foods in the can. If you use this type of product in everyday cooking, you are adding more than the normal allowed levels of salt.

6. Red Meat


Eating lots of red meat will lead to a build-up of fatty plaque in your blood vessels, impacting both your heart and blood pressure. Red meat is usually accompanied by liberal sprinklings of salt to get the full flavor of the meat.

9. Pickled Products


Pickled products are one of the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. The pickling process makes use of copious amounts of sodium to get that crunchy and tasty bite.

7. Ramen Noodles


This old favorite of convenience food is drenched in sodium, especially that magic little packet of flavoring that accompanies your favorite flavor of ramen noodles.

8. Alcohol


Prolonged, raised alcohol levels in the bloodstream increase blood pressure and the "empty" (nutrient-deficient) calories can also lead to obesity.

10. Coffee


The regular intake of caffeine causes a spike in your blood pressure, which after a while remains high indefinitely. Caffeine can worsen your hypertension, if you have it already or predispose you to getting it.

Foods That Are Good for High Blood Pressure
After learning the foods to avoid with high blood pressure, you may be interested in foods that can lower your hypertension, decrease your weight and improve your overall health.

1. Green Leafy Vegetables
Leafy greens like spinach, lettuce and kale are high in potassium. Higher levels of potassium can offset the effects of high levels of sodium. Eat fresh or frozen leafy greens for the best potassium availability in your body.

2. Colorful Berries
Berries like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are high in antioxidants and flavonoids. It was found that these compounds found in the berries can reduce hypertension and plaque formation in the blood vessels. Frozen berries are just as effective as fresh berries, so keep a supply handy in your freezer to mix into your smoothies and desserts.

3. Potatoes
Potatoes are high in magnesium and potassium which both promote a healthy blood pressure. They are also high in fiber which can contribute to your overall health. Opt for a baked potato with healthy toppings rather than fries.

4. Beetroot
Beetroot can be eaten cooked or the juice consumed to lower your blood pressure. It is believed that the beet contains nitrates which lower your hypertension. Incorporate beets in your stews, roasts and stir-fries.

5. Skimmed Milk Products
Skimmed dairy products are better than the full-fat options because they still contain the calcium but at reduced fat levels. Lower fat levels promote a healthy blood pressure. Look out for products that are high in additives like sugar.

6. Oatmeal
Oatmeal has a high level of fiber but is low-fat and low in sodium. It can decrease your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Add fresh fruit and honey to it to make it more palatable.

More Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure
Apart from paying attention to the foods to avoid with high blood pressure, you can try other lifestyle changes to control your blood pressure.

• Reach your ideal weight by dropping those extra kilograms. This in itself will improve your blood pressure. A 4.5 kg decrease in weight can significantly lower your blood pressure.


• Regular exercise will help control your hypertension or lower it. It is believed that only 30 minutes of daily, moderate physical activity can drop your blood pressure. The best types of activities to engage in are: swimming, cycling, jogging or walking.


• Decrease the salt in your diet. Remember to examine food labels to check the levels of sodium and lay off the salt shaker on your dining table.


• Stick to moderate levels of alcohol. Find out what the safe levels are for you and stick to it.


• Stop smoking to decrease your hypertension and improve your overall health.


• Minimize your Stress levels. Your body reacts to stress by increasing your blood pressure. Find ways to relax and breathe deeply. Expressing gratitude to others and for all that you have can also significantly reduce stress levels.

Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

It is very common for pregnant women to experience low blood pressure, because quite a lot of body changes occur at this time. Most women will notice their blood pressure dropping at some point early on in their first trimester, and reaching its lowest in the middle of their second trimester. Every prenatal appointment will involve checking your blood pressure by the doctor to ensure your pregnancy proceeds well, as a crucial part of care during pregnancy. In most cases, this drop won't lead to serious consequences, but in certain circumstances it can pose a danger to the mother and the baby.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
1. Expansion of Blood Vessels
Low blood pressure during pregnancy can be due to the blood vessels and their expansion. In fact, pregnant women may drop by 5 to 10 points of systolic pressure and 10 to 15 points for diastolic pressure. In pregnancy, blood vessels expand to prepare for supplying the fetus, while the blood volume won't reach to that much, your heart therefore must work hard to circulate blood, leading to lower blood pressure.

2. Hypotension in Supine Position
Supine hypotension refers to when a woman experiences low blood pressure during pregnancy while lying down. When you lie down, your uterus spread pressure to major blood vessels within the body, including the vena cava and aorta. This in turn slows down blood circulation. Some women say they feel anxiety or a sense of suffocation when this happens but it can be prevented by lying on your side instead of your back.

3. Hypotension When Rising (Postural Hypotension)
Even you are not pregnant, you must have experienced postural hypotension at some point in their lives. It is more common among pregnant women due to their larger blood volume. Postural hypotension is when your blood pressure drops when you rise quickly from squatting, sitting, or other resting position. Gravity makes your body work harder to successfully circulate blood throughout your body. Standing or getting out of bed more slowly can help to reduce low blood pressure during pregnancy due to postural hypotension.

4. Deficiencies like Anemia
You may develop anemia if you don't get enough folic acid or vitamin B12. Anemia leads to low blood pressure, causing the issue. It is also possible for Dehydration to lead to body deficiencies that slow down circulation. You can fight these potential nutritional deficiencies with a prenatal vitamin.

Should I Worry About Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?
It is quite normal to experience a drop in blood pressure during early pregnancy, because this usually occurs when your blood volume increase, helping the body to work harder to compensate the fetus development. Your blood pressure will get lowest during your second trimester before slowly increasing back to the normal level during your final trimester. If blood pressure remains low during labor, however, you should keep in mind that an epidural can further lower it, requiring close supervision.

During the first trimester, this decrease in blood pressure can lead to feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness. Yet, dizzy feelings can also be due to low blood sugar or anemia, so it is important to see a doctor if your symptoms continue. Your doctor may suggest several tests to determine whether your blood pressure is harmless or when to give medical intervention to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

How to Deal With Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Keeping track of your blood pressure on a regular basis is a good way to see how healthy your pregnancy is. It also helps you monitor yourself, detecting potential complications such as preEclampsia. You should track your low blood pressure during pregnancy along with other data such as sleep, activity and nutrition. This will let you and your doctor draw patterns between behaviors that affect blood pressure or vice versa. Be sure to tell your doctor if your blood pressure remains consistently high.

Usually, this condition requires no treatment. If it shows some underlying causes, you can take some targeted methods. Intravenous fluids are required to relieve low blood pressure due to dehydration. Graduated compression stockings can help with low blood pressure caused by pooling blood. Sometimes eating a little more salt can improve it, but always talk to your doctor before trying this method.

You can also follow a few steps to help prevent low blood pressure during pregnancy.

• First, keeping hydrated can serve various supports to your pregnancy.


• When lying down, try to rest on your side instead of your back. This will help blood pressure as well as sciatic nerve and back pain.


• Anytime you feel like fainting, take the time to sit down and lower your head until the faintness passes. Always take it slow when standing up from a sitting position.


• You can also help maintain a normal blood pressure by getting regular exercise so talk to your doctor about a safe routine during pregnancy.

What Others Have Experienced
Water Helps!

"I had low blood pressure of 80/50 which led to a fainting spell. My doctor suggested drinking lots of water and eating hourly since my twins were stealing blood flow. It was annoying, but the suggestion helped."

Salt Can Be One Option.

"My doctor told me that low blood pressure during pregnancy is normal and isn't concerned about mine at 80/40. He said that since I'm active it will be low. I just need to stay hydrated and keep track of other symptoms. I eat something salty if I feel dizzy, but it takes a day to kick in. I make sure to eat enough salt and am not dizzy the next day."

Low Blood Pressure and Cold Feeling

"My blood pressure keeps dropping down during the pregnancy, make me struggle a lot. Along with feeling cold all the way, has anyone else experienced the same as me? I just guess that there might be some relations between the two. I am keeping track of it and staying hydrated."

Blood Pressure After Exercise

Blood Pressure After Exercise

The blood circulating in the body exerts a pressure on the blood vessels and is referred to as blood pressure (BP). It has two values – systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure is the one which is exerted when the blood is forced out of the heart by its pumping action and the diastolic is the pressure between two heart beats. It is important to pay attention to the blood pressure because high blood pressure can have health implications. However, the blood pressure after exercise is often high. Let us find out if that is normal or not.

Increased Blood Pressure After Exercise, Why?
120/80 mm Hg is considered as the normal average blood pressure, while the normal range is 90/60 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg. Depending on the activity levels, the blood pressure varies all through the day. When a person is active, the blood pressure is higher. Thus, in normal condition, the blood pressure after exercise will be high and then return to normal.

The increase in BP happens because there is an increase in the demand of oxygen by the muscles. To ensure this, the heart beats with more force so that more blood is pushed out. As the heart is working more, the systolic blood pressure increases during exercise. But the arteries dilate during this time and therefore, there is not much change observed in the diastolic pressure. If you are exercising at less than the maximum heart rate, you might even observe a slight decrease in the diastolic BP. Only at maximum heart rate, the diastolic pressure will increase slightly.

So, it is normal to observe high blood pressure after exercise. If you follow exercise with low intensity walking, there will be a progressive decline in the systolic blood pressure. However, if you sit or lie down, the passive recovery will cause a sudden drop in the systolic blood pressure. This is because the blood pools in the hands and feet.

When to Worry
Besides the increase in blood pressure after exercise which is normal, there can be some conditions when it is considered abnormal. It is important to pay attention in such cases. Some of them are:

• If you have blood pressure in the normal range, however, the systolic blood pressure after exercise goes up to 190 mm Hg, it is an indication that you will have high blood pressure in the future.


• If there is an underlying coronary artery disease, it can cause the diastolic blood pressure to increase by 10-15 mm Hg during exercise. This will be an unstable type of Hypertension. You should get it checked by a doctor, especially if the rise in BP is accompanied by chest pain.

Decreased Blood Pressure After Exercise, Why?
A drop in diastolic pressure after exercise that has been talked above is also normal, but it should come to the normal level later. The heart rate usually returns to normal within 2 minutes of stopping the exercise. However, it can take several hours for the blood pressure to return to normal. The resting blood pressure reduces with time if there is consistent aerobic exercise. So, it is recommended by the AHA (American Heart Association) to exercise for 30 minutes, 3-4 times a week, to control blood pressure.

When to Worry
If there is any decrease in the blood pressure during exercise, it is an indication of potential heart problem and needs to be checked by a doctor. In a study conducted on old obese men, it was found that blood pressure was lowered 24 hours after performing aerobic exercise. Also, if the blood pressure after exercise falls significantly and does not come back gradually to increase within 30 minutes, it could be an indication of potential heart problem. If a person has blood pressure lower than 90/60 mm Hg consistently, it should be checked by doctor.

Regular Exercise Is Actually Good for Controlling High Blood Pressure!
If you involve in regular exercise, it will help in lowering blood pressure. This happens because the heart becomes stronger and there is less effort required by the heart to pump blood. An active person who exercises regularly can reduce the systolic blood pressure by 4-9 mm Hg, which is similar to the decrease observed when prescription medications are taken. So, you can avoid medicines if you exercise regularly.

Involving yourself in 60-75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 180 minutes of moderate exercise once a week is recommended. You can even try the combination of both. Moderate exercise includes swimming, bicycling, jogging, walking, etc. You should, however, talk to your doctor before performing any exercise as treatment for hypertension. The doctor will help you plan a proper workout session and also point out any concerns associated with it.

If you have consulted your doctor and want to try some exercises regularly, watch the video below:

Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension or high blood pressure contributes to more than 1,000 deaths per year. Over 50 million Americans are dealing with this condition. No knowledge about the causes of high pressure is one of the biggest reasons why more and more people are becoming a victim of this potentially life-threatening condition.

It is true that the exact cause of hypertension isn't clear, but several factors and other conditions can contribute to the development of this condition. Some of the most common factors are Obesity, smoking, excessive salt intake, lack of physical activities and stress. Many people understand how obesity or smoking can play a role in the development of high blood pressure, but they really want to know the relationship between high blood pressure and stress. Can stress cause high blood pressure? Keep reading to find the answer.

Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure?
When you are in a stressful situation, your body releases stress hormones that temporarily raises your blood pressure. This will increase your heart rate and narrow your blood vessels as well. The most important stress hormones are cortisol, aldosterone, catecholamine, endorphins and vasopressin. Since it's a temporary change, your blood pressure should come down to normal once the stress trigger is no longer present.

So, can stress cause high blood pressure in the long term? There is no evidence that stress has a direct link to hypertension. However, certain behaviors that are associated with stress can cause high blood pressure. You may start overeating when you're in a stressful situation. Some people start drinking alcohol or develop poor sleeping habits due to stress. All these behavioral changes can lead to high blood pressure. Moreover, you may end up developing long-term high blood pressure due to consistent stress-related spikes in your blood pressure.

Some stress related conditions can also cause Heart disease. For instance, Depression, anxiety and isolation can play a role in the development of heart disease. It happens because the hormones produced during stress may damage your arteries, which in turn will lead to heart disease.

What Can You Do?
Now that you know the answer to your question, "Can stress cause high blood pressure?" you may want to know how to deal with the whole situation. First thing you need to understand is that even though stress can raise your blood pressure for a short time, the spike can be quite dramatic. It is, therefore, important to make certain lifestyle changes to protect yourself from high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

1. Be Aware of the Warning Signs of Stress
In fact, most people don't really know they are in stress, which can be bad to their health. Below are several mental, physical, behavioral and emotional signs that will help confirm if you're under stress.

Physical signs	General aches, dizziness, grinding teeth, indigestion, clenched jaws, muscle tension, racing heart, difficulty sleeping, sweaty palms, stooped posture, trembling, tiredness, unexplained Weight Loss or weight gain, upset stomach, etc.
Mental Signs	Clouded judgment, constant worry, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, loss of sense of humor, lack of creativity, etc.
Emotional Signs	Crying, anger, feeling powerless, depression, loneliness, irritability, mood swings, nervousness, negative thinking, sadness, etc.
Behavioral Signs	Compulsive eating, bossiness, explosive actions, critical of others, increased use of drugs/alcohol, impulsive actions, withdrawal from social situations, etc.

2. Try Simple Ways to Reduce Stress
When you notice certain signs of stress, you should take some steps to bring things back to normal. Instead of asking, "Can stress cause high blood pressure?" you should pay more attention to making certain changes to your life to reduce stress.

• Enjoy Music.Take a break and listen to some relaxing music to get out of a stressful situation. Listening to calm music may help reduce cortisol levels in your body that in turn reduces blood pressure and makes you feel better. Listening to nature or ocean sounds may also have calming effect on your nerves.


• Talk to a Friend.The more you go into isolation, the harder it becomes to get out of stress. Call a friend and talk about your issues. A reassuring voice of a good friend will help change your outlook to life and make it easier to get out of your stress.


• Talk Yourself Through It.When you cannot share it with a friend, share it without yourself. Talk calmly to yourself, telling yourself the reasons why you're stressed out and reassuring that things will be fine.


• Have a Balanced Diet.A proper diet and stress levels are closely related. You're going to make your stress even worse by resorting to fatty, sugary snack foods. Avoid the vending machine and add more vegetables and fruits to your diet. Fish with omega-3 fatty acids have proved extremely beneficial against stress. Try a tuna sandwich to have the power to get out of a stressful situation.


• Laugh It Off.Spend time with friends who make you laugh or watch something that gives you a good laugh. Laughing your heart out will release endorphins that change your mood and decrease the levels of stress-causing hormones in your body.


• Avoid Caffeine.A large dose of caffeine can lead to an increase in blood pressure, so you should replace energy drinks and coffee with green tea, which has less caffeine with loads of healthy antioxidants.


• Try Meditation.Be mindful and make use of some meditative exercises, such as yoga. Other physical and mental exercises such as meditation, tai chi and even Pilates will help prevent stress and keep your heart healthy.


• Sleep Better.When you're under stress, you will lose sleep. In some cases, you end up being stressed due to lack of sleep. You should get 7-8 hours of sleep daily to prevent stress.


• Use Drugs.If you have high blood pressure, you need to take steps to avoid getting in stress and take your medication regularly as prescribed by your doctor. These medications aren't helpful in controlling stress, but they work effectively to keep your blood pressure in check.


• Take Deep Breaths.Learn to take a deep breath when you find yourself in stress. Maintaining a right breathing technique will go a long way in preventing and managing stress that in turn will help keep your heart healthy. It also clears your mind, centers your body, and supplies oxygenated blood to all the cells in your body.

Below is a very interesting and helpful video to tell you more ways to manage the stress.

Always keep in mind that though stress has become an integral part of today's world, you can take steps to make things more manageable. The use of some strategies and being patience will help reduce stress and improve your overall health.

Anxiety and Blood Pressure

Anxiety and Blood Pressure

An anonymous user said,

I tend to freak out when I go to the doctor’s office and have my blood pressure taken. This means that they always comment on how high it is (last week I had the usual – for me – numbers of 127/92 with a pulse of 133. I’m not worried about my pulse because it’s usually in the 80s when I take it at home. The blood pressure, however, worries me. I want to know if anyone knows how to get over the fear of having blood pressure taken. I want to get over it, but my anxiety gets in the way.

It is normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day. Everyone, regardless of health, will see changes in blood pressure based on their diet, amount of sleep, activity level, and Stress. Anxiety definitely affects blood pressure but interestingly enough in addition to making it higher it can sometimes make it lower as well.

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?


Anxiety will not lead to Hypertension (long-term high blood pressure). Despite this, having episodes of anxiety may lead to temporary but dramatic changes in your blood pressure.

In cases when you experience those temporary spikes daily, they may lead to damage of the kidneys, heart, or blood vessels just like chronic high blood pressure would. Additionally, anxiety tends to increase the chances of resorting to unhealthy habits like overeating, drinking alcohol, or smoking, each of which can also increase your blood pressure.

There are also certain medications that increase the blood pressure as a side effect and these include those for mental health conditions such as anxiety, including norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and serotonin.

How Does Anxiety Affect Blood Pressure?
When you experience anxiety, this is your fight or flight system being activated despite the lack of danger present. This system leads to multiple physical changes designed to help you respond to a threat or predator. When these changes occur outside of dangerous situations, however, they can be distressing.

Various types of anxiety will have different effects on your blood pressure, but the following are some of the possible effects.

• Increased Heart Rate. When you are anxious, your heart rate will increase (to give more blood to areas which will need it for fight or flight). The issue is that this increased cardiac output leads to increased pressure, raising your systolic heart rate (although the diastolic usually remains the same).


• Contracting Ventricles. Contracting ventricles are directly related to your heart rate. Blood usually goes through your ventricles with the same pressure but when you suffer from anxiety, the ventricles will contract while the blood pumps through them and this leads to an increase in pressure.


• Hypoventilation. It is important to remember that not every blood pressure change will increase the level. Hyperventilation is low blood pressure and can also be due to anxiety. People tend to breathe poorly when anxious and this means breathing out large quantities of carbon dioxide. This leads to the body being weaker so the blood vessels dilate and the blood pressure lowers. Although blood pressure may decrease, it rarely gets dangerously low.

What Can I Do to Reduce Effect of Anxiety on Blood Pressure?
Here are some suggestions:

1. Find a Good Doctor
You will notice that the anxiety associated with having your blood pressure taken decreases drastically if you are comfortable with your doctor. The best way to accomplish this is to visit the same doctor every time as this will help you build a rapport. This also reduces any surprise they feel at your freaking out.

2. Monitor at Home
You should also do your best to monitor your heart rate and blood pressure at home to keep track of your levels. Some people are overwhelmed or intimidated by large old-fashioned monitors you find at the doctor’s office, but you can find smaller, battery-operated wrist cuffs. Not only measure your blood pressure, but be sure to write down your numbers. This will give your doctor a better idea of how you are truly doing. It can prevent you from going on unnecessary medication that a bad doctor may simply prescribe because they don’t understand your fear.

3. Exhale Slowly
While you are having your blood pressure taken, try to take long and slow exhalations. This can help relax you and keep your reading nice and low. Try to breathe out longer than you breathe in.

4. Take It Twice
Ask your doctor to take your blood pressure twice during your visit: once at the beginning and once at the end. Chances are that your anxiety will have decreased by the end of your doctor’s appointment so your second reading will better indicate your normal level, even if it is still slightly high.

5. Reward Yourself
If you are truly dreading your doctor’s visit, plan a reward for afterwards. Pick something that you will enjoy such as getting a new CD, a manicure, your favorite dessert, or a new book.

6. Don’t Go Alone
Sometimes it can help a great deal if you have someone with you at the doctor’s office. Simply have them hold your hand and you will probably notice you are more relaxed. You can even ask the doctor to take your friend or family member’s blood pressure also if it will reduce your anxiety.

Herbs for High Blood Pressure

Herbs for High Blood Pressure

Heart is the primary circulatory organ that is responsible for transferring the blood from periphery to heart and (after oxygenation) back to all major organs of the body. In order to push the blood successfully into the distant tissues and organs, it is very important to have a healthy blood pressure to generate the much needed force.

11 Great Herbs for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be managed with diet, exercise and medication regimens, but a popular alternative is the use of herbs. These can be taken as whole or in a form of supplement, butalways remember to seeka doctor’s advice as certain chemical constituents can interfere with other drugs and resultin side effects.

Garlic

Garlic has been used as a part of many healing systems traditionally. Studies conducted on garlic have shown that one active compound called alicin is responsible for reducing blood pressure. Alicin contains sulfur compound, which also acts as an anti-hypertensive agent. Both of them result in an overall decrease in systolic pressure. Garlic can decrease the blood pressure by approximately 10 mm Hg or more if consumed in adose of up to two grams per day for at least 12 weeks. However, garlic is not safe with many medications, therefore, consulting a doctor is of utmost importance before starting to use it.

Hibiscus Tea
Dried Hibiscus leaves are used in making tea. Trial studies on hibiscus tea and regular black tea concluded that hibiscus can successfully control systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. Another study compared the blood pressure reducing ability of hibiscus with Ace Inhibitors; it found that even though it is not as effective as ACE inhibitors, hibiscus has lesser risk of side effects and may mimic ACE inhibitors in physiological functions. Hibiscus leaves have antioxidant property that helps in reducing inflammation and relaxing the blood vessels.

Olive


Olives are highly recognized because the oil obtained from it can reduce blood pressure, and in the Mediterranean area, it is even a part of everyday cuisine. Olive has antioxidants and polyphenols which effectively reduce systolic blood pressure. Studies have shown that consuming 40 grams of olive oil per day can reduce blood pressure by 50%. Olive oil should be introduced in the diet for individuals who have Hypertension or Heart diseases.

Oregano
This herb is frequently used as an essential ingredient of several diets and is very effective in reducing the blood pressure if used over a long period of time. Oregano contains carvacrol which is known for its blood pressure reducing property. Studies conducted on oregano concluded that it is effective in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, in addition to reducing average arterial pressure. It also helps controlling heart rate.

Hawthorn


Researchconducted on hawthorn has indicated its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure after chronic use. One of the most conclusive studies was conducted in UK, where a group of 79 patients was tested for this herb against a blood pressure medicine. After consecutive use of more than a year, it was found that hawthorn efficiently reduced diastolic pressure.

Cardamom
Cardamom is known to be a carminative as well as a blood pressure reducing agent. A study conducted in India concluded the blood pressure reducing effects of cardamom can be achieved by taking it in a dose of 4 grams per day. By the end of the experiment, it was concluded that not only was there a feeling of well-being among the subjects, but significant reduction in the blood pressure was also achieved.

Basil
Basil is one of the most common herbs used in cooking. It is excellent for individuals who sufferfrom hypertension, as studies have shown that basil can reduce blood pressure but only for a short period. Therefore, the intake has to be maintained every day. It is best to use when fresh.

Celery Seed
Celery seeds are used by Chinese to reduce the blood pressure for a long time. Upon analysis, it is found that celery is effective becauseits diuretic property helps the body in getting rid of excess minerals which may cause high blood pressure.

Cinnamon


Cinnamon is effective in reducing the blood pressure in diabetic patients, and because it’s got a pleasant taste, it can be incorporated in everyday meals. It is preferable to use cinnamon on daily basis.

French Lavender
Lavender contains essential oils that are effective at reducing the blood pressure by relaxing the vessels. They are eitherused in aromatherapy or eaten as dry leaves.

Cat’s Claw
It has been traditionally used to treat neurological disorders. It acts on the calcium channels in your cells to reduce blood pressure.

Watch this video to learn more aboutHerbs for High Blood Pressure:

Sudden High Blood Pressure

Sudden High Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure changes throughout the day. Sudden fluctuations are also possible depending on your current physical and psychological state. Although there are fluctuations, they may not be that noticeable or serious in some people. Even when their blood pressure changes, it stays within the normal range. However, some people may experience a sudden high blood pressure; if this occurs frequently, chronic Hypertension can be caused, which can lead to Heart disease and Stroke. Keep reading to discover more about why blood pressure changes and how to keep it in check.

Normal Blood Pressure vs. High Blood Pressure
Measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHG), you will get two readings when your doctor checks your blood pressure. The higher number is called the systolic blood pressure, which refers to the pressure in your arteries at the time your heart pumps blood. The lower number is called the diastolic blood pressure that measures the pressure when the heart is at rest and fills itself with blood between 2 heartbeats. Normal blood pressure for adults is below 120/80mmHG.

However, you may have hypertension when your blood pressure consistently stays around 140/90mmHG.You are considered to be in a pre-hypertension stage when your blood pressure is between 120/80—139/89 mm HG. As a common adult, you should ensure that your blood pressure stays below 140/90mmHG. For people with Diabetes, you need to set a lower goal of blood pressure.

What Can Cause Sudden High Blood Pressure?
A number of factors may lead to sudden increase in blood pressure. Some are temporary while some require medical attention.

1. Vigorous Physical Activity
Running up a hill, walking briskly, swimming, and even energetic dancing can raise your blood pressure. It happens because your body needs more oxygen when you engage in physically demanding activities. With a change in your breathing, there will be a change in your blood pressure. your heart beats faster and harder to supply oxygenated blood to all parts of your body. This leads to a slight increase in blood pressure. For healthy adults, the change in blood pressure is not that drastic. In fact, it usually does not exceed the normal range unless you already have hypertension.

2. Stress
Psychological stress can change your blood pressure. Your blood pressure rises almost immediately in situations when you feel scared, anxiousor angry. Under such situations, the nerve impulses sent from brain to heart along with stress hormone in the blood circulation can cause a sudden high blood pressure. Sitting quietly for some time, taking a few deep breaths, and focusing on pleasant thoughts will help lower your blood pressure again.

3. Substance Usage
Substance usage can be blamed for causing sudden blood pressure. Smoking, alcohol, certain medication and illicit drugs can be common factors.

• Smoking loads your body with nicotine and other chemicals which enter the blood stream then reduce the blood oxygen levels. This can cause faster heartbeat and your blood vessels become tighter.


• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, certain Allergy medication, and analgesics like acetaminophen may result in sudden high blood pressure.


• Use of methamphetamines, cocaine, or other illicit drugs can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Alcohol abuse and herbs like licorice may also be responsible for raising your blood pressure.

4. Cold Weather
Your blood pressure will increase a bit in winter due to the constriction of blood vessels in cold weather. You may also notice sudden high blood pressureif you walk into a climate-controlled environment with high or low setting of air conditioning. Also, elders will have blood pressure changes due to the atmospheric pressure changes ahead of weather changes.

5. Too Much Salty Food
Consuming too much of salt may also increase your blood pressure because sodium increases fluid retention and raises your blood pressure in a short time.

How to Relieve Sudden High Blood Pressure
Several lifestyle changes help to keep blood pressure stay in normal range. Lifestyle changes really help when your blood pressure is at a range of 120/80 mm HG to 140/90 mm HG. For higher ranges, you will need to take medications to lower your blood pressure and manage the relatively high risk of cardiovascular disease. Here are some changes you can easily perform in daily life to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

1. Exercise regularly
You should exercise at least for half an hour a few times a week. You need to be consistent on exercise to see results. The best exercises include jogging, walking, swimming, cycling, or dancing. Or simply opting for stairs instead of an elevator can help.

Go for power walks at a brisk pace helps to lower blood pressure by 8mmHg or more. Exercise enables your heart to use oxygen more efficiently, which in turn reduces your blood pressure.

2. Follow Some Meditative Practices
Trying meditative practices such as yoga, qigong, and tai chi help lower the levels of stress hormones in your body. This helps regulate your blood pressure. Deep breathing also helps control your blood pressure.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products to your diet. Avoid food rich in saturated fat to lower your blood pressure. Eat more fruits that contain potassium. Keeping a food diary can better monitor what caused a sudden high blood pressure and what to eat at a regular base.

4. Reduce Sodium Intake
A small reduction in sodium in your diet may help lower your blood pressure by 2-8 mmHg. Your aim should be to have less than 2,300mg of sodium a day. Always read food labels to confirm how much sodium it contains. Limit your consumption of processed foods and use herbs in place of sodium. Still, remember not to cut salt from your diet too quickly.

5. Limit Alcohol Intake
Alcohol may not be that harmful in small amounts, but it can always raise your blood pressure, especially when you do not know where to draw the line. For people older than age 65, it is important to not have more than one drink a day. Younger men and women can have a couple of drinks a day, but anything more than this will raise blood pressure.

6.Take a Supplement
Some studies have confirmed that coenzyme Q10 helps reduce blood pressure. It provides your body with energy and helps dilate blood vessels to lower your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.

7. Garlic
Simply including raw garlic in your diet may help bring your blood pressure down a bit. You can enjoy it with fried and cooked rice. Just be sure to have it in your diet to manage hypertension.

8. Lemon Juice
Some people have reported the benefits of drinking lemon juice with water and sugar in lowering blood pressure. Drink it at least twice a day to get the wanted results.

9. Fenugreek
Fenugreek helps lower blood pressure. Due to its bitter taste, you need to make it into powder and take one spoon orally before bed, along with drinking lots of water meanwhile to solve the bitterness. Yet, just not to take fenugreek daily because it can lower your blood sugar levels as well.

Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Your heart works to ensure that your five or so liters of blood continue to pump throughout your body. Blood pressure is the force that your blood exerts onto the walls of blood vessels, and doctors measure it to determine how healthy your blood vessels and heart are. It is normal to experience some variation in your blood pressure throughout the day, but extreme changes may indicate another issue that should be checked out. Most people won't notice any symptoms with their fluctuating blood pressure, making it challenging to detect them. Here the article will help you find out if your blood pressure is swinging and what you can do.

What Is Normal Blood Pressure?
Experts agree that a healthy adult should have a blood pressure of less than 120 mmHg for their systolic pressure and under 80 mmHg for diastolic pressure. While people's blood pressure can change minute by minute, you need to chart the blood pressure over a period of time if you want to get an accurate evaluation of your blood and heart health.

What Can Cause Fluctuating Blood Pressure?
1. Food Sensitivities
Some people will have changingblood pressure due to being sensitive to certain foods. In most cases, the blood pressure would dramatically rise after eating a trigger food. This is particularly common for those with salt sensitivities after taking very salty meals. Usually, this can return to normal for a while. Yet, you many need to make some diet changes, if such swings in pressure occur frequently.

2. Stress
When we are stressed, our bodies increase blood sugar, blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate. In a stressful situation, peripheral arteries constrict, making the heart work harder to get oxygenated blood throughout tissues in the body. Occasional stress isn't typically a concern but frequently experiencing it can cause chronic fluctuations in blood pressure which may be harmful.

3. Caffeine Consumption
As a stimulant, coffee produces a temporary rise in blood pressure. Drinking three or four cups may increase your blood pressure 4 to 13 mmHg. If you don't regularly have caffeine, you may notice more significant fluctuations. Experts don't know why caffeine increases blood pressure but think it may be due to constriction of blood vessels.

4. Medications
Certain medications, including over-the-counter ones, may lead to temporary elevations in blood pressure. These include anti-inflammatory meds, decongestants, and acetaminophen. You can experience worse fluctuations from illegal street drugs, leading to life-threatening situations.

5. Adrenal Fatigue
Your adrenals regulate multiple hormones in the body and can seriously affect your cardiovascular health. If your adrenals are fatigued due to an extended illness or excessive/chronic stress, they can't regulate your blood pressure properly.

6. Fever
A fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. Since a fever speeds up your heart rate, it increases your blood pressure due to the narrowing blood vessels. It is very common to notice fluctuating blood pressure during a fever or other sickness.

7. Deposits of Calcium or Cholesterol in the Arteries
If you have calcium and/or cholesterol deposits in your arteries, they will become stiff and inelastic. This makes them incapable of relaxing and causes Hypertension. This condition is most common among those who are middle-aged or older and stiff arteries may also lead to systolic hypertension.

8. Dehydration
Dehydration can also lead to fluctuations with a dramatic decrease. You can just regain Water Retention to raise your blood pressure by increasing the blood volume.

Should I Concern About Fluctuating Blood Pressure?
120/80 is thought to be the perfect normal figure of blood pressure. Here is general chart of how the blood pressure readings are revealed.

Blood Pressure Figure (mmHG)	Healthy or Not
120/80	Perfect normal figure
130/80—140/90	Normal
140/90—160/100	Mildly raised
160/100 and above	Too high

Fluctuation in your annual readings can indicate a higher risk for women who are post-menopausal. An analysis suggests that in certain cases, fluctuations in systolic blood pressure can be linked with a higher risk of Stroke. This applies to those who already have a high risk, for example, those with previous minor strokes or transient ischemic attacks.

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke, heart failure, Heart Attack, premature death, and Kidney Failure. Repeated high blood pressure can be a concern. Lifestyle changes and certain medications can be the typical and long time running treatment that doctors suggest for those with high or fluctuating blood pressure.

How to Deal With Fluctuating Blood Pressure
One thing to make it clear is that cholesterol-lowering drugs do not remove plaque deposits or increase their elasticity. So the sure way to regulate your blood pressure is to improve your whole health on a permanent basis, such as, strengthen your adrenals, improve your arterial elasticity, and keep your stress under control. Your doctor can provide recommendations for achieving these specific goals.

The severity of blood pressure fluctuation depends on how high it rises and how long it stays. Those who experience intermittent elevation of blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing hypertension in the future. And natural remedies can help to lower your blood pressure without being labeled as having high blood pressure.

You can use herbs or supplements, but always consult them before taking any. It also helps to control your weight through diet and exercise—key components of maintaining a healthy blood pressure. For lifestyles, stop smoking and limit alcohol intake to no more than one or two drinks each day. Besides, deep breathing exercises can help with stress-related fluctuations. Reducing your intake of sodium/salt can help prevent water retention and therefore lower pressure further.

Blood Pressure Chart

Blood Pressure Chart

Blood Pressure has become a very common ailment these days. The best way to control blood pressure is to keep regular tabs on it and ensure that it does not exceed a certain limit. The blood pressure chart can help you know when you should start thinking about making changes to your lifestyle or seeing a doctor.

Blood Pressure Chart
When comparing your blood pressure reading with the chart, do remember that if your reading somehow falls in two categories than the higher one will be considered your accurate blood pressure level.

Top Number (Systolic) in mm Hg	Bottom Number (Diastolic) in mm Hg	Category	What to Do
Less than 120	Less than 80	Normal blood pressure	Continue living a healthy life
In between 120 and 139	In between 80 and 89	PreHypertension	Continue living a healthy life
In between 140 and 159	In between 90 and 99	Stage 1 Hypertension	Consult your physician and start taking a medicine if blood pressure level does not drop within 6 months’ time.
Higher than 160	Higher than 100	Stage 2 Hypertension	Increase the number of medications you are taking for controlling your blood pressure level.

Notes

The above-mentioned ranges are only for adults. For finding out about the blood pressure ranges for children and teenagers, contacting a physician would be a better choice. Moreover, the advice given in this table is only valid for people who only have high blood pressure and are not the victims of any other disease.

Living a healthy life is essential for controlling blood pressure level whether you have a normal blood pressure reading or are suffering from hypertension. This will help you in avoiding any risk of falling prey to the many complications that are accompanied with high blood pressure.

How to Control High Blood Pressure


There is no cure for high blood pressure. However, measures can be taken to control the level of blood pressure and bring it down to a normal range. One is to take medication for high blood pressure and the other one is to change your lifestyle and adopt a healthy routine instead.

Pay Attention to Weight and Waistline
Keeping your weight in check is extremely important for lowering blood pressure. The lower your weight is the lesser are the chances that you are going to become a victim of high blood pressure. Men and women who have waists measuring higher than 40 inches and 35 inches respectively run the risk of becoming sufferers of high blood pressure at some point in their lives. This is the reason why doctors say that having a slim waistline is another great way of maintaining blood pressure to a normal level.

Exercise Regularly
Exercise is massively important for living a healthy life. It can play a huge role in controlling your blood pressure level too. The more active you are in daily life, the lesser is going to be your blood pressure. Mixing yoga and exercise is among the best methods of reducing blood pressure levels and should be included in the daily routine.

Have a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet is among the most effective means of lowering blood pressure levels. Including fruits in your daily diet is going to help you in reducing the risk of becoming a patient of high blood pressure. Among the fruits that can aid you in controlling your blood pressure, dates, banana, apples, pineapple and kiwi fruit are considered the most beneficial as they are rich in potassium and calcium.

Reduce Sodium Intake
Limiting the intake of sodium in any form can significantly bring down your blood pressure level. Sodium is present in salt, thus refraining from having too much salt in your food is a good way of ensuring that your blood pressure remains in control and does not exceed the normal range.

Drink Less Alcohol
Drinking Alcohol excessively is one of the main reasons for high blood pressure. Thus, it is necessary that consumption of alcohol is kept to a minimum level if you want to keep your blood pressure under control.

Quit Smoking
High blood pressure is among the many side-effects of cigarette smoking. Leaving this habit can have a very positive effect on your blood pressure and can help you in keeping it to a manageable level.

Limit Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is also one of the culprits that can increase your blood pressure. Cutting back on your caffeine intake is thus a great way of making sure that your blood pressure does not exceed the normal range.

Relieve Stress
Stress is also one of the reasons that can cause high blood pressure. Thus, reducing the amount of stress can prove to be a good option for controlling your blood pressure. Doing yoga and getting a massage are some of the methods that can be used for relieving stress.

Monitor Blood Pressure
Keeping tabs on your blood pressure readings is another effective method of controlling high blood pressure. It can help you in knowing how high your blood pressure is thus enabling you to consult the doctor immediately if it becomes too high. You can either monitor your blood pressure at home using the apparatus yourself or have it checked regularly by a qualified physician.