I'm feeling good this morning because there's no driving on the agenda. Hopefully I'll get to soak up some sun and finish the newspaper before my wife brings around her to-do list.
I was thinking this morning about the number of Americans, some studies show one third of the total population, who have hypertension, or high blood pressure in non-medical lingo. The sad truth is, high blood pressure is often referred to as The Silent Killer because many people have it and don't even know it until they suffer a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
So, what causes hypertension?
There are a number of answers, and among them are body type, sedentary lifestyle, sodium intake, low potassium intake, heavy use of alcohol, eating a lot of saturated fat, and huffing. (that's what I call smoking, because everyone I know who smokes, huffs.) And then, there's what we in the trade call "essential hypertension," which means we can't identify a specific reason for it, but it's there, just the same.
If you're overweight, and plenty of people these days are, or if your job allows you to sit around all day, and you don't exercise, then you might already have high blood pressure. And more fat around the midsection means more trouble for you too.
Sodium isn't bad in and of itself. But here in the Sunshine State, I see people pouring the stuff on every plate they consume. Tasting the food in the first place isn't even an issue, they just always add more. Too much salt can lead to water retention, then high blood pressure, or make it worse.
I see bunches of bananas whenever I go to the grocery store. And I try to eat one every day for the potassium. But apparently I'm one of the few because Americans aren't getting enough potassium in their diets, a problem which can lead to high levels of sodium.
And let's not forget huffing and excessive alcohol, which are just about the worst habits for your health.
Now before I go any further, I will tell you I am not a strict teetotaler, though I drink only very rarely. It's okay for you to have a drink now and then. Smoking is a different story, although I'm not going to complain about a special occasion cigar (for you, not me--I don't smoke at all and never did).
But I will say this: hard drinking and huffing hurt in the long run, assuming you get a long run. But if you already have high blood pressure, you better drop both - and I mean now.
You can start lowering your blood pressure with simple lifestyle changes. Try eating better one day at a time. Try a little exercise, also one day at a time. Then, make it two. Remember, it took quite a while for your body to get in the shape it's in, so don't try to fix everything in a only few days or weeks. Because if you do, you'll only end up hurting yourself and being pissed off, and then, not doing anything.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
He told me at the hospital, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" This isn't the way it has to be. Start with little changes and you'll be surprised how much you can do for your health.
I was thinking this morning about the number of Americans, some studies show one third of the total population, who have hypertension, or high blood pressure in non-medical lingo. The sad truth is, high blood pressure is often referred to as The Silent Killer because many people have it and don't even know it until they suffer a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
So, what causes hypertension?
There are a number of answers, and among them are body type, sedentary lifestyle, sodium intake, low potassium intake, heavy use of alcohol, eating a lot of saturated fat, and huffing. (that's what I call smoking, because everyone I know who smokes, huffs.) And then, there's what we in the trade call "essential hypertension," which means we can't identify a specific reason for it, but it's there, just the same.
If you're overweight, and plenty of people these days are, or if your job allows you to sit around all day, and you don't exercise, then you might already have high blood pressure. And more fat around the midsection means more trouble for you too.
Sodium isn't bad in and of itself. But here in the Sunshine State, I see people pouring the stuff on every plate they consume. Tasting the food in the first place isn't even an issue, they just always add more. Too much salt can lead to water retention, then high blood pressure, or make it worse.
I see bunches of bananas whenever I go to the grocery store. And I try to eat one every day for the potassium. But apparently I'm one of the few because Americans aren't getting enough potassium in their diets, a problem which can lead to high levels of sodium.
And let's not forget huffing and excessive alcohol, which are just about the worst habits for your health.
Now before I go any further, I will tell you I am not a strict teetotaler, though I drink only very rarely. It's okay for you to have a drink now and then. Smoking is a different story, although I'm not going to complain about a special occasion cigar (for you, not me--I don't smoke at all and never did).
But I will say this: hard drinking and huffing hurt in the long run, assuming you get a long run. But if you already have high blood pressure, you better drop both - and I mean now.
You can start lowering your blood pressure with simple lifestyle changes. Try eating better one day at a time. Try a little exercise, also one day at a time. Then, make it two. Remember, it took quite a while for your body to get in the shape it's in, so don't try to fix everything in a only few days or weeks. Because if you do, you'll only end up hurting yourself and being pissed off, and then, not doing anything.
A friend of mine loved to say, "Hey...who the...put a vegetable on my plate?" He got hit by a freight train in the form of a heart attack. One year later and he's still recovering.
He told me at the hospital, "I guess it's all carrots and celery from now on, huh?" This isn't the way it has to be. Start with little changes and you'll be surprised how much you can do for your health.
About the Author:
Dr. Bill is an orthopaedic surgeon and health expert. For heart health, he recommends this type of pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
No comments:
Post a Comment