12/29/08

Understanding the Causes of Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common problem in the United States. While everyone will see their blood pressure raise on occasion, such as after strenuous activity or during a stressful event, a consistently higher than normal blood pressure reading can put a person at a much higher risk of other medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Because hypertension has potentially dangerous ramifications, especially when it is left unchecked, it is important to know the causes of hypertension so that you can determine whether you are at risk for this problem.

Types of Hypertension and the Causes

To understand the causes of hypertension, you must first learn about the different types of this condition. Primary hypertension is the most common type of high blood pressure. In this case, the cause of hypertension is usually not identified, and the condition will gradually develop over a number of years. With primary hypertension, the best treatment is to address the high blood pressure itself with medication and lifestyle changes. The other type is known as secondary hypertension, and in this case, the cause of hypertension is often an underlying medical problem like congenital heart defects or kidney abnormalities. With secondary hypertension, the first line of treatment may be to treat the underlying condition.

Primary hypertension is the most common type by far, meaning that the causes of hypertension can rarely be identified. This is why it is important to also understand the risk factors of this condition, so that you will be better able to evaluate the likelihood that you will develop this medical problem. People are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension if they have a family history of the condition, if they are African American and if they are over the age of 65. However, just because you are a middle-aged white female with no family history, it doesn't mean that you will never be diagnosed with hypertension. It is also important to head to your doctor for regular screenings to ensure that your blood pressure stays within a healthy range.

Hypertension is often called the silent killer, because causes of hypertension are rarely known and there are few symptoms that will show up when the condition is present. The best way to protect yourself from this potentially deadly condition is to have regular screenings at your doctor's office or purchase a home blood pressure monitor that you can use yourself. While causes of hypertension may not be easily identified, you can do plenty to keep yourself safe from this serious medical condition.

Now as a final thought, remember that looking like Milos Sarcev or Carmen Garcia can only be accomplished if you have the right supplements. Alpha Lipoic Acid is one of them.

12/27/08

Understanding the Causes of Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common problem in the United States. While everyone will see their blood pressure raise on occasion, such as after strenuous activity or during a stressful event, a consistently higher than normal blood pressure reading can put a person at a much higher risk of other medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Because hypertension has potentially dangerous ramifications, especially when it is left unchecked, it is important to know the causes of hypertension so that you can determine whether you are at risk for this problem.

Types of Hypertension and the Causes
To understand the causes of hypertension, you must first learn about the different types of this condition. Primary hypertension is the most common type of high blood pressure. In this case, the cause of hypertension is usually not identified, and the condition will gradually develop over a number of years. With primary hypertension, the best treatment is to address the high blood pressure itself with medication and lifestyle changes. The other type is known as secondary hypertension, and in this case, the cause of hypertension is often an underlying medical problem like congenital heart defects or kidney abnormalities. With secondary hypertension, the first line of treatment may be to treat the underlying condition.

Primary hypertension is the most common type by far, meaning that the causes of hypertension can rarely be identified. This is why it is important to also understand the risk factors of this condition, so that you will be better able to evaluate the likelihood that you will develop this medical problem. People are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension if they have a family history of the condition, if they are African American and if they are over the age of 65. However, just because you are a middle-aged white female with no family history, it doesn't mean that you will never be diagnosed with hypertension. It is also important to head to your doctor for regular screenings to ensure that your blood pressure stays within a healthy range.

Hypertension is often called the silent killer, because causes of hypertension are rarely known and there are few symptoms that will show up when the condition is present. The best way to protect yourself from this potentially deadly condition is to have regular screenings at your doctor's office or purchase a home blood pressure monitor that you can use yourself. While causes of hypertension may not be easily identified, you can do plenty to keep yourself safe from this serious medical condition.

Now as a final thought, remember that looking like Milos Sarcev or Carmen Garcia can only be accomplished if you have a Great Body

12/24/08

A Healthy Way Towards Losing Weight


Losing Weight in a healthy way is the ultimate goal for most people. You will not be able to achieve your goal with a many of the weight loss products out there. Obesity is at an all time high and there seems to be no signs of it slowing down.

The potential health problems associated with being overweight are well documented but most people ignore this factor until it is too late. Also there are some people who are not really aware of the risks that are related to being overweight or obese.

Here are a few of the health problems that could arise if you don't do something about your weight: 

1. heart attacks
2. strokes
3. diabetes
4.certain sorts of cancer
5. arthritis
6. high blood pressure

Losing weight in a healthy way will give you a far higher chance to avoid these health problems. 

The so called 'lose weight quick' methods are available today are not methods that will offer long term weight loss.

It is more realistic to focus on a healthy way to lose weight which will have longer lasting results.

Here are a few things you should know about losing weight in a healthy way.

1.   Never ever starve yourself.

The real method to a healthier way of losing weight is to forget about dieting

You may be under the impression that skipping meals will mean consuming fewer calories, which in return will equate to weight loss. Your body will react to this differently, the drop in calories will force your body to go into something called the starvation mode. 

This means that because it isn't getting enough calories, it will try even harder to hang onto the calories it is getting by slowing down your metabolism.

2.  Begin your day in the right way.

Who doesn't know about breakfast being the most important meal of the day. This is because your body has received no calories all the time that you have been asleep. When you don't eat breakfast...yes you've guessed it.... a process known as the starvation mode. 

3.Smaller meals should be eaten more often.

Consuming 4 or 5 smaller meals throughout the day is more beneficial than the 3 meals a day we are used to. This is because your body can only use and get rid of a certain amount of food in one go. Consuming large meals will result in lots of calories being stored as fat. 

4.  Give yourself a goal how much weight you want to get rid of.

Remember to keep your goals realistic. Forget about some miracle cure that is going to help you lose 40 or 50 pounds in a month. Focus on trying to lose around 2-3 pounds a month, and the repeat the process the following month. 

 

5.Stay away from white sugar.

It is said that if white sugar was invented today, it would be difficult to release it on the market because of its negative effects on the body. White sugar creates chaos in body and its systems. On top of that it rots your teeth and is very easily stored as fat. Avoid it as much as possible.

6.Keep a check on how much fat you may have in your daily diet.

Contrary to popular belief fat is not the culprit to being overweight. It is unhealthy fat that is to blame. You need fat in your diet for your body to function properly. Try to get your fat from foods like fish, nuts, olive oil, etc. your body needs these types of fat to stay in a healthy state. 

7.  Exercise.

Walk more instead of driving, use the stairs instead of the lift, take up a hobby such as dancing, skating, or cycling. You will not only lose weight with exercise, your body will look healthier and fitter.

Losing weight in a healthy way is the route to use for long term weight loss.

12/11/08

New Hope for Getting Rid of Viseral Fat

If you are one of the 25% of Americans not taking care of yourself, chances are you have Metabolic Syndrome. If you are over 40, have an expanding waistline, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diet, not enough exercise, high blood sugar (pre-diabetic), then you have this condition!

However, there is also a recent anti aging supplement that has proven helpful with metabolic syndrome.

Here are the symptoms:

  • An expanding waistline (35 inches for women, 40 inches for men)
  • A BMI (Base Metabolic Rate) of over 25
  • Triglyceride level over 150
  • A low HDL (good cholesterol) level
  • Blood pressure over 130/85
  • Higher than normal blood glucose level


Because metabolic syndrome is actually a collection of factors, having any one of them does not mean you have it. But if you have any 3 of the above conditions, you may be at risk.

Here's the bad news:


Your risk factor for a heart attack or stroke is much greater.
You're at risk for getting diabetes.
At least 25% of Americans are in this dilemma.

There Is Good News

YOU can fix it.

Easy? Probably not. It requires a major lifestyle change. If a healthy diet and exercise isn't a part of your life, then you'll need to incorporate it now.

For diet this means eating fewer calories and less saturated fat, and emphasizing whole grains, fish, and fruits and vegetables. When using fats and oils, choose only unsaturated fats such as olive or safflower oil. Nuts are also good.

To start exercising, begin with at least 30 minutes of walking briskly at least 5 days per week. Work up to getting 60 minutes of moderate activity 5 to 7 days a week.

More Good News:

There is something new to help reduce that expanding waistline (visceral fat). It actually has been approved by the FDA as a new "dietary supplement".  What is interesting about this new supplement is that originally it was noted for its great antioxidant properties and has even been used in cosmetics! It was discovered in clinical trials that subjects taking the new supplement along with exercising had shed visceral fat twice as fast and the subjects that exercised without the supplement.

So here's the bad news: you still have to diet and exercise.

However, it's a good thing that there's something to help speed up your results - safely. It's made from Lychee Fruit Extract and Green Tea Extract. And it has other great anti aging benefits, too.

For more information about this new supplement: Oliginol for Metabolic Syndrome

12/10/08

Learn Yoga

Yoga is a system of breathing, stretching exercises, and meditation that helps the individual join with the Universal Self.  Even if you aren't a fitness fanatic you should already know that yoga is both relaxing and healthy.  There have been a number of studies that show you can lower your heart rate and blood pressure if you do yoga, and will help to suppress other body functions so that you can achieve a state total relaxation.  People of all ages can get involved as there is yoga for seniors and yoga for during pregnancy.

The meaning of yoga is to yoke or to unitu.  Anyone seeking to promote or get their health back to the best state are welcome to try a class.  It's widely beleived that yoga does a great job of cleansing and strengthening the body while allowing the mind to focus on connecting with the Universal Self.  People see yoga as being spiritual however it's not so in a religious way.

Although yoga in itself isn't a religion, there are strong links to Buddhism.  This is a fact that might surprise you:  yoga is several centuries older than Buddhism.  There have been ancient gods been shown to practice yoga in seals.  The seals were discovered in the Indus Valley which is beleived to be one of the civilizations ever to be started.  What we call India and Pakistan is what used to be this area.  The seals suggest that yoga was around before 3000 BC.

When doing yoga you will find that meditating is very much essential.  In order for you to acheive the best results, you need to stop your mind from over-thinking about life in general and focus on uniting the body, spirit, and mind.  Yoga is a common activity and you get out of it what you put into it.  So make sure you don't slack, the results will sow themselves off.

Much of yoga was taken from ancient tests called Hatha (the physical body).  There were many philosophers that enjoyed the activity and a variety of styles you could choose.  Although yoga is practiced for practical purposes, those who suffer the stresses of modern living can really benefit.  There are many exercises that cannot be done by certain people because they are too strenous however with yoga you will find it suitable for all ages and abilities.  You can sit in a chair or on the floor.  The stretching really helps the stiff muscles and the breathing helps to calm.