A Chama da Ascensão

What is Hypertension?

Types and Symptoms of Hypertension

Types of Hypertension

• Defects in blood vessels (which typically occurs at birth)
• Obesity or resultant diabetes
• Problems with adrenal glands, the kidneys, or the thyroid
• Sleep apnea
• Use of both over the counter and prescription drugs such as birth control, cold and flu medicines, decongestants, and pain relievers
• Use of illegal drugs, including amphetamines and cocaine

Symptoms

• Abnormal or irregular heartbeat
• Blood in urine
• Chest pain (or if pounding sensation occurs in chest, ears or neck)
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (especially if severe, or occurs without prior physical exertion)
• Severe headache
• Vision becomes blurred

Who’s at Risk for Hypertension?

• Age: The older you are, the greater your chance for hypertension. Gender does play a role as men are more likely to see high blood pressure up to age 64. After age 65, it becomes more common in women.

• Alcohol: Alcohol can possess some healthy attributes, but if consumed in excess it can negatively affect your blood pressure.

• Heredity: If your family has a history of high blood pressure make it known to your physician and ensure regular monitoring is part of your lifestyle.

• Inactivity: Those who avoid physical activity, whether it’s exercise or any other form of general exertion, are more prone to weight gain and obesity. They also typically have higher heart rates, meaning the heart has to work harder which can damage arteries.

• Obesity: If you are obese or overweight, you will require more blood to be pumped to meet your body’s needs for nutrients and oxygen. This not only increases the blood pumping through your body, but it also increases the stress on the arteries carrying it.

• Pre Existing Conditions: As we covered with secondary hypertension, the presence of certain conditions may increase the likelihood of hypertension – sleep apnea, diabetes, or kidney disease among them.

• Race: African Americans are more susceptible to high blood pressure than other racial or ethnic groups with African American men being the most at risk.

• Stress: For many, increased stress may lead to elevated blood pressure, which can be harmful even if the increase is brief.

• Tobacco Use: Among the laundry list of health-related items that tobacco use negatively impacts is a temporary increase in blood pressure and damage to your arteries. This includes chewing tobacco and secondhand smoke.

• Too Much Sodium or Too Little Potassium: Although salt may add plenty of flavor to your food, it also increases your blood pressure. For its part, potassium helps to regulate the sodium levels in your body and too little potassium will increase your sodium levels.

How to Treat or Avoid Hypertension

To be sure, hypertension is a serious condition that will eventually deteriorate an individual’s health if left untreated.

It’s not all bleak, however.

Better control of your blood pressure results in far lower risks of heart disease, stroke, and other potentially harmful outcomes. Even if diagnosed, there are plenty of ways an individual can control their hypertension.

First, an increasingly common method for managing hypertension is through prescription medication.

Of course, concerns exist over prescribed controls, including potentially harmful side effects and the need to be tied to a regular, artificial means of management. For many who suffer from high blood pressure, there is a better solution.

Many medical professionals agree that perhaps the best way to treat hypertension and to keep blood pressure levels within healthy ranges is through a patient’s lifestyle.

Here are seven main factors in helping to keep hypertension at bay:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Nobody expects you have a perfectly toned physique, but fewer overall pounds directly relates to lower blood pressure. Keeping your waistline slimmer will also help as too much weight around your midsection increases your risk for hypertension.

• Maintain a Healthy Diet: Part of keeping a healthy weight means eating a healthy diet. More than that though, consuming the right foods for heart health – fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products low in fat – and avoiding the wrong ones – saturated fat and cholesterol – can drastically reduce your risk for hypertension.

• Cut Back on Salt: In addition to being mindful of your overall diet, cutting back on salt, even if just a little, will have a considerable impact on lowering blood pressure. Opt for non-processed foods and flavor your meals with herbs and spices.

• Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption: A drink or two a day has been shown to carry some positive outcomes for an individual’s health. Excessive drinking, however, can have the opposite effect including increasing your blood pressure and reducing the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.

• Quit Smoking: It should go without saying at this point, but steering clear of all tobacco products will add years to your life and keep your blood pressure down while you live them.

• Become More Active: Not just exercise, but regular, consistent activity will keep your blood pressure levels within an acceptable range and your hypertension risk low. While all forms of exercise will positively impact your health, something as simple as a brisk daily walk will do wonders for your heart health.

• Relax: Finally, keep your stress levels low. Chronic, consistent stress doesn’t just increase your risk of hypertension. It can lead you toward other unhealthy habits that may further complicate your heart health. Be mindful of your particular stress triggers, keep your expectations for both personal and professional endeavors realistic, and make time for yourself to decompress and pursue activities you enjoy to take your mind off the daily grind.

Final Thoughts

Individuals both healthy and unhealthy can have high blood pressure. So regardless of your current health, specific regimen, or potential risk factors you should take the threat of hypertension seriously.

It’s essential to meet with a physician and monitor your blood pressure regularly to stay on top of any changes in your body’s natural rhythms. Doing so will not only keep your blood pressure low and hypertension at bay, but it could potentially save your life.

How Magnesium Works

Magnesium’s Link to Our Diet, Habits, and Diseases

What Happens When Magnesium is Too Low?

• Muscle twitches and cramps
• Mental disorders
• Anxiety
• Osteoporosis
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Asthma
• Kidney problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle twitches, tremors, and cramps
• In worst case scenarios, seizures or convulsions

How Much is Enough?

Best Foods for Magnesium Intake

What if Dietary Magnesium Isn’t Enough?

1. Magnesium chloride - Perhaps the most popular magnesium supplement on the market, is argued to be the most effective form.  It organically encourages sleep, digestion, bone health and a sense of calm (both mental and physical). That said, supplementing with this form of magnesium may cause diarrhea.

2. Magnesium sulfate - Otherwise known as Epsom salts, magnesium sulfate has long been a boon for athletes - or, really, anyone with sore muscles; it’s also widely known for its laxative effects.

3. Magnesium citrate - derived from citric acid. With excellent bioavailability (the efficacy with which a substance is absorbed and used by the body) it’s one of the most highly recommended magnesium supplements. Often used to naturally support digestion, it’s also easy on the wallet. However, it may lead to dehydration (and imbalance of minerals that arrives with this) in that it pulls water into the intestines.

4. Magnesium oxide - With lower levels of bioavailability, it scores only 4 percent, while magnesium citrate has a bioavailability of 90 percent. It’s found in Milk of Magnesia and similar products, and, as such, organically encourages improved digestion.

5. Magnesium glycinate - Feeling stressed? This may be the form for you. While magnesium in its many different forms has been shown to naturally support muscle relaxation, magnesium glycinate might just take the cake (note: the amino acid glycine is known for the calming impact it can have on the mind and body). Additionally, it has optimum bioavailability and, unlike some of its kin, isn’t known for its laxative properties.

6. Magnesium orotate - Those searching for supplements that may organically encourage heart health might give this type a try. With its inclusion of orotic acid (formerly known as B13), it’s also a favorite among athletes, given that it may naturally support the repair of tissues, as well as enhanced stamina and performance. Magnesium orotate often comes with a heftier price tag.

7. Magnesium L-threonate - Dubbed a “breakthrough” supplement, magnesium L-threonate possesses good bioavailability but also the potential to improve cognitive functions, with the National Institutes of Health reporting that memory deficits - particularly short term memory loss caused by chronic pain - may be just one of the potential benefits of this form of magnesium.

Magnesium Oil as an Alternative

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