Tag Archives: Blood pressure

In Love and Health: Happy Valentine’s Day, from my heart to yours

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By Dr. Erik Johnson
Love & Health Chiropractic

The CDC is celebrating February “Heart Month,” with the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Control Hypertension.” This call implores each of us to take charge of our blood pressure because “a healthier heart can lead to a healthier life.”

 

What increases your risk for high blood pressure? The CDC shares the following:

  • Unhealthy Diet
  • Physical Inactivity
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Too Much Alcohol. More than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. 
  • Tobacco Use
  • Family history of high blood pressure combined with unhealthy lifestyle choices.
  • Age. Because your blood pressure tends to rise as you get older.
  • Race or ethnicity. Black people, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives are at higher risk for high blood pressure.

The good news is that healthy behaviors can lower your risk for high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you can take action to control it and improve your health. And if you enjoy healthy blood pressure, now is the time to create good habits that will sustain it.

About one out of two adults has high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke,  two of the leading causes of death, disability, and healthcare expenses.

What is a  good target to aim for? The CDC recommends keeping your blood pressure under 130/80 mmHg for most of us. AT the top of the list for bringing high blood pressure down are being more physically active and eating a healthier  diet. You can start by taking a daily walk (at the mall if the weather’s bad).

Instead of eliminating unhealthy foods and drinks from your diet, find tasty substitutes. Choose fruits, vegetables, 100% whole grains and chemical-free, free-range meats and eggs instead of foods made with white flour, white rice, sugar, and lots of chemical additives. Enjoy a sparkling water beverage or tea with no sweeteners instead of soda pop. And, if you’re a drinker, cut back on alcohol consumption.

 

You might want to learn to check  your blood pressure at home. Some people’s blood pressure rises whenever they go to a doctor’s or dentist’s office. This is called “White Coat Syndrome.” And it tells you about another contributing factor to high blood pressure: Stress.

If you live a high stress life (and who doesn’t these days) learn how to use deep breathing, mindfulness techniques, and relaxation practices like Yoga Nidra to let some of that stress go. The State of Michigan even provides the online mindfulness resource Headspace to help relieve stress. Check it out!

I know that lifestyle changes don’t come easy. Try to get  your family and friends on board. And of course, enlist support from your healthcare providers—including your chiropractor. An aligned spine enables your brain to communicate with all of your organs so that they can function optimally. In other words, a healthy spine supports a healthy heart.

Dr. Erik Johnson DC is a chiropractor at Love and Health Chiropractic in Wyoming at 1586 44th Street SW.

7 mistakes that can boost your blood pressure reading

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Talking while the cuff is on can boost your blood pressure reading. So can a full bladder or crossing your legs. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay


Mum’s the word the next time you have your blood pressure checked.


Talking while the cuff is on can boost your blood pressure reading. So can a full bladder or crossing your legs, the American Heart Association says.


“These simple things can make a difference in whether or not a person is classified as having high blood pressure that requires treatment,” said Dr. Michael Hochman, a member of the heart association’s blood pressure task force. He’s also an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California.


“Knowing how to measure blood pressure accurately at home, and recognizing mistakes in the physician’s office, can help you manage your pressure and avoid unnecessary medication changes,” Hochman said in a heart association news release.

Here, the heart association outlines seven common culprits that can alter your blood pressure reading.

  • Having a full bladder can add 10 to 15 points to a blood pressure reading. Always try to use the bathroom before getting a reading.
  • Poor support for your feet or back while seated can raise your blood pressure reading by 6 to 10 points. You should sit in a chair with your back supported and feet flat on the floor or a footstool.
  • Crossing your legs can add 2 to 8 points to your reading.
  • If your arm hangs by your side or you must hold it up while getting a reading, your blood pressure numbers may be 10 points higher than the actual figure. Your arm should be on a chair or counter so that the blood pressure cuff is level with your heart.
  • Having the cuff placed over clothing can add 5 to 50 points to your reading. The cuff should be on a bare arm.
  • A too-small cuff can add 2 to 10 points to a reading.
  • Talking can add 10 points to your reading. Remain still and silent while your blood pressure is taken.

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



The bottom line on blood pressure

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By understanding the implications of both numbers in a blood pressure reading, you may gain more understanding of your risk for heart disease and stroke. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Amy Norton, HealthDay


When it comes to blood pressure readings, the “top” number seems to grab all the attention.


But a large, new study confirms that both numbers are, in fact, critical in determining the risk of heart attack and stroke.


Blood pressure measurements are given as a “top” and “bottom” number. The first reflects systolic blood pressure, the amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts. The second reflects diastolic blood pressure, the pressure in the arteries between heart muscle contractions.


For years, systolic blood pressure has been seen as the one that really matters. That’s based on studies—including the famous Framingham Heart Study—showing that high systolic blood pressure is a stronger predictor of heart disease and stroke.


At the same time, though, doctors measure both systolic and diastolic blood pressure—and treatment guidelines are based on both. So just how important is that diastolic number?


“The idea behind this new study was to address the confusion,” said lead researcher Dr. Alexander Flint, an investigator with Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s division of research.


Using medical records from 1.3 million patients, his team confirmed that, yes, high systolic blood pressure was a stronger risk factor for heart attack and stroke.


But those risks also climbed in tandem with diastolic pressure. And people with normal systolic readings were still at risk if their diastolic pressure was high.


“There’s been a common belief that systolic blood pressure is the only one that matters,” Flint said. “But diastolic definitely matters.”


He and his colleagues reported the findings in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.


The definition of high blood pressure has gotten a revamp in recent years. Guidelines issued in 2017 by the American College of Cardiology and other heart groups lowered the threshold for diagnosing the condition—from the traditional 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80.


The fact that treatment guidelines include a diastolic pressure threshold implies that it’s important.


And indeed it is, said Dr. Karol Watson, a member of the ACC’s prevention section and leadership council.


In fact, she said, doctors once thought that diastolic blood pressure was the more important one, based on research at the time. Then came the studies showing that systolic pressure was generally a better predictor of people’s risk of heart disease and stroke.


In addition, Watson said, high systolic blood pressure is more prevalent, because of natural changes in blood pressure as people age.


“As we get older, systolic blood pressure keeps marching up,” she explained. Diastolic blood pressure, on the other hand, generally peaks when people are in their 40s to 60s—and then it declines.


But it’s clear, Watson said, that while systolic and diastolic blood pressure are different they both deserve attention.


In the latest study, cardiovascular risks rose with each “unit increase” in systolic pressure above 140, by about 18% on average. Meanwhile, each increase in diastolic blood pressure above 90 was tied to a 6% increase in heart disease and stroke risk.


The researchers saw a similar pattern when they looked at blood pressure increases above the 130/80 threshold. That, Flint said, supports the 2017 guideline shift.


The findings are based on over 1.3 million patients in the Kaiser Permanente health system who had roughly 36.8 million blood pressure readings taken from 2007 through 2016. Over eight years, more than 44,000 patients had a heart attack or stroke.


According to Flint, it’s the largest study of its kind to date.


The bottom line for patients, Watson said, is that they should care about both blood pressure numbers.


In her experience, she noted, patients often point to the number that’s in the normal range and say, “But look how good this is.”


Flint agreed, saying that no one should “ignore” the diastolic number.


“It’s important not only in blood pressure treatment, but on the side of diagnosis, too,” he said.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.