Turmeric Rich Curry’s Amazing Artery-Opening Properties

Did you know that a single culinary serving of spices in the form of curry can dilate your arteries, preventing the cardiovascular harms associated with eating common foods?

While spices are thought of mainly as culinary agents for the aesthetical enhancement of the flavor of food, they are also powerful medicinal agents, and in certain respects may actually mitigate the harms of things we like to eat that may not be as good for us as their pleasurable tastes and textures would have us believe.

A recent study published in Nutrition Journal titled, “A single consumption of curry improved postprandial endothelial function in healthy male subjects: a randomized, controlled crossover trial,” brought home exactly this point. Moreover, it reveals that certain culinary formulas, sometimes handed down through countless generations, may have indispensable value for our health. Interestingly, we find this concept echoed in the word recipe itself, whose first recorded use in Mid 16-century French literally means “medical prescription.”

A curry is essentially a blend of various spices used as a sauce in dishes, and in the case of this study’s tested formula, a traditional Japanese combination was used containing the following 8 herbs:  Clove, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, onion, red pepper, turmeric. [Note: click the hyperlinks of the preceding 8 herbs to view the extensive database of healing properties we have amassed on each one]  Interesting, Japanese curry was actually introduced to Japan by the British during the Meiji period (1868–1912) when India was still under colonial rule, making it a “Western” influence there, even though it ultimately originated in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

In the study, researchers tested 14 healthy male subjects with an average age of 45 years, who were given either a single serving of curry meal or spice-free control meal (180 g of curry or control and 200 g of cooked rice; approximately 500 kcal in total). Researchers then tested what happened to the blood vessels of subjects before and consuming either meal.

A variety of Indian curries. Image Source: Wikicommons.

Based on post-meal measurements of the ability of blood to pass through the blood vessels (postprandial flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD)) and other parameters, clearly the consumption of curry increased the blood flow through the blood vessels (increased FMD), whereas the consumption of the curry-free control meal resulted in a decrease in blood flow (decreased FMD). More specifically, the results were reported as follows:

The consumption of the control meal decreased FMD from 5.8 ± 2.4% to 5.1 ± 2.3% (P = 0.039). On the other hand, the consumption of the curry meal increased FMD from 5.2 ± 2.5% to 6.6 ± 2.0% (P = 0.001), and the postprandial FMD after the curry meal was higher than that after the control meal (P = 0.002). Presence of spices in the curry did not alter significantly the systemic and forearm hemodynamics, or any biochemical parameters including oxidative stress markers measured.”

The researchers concluded that curry prevented the negative effects of the meal upon post-meal “endothelial function,” that is, it prevented the inner lining (endothelium) of the blood vessels from contracting and inhibiting the normal flow of blood throughout the cardiovascular system. They surmised that the antioxidant activity of the spices likely are responsible for the observed positive outcomes, possibly through blunting the post-meal increases in blood sugar and/or oxidative stress. They summarized their findings:

Curry consumption ameliorates postprandial endothelial dysfunction and may be beneficial for preventing cardiovascular events. Lifestyle-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus have become serious health problems in the modern world. Curry may be helpful in the fight against those lifestyle-related diseases.”

The reason why this finding is highly relevant to concerns about cardiovascular function is because atherosclerosis — the so-called “hardening of the arteries” — takes decades to develop within the system, often completely without symptoms, and one of the characteristic predisposing features of this pathological process is endothelial dysfunction, often starting with the inability of the blood vessels to fully relax when confronted with any number of stressors – dietary incompatibilities (e.g. wheat) and deficiencies (e.g. magnesium), environmental (e.g. smoking), infectious (e.g. periodontal pathogens), and psychological (e.g. stress) — and resultant damage incurred by them. You can see a more extensive list of nutritional approaches to keeping your arteries healthy here.

Imagine what would happen if we could address endothelial dysfunction decades before it progresses into atherosclerosis?  Since heart disease is the #1 killer, worldwide, adding certain medicinal spices to the diet could perhaps help to neutralize the cardiotoxic and highly lethal disease vector which is the standard Western diet. We’ve reported, previously, on how something so simple as adding fresh avocado to a traditional American hamburger completely ameliorates the artery-contracting properties of this typical meal. It is amazing when you consider all of the edible things now studied which are capable of ameliorating endothelial dysfunction. You can peruse the Endothelial Dysfunction page on GreenMedInfo.com’s healing substances database and find over 90 substances that may help with this goal.

Take a look at the 1700 studies on turmeric’s health benefits on our database.

Consider, also, that some of the spices in curry, such as turmeric, and which features almost universally in all the different cultural variations, have themselves been studied individually to have powerful cardiovascular benefits. Turmeric extract, for instance, was found to confer health benefits to the cardiovascular system as powerful as exercise. Garlic has been found to clear the arteries of plaque and to have blood-pressure lowering properties in hypertensive patients about as potent as pharmaceutical drugs.  You can learn more by looking at the over 1,000 studies we have indexed on the therapeutic potential of dozens of culinary herbs and spices here.

The beauty, however, is that culinary combinations of herbs often require lower doses than are typically used in the context of traditional herbal medicine. In fact, recent research on the spice rosemary known by poets and herbalists for centuries to be “for remembrance,” shows that lower culinary doses are much more effective than larger ‘pharmacologic’ doses for boosting cognition. Less can be more, and with the possibility of synergistic combinations, even lower amounts are needed to obtain a beneficial effect, especially when the purpose is to prevent disease, rather than just treat it after the fact with an aggressive ’emergency care’ model typical of allopathic approaches. Also, for those who do not like “spicy food,” consider drinking spices like turmeric by preparing beverage called “Turmeric Milk.” Check out this DIY recipe here.

Also, consider that the quality of the spices you consume may make all the difference to your health. It is a underreported fact that many of the spices available on the shelf in the U.S. today are irradiated with massive doses of gamma radiation, in a process euphemistically called “cold-pasteurization.” Read my article on the topic, “The Invisible Nuclear Threat Within Non-Organic Food,” to learn more. Suffice it to say, unless it is certified organic, or wild-harvested, it may actually be harmful to your health.

Finally, another useful culinary hack you can employ to reduce white rice’s potential toxicity is to cook it with coconut. It will significantly reduce both the caloric content and blood-sugar elevating properties of the dish if you do so. Learn more by reading: Coconut Oil May Reduce White Rice Calories 50-60%.

© April 6, 2018 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

The post Turmeric Rich Curry’s Amazing Artery-Opening Properties appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

6 Evidence-Based Ways To Burn Belly Fat AND Extend Your Life

The ongoing battle of the bulge, while once considered primarily a matter of vanity, may actually be one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dying from a multitude of causes (i.e. all-cause mortality), but especially heart attack.[1]

Some studies have even revealed that abdominal obesity, known clinically as central obesity, and which is measured by the hip-to-waist ratio, may be more important than blood lipids, i.e. “cholesterol,” in determining heart attack risk. [2]

So, with this in mind, the following 6 “diet tips,” take on even greater relevance to your overall health.

1. Coconut Oil –  Two human studies now exist showing that dietary coconut is safe and effective in reducing midsection fat in both women and men.  In the women’s study, the treatment group received two tablespoons of coconut oil (30 ml), daily, over a period of 12 weeks, resulting in both a reduction in waist circumference, as well as a boost in their “good” HDL cholesterol levels. [3]  In the male study, obese men received two tablespoons (30 ml) of coconut oil per day, taken in 3 divided doses, half an hour before each meal, for one month. The men experienced an average of over one inch (2.86 cm) reduction in their waist circumference, with no changes in their blood lipids.  You can read the full study here.

2. Green Tea – Green tea has been called “the medicine which grew into a beverage.”  Indeed, our project has identified research on over 200 health conditions that may benefit from its use, with obesity on top of the list.[4]  In a 2009 study published in the journal Obesity, the consumption of catechin-rich green tea was found to be safe and effective in reducing weight in moderately overweight subjects, including an over two inch reduction in their waist circumference.[5]

3. Sunlight –  A 2011 study in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology revealed a remarkable fact of metabolism: The exposure of human skin to UV light results in increased subcutaneous fat metabolism. While subcutaneous fat, unlike visceral fat, is not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it is known that a deficiency of one of sunlight’s best known beneficial byproducts, vitamin D, is associated with greater visceral fat.[6] Also, there is a solid body of research showing that vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity, with 9 such studies on our obesity research page.  One of them, titled “Association of plasma vitamin D levels with adiposity in Hispanic and African Americans,” and which was published in the journal Anticancer Research in 2005, found that vitamin D levels were inversely associated with adiposity in Hispanics and African-Americans, including abdominal obesity.[7] The point? Exposure to UVB radiation, which is most abundant two hours on either side of solar noon and responsible for producing vitamin D, may be an essential strategy in burning midsection fat, the natural way.

4. Soy Protein – While soy has become a punching bag of sorts, for rightful (GMO/non-organic/over-consumption/exclusively non-fermented) and wrongful reasons (disregarding the positive soy research), it does seem to have value as a medicinal food in addressing subcutaneous and total abdominal fat in postmenopausal women, likely because it does have hormone-modulating properties. [8] And for those who have now become convinced that soy’s phytoestrogenic properties are a breast cancer risk, we encourage you to look at the 12 studies on our breast cancer page, indicating quite oppositely that it has potent protective effects against breast cancer initiation and recurrence.  Certainly it’s not a one, or even two-dimensional issue, but it is important that we don’t shut down discussion altogether on the potential value of soy, or any food, for our health – at least not until we have familiarized ourselves with the depth of research extant on the topic.

5. Dietary Challenges: While there are likely hundreds of other chemicals that may contribute to midsection weight gain, the 3 main problematic substances we have identified are (industrially produced) Fructose, Bisphenol A and MSG.  You can view the first-hand studies we have collected on the topic under the “Problem Substances” Quick Summary on our Abdominal Obesity Research page.  Additionally, a study published in 2011 and published in the journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that weight cycling, i.e. the yo-yo diet, is associated with body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation.[9]

6. Exercise – This one is obvious to many, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that there is more to midsection weight loss than what you do and do not eat. In other words, move it, and you lose it.  One of the best ways to accelerate the reduction of belly fat through exercising is through increasing the intensity of your work outs.  A 2008 study in the journal of Medical & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that body composition changes are affected by the intensity of exercise training with high-intensity training (HIET) being most effective for total abdominal fat, subcutaneous fat, and abdominal visceral fat loss, at least in obese women with metabolic syndrome. [10]  There is also research that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, as well as soluble fiber intake.

---

[1] Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. 2004 Sep 11-17;364(9438):937-52. PMID: 15364185

[2] Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in Latin America: the INTERHEART Latin American study.  Circulation. 2007 Mar 6 ;115(9):1067-74. PMID: 17339564

[3] Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601. Epub 2009 May 13. PMID: 19437058

[4] GreenMedInfo.com, Green Tea Research

[5]  Effects of catechin enriched green tea on body composition. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Aug 13. Epub 2009 Aug 13. PMID: 19680234

[6] Association Between Visceral Obesity and Sarcopenia and Vitamin D Deficiency in Older Koreans: The Ansan Geriatric Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Feb 8. Epub 2012 Feb 8. PMID: 22316299

[7] Association of plasma vitamin D levels with adiposity in Hispanic and African Americans. Anticancer Res. 2005 Mar-Apr;25(2A):971-9. PMID: 19549738

[8] Effect of a daily supplement of soy protein on body composition and insulin secretion in postmenopausal women. Fertil Steril. 2007 Dec;88(6):1609-17. Epub 2007 Apr 6. PMID: 17412329

[9] Weight cycling is associated with body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation: A cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul 15. Epub 2011 Jul 15. PMID: 21764186

[10] Effect of exercise training intensity on abdominal visceral fat and body composition. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Nov;40(11):1863-72. PMID: 18845966

©  January 25, 2018 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

The post 6 Evidence-Based Ways To Burn Belly Fat AND Extend Your Life appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Signs of High Blood Pressure

According to guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure.^[1] If you don’t have high blood pressure yourself, chances are you know someone who does. Being aware of high blood pressure and hypertension is critical. When left undiagnosed, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, or other dangerous health conditions. The first step towards preventing or mitigating the risks of high blood pressure is recognizing the issue. While it is often called the “silent killer,” there are some common signs and symptoms of high blood pressure you can watch out for.^[2]

What Is Blood Pressure & How Is It Measured?

Blood pressure is the pressure or force of the blood as it moves through your circulatory system. It is most commonly measured using a tool called a sphygmomanometer. You have probably used one of these instruments before even if you don’t recognize the name. It uses an inflatable arm cuff that puts pressure on the artery to measure the systolic and diastolic pressure on your blood vessels.

To get these readings, blood pressure monitors use a gauge with a measurement unit called millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Your blood pressure is read using two standard numbers, systolic and diastolic. A typical blood pressure reading may look something like 120/80 mmHg, which is read aloud as 120 over 80 millimeters of mercury. Most people will also drop the last part and only say the numbers—120 over 80.^[3]

What Is Systolic Blood Pressure?

The systolic number appears on top of the blood pressure reading and is used to measure the pressure in your blood vessels each time your heart beats.

What Is Diastolic Blood Pressure?

The diastolic number appears at the bottom of the blood pressure reading and measures the pressure in the blood vessels in between heartbeats when the heart is at rest.

Blood Pressure Ranges

After you measure your blood pressure, you will probably want to know if it’s healthy or not. Depending on the numbers, your levels may be considered normal, elevated, or high. Before coming to a conclusion based off of a single test, you should know several factors can skew your results. Your emotional state, your morning coffee, and even the temperature of the room all can alter the results. Your health care provider can help minimize these interruptions for a more precise reading.

Here are the accepted ranges for blood pressure and what they mean.^[3]

• Normal: Systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80


• Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80


• Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89


• Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90


• Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over 180 or diastolic over 120

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is when your blood circulates with elevated force. The increase in pressure puts stress on your blood vessels, heart, and arteries. This strain is what leads to heart disease and other detrimental side effects on vital organs like your brain and kidneys. Blood pressure is something that ebbs and flows. It will rise and lower depending on many different internal and external forces.

What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a medical designation for those with consistently high blood pressure. Usually, this diagnosis won’t occur until a person has consistently high blood pressure readings over a period of weeks or months. One occurrence of high blood pressure, while not ideal, does not always mean you have hypertension.

In casual conversation, high blood pressure and hypertension often are used interchangeably. Even your doctor may say you have high blood pressure instead of the more technical distinction of hypertension. You should be aware of the differences. Hypertension is an ever-present issue that will require significant changes to your lifestyle and diet.

Hypertension Types

There are several types of hypertension. Here are the most common varieties.

Essential Hypertension

Around 95 percent of those with hypertension have this type. People are diagnosed with essential hypertension after having three or more readings of high blood pressure. The key characteristic of essential hypertension is that there is no identifiable cause for the high blood pressure.^[4]

Secondary Hypertension

Around 5 percent of those diagnosed with hypertension have secondary hypertension. The main difference between this and essential hypertension is that secondary has one or more identifiable causes. In most cases, this underlying cause can be corrected, putting an end to the high blood pressure. In 85 percent of cases involving children and hypertension, secondary hypertension is the diagnosis.^[5]

Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH)

In most cases of hypertension, the systolic and diastolic numbers rise together. However, there are occasions where just one will be abnormal. Anytime the systolic number, which appears on the top, is above 40 and the diastolic remains in the 60 to 80 range it is considered isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). After 65, people are more likely to develop ISH as their arteries deteriorate and become more elastic. ISH is a red flag for many heart-related issues.^[6]

Isolated Diastolic Hypertension (IDH)

Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) is similar to isolated systolic hypertension except in reverse. It is where your systolic number remains in the normal range, and your diastolic numbers are 90 or higher. This kind of hypertension is far less common than any other type. Those with IDH are far more likely to have their systolic numbers rise over time.^[7]

Malignant Hypertension

Malignant hypertension is dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It only occurs in about 1% of those with hypertension. It happens when there is a sharp rise in blood pressure in a very short period. Malignant hypertension can damage your organs and should be treated immediately by a health care professional. Signs and symptoms include chest pain, impaired vision, and numbness in the legs or arms.^[8]

Resistant Hypertension

Resistant hypertension is not receptive to antihypertensive medications. This is the case for about 30% of people with hypertension. In these cases, the cause can be genetic or related to other health issues like weight, diabetes, or kidney disease.^[9]

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure depends on many different factors. Often, high blood pressure develops slowly over time. Pinpointing the exact causes can be difficult or impossible. Some things cause temporary increases in blood pressure. These include:^[10]

• Alcohol, usually three drinks or more


• Anxiety


• Caffeine


• Certain prescription drugs, including birth control pills


• Illegal drugs like cocaine & amphetamine


• Sodium


• Smoking


• Stress


• Toxins like BPA

Around 5% of people with high blood pressure have developed it as the result of an underlying issue. These risk factors include:^[11]

• Adrenal gland issues


• Toxic metal poisoning^[12]


• Kidney disease


• Obesity


• Pregnancy^[13]


• Sleep apnea


• Thyroid disorders


• Tumors

What Are the Common Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure?

Several risk factors increase your chances of developing high blood pressure. Most are avoidable, while others may be out of your control. Here are the most common reasons someone may develop high blood pressure.^[2]

Age

Getting older increases your likelihood of having high blood pressure. Men over 45 and women over 65 are at higher risk.

Family History

Issues with high blood pressure usually run in the family. Check your family history to see if you may be at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure yourself.

Weight

Your weight is a huge factor in determining your risk of high blood pressure. As your weight increases, so does the stress and strain on your blood and heart.

Activity Level

Increasing your physical activity is always beneficial to your health. You should strive for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day. Less than that and you may be increasing your chances of becoming overweight and developing high blood pressure.

Tobacco Use

Tobacco use can cause temporary increases in blood pressure, and long-term tobacco use also affects your heart and arteries—increasing your risks of developing hypertension.

Diet

Eating processed or fast food will increase your sodium intake causing your blood pressure to spike. When your diet lacks fresh, whole foods you can become deficient in essential nutrients like vitamin D and K—both of which help regulate healthy blood pressure.

What Are the Signs of High Blood Pressure?

If you ever experience noticeable signs of high blood pressure, you may be having a severe health crisis. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.^[14]

• Blood in your urine


• Blurred or obstructed vision


• Buzzing noise in your ear


• Confusion & disorientation


• Dizziness


• Shortness of breath


• Extreme fatigue


• Heavy nosebleeds


• Irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia


• Pain in your chest


• Pounding feeling in your chest, neck, or ears


• Severe headaches

What Are the Consequences of High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is a good indicator of your overall wellness. As your blood pressure rises, so does your risk of other health complications. Usually, the hardest hit area of the body is the heart. Here are some of the most common results of long-term high blood pressure or hypertension.^[2]

• Aneurysm


• Damaged arteries


• Dementia


• Heart disease


• Heart failure


• Kidney disease


• Stroke


• Vision loss

How to Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home

You can monitor your blood pressure from your home. However, there are many factors which can alter your results. The American Heart Association suggests keeping a blood pressure journal to provide a complete picture of your results over time. For the monitor, they recommend using an automatic, cuff-style reader that goes over your upper arm.^[15]

For best results, keep the following tips in mind.

Stay Still

Sit as still as possible while you take your blood pressure. Don’t talk, eat, or drink. It is best to avoid exercise or strenuous activity for at least 30 minutes prior.

Keep Your Back Straight

How you sit can affect your results. Sit with your back straight. Usually, a sturdy dining chair works best. Avoid sofas and plush chairs when taking your blood pressure.

Follow the Directions Exactly

Your specific blood pressure monitor will come with directions. Follow them as exact as possible for the most accurate results.

Stick to a Routine

If you plan to keep a diary of your blood pressure readings, then it is best to test at the same time each day. Sticking to a schedule will give you a better idea of how your blood pressure changes over time under similar conditions. Don’t be afraid to test multiple times in one sitting to help ensure accurate readings.

How to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

If you are concerned about your blood pressure, here are three natural approaches that have helped others.

Change Your Diet

Managing your blood pressure with a healthy, plant-based diet could help. Here are some of the most popular diet options for those looking to improve or regulate their blood pressure.

The DASH Diet

Designed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was created to help those with hypertension. It restricts the amount of sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day and encourages the consumption of foods rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Sugar is limited too, and fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the main staples of the diet. Proponents claim that over time people can lower their blood pressure by 14 points following the DASH diet.^[16]

The Mediterranean Diet

This diet focuses on consuming healthy fats and eating less red meat. It is high in monounsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Typically those who adhere to the Mediterranean diet experience fewer health complications with their heart and blood pressure. Increasing nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables may be one reason why. Additionally, red wine is common in the diet and rich in resveratrol, which may contribute to normal blood pressure.^[17] (However, red wine is not the only source of resveratrol.)

The Vegetarian Diet

Avoiding meat has many proven health benefits. Consuming a plant-based diet floods the body with nutrients and studies have linked a vegetarian diet to lower blood pressure.^[18]

Avoid Sodium

No matter which diet you choose to follow, tracking your sodium intake each day is a good idea. It is recommended to stay under 2,400 mg a day, but that will take more than skipping the tabletop salt shaker. You will need to check nutrition labels to ensure what you are eating doesn’t contain hidden sodium. Avoid processed foods and eat more fruits and vegetables. Raw, plant-based foods are generally low in salt and high in valuable nutrients.^[19]

Take the Right Supplements

Blood pressure can be a complicated mix of various mechanisms inside your body working together harmoniously. Each one of these processes requires a mix of nutrients to function correctly. When you are not getting these nutrients from your diet, then supplements are your next best option. The right blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals is a healthy way to encourage normal blood pressure.^[20]

Here are the most popular supplements.

• Calcium


• CoQ10


• Iron


• Magnesium


• Omega 3’s


• Potassium


• Vitamin D

Get Out & Move!

Regular exercise is an excellent way to keep your blood pressure in check. Exercising and staying active on a daily basis is essential for normal blood pressure and good health all around. Staying mentally active and meditating is a great way to manage stress. Altogether, regular physical and mental activity is an excellent way to prevent or improve the things that influence your blood pressure the most.

Tell Us Your Story

Do you have high blood pressure or know someone that does? Have you found any natural approaches to help manage it? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below.

References (20)

1. Whelton, Paul, et al. “2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.” Hypertension. 2017;HYP.0000000000000065. 13 Nov 2017.


2. “High Blood Pressure.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Sept. 2017.


3. “New ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guidelines Lower Definition of Hypertension.” American College of Cardiology, 13 Nov. 2017.


4. Carretero A., and Oparil S. “Essential Hypertension: Part I: Definition and Etiology.” Circulation, vol. 101, no. 3, (2000): 329–335.


5. “The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics, vol. 114, no. 2, (2004): 555–576.


6. Kaplan M. “New Issues in the Treatment of Isolated Systolic Hypertension.” Circulation, vol. 102, no. 10, (2000):1079–1081.


7. Pickering, Thomas G. “Isolated Diastolic Hypertension.” The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, vol. 5, no. 6, (2003): 411–413.


8. “Malignant hypertension.” MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.


9. Calhoun, David A., et al. “Resistant Hypertension: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Professional Education Committee of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.” Circulation, American Heart Association, Inc., 24 June 2008.


10. “6 Facts About High Blood Pressure.” Rush University Medical Center.


11. Akpunonu B., Mulrow P., Hoffman E. “Secondary hypertension: evaluation and treatment.” Dis Mon. (1996): 609-722.


12. Houston M. “The role of mercury and cadmium heavy metals in vascular disease, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction.” Altern Ther Health Med. (2007): 128-133.


13. Kang A., Struben H. “Pre-eclampsia screening in first and second trimester.” Ther Umsch. (2008): 663-666.


14. “What Are the Signs, Symptoms, and Complications of High Blood Pressure?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10 Sept. 2015.


15. “Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home.” Cleveland Clinic.


16. “Description of the DASH Eating Plan.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 16 Sept. 2015.


17. Davis C., et al. “A Mediterranean diet lowers blood pressure and improves endothelial function: results from the MedLey randomized intervention trial.” Am J Clin Nutr. (2017): 1305-1313.


18. Publishing, Harvard Health. “Vegetarian diet linked to lower blood pressure.” Harvard Health.


19. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Consumers – Sodium in Your Diet: Use the Nutrition Facts Label and Reduce Your Intake.” U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.


20. Houston M. “Treatment of hypertension with nutraceuticals, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.” Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. (2007):681-691.

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Study: Moderate Drinking Linked with Fewer Heart Problems

An ice cold beer can be refreshing, and a glass of wine can be relaxing, but is alcohol safe for your heart? Alcohol consumption in moderation has a reputation for being heart-healthy, and a new study of nearly 2 million people seems to confirm that, but only to a certain degree.

For the study, published in the BMJ, researchers analyzed the link between alcohol consumption and 12 different heart problems, including heart attack, heart failure, and chest pain linked with heart disease, within a large group of U.K. adults. None of the participants had cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study, and all were 30 years of age or older. The researchers zeroed in on the first heart problem that each participant developed. [1], [2]

They also looked at other information in the records, including how much alcohol the subjects reported drinking. Based on their drinking habits, each participant was placed in one of five groups: nondrinkers, former drinkers, occasional drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers.

Moderate alcohol intake is considered up to 1 drink a day for women, and up to 2 drinks a day for men. [3]

One drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol and is defined as:

• 12 fl. oz. of regular beer (5% alcohol)

• 4-5 fl. oz. of wine (12% alcohol)

• 1.5 fl. oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol)

• 1 fl. oz. of 100-proof distilled spirits (50% alcohol)

Source: CNN

The Findings

According to the study, there were no heart conditions for which the nondrinkers had the lowest risk. In other words, they found that drinking was not necessarily bad for the heart. [2]

Compared with those who never drank, moderate drinkers were actually less likely to be diagnosed with chest pain, heart failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and several other conditions. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for other conditions.

The heavy drinkers, on the other hand, were found to be more likely to be diagnosed with conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrest, peripheral artery disease, and stroke compared with moderate drinkers, which supports earlier findings that heavy drinking is not good for heart health.

Yet the heavy drinkers were less likely to be diagnosed with a heart attack than moderate drinkers. The researchers wrote that this doesn’t mean that heavy drinkers are not at risk for having a heart attack. It simply means a heart attack is less likely to be the first heart problem heavy drinkers have.

As for former drinkers, the researchers found that they were more likely than current drinkers to be diagnosed with certain heart conditions, including chest pain, heart attack, cardiac arrest, and aortic aneurysm. This doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t quit drinking. The finding suggests that some people quit in part because they are developing health problems from drinking.

Additionally, alcohol does not appear to protect against four less common heart problems: certain types of milder strokes caused by brief periods of blocked blood flow to the brain, and cases of bleeding in the brain. [1]

Overall, the study suggests that moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk for several heart conditions.

But if you don’t drink, or you drink rarely, the researchers advise against becoming a moderate drinker to protect your heart. It’s much safer to quit smoking, eat right, and get enough exercise.

The science behind the health effects of drinking have always been murky. Past studies showed that having two alcoholic drinks a day increased the risk for atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, by 17%. This condition can lead to stroke and heart failure. And while moderate wine consumption has been linked with a lower risk for breast cancer, recent research suggests that the risk increases as alcohol intake increases.

So if you don’t drink, don’t start for the sake of your health. And if you drink a lot, you should consider cutting back for your health’s sake.

Sources:

[1] Time

[2] Live Science

[3] Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CNN

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Study: Treating Insomnia Could Reduce Heart Attack and Stroke

A study suggests that treating insomnia can subsequently reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Surprising? Here is what the researchers found.[1]

Qiao He, a researcher at China Medical University, says in a news release:

“Sleep is important for biological recovery and takes around a third of our lifetime, but in modern society more and more people complain of insomnia. For example, it is reported that approximately one-third of the general population in Germany has suffered from insomnia symptoms.

Researchers have found associations between insomnia and poor health outcomes. But the links between insomnia and heart disease or stroke has [sic] been inconsistent.” [1]

For the study, researchers analyzed 15 cohort studies of 160,867 people who were followed for an average of 3 to nearly 20 years to see whether there was a link between insomnia and incidence of or death from cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease was defined in the research as:

• Heart attack


• Coronary heart disease


• Heart failure


• Stroke


• A combination of events

Insomnia was defined as trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and non-restorative sleep. These conditions were respectively associated with a 27%, an 11%, and an 18% higher risk of cardiovascular and stroke events. [1]

Read: Can’t Sleep? Here Are 5 Tips for Beating Insomnia

He says:

“The underlying mechanisms for these links are not completely understood. Previous studies have shown that insomnia may change metabolism and endocrine function, increase sympathetic activation, raise blood pressure, and elevate levels of proinflammatory and inflammatory cytokines — all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke.” [1]

The study also found that women with insomnia were slightly more at risk than men for developing cardiovascular disease and stroke, but the difference was not statistically significant.

He explains that due to a lack of meta-analysis and the lack of statistically significant differences, the team couldn’t conclude that women with insomnia symptoms are in more danger of heart disease and stroke than men. But, she says:

“However, we do know that women are more prone to insomnia because of differences in genetics, sex hormones, stress, and reaction to stress. It may therefore be prudent to pay more attention to women’s sleep health.” [2]

Read: 8 Foods to Naturally Increase Melatonin for Better Sleep

According to the study, sleep helps repair and heal the heart and blood vessels, and gives the cardiovascular system a chance to rest. This in turn allows other organs to be restored.

She adds:

“Previous studies have shown that insomnia may change metabolism and endocrine function, increase sympathetic activation, raise blood pressure, and elevate levels of pro-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines – all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke.” [2]

Past studies have indeed shown that not enough sleep – as well as too much of it – can damage your heart, possibly because it raises the calcium in your coronary arteries, leading to arterial stiffness.

A September 2015 study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that people with insomnia have a greater risk of both fatal heart attack and stroke.

In a report from November of 2016, researchers at the not-for-profit research organization RAND Europe wrote that lack of sleep results in higher mortality risk and costs the U.S. economy $411 billion a year. [3]

Many people shrug off sleep problems and consider it a normal consequence of modern life, but getting good sleep is essential for good health.

Sources:

[1] UPI

[2] The Sun

[3] USA Today

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

Fresh Concerns Emerge over Energy Drinks’ Damage to the Heart

Energy drinks have been linked to heart problems in a new study published April 26 in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAMA).

Oh, but it’s not the first time, not by a long shot. A 2013 study showed that energy drinks put an additional strain on the heart, causing it to contract more rapidly than usual. Over time, this can weaken the heart and cause palpitations.

A November 2015 study revealed that consuming just 1 energy drink per day puts you at risk of heart attack and stroke because they cause harmful spikes in the ‘fight or flight’ hormone noradrenaline, as well as blood pressure.

In March 2016, researchers warned that the sugary, uber-caffeinated beverages increase the risk of having an abnormal heart rhythm and can increase blood pressure, making the products especially dangerous for people who have preexisting heart conditions.

It’s not just the caffeine that can cause the heart to go haywire, though. The vitamins, stimulants, and herbs in the drinks, combined with caffeine, super-charge your ticker in ways it can’t handle.

Emily A. Fletcher, Pharm.D., study author and deputy pharmacy flight commander at David Grant U.S.A.F. Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California, says:

“For the 1 in 3 Americans who already have hypertension, this increase in blood pressure from consuming energy drinks could pose a potentially serious risk.” [2]

Regular Caffeine vs. Energy Drinks

Little is known about the safety of some of the other ingredients in energy drinks, so researchers decided to find out what kind of effect these components have on the heart.

Source: Daily Mail

For the most recent study reported on in this piece, researchers compared physical changes in a group of 18 healthy men and women after they drank a commercially-available energy drink, and after they consumed another mixture containing the same amount of caffeine, but none of the other ingredients.

The energy drinks used in the study contained 320 mg of caffeine (the amount found in 4 cups of coffee), 4 oz of sugar, several B vitamins, and a “proprietary” blend of taurine and other ingredients commonly found in drinks like Monster Energy, Red Bull, and 5-Hour Energy.

Sachin A. Shah of David Grant Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base and University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and colleagues measured the volunteers’ blood pressure and used an electrocardiogram (ECG, or sometimes called an EKG) to measure heart electrical activity for 24 hours after participants consumed the drinks.

No odd heart activity was reported after the regular caffeine beverage was consumed, but it was a vastly different story after participants consumed the energy drink. An ECG change called QTc prolongation that is sometimes associated with life-threatening irregularities in the heartbeat was observed. [1]

The authors point out that several drugs have been pulled from the market just for causing ECG changes of a similar magnitude.

After consuming the energy drink, participants saw a nearly 5-point increase in blood pressure, compared with a 1-point increase after consuming the caffeine drink. The energy drink also caused the participants’ blood pressure to remain elevated for 6 hours.

Aisle with a variety of energy drinks – Europe.

If you’re a healthy person, those changes aren’t cause for concern. But if you have heart problems, you should steer clear of energy drinks.

Dr. Jennifer L. Harris from University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity in Storrs, who wasn’t involved in the study, says:

“The energy drink industry claims that their products are safe because they have no more caffeine than a premium coffee house coffee.

However, energy drinks also contain a proprietary ‘energy blend,’ which typically consists of stimulants and other additives. Some of these ingredients (including taurine and guarana) have not been FDA-approved as safe in the food supply, and few studies have tested the effects of caffeine consumption together with these ‘novelty’ ingredients.

On top of that, energy drinks are highly marketed to adolescent boys in ways that encourage risky behavior, including rapid and excessive consumption. As a result, emergency room visits by young people in connection with energy drinks are rising.”

Between 2010-2013, the U.S. poison control center received more than 5,000 reports of people who got sick from energy drinks.  Nearly half of those cases were in children who didn’t realize what they were drinking.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says energy drinks have “no place” in the diet of children and adolescents. 

Sources:

[1] Reuters

[2] Consumer Reports

Daily Mail

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

Home Remedy For A Heart Attack?

Image source: Pixabay.com

As a Girl Scout, I took first-aid classes and practiced CPR on the inflatable dummies. We were taught that CPR had the ability to bring someone back to life after a heart attack. It does, and I never thought I’d need anything else to save a life.

One May afternoon while working with my father in his accounting office, he clutched his chest and turned blue in the face. He started falling, and I grabbed him and eased him down to the floor.

His eyes were quickly glazed over, and he lay there without moving. And as much as I tried to remember the exact procedure for CPR, I couldn’t recall anything beyond compressions on the chest and air blown into his mouth when the nose was pinched and the head was in a good position to do so.

The color came back into his face but quickly faded. I reached for the phone and called 911. They sent out an ambulance and carted him off to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

I was grateful he hadn’t had anything more than momentary pain. And as I watched the response of my mother, brothers and sisters to my dad’s heart attack, I realized that the pain of someone having a heart attack wasn’t only restricted to the actual patient. The whole family suffered.

Fast, All-Natural Pain Relief With No Nasty Side Effects!

It didn’t take me a long time to decide to find a home remedy for a heart attack. People had to be saved from this grief, sadness and heart-brokenness.

Years later, I became a student at The School of Natural Healing in Springville, Utah, and found the answer.

Dr. John Christopher was the founder of this school, and although he himself had passed on, his family continued his legacy and kept teaching people from all walks of life what to do to improve their health. They learned how to eat right and how to nurse themselves back to health via herbs and diet.

“If an organ isn’t functioning correctly, you have to either detoxify it, nourish it or both,” he was known to say. And the heart was no different than any other organ. It needed its own nourishment and it needed to be detoxified. There were very specific herbs God had put on the earth that would heal the heart.

As students, we needed to find out what those herbs were, learn how to use them, and what type of dosage to use for different situations.

The Herb That Gave the Heart Another Chance

Image source: Pixabay.com

One of the heart–nourishing herbs is cayenne pepper. This is the only herb that has its potency measured around the world in how strong it is. Sure, other herbs may be standardized for an active ingredient, but cayenne is measured in terms of its British thermal units or heat units. The hotter (spicier) the variety of cayenne is, the higher its heat unit rating. You’ll find cayenne peppers rated from about 25,000 to 35,000 heat units all the way up to over 100,000 heat units.

“If the heart stops beating, use your cayenne tincture,” Dr. Christopher often said. Cayenne comes in powder and liquid form and when you use the liquid form, it may easily be dropped underneath the tongue, where it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream.

“How long does it take to work?” people would ask.

“In about a heart beat,” he replied.

Thus, the procedure was to use a cayenne tincture 35,000-40,000 heat units strong, and release a few drops underneath the tongue of the heart attack victim. Then look for signs of life again.

Dr. Christopher would then continue teaching class, telling stories of patients (and his students’ stories) who had suffered a heart attack and were brought back immediately to life with this method.

The cayenne will stimulate circulation and provide the electrical energy needed to jumpstart the heart. Cayenne also works for arrhythmias and angina pain.

What are the limitations of this method? Well, if there’s a massive coronary artery blowout, the patient is dead instantly – as in the case of my dad – and cayenne most likely won’t work. But if the heart attack is not as serious, then cayenne pepper just might work.

The next question always asked is this: Why aren’t they using this method in ambulances? I can’t speak for the policies and procedures that other health professionals have to follow for heart attack patients. However, every system of healing has its own way of doing things. Cayenne pepper simply doesn’t fit into other system of healings.

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or cure any particular health condition. Please consult with a qualified health professional first about this method.

Study: A Mediterranean Diet Beats Statins for People with Heart Disease

In a new study looking at the effects of a Mediterranean diet on people with poor heart health, the popular diet appeared to help heart patients more than statin drugs.

What the Research has to Say

Researchers detailed the findings of the observational study at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Rome last weekend. [1]

For the study, leading heart disease expert Professor Giovanni de Gaetano and his colleagues followed 1,200 people with a history of heart attacks, strokes, and blocked arteries over 7 years. Over the duration of the study, 208 participants died. [2]

The researchers found that the more participants adhered to a Mediterranean diet, the less likely they were to die over the course of the study.

Specifically, patients who ate a mainly Mediterranean diet were 37% less likely to die during the study than those whose dietary patterns were furthest from the Omega-3 fatty acid-rich diet. That did not change, even after researchers adjusted for age, sex, class, exercise and other habits.

Earlier studies showed that statin drugs reduce the risk of heart problems by 24%.

A Little Info on the Popular Mediterranean Diet

Many people eat a Mediterranean diet because it’s a healthy eating pattern that isn’t overly restrictive. For example, it’s perfectly OK to have a beer a day while still adhering to the diet. [1]

And while a Mediterranean diet is known for being low-carb, some pretty sweet research emerged in July 2016 suggesting that eating small portions of pasta may be OK. In fact, it might actually help people lose weight.

Generally speaking, however, a Mediterranean diet emphasizes:

• Eating mostly plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.


• Using “healthy” olive oil and canola oil in place of butter.


• Flavoring foods with herbs and spices, versus salt.


• Consuming red meat no more than a few times a month.


• Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week.


• Drinking red wine in moderation (optional). [3]

A recent study shows that, unlike other types of fats and cooking oils, it’s OK to consume high amounts of the healthy fats found in olive oil and canola oil.

So, a Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet for people with heart problems, but olive oil has also been shown to prevent heart disease. This eating pattern has been shown to have numerous other health benefits.

Statin Use in the U.S.

A quick look at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics shows that the number of Americans using statins, which are intended to lower cholesterol, has been increasing. Here are a few key findings from CDC report released in December 2014:

• From 2003 to 2012, the use of statins increased from 18% to 26%.

• During that time period, statin use increased with age, from 17% of adults aged 40-59, to 48% of adults aged 75 and older.

• About 71% of adults with cardiovascular disease, and 54% of adults with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol in the blood) used a cholesterol-lowering medication. [4]

The Dark Side of Statin Drugs

As you can see from the statistics above, the majority of people with high cholesterol will be prescribed a statin. Many patients with Type 2 diabetes will also be prescribed a statin drug as a preventative measure, as diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease.

But these medications have a dark side. They’re so common, however, that many people have no idea that statins are associated with over 300 adverse events, including thyroid cancer in women, and cataracts and other eye problems. Past research even suggests that statins may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Every pharmaceutical drug comes with risks, many of which are pretty serious, so it’s encouraging whenever a natural alternative is shown to be just as effective as – or more effective than – pills.

Since the study was observational and relied on participants to self-report what they ate, more research is needed. However, with all the other health benefits that a Mediterranean diet provides, it might be a good idea to make the switch now. [1]

Sources:

[1] CNN

[2] The Guardian

[3] U.S. Centers for Disease Control

[4] Mayo Clinic

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.