But research shows this mineral plays a surprisingly important role in type 2 diabetes — and it’s one that’s often overlooked.

Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including those critical to how insulin works. It helps regulate glucose uptake into cells, influences insulin sensitivity, and supports vascular health.

Yet studies show that people with type 2 diabetes often have lower magnesium levels — both inside their cells and in circulation — especially when blood sugar control is poor.

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Why magnesium matters in diabetes

When magnesium levels drop, insulin can’t do its job as effectively. That means cells don’t take in glucose efficiently, worsening insulin resistance and raising blood sugar levels.

This cycle can create further magnesium losses, particularly through the kidneys, leading to an ongoing deficit.

Over time, low levels have been linked not only to worsening diabetes but also to complications like high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, arrhythmias, and even cognitive decline.

The two-way connection—and what to do about it

So, does low magnesium cause diabetes, or does diabetes cause low magnesium? The answer is both.

A diet too low in magnesium can impair insulin action, increasing the risk of diabetes, while diabetes itself promotes magnesium loss. This two-way relationship means that people with diabetes are especially vulnerable to deficiency, and people who are deficient are at higher risk of developing diabetes.

Some research suggests magnesium supplements can improve fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and blood vessel function, but results aren’t consistent.

That’s likely because not everyone with diabetes is magnesium-deficient to begin with, so supplement studies may dilute the true effect.

The American Diabetes Association does not currently recommend routine supplementation for blood sugar control. More research is needed before magnesium supplements can be broadly prescribed as a diabetes therapy.

What we do know is that magnesium-rich diets consistently lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

People who consume more magnesium-rich foods — nuts, seeds, legumes, leafy greens, and whole grains — tend to have better insulin sensitivity, lower inflammation, and a reduced risk of progressing from prediabetes to diabetes.

These foods also deliver other protective nutrients, like fiber, antioxidants, and plant sterols, that work together to support metabolic and cardiovascular health.

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Food first, supplements if needed

It’s important to note that magnesium from food is safe and doesn’t carry the risks associated with high-dose supplements.

Too much supplemental magnesium — especially in forms like magnesium oxide, carbonate, or chloride — can cause diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal cramps.

Extremely high doses can even lead to toxicity, with dangerous effects on heart rhythm and blood pressure. Supplements can also interact with common medications, including antibiotics, diuretics, and some acid reflux drugs.

That’s why the best approach is food first. Spinach, pumpkin seeds, black beans, almonds, edamame, and whole grains are all excellent sources.

If a supplement is considered, it should only be done under medical supervision, especially for people with kidney disease or those taking multiple medications.

The bottom line

Magnesium isn’t a cure for diabetes, but it is a nutrient that plays a critical role in how insulin works and how blood sugar is managed.

Ensuring your diet includes magnesium-rich foods is a safe, natural, and impactful way to support glucose control and protect against complications. Supplements may help in some cases, but food remains the most reliable and safest source.

At Step One Foods, many of our products naturally deliver magnesium along with other nutrients that support cholesterol, blood sugar, and vascular health. That’s because they’re made with ingredients naturally rich in magnesium — like oats, nuts and seeds, legumes, dried fruit, and even dark chocolate. By eating real food in the right combinations, you can take meaningful steps toward better outcomes.

The post Magnesium’s overlooked link to type 2 diabetes appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But I have friends who’ve complained to me that they’ve really cut back and still have problems keeping their blood pressure closer to where their doctors want to see it.

The truth is, there’s something else that looks remarkably similar to salt, which can secretly sabotage your blood pressure readings in surprising ways.

I’m talking about sugar.

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Added sugar adds up to high blood pressure

Scientific studies are now linking the consumption of added sugar in the diet to an increased risk of high blood pressure.

They say that not only can sugar affect your blood vessels, but it can also exacerbate health conditions that drive blood pressure problems.

Three blood pressure issues caused by sugar include:

#1 – Narrow blood vessels

One way sugar leads to high blood pressure is by increasing levels of a waste product, called uric acid, in the body. When the level of uric acid goes up, the production of nitric oxide (NO) in your blood vessels goes down. That’s a problem in several ways…

For starters, NO is a compound the body produces that signals blood vessels to relax and allow normal blood flow. Without that signal, blood vessels constrict and blood pressure rises.

It also causes blood vessels in the kidneys to constrict. This sets off a cascade of actions, including the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which regulates blood volume and electrolyte balance. This leads to the retention of sodium and water, which increases blood pressure.

You may be aware that uric acid is associated with the painful condition known as gout. But you may not know that people with gout have an increased risk of stroke.

#2 – Reduced insulin sensitivity

Additionally, a diet high in sugar can lead to insulin resistance. In turn, as cells become less sensitive to insulin, the body makes even more of the hormone to keep your blood sugar balanced. This increased insulin accelerates sodium and water retention, in turn raising blood volume and blood pressure.

If that weren’t enough, reduced insulin sensitivity is linked to inflammation, which can lead to high blood pressure by damaging blood vessel linings and causing arterial stiffness.

#3 – Weight gain and metabolic problems

Finally, as we’re all too well aware, eating too much sugar can cause weight gain, especially around the midsection. Sadly, belly fat is a key indicator of metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

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Avoiding sugar isn’t so easy

While sugars that occur naturally in whole foods, like fruit, are far less likely to skyrocket your blood pressure, it’s the hidden added sugars that can get you.

The American Heart Association lists these foods as the most common sources of added sugar, so start by avoiding these:

• Regular soft drinks
• Sweetened tea and coffee
• Energy drinks 
• Fruit drinks
• Candy
• Ice cream
• Sweetened yogurts 
• Flavored and/or sweetened milk
• Breakfast cereals and bars

And remember, added sugars hide under many names, including the “ose” ones like high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose, as well as molasses, cane sugar, corn sweetener, raw sugar, syrup, honey or fruit juice concentrates.

Steady support for blood pressure

Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth? I’m a health researcher, but I’ll be the first to raise my hand.

I don’t indulge often, but there are times when it’s just not easy to turn down dessert or pass up the cream and sugar in my coffee. That’s why I have a secret antidote…

Beets.

I realize eating beets regularly is an acquired taste. But beetroot juice is pretty tasty. Drinking it regularly helps my body produce a steady stream of NO, even when I splurge on dessert.

In a 2008 study, drinking 8 ounces of beet juice lowered subjects’ blood pressure by 10mm Hg (a ten-point drop in blood pressure).

This is not surprising, since the dietary nitrate in beets breaks down into NO to signal my blood vessels to do the job they’re meant to do: support oxygenated, nutrient-rich vascular flow to every organ in my body.

Now, yes, beets contain sugar. However, it’s natural sugars, not added sugars. The antioxidants, fiber and nitrates content still make beets a healthy option for sustaining NO production. And concentrated beet powder generally has less sugar per serving than whole beets or beet juice.

Sources:

This Everyday Ingredient Could Be Raising Your Blood Pressure—and It’s Not Salt – Health

The post 3 ways this ingredient raises blood pressure—and it’s not salt appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Naturally, I’m conscientious about salt in my diet. I don’t even own a saltshaker! And I take a daily pill that keeps my blood pressure under control.

I’m one of the lucky ones. For many people with hypertension, medication is not effective. And until now, the reason for this was a mystery.

Science has always believed that hypertension begins in the kidneys, and medications are based on this assumption.

However, new brain imaging techniques are now proving that we’ve got it all wrong…

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Too much salt may inflame the brain

It’s commonly thought that hypertension begins in the kidneys, which filter blood to regulate the amount of sodium and water in the body.

When blood pressure rises, the kidneys excrete more sodium and water to reduce blood volume and lower pressure.

High blood pressure also damages the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, triggering the release of the hormone renin, which in turn causes hypertension. Thus, a vicious cycle occurs.

But now we’re learning that when high blood pressure is resistant to treatment, it may be that the drugs are aimed at the wrong organ and the wrong hormone.

Researchers at McGill University in Montreal have discovered that cases of drug-resistant hypertension may originate not in the kidneys but in the brain.

They gave rats a solution of water and two percent salt. This is comparable to a daily diet high in fast food and processed foods like bacon.

The high-salt diet activated immune cells in a specific brain region, leading to inflammation and a surge in another hormone, vasopressin, which also increases blood pressure.

The researchers used rats instead of the more commonly studied mice because rats regulate salt and water more like humans. That makes the findings more likely to apply to people, noted lead author Prof. Masha Prager-Khoutorsky.

“This is new evidence that high blood pressure can originate in the brain, opening the door for developing treatments that act on the brain,” says Prof. Prager-Khoutorsky.

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Avoid triggers that raise blood pressure

Giving up salt can be difficult, but an alternative that most people don’t know about is potassium-enriched salt.

It looks the same as traditional salt (sodium chloride), except some of the sodium chloride has been replaced with potassium chloride.

Not only does this salt help reduce your sodium intake, but potassium also works to strengthen your heart muscles.

But in light of this new connection between the brain and inflammation, lowering inflammation should be addressed.

A safe and easy way to do that is by adding omega-3s to your diet by eating fatty fish weekly or supplementing.

An analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has identified the optimal daily amount of omega-3s needed to lower blood pressure.

However, hidden sources of sodium can sabotage all of these efforts. Be sure to check labels, especially on condiments and processed foods.

Finally, another one that most people don’t know: not all hypertension triggers are edible. Other proven hypertension triggers include:

• Loneliness
• Sleep apnea
• Thyroid problems
• Antidepressants
• Holding on to a full bladder
• Cold and migraine medications

I hope the information I’ve given you here has provided some good ammunition against hypertension.

Sources:

Too much salt can hijack your brain — Science Daily

Microglia regulate neuronal activity via structural remodeling of astrocytes — Neuron

The post Resistant blood pressure linked to surprising cause of brain inflammation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, several studies have shown that consuming beet juice can lower blood pressure in both healthy individuals and those with high blood pressure.

One reason is that beets are loaded with nitrates. The body converts nitrate into nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that’s vital for the healthy functioning of blood vessels and, in turn, the regulation of blood pressure.

However, new research suggests there may be a caveat to this effect — particularly in younger adults…

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The role of the oral microbiome

A study by researchers at the University of Exeter in the U.K. recruited 39 adults under the age of 30, as well as 36 adults in their 60s and 70s. For two weeks, each group took a concentrated “shot” of beet juice twice a day. After a two-week reset period, participants consumed a placebo version of beet juice with the nitrate removed twice daily for two weeks.

The results were surprising. While the older adults saw a noticeable decrease in blood pressure after drinking the nitrate-rich beet juice for two weeks, the younger adults did not. No change was observed in either group after drinking the beet juice with nitrate removed.

“We know that a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits, and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age,” says study author Anni Vanhatalo, a professor at the University of Exeter. “They also tend to have higher blood pressure, which can be linked to cardiovascular complications like heart attack and stroke.”

It’s known that an imbalance between beneficial and harmful oral bacteria can reduce the conversion of nitrate to nitric oxide. This prompted the researchers to use a gene sequencing method to analyze which bacteria were present in the mouth before and after each two-week period.

They made a fascinating discovery…

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While there were significant changes in the oral microbiome in both groups after drinking the nitrate-rich beet juice, the changes differed between the younger and older groups.

The older age group showed a notable decrease in the mouth bacteria Prevotella after drinking the unaltered beet juice with nitrate, as well as an increase in the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria. The younger group showed an increase in some beneficial bacteria, including Neisseria, but not to the same extent as the older group.

In short, the blood pressure-lowering effect of nitrate-rich beet juice in older people may be enhanced due to specific changes in their oral microbiome.

“This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people,” says co-author Andy Jones, a professor at the University of Exeter. “This paves the way for larger studies to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation.”

A previous study by the University of Exeter found that beet juice promoted healthier aging in just 10 days.

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Make the most of what beet juice can do

Dr. Lee Beniston of BBSRC says the study “opens up new opportunities for improving vascular health through nutrition.”

“Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long-term health benefits,” Vanhatalo says. “The good news is that if you don’t like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery and kale.”

While it’s true that you can get nitrates from these other vegetables, you would have to eat a significant amount of them to obtain the same benefits as you would from a glass of beet juice.

That’s why most studies on dietary nitrate and heart health have used beet juice and beet powders, which are popular among athletes.

I’m not a big beet fan, but there are ways to make them more palatable. For instance, if you make your own beet juice with a blender or juicer, you can add celery, cucumber or apple for additional flavor. But nothing is easier than a pre-made beet powder you can mix with water or juice.

It’s essential to note that certain dental hygiene habits can affect the natural processes that facilitate the conversion of nitrates to nitric oxide.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas found that antiseptic mouthwash, particularly that containing chlorhexidine, interfered with that conversion process and led to a significant increase in systolic blood pressure in a group of 26 study participants.

Sources:

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older people by changing oral microbiome — University of Exeter

Ageing modifies the oral microbiome, nitric oxide bioavailability and vascular responses to dietary nitrate supplementation — Free Radical Biology and Medicine

The post The missing link for lowering blood pressure with beet juice appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The main reason it’s top of mind is that at least one-third of all American adults have it.

If you’re one of them, you face an elevated risk of stroke, kidney disease and dementia, just to name a few dangerous conditions it can lead to.

Recently, researchers have uncovered another neurological condition they believe is strongly associated with MetS — one that steals both your body and your mind.

Here’s more about that discovery, and how you can keep MetS from wrecking your life

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Components of MetS linked to Parkinson’s symptoms

In a large-scale study, an international group of researchers has determined that having metabolic syndrome was tied to a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease.

The study followed 467,200 subjects over a period of almost 15 years. In participants with MetS, there were 5.21 new cases of Parkinson’s per 10,000 person-years; in those without MetS, only 4.87 new cases.

While the researchers acknowledge that some of these people may have had a genetic predisposition toward Parkinson’s, they still identify several potential mechanisms by which MetS may lead to Parkinson’s.

First, the individual components of MetS, including hypertension, high blood triglycerides and high blood sugar, may each contribute to insulin resistance, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. All of these, in turn, may lead to changes in neuroinflammation, but insulin resistance especially has a long history of harming the brain.

Second, hypertension and high fat in the blood can lead to white matter lesions in the brain, which may further contribute to the development of Parkinson’s symptoms.

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How to avoid MetS

It’s clear that MetS is a lot more than just being overweight and having high blood sugar.

But there are clues you can follow even before you measure your waist or take your blood pressure:

• You crave carbs and sweets
• You’re tired and sluggish, no matter how much sleep you get
• You put on weight easily, but have a hard time losing it
• You feel sluggish after eating
• Your blood pressure is rising steadily over time
• Your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol keeps climbing

Anything you can do to keep from developing this syndrome will lower your risk of any number of life-threatening conditions.

So where do you start?

Maintain a healthy weight through your diet and physical activity. You may want to consider a Mediterranean diet or its first cousin, the MIND diet. Both diets have been shown to delay the onset of Parkinson’s and prevent MetS.

Control blood sugar. If you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, follow your doctor’s recommendations for managing blood sugar levels.

Manage cholesterol. Maintain healthy cholesterol levels by eating a heart-healthy diet and, if needed, taking cholesterol-lowering medications.

Limit alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to metabolic syndrome.

Get regular sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.

Talk to your doctor. If you have a family history of MetS or any of its components, or if you are at high risk, talk to your doctor about preventive measures.

Sources:

Parkinson’s Risk Rises With Metabolic Syndrome  — Medpage Today

Metabolic Syndrome and Incidence of Parkinson Disease — Neurology

The post The surprisingly common syndrome linked to Parkinson’s appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Consuming too much salt (or not enough, surprisingly) can raise your blood pressure, as can drinking too much alcohol or caffeine or eating too little prebiotic fiber. Trans and saturated fats also aren’t good for your blood pressure.

So what foods should you eat instead?

There’s one food in particular that’s caught the attention of investigators due to its combination of heart-healthy nutrients that lowered blood pressure 36 percent in some people…

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Tomatoes can take high blood pressure down

Researchers in Spain studied more than 7,000 adults between the ages of 55 and 80 over the course of three years.

Just over 82 percent of the participants had high blood pressure at the beginning of the study, but all of them had factors that raised their risk for heart problems. Some of these factors include diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity and/or a family history of early-onset cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association (AHA) defines normal blood pressure as a reading of less than 120 systolic (the top number) and less than 80 diastolic (the bottom number). The researchers divided the participants with high blood pressure into three categories of hypertension:

• Grade 1 hypertension, systolic 140 to 159 mmHg and diastolic 90 to 99 mmHg
• Grade 2 hypertension, systolic 160 to 179 mmHg and diastolic 100 to 109 mmHg
• Grade 3 hypertension, systolic 180 mmHg or higher and diastolic 110 mmHg or higher

During the study, participants completed questionnaires about their diet and physical activity. The researchers paid particular attention to the amount of tomato products participants were consuming. They tracked daily consumption of raw tomato and tomato-based items like tomato sauce and the cold Spanish tomato soup known as gazpacho.

The researchers separated individuals into four groups based on daily tomato consumption, with the lowest group ingesting 1.5 ounces or less of tomato and the higher group eating 4 ounces or more.

Based on the results, the researchers found that eating the equivalent of one large 4-ounce tomato each day could slash the risk of high blood pressure by as much as 36 percent.

Additionally, those eating a medium amount of tomatoes also showed a significant drop in diastolic blood pressure compared with those consuming the lowest amount.

Interestingly, the reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were only significant in those with grade 1 hypertension and not in the groups with higher blood pressure levels. The researchers attributed that to the elderly nature of the study population, most of whom had long-standing hypertension at the start of the study, as well as high cardiovascular risk factors.

“Tomato is one of the most consumed, widely available, and affordable vegetables worldwide, and it is an important component of the best diets, such as the Mediterranean diet,” writes study co-author Dr. Rosa Maria Lamuela-Raventós, a professor at the University of Barcelona. “Tomato consumption may play a favorable clinical role in the prevention and management of elevated blood pressure.”

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The magic ingredients: lycopene and potassium

The study authors speculate that the tomato’s impact on blood pressure is likely due to specific minerals like potassium and compounds such as lycopene that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Potassium’s effect on artery health and blood pressure is well-established, and at least one study has shown a link between lycopene and lower systolic blood pressure. The AHA already recommends tomatoes due to their combination of these nutrients.

There are limits to the study, including its observational nature and the fact that much of the data is self-reported. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Still, you may want to consider adding a daily dose of tomatoes to an already healthy diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Like Lamuela-Raventós mentioned, the Mediterranean diet includes all these foods, especially tomatoes, so you may want to give that eating plan a try.

There is one thing you should bear in mind…

If you add tomato-based products like canned tomatoes, sauces or soups to your diet, make sure they’re low in sodium — or better yet, sodium-free.

And in case you’ve gotten hung up on whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable, let me share this: According to the editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica, nutritionists consider tomatoes to be vegetables.

Sources:

Eating More Tomatoes May Help Lower Blood Pressure — Everyday Health

Association between tomato consumption and blood pressure in an older population at high cardiovascular risk: observational analysis of PREDIMED trial — European Journal of Preventive Cardiology

11 Foods That Increase Blood Pressure — Durham Nephrology Associates, PA

Lycopene Supplementation and Blood Pressure: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized trials — Journal of Herbal Medicine

How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure — American Heart Association

The post The vegetable that lowered blood pressure 36 percent appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Speaking for myself, I saw my blood pressure rise about 10 points once I hit menopause. I’m still within the normal range, but I know I need to be careful to keep it from going any higher.

Luckily, there’s an effortless action that can help offset this risk in menopausal and postmenopausal women — one that literally takes seconds to do…

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The simple power of standing up

Sitting for long periods of time, something that according to research, postmenopausal women often do, can compound the risks for heart trouble, as well as risks for type 2 diabetes, cancer and early death.

The Rise for Health Study evaluated methods for changing sitting behaviors and examined the physiological impacts on blood pressure and blood sugar levels in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Researchers focused on two specific behaviors over three months. One group was simply told to try to sit less during the day. The other was instructed to focus on standing from a sitting position more frequently. Both these groups were compared to a control group that received general health tips but were not asked to change their sitting habits.

When looking at blood sugar, the researchers found that sitting less or standing up more often showed no significant improvement in blood sugar.

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However, things were a bit different for blood pressure. The “sit less” group, which cut their sitting time by 75 minutes a day, showed some improvements in blood pressure, though it did not meet statistical significance.

Meanwhile, women in the “sit-to-stand” group, who increased the number of times they stood up by an average of 25 per day, lowered their diastolic blood pressure by 2.24 mmHg more than the control group. Though this change was not in the clinically meaningful range of 3-5 mmHg, it was a measurable enough decrease for researchers to say that within just three months, increasing sit-to-stand behavior can lower diastolic blood pressure.

In short, the findings suggest that frequently taking short standing breaks, even without increasing intense exercise, may help boost cardiovascular health.

“Public health messaging urges us to sit less but doesn’t tell us the best ways to do that,” says first author Dr. Sheri Hartman, a professor at UC San Diego. “Our findings suggest that while sitting less was helpful, interrupting sitting with brief standing breaks — even if you don’t sit less — can support healthy blood pressure and improve health.”

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How often should you be getting up?

According to the researchers, additional improvements may require more than three months to take effect, so they intend to evaluate both behaviors over a longer period in older men and women.

“What excites me most about this study is that women set their own goals and made a real difference in their sitting behaviors,” says co-author Dr. Andrea LaCroix, also a UC San Diego professor. “With a little coaching, we can teach ourselves to sit less, and it makes a tangible difference to our short-and long-term health.”

When discussing what goals would be doable for people looking to improve their heart health, LaCroix recommends standing two times per hour over 12 hours as a good starting point.

Given that my job involves a lot of sitting, I’m determined to adopt this behavior. But one problem I have is that I get so absorbed in the work I’m doing that I often lose track of time. The next thing I know, two or three hours have gone by without my moving from my seat.

The solution? Set a reminder. I usually have my phone right by me when I work, so I plan to set a recurring reminder twice an hour to get up from my computer.

If you prefer to have the reminder right on your computer, there are plenty of reminder apps (like Any.do or ClickUp) you can download for that purpose.

Sources:

Just rise: Study finds frequent standing may boost heart health after menopause — EurekAlert!

Impacts of Reducing Sitting Time or Increasing Sit-to-Stand Transitions on Blood Pressure and Glucose Regulation in Postmenopausal Women: Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial — Circulation

Arterial stiffness and hypertension — Clinical Hypertension

The post One simple action that lowers postmenopausal blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There is a strong link between particulate matter (PM) — a major component of air pollution which can contain dust, soot, pollen, ash, metals and soil — and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

People who live in or near high-traffic areas are frequently exposed to elevated PM levels from vehicle emissions and wear and tear from tires and brake pads.

The tiny particles can make their way into their homes, where they are inhaled and increase the risk for high blood pressure, a contributing factor for heart disease.

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The heart benefits of HEPA

In a trial of 154 adults living near highways, participants were randomly assigned to receive one month of either high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purification or no filtration (the same HEPA units with the filter removed).

After a one-month “washout” period during which neither group received filtration, the groups were swapped, with the previous no-filtration group receiving HEPA purification and the HEPA group receiving no filtration.

Blood pressure was measured, and participant questionnaires were collected at the start and end of each period.

The results were encouraging…

• Researchers found that participants with elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 120 mmHg experienced an average 2.8 mmHg reduction in SBP after one month of HEPA filtration.
• By contrast, SBP increased by 0.2 mmHg during the no-filtration period. This resulted in a significant 3.0 mmHg difference in favor of HEPA purification.
• There was no significant impact reported on diastolic blood pressure or among participants with normal SBP of below 120 mmHg.

These results held even for participants who lived in areas with relatively low overall air pollution levels.

Dr. Douglas Brugge, a professor at the University of Connecticut and lead author of the study, notes that high blood pressure is one of the key modifiable risk factors for CVD.

“This research adds to growing evidence that simple interventions, like in-home air filtration, may help improve heart health for people at risk,” Brugge says.

“Overwhelming evidence shows the harmful health effects of PM2.5 exposure, even at levels below current U.S. standards,” says Jonathan Newman, a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and lead author of the study’s accompanying editorial comment.

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Buying and running a HEPA filter

According to Dr. Harlan Krumholz, editor-in-chief of JACC, the journal that published the study, the results indicate that even modest improvements in indoor air quality could have a meaningful impact on blood pressure for people at risk.

“While more research is needed, these results suggest that what we breathe at home may matter for our cardiovascular health,” Krumholz says.

Still, the researchers say the results are enough to recommend HEPA purifier use for vulnerable populations, those with pre-existing risk of CVD and those living within 200 meters of high-traffic highways or 100 meters of high-traffic roads.

Here are some tips for buying and operating a HEPA filter:

• Make sure the HEPA filter you buy is a “true HEPA filter” or rated H13 or H14, both of which are medical-grade HEPA filters. True HEPA filters must trap 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter.
• Buy a filter that fits the room where you will use it most frequently.
• Check to see how long each filter lasts and how much replacement filters cost. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for how often to replace the filter.
• For maximum effectiveness, keep the HEPA filter in one location and run it 24 hours a day with the windows and doors closed.
• Leave 18 to 24 inches of space around the back and sides of the HEPA unit.

For added protection, consider the vitamin that undoes the heart damage air pollution does, chelation for heavy metals and improve your indoor air with houseplants.

Sources:

Air purifiers may reduce heart risks for people exposed to traffic pollution — EurekAlert!

Effect of HEPA Filtration Air Purifiers on Blood Pressure: A Pragmatic Randomized Crossover Trial — JACC

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings — American Heart Association

Don’t Be Fooled by HEPA Filter Types: Standard and Approved Filters — HEPACART

What to Consider When Buying a HEPA Air Filter — Public Health in the 406

The post A simple device to combat heart-damaging air pollution appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

So, when I heard that a particular compound already known for supporting healthy blood vessels and blood pressure was making waves in anti-aging skincare — I had to tell you about it.

Pterostilbene is an antioxidant produced by plants to protect themselves against viruses, bacteria and fungi. It’s found in abundance in blueberries, and it’s a cousin to resveratrol.

You may already know about the anti-aging potential of resveratrol. It enhances skin elasticity by stimulating collagen production and protecting against oxidative damage.

But here’s why pterostilbene may have resveratrol beat…

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Significant breakthrough in just 28 days

One area where pterostilbene outperforms resveratrol is in “bioavailability” — a term that refers to the amount of a substance that enters the bloodstream after it’s introduced into the body and can have an active effect.

Resveratrol’s bioavailability is about one percent (though pairing it with grape seed extract can improve that significantly). But from the get-go, pterostilbene’s bioavailability is estimated to be around 80-95%!

When pterostilbene is consumed from foods or supplements, it’s absorbed through the stomach lining and cell membranes to reach the bloodstream. But what happens when it’s applied to our skin?

To find out, researchers in China had participants apply an emulsion containing it on one side of their face and a control cream on the other.

After just 28 days, the scientists had this to say: “Our results indicated that the pterostilbene emulsion remarkably improved skin elasticity, firmness, and reduced wrinkles, such as forehead, undereye, and Crow’s feet wrinkles.”

It also:

• Increased the thickness of the epidermis layer
• Enhanced collagen and elastic fibers
• And minimized skin pores

In fact, the improvements seen in the skin were so significant that the researchers say pterostilbene “may change the way we approach anti-aging skincare formulations.”

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From youthful skin to youthful blood vessels

If your goal is healthy, younger-looking skin, leveraging the power of blueberries to turn back the hands of time could be the key.

But that’s not the only benefit you can expect…

As I mentioned earlier, pterostilbene is also known for promoting healthy blood pressure. Here are just a few of the mechanisms of action supported by research:

Antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress interferes with the normal function of the endothelial cells that line artery walls. By inhibiting damage induced by oxidative stress, pterostilbene helps alleviate hypertension.

Anti-inflammatory activity. Pterostilbene can successfully reverse the elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Not only does this help relieve inflammation of the endothelial lining of the arteries, but it also exerts anti-atherosclerotic activity. Atherosclerosis is a condition that can age you before you even know you have it.

And that’s the connection between skin aging and blood pressure — youthful arteries.

Blood vessels harden with age, poor habits and exposure to environmental toxins, oxidative stress and inflammation. That results in loss of elasticity and changes in blood pressure. And when blood vessels lose their firmness, the walls of your arteries become prone to injury.

Those same saboteurs and those same changes to the tissue that make up your skin contribute to visible signs of aging.

So, from the inside out, it makes sense to include pterostilbene in your anti-aging routine, not only to help maintain the youthfulness of your skin, but of your blood vessels as well!

Sources:

Natural Molecule Shows Remarkable Anti-Aging Results After Just 28 Days — SciTechDaily

Bioavailability of resveratrol — Annals of the New York Academy of Science

Effects of Pterostilbene on Cardiovascular Health and Disease — Current Issues in Molecular Biology

The post The breakthrough that reversed skin aging in 28 days appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Most hotels with hot tubs also have saunas, but I prefer the hot, bubbling water of the tub. The combination of heat and water soothes my body and relaxes my mind like nothing else can.

As it turns out, the time I’ve spent in hot tubs has provided me with more than just an hour or so of relaxation. Research shows that the heat of a hot tub or sauna stimulates all sorts of beneficial health effects.

And just in case you’re considering installing one or the other in your home, research also shows that the tub wins out hands down in terms of therapeutic value, especially when it comes to blood pressure and immune system response.

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Hot tubs beat saunas for lasting benefits

Both hot tubs and saunas are great for soothing aching muscles and providing welcome warmth, but hot tubs might offer greater health benefits.

That’s what researchers at the Bowerman Sports Science Center at the University of Oregon found in a study involving ten men and ten women who exercised regularly, ranging in age from 20 to 28 years old.

The researchers monitored their body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output (the amount of blood the heart pumps per minute) and immune cell populations, as well as blood biomarkers of inflammation.

This data was collected before, during, and after subjects soaked in a hot tub and sat in both a dry heat and infrared sauna.

Their findings showed that hot water immersion raised core body temperature more than dry sauna, which in turn caused an increase in blood flow and immune system response.

“We saw that hot water immersion was the most impactful in increasing core body temperature, which is the main stimulus for these subsequent responses,” Atencio said. “Increasing body temperature causes an increase in blood flow, and just the force of blood moving across your vessels is beneficial for your vascular health,” says lead study author Jessica Atencio

Need more good news? They say the benefits can last beyond the minutes spent directly in the hot tub.

This isn’t the first study to imply the benefits of hot water on heart health, either. And how to get them without a hot tub.

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A safe option for those who can’t exercise

“We always say that exercise is the primary nonpharmacological treatment that people should be doing to promote health, but some people can’t or just won’t exercise,” says Atencio. “Heat therapy is good supplementation.”

In other words, for those people who can’t or won’t exercise, time spent in a hot tub can provide some of the same benefits.

But just as with exercise, hot tub time must be done in moderation.

“We want people to be smart and safe about it,” says Prof. Christopher Minson, in whose lab the study was conducted.

“We need to make sure that they are cleared by their physicians or others for heat therapy or for exercise, whether it’s mild to moderate walking or jogging or strength training. Then they’ll be fine to do heat therapy.”

Some general hot tub safety rules:

Always check the temperature before entering the hot tub. The maximum safe temperature for a hot tub is 104°F (40°C).

Limit soaking time to 15-20 minutes, especially at higher temperatures.

Hydrate adequately to prevent dehydration and overheating.

Avoid alcohol and drugs before or during hot tub use, as they can increase the risk of drowning and other accidents.

Shower before and after using the hot tub to remove sweat, dirt, and personal hygiene products.

Sources:

Hot tubs outperform saunas in boosting blood flow and immune power — Science Daily

Comparison of thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses to different passive heat therapy modalities — American Journal of Physiology

The post Hot tub time improves blood pressure and immune response appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But what if I told you that you could, well, have your salt and eat it, too?

That’s right — there’s another kind of salt out there that you probably haven’t heard of. And if you have, well, you may have to search for it, but it’s well worth the reward.

Here’s everything you need to know…

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What is potassium-enriched salt?

Potassium-enriched salts look the same as traditional salts (sodium chloride). Only some of the sodium chloride has been replaced with potassium chloride.

And there’s good evidence this simple change could make a huge difference for many people suffering from high blood pressure…

In a randomized trial, 20,995 people with a history of stroke — or who were 60 years of age or older and had high blood pressure — switched to potassium-enriched salt. Researchers saw lower blood pressure and reduced risks of stroke, heart attacks and early death.

That’s just one reason a group of researchers are strongly encouraging clinical guideline bodies to review their recommendations about the use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes.

Potassium-enriched salt works to lower blood pressure because it reduces sodium intake and because of potassium’s role in heart health…

Potassium not only helps keep your heart muscles strong and beating regularly — but a deficiency in the mineral can lead to bone-hard arteries.

Most of our potassium comes from fruits and vegetables that many of us just don’t eat enough of. And that’s a problem.

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Why aren’t more of us using potassium-enriched salt?

Potassium-enriched salts are also called low-sodium salt, potassium salt, heart salt, mineral salt or reduced-sodium salt.

But many people simply don’t know it’s an option — or that a simple switch to potassium-enriched salt could help lower their blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Marketing is another issue. Where it is sold, there’s often only one brand, and it is relegated to the bottom shelf, or only found in a specialty food aisle, which most shoppers ignore.

And it’s generally more expensive than traditional salt, so people on a budget also tend to bypass it in favor of plain old salt.

Should you be concerned about potassium deficiency?

There are a few reasons, besides skimping on fruits and vegetables, that someone could be potassium deficient:

• Diuretics (“water pills”) that increase urination and loss of too much potassium
• Diarrhea, vomiting or excess sweating
• Some antibiotics
• Excessive alcohol consumption

Would you recognize a deficiency? Some of the signs are:

• weakness
• muscle cramps
• tingling
• fatigue
• nausea
• bloating
• frequent urination
• constipation
• irregular heartbeat
• acne

If you experience any of these symptoms consistently, it’s wise to make an appointment with your doctor to determine if a potassium deficiency is the cause.

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Why you should still reach for fresh sources of potassium

When you think of high-potassium foods, a banana probably tops your list. But here are some foods that pack more potassium than a banana:

• avocado
• sweet potato
• spinach
• potatoes
• butternut squash
• dried apricots
• watermelon
• fish

One reason it’s important to keep reaching for fresh food sources of potassium is that some have additional benefits for your arteries and blood pressure…

Citrulline, found in watermelon, is a precursor to L arginine, which helps produce nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule that plays a role in blood pressure regulation, lipid reduction and glucose control.

The rich levels of polyphenols and carotenoids in watermelon, particularly lycopene, also provide additional support to help maintain normal cardio-metabolic health.

Spinach also helps produce nitric oxide, but more efficiently. Foods like spinach and beets contain naturally occurring organic nitrates, and help the body produce NO via the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway. Research claims it’s the most bioavailable, sustainable and fastest route for raising NO levels that support artery health and blood pressure.

Sources:

Research Shows One Easy Diet Swap Can Reduce Blood Pressure And Heart Attacks — Science Alert

Potassium-Enriched Salt Substitutes: A Review of Recommendations in Clinical Management Guidelines — Hypertension

Effect of Salt Substitution on Cardiovascular Events and Death — New England Journal of Medicine

Potassium-Enriched Salt Substitutes as a Means to Lower Blood Pressure — Hypertension

Low potassium (hypokalemia) — Mayo Clinic

The post The salt that doesn’t raise your blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Unmanaged high blood pressure can weaken small blood vessels in the brain. Over time, these damaged blood vessels can no longer deliver the same amount of oxygen to the brain, causing nerves and brain cells to gradually die off.

This leads to what’s known as “white matter lesions,” areas of the brain that have been associated with cognitive decline and dementia.

Judging from this, it seems obvious that lowering your blood pressure can reduce your dementia risk. But is there proof of that?

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Blood pressure and dementia risk

In an exciting four-year study known as the China Rural Hypertension Control phase III (CRHC-3), a diverse team of researchers looked into how controlling high blood pressure might affect the risk of dementia. They gathered nearly 34,000 participants who were struggling with uncontrolled hypertension.

The participants were split into two groups: one received special care, while the other went about their usual care. The intervention group had community health providers, under the guidance of primary care doctors, start them on medication to manage their blood pressure. This group also got support with lifestyle changes, medication management, and tips for keeping track of their blood pressure from home. The aim was to get their blood pressure down to a healthier level—specifically, less than 130 mm Hg for systolic and 80 mm Hg for diastolic.

On the other hand, the usual care group just had their blood pressure checked at clinics without any additional support. After 48 months, the results were telling: the intervention group was taking an average of three different blood pressure medications, while the usual care group managed with just 1.2 medications.

The findings were really positive. About 4.6% of the intervention group were diagnosed with dementia, compared to 5.4% in the usual care group.

This means that treating high blood pressure reduced the risk of developing dementia by about 15%. Not only that, but the intervention group also experienced fewer issues with cognitive impairment without dementia, a significant indicator of brain health.

Throughout the study, the intervention group managed to lower their blood pressure by an impressive 22.0/9.3 mm Hg, and they had fewer serious health complications during the trial compared to their counterparts in the usual care group.

Dr. Jiang He from UT Southwestern Medical Center shared the study’s groundbreaking results, highlighting it as the first to show a significant reduction in dementia risk linked to high blood pressure treatment. These findings align with the results from a similar U.S. study, the SPRINT MIND trial, which found that stricter blood pressure control could also lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

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Getting blood pressure under control

The researchers did note that participants were relatively young and the follow-up was relatively short. The baseline age was about 63 in both participant groups.

However, most experts agree that cognitive decline typically begins during one’s 60s and beyond but can be influenced by many factors.

If you have high blood pressure now, make sure you and your doctor discuss options for controlling it. If it’s only mildly high, the following lifestyle adjustments may be enough to bring it into the normal range:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet (the DASH diet is a good example). Make sure it includes plenty of potassium-rich fruits and vegetables.
• Make sure you’re getting plenty of healthy fats and omega-3s, like the kind you get from fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. An analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association identified the optimal daily amount needed to help lower blood pressure.
• Get some exercise. Research has found it can be as effective as medication.

Sources:

Common Intervention Lowers Dementia Risk, Trial Shows — MedPage Today

Blood pressure reduction and all-cause dementia in people with uncontrolled hypertension: an open-label, blinded-endpoint, cluster-randomized trial — Nature Medicine

The correlation between aging and cognitive decline — Greater Good Health

The post High blood pressure? Lower it and your dementia risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

No matter what you call it, most of us have experienced those unsettling feelings of dread and anxiety in anticipation of the beginning of another long, busy, likely stressful week.

Even though the feelings may intensify Monday morning, we march on, able to dismiss them — until Sunday night rolls around again.

Unfortunately, it’s a cycle that evidence connects to dangerous physiological processes…

One meta-analysis of data from population statistics found a 19 percent increase in the incidence of confirmed heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths on Mondays.

Now, another study appears to validate the biological components associated with Monday-related stress…

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Mondays acts as a ‘stress amplifier’

Researchers led by Tarani Chandola of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) wanted to determine whether the association between anxiety and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — the body’s central stress response system — was greater on Mondays.

The HPA axis regulates stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can contribute to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune system dysfunction if they’re chronically elevated.

The researchers took a look at 3,511 adults aged 50 and older living in England who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The participants submitted hair samples and were asked about their anxiety levels and on what days they experienced anxiety.

The results were striking. Participants who felt anxious on Mondays showed significantly higher long-term stress hormone levels up to two months later. Their hair samples showed a 23 percent higher level of cortisol compared to peers who were anxious on other days of the week.

What’s more, this “anxious Monday” effect was observed in both working and retired participants. This indicates a deep-seated link between the start of the week and dysregulation of the body’s stress response, one that lingers well after retirement.

Prior research has observed higher cortisol levels on weekdays versus weekends. But this is the first study to single out Mondays as particularly disruptive.

“Mondays act as a cultural ‘stress amplifier,’” Chandola says. “For some older adults, the week’s transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn’t about work — it’s about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end.”

About 75 percent of the Monday effect was due to the greater impact of feeling anxious on Mondays compared to other days.

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Ways to battle ‘anxious Mondays’

The study emphasizes how the anxiety around Mondays can become biologically embedded in our bodies, with chronic stress hormone dysregulation posing long-term cardiovascular risks.

By addressing the stress specific to Mondays, the researchers hope to unlock new strategies to combat heart disease in aging populations.

“The cumulative life course effects of feeling anxious on Monday, to which people do not adapt, suggests the need to identify why some people do not adapt to the Monday effect, while others are more resilient,” the researchers write in the study.

One reason some people may handle their Monday stress better is that they have a system in place to address the beginning of the week. If you find yourself battling the “Sunday scaries,” here are some tips for starting the week off right (and lowering your stress levels in the process):

• Sleep: Make sure you stick to your usual sleep schedule over the weekend. Sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday can disrupt your usual sleep-wake cycle, and that in turn can raise your cardiovascular risk.
• Support your gut. Oscillations of gut microbes throughout the day are crucial for regulating the secretion of stress hormones. An imbalance in the gut microbiome leads to a hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
• Meditation: Try meditating on Sunday evening, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Meditation can help reduce stress and support your cardiovascular health.
• Exercise: Get some exercise first thing Monday morning. It will help clear your mind, elevate your mood and reduce your stress levels. Plus, it’s great for your heart.
• Fun: Schedule something enjoyable on Monday, whether it’s time for reading your favorite book, having coffee with a friend before work or walking at lunch with office mates. This will help you look forward to Monday instead of dreading it.
• Natural stress-relieving adaptogenic herbs, like holy basil and ashwagandha, are effective at helping balance your system during stressful periods.

Sources:

New research shows Monday stress is etched into your biology — ScienceDaily

Are anxious Mondays associated with HPA-axis dysregulation? A longitudinal study of older adults in England — Journal of Affective Disorders

The post A biological reason to hate Mondays: It’s a stress amplifier appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Or perhaps you’ve taken an over-the-counter PPI like Nexium or Prilosec.

When I first heard the phrase “proton pump,” I imagined there was a teeny-tiny pump in the body and that these drugs shut the pump down.

Not far from the truth, but not exactly the right visual, either.

In reality, PPIs block an enzyme that produces stomach acid.

But this form of relief may come with a catch, and a dangerous one.

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PPIs may be connected to new cases of hypertension

Protein pump inhibitors block an enzyme that produces stomach acid. It’s called the hydrogen-potassium ATPase pump or the “proton pump” for short.

Here’s a good way to understand it: PPIs inhibit (or prevent) the proton pump enzyme from completing a chemical process needed to make stomach acid. By short-circuiting this process, PPIs slow down the production of stomach acid.

You’ll still have enough stomach acid to digest food, just not an overproduction that’ll irritate the stomach.

But no medication acts solely on the part of the body it’s meant for.

While PPIs are at work interrupting acid production, they’re also interrupting an unrelated cycle that converts dietary nitrates from foods you eat into nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is a natual vasodilator made by the body; it relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure.

Maybe you can see where this is going…

While PPIs are controlling your acid reflux, they could also be elevating your risk of hypertension.

At least, this was the finding of a study done at the University of Buffalo – SUNY whose primary goal was to evaluate the association between PPI use and new cases of hypertension in menopausal women enrolled in the WHI-OS (Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study).

Out of 64,720 menopausal women, the study found 28,951 new cases of hypertension after a mean follow-up of 8.7 years.

The researchers feel this could be attributable to the reduction of nitric oxide brought on by the PPIs.

You should know this isn’t the first time the safety of PPIs have been called into question. Some have been linked to increased risk of stroke, bone fracture, pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, Clostridium difficile infection and kidney damage.

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Non-prescription ways to control stomach acid

Fortunately, some foods are safe remedies for acid reflux. These include olive oil, apple cider vinegar and carob.

And don’t forget herbs and spices!

Turmeric is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It contains a naturally active compound called curcumin. It’s often used in Indian food.

Studies have shown that curcumin is just as effective as omeprazole (a common PPI) at relieving the symptoms of indigestion, including acid reflux.

Then, of course, there are lifestyle changes that can help control GERD, acid reflux and heartburn:

• Maintain a normal weight.
• Don’t smoke!
• Engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Restrict coffee, tea and sodas to no more than 2 cups per day.

Finally, here are some tips for a diet that could help control acid reflux:

Eat foods that have a higher pH because they are more alkaline and can offset stomach acid. These include bananas, melons, cauliflower, fennel, and nuts.

High-fiber foods can curb overeating, which contributes to GERD. These include:

• Whole grains such as oatmeal, couscous and brown rice.
• Root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and beets.
• Green vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and green beans.

Regardless of how you manage or alleviate your symptoms, it’s important to do so. If you develop GERD, the more serious form of acid reflux, you could be at higher risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus, which is a dangerous condition.

Sources:

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Incident Hypertension in Menopausal Women — Journal of the American Heart Association

Long-Term PPI Use Linked to Hypertension in Menopausal Women — U.S. Pharmacist

Proton pump inhibitors — Cleveland Clinic

The post The medication that trades acid reflux for hypertension appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Flavonoids help prevent diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

So you may think that it’s a good idea to eat as much flavonoid-rich food as you can.

Well, you wouldn’t exactly be wrong there, but ….

“Eat the rainbow” was coined for a good reason: to reap the incredible disease-fighting benefits of flavonoids and reduce your risk of early death, research suggests it’s key to get them from many different sources.

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Diversity matters to live long and without chronic disease

An international team of researchers analyzed data on 124,805 adults in the UK Biobank aged 40 or over, looking for links between self-reported diet and health.

They found a correlation between the amount of flavonoids in the diet and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and neurological disease.

According to ECU Research Fellow, first author and co-lead of the study Dr Benjamin Parmenter, “Flavonoid intakes of around 500 mg a day was associated with a 16% lower risk of all-cause mortality, as well as a ~10% lower risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disease. That’s roughly the amount of flavonoids that you would consume in two cups of tea.”

He added, however, that those who consumed the widest diversity of flavonoids from a variety of foods, even when consuming the same total amount, had an even lower risk of these diseases.

So why does diversity matter?

According to study co-lead Professor Aedín Cassidy from the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, “… different flavonoids work in different ways, some improve blood pressure, others help with cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation. This study is significant as the results indicate that consuming a higher quantity and wider diversity has the potential to lead to a greater reduction in ill health than just a single source.”

“The results provide a clear public health message, suggesting that simple and achievable dietary swaps, such as drinking more tea and eating more berries and apples for example, can help increase the variety and intake of flavonoid-rich foods, and potentially improve health in the long-term,” she added.

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How to improve your flavonoid game

There are over 6,000 known flavonoids found in a variety of foods, and they can appear together in some foods, including:

Flavonols like quercetin, found in apples and pears, lower stroke risk and reduce inflammation. Quercetin also slashes dementia risk, along with kaempferol and others.

Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen.

Flavanones lower cholesterol and fat in the blood..

Anthocyanins found in purple, red, and blue produce are antioxidants that support brain, heart and immune functions.

Chalcones have antioxidant properties, protecting the body from cancer and age-related illnesses.

Catechins are popularly found in green tea, and play a role in skin and gut health, among other benefits.

Clearly, you want to be eating plenty of flavonoids.

But here’s the thing … these different classes of flavonoids aren’t all found in one place.

They’re spread among a wide range of foods, including:

• Blueberries
• Peaches
• Red grapes
• Cranberries
• Apples
• Kale
• Onions
• Broccoli
• Black and green tea
• Soy beans
• Cherries

Oh, and they’re also found in red wine and dark chocolate!

A challenge for you

The people in this study who were consuming the most flavonoids were snacking on 19 different types of flavonoids a day!

Can you come close to that? Want to try?

The way to do it, or to even come close, is to eat a wide range of flavonoid-rich foods. Some were mentioned above. Others include:

• lettuce
• bananas
• raspberries
• blackberries
• strawberries
• citrus fruits
• tomatoes
• pears

Nutritionists advise you to “eat the rainbow,” meaning you should consume fruits and vegetables of many colors in order to get your share of flavonoids.

And with summer upon us, that shouldn’t be too hard!

Sources:

Having a mix of tea, berries, apples, and grapes every day may lower your risk of chronic disease and early death — Scimex

A Mix of These Specific Foods Could Help You Avoid Chronic Disease — Science Alert

High diversity of dietary flavonoid intake is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and major chronic diseases — Nature Food

Top foods high in flavonoids — Web MD

The post Diversify your flavonoids to ditch disease and live longer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Those are concerns that cannabis smokers used to feel safe from. For decades, marijuana smoke was thought to be harmless, but research over the years has proven otherwise.

Marijuana smoke contains many of the same chemicals as tobacco smoke, as well as the same fine particles that contribute to cardiovascular disease.

This similarity has motivated researchers to question the supposed “safety” of smoking marijuana and to dig deeper for more facts…

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Marijuana wreaks havoc on our blood vessels

Earlier this year, a team of researchers at the University of Toulouse in France examined 24 prior studies that noted the potential dangers of smoking cannabis.

The studies were conducted between 2016 and 2023 and involved a considerable group of subjects — around 200 million people.

As they conducted a systematic review of these studies, it became clear that the risks were virtually the same as they were for cigarette smokers.

Overall, the increased risk to cannabis users was 29 percent for acute coronary syndrome (reduced blood flow to the heart leading to heart attack), 20 percent for stroke, and 100 percent for cardiovascular disease mortality.

In other words, just as many cannabis smokers as cigarette smokers were dying of heart disease.

Around the same time, a study at the University of California San Francisco determined the cause of this danger. They assessed the blood vessel function of participants by measuring their arterial flow-mediated dilation, or FMD.

FMD is a measure of how the arteries expand, or dilate, in response to increased blood flow after it has been temporarily restricted, say, by placing a blood pressure cuff on the arm.

A healthy artery will dilate more significantly, indicating that the endothelium, the inner lining of the blood vessel, is functioning well.

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Compared with non-users, FMD was significantly worse in marijuana smokers, as well as in people who use THC edibles (THC is the part of cannabis that gives a “high”).

The one difference between smokers and users of edibles was that cannabis smokers showed lower nitric oxide (NO) levels in the endothelial cells lining their blood vessels. In contrast, edible users showed no nitric oxide reduction.

Is it worth it?

NO is a signaling molecule that acts as a natural vasodilator. That means it relaxes the inner lining of blood vessels to encourage smooth, oxygen-rich blood flow.

It’s essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure and may improve glucose tolerance and lower fasting insulin and leptin levels. There’s also evidence that low levels of NO drive cognitive decline and aging.

Whether smoking cannabis or consuming edibles, the research found that either causes artery damage, making them stiffer and less flexible, similar to the effects of smoking cigarettes. The only upside for edibles is that, though they caused artery damage in other ways, they did not impact NO levels.

There are many reasons that people use cannabis, including relief from various types of pain, cancer treatment side effects and stress. Those reasons may play a role in answering the question: Is it worth the artery damage and increased risk for stroke and heart disease?

Sources:

Edibles, smoking weed almost as bad for blood vessels as cigarettes — New Atlas

Association of Endothelial Dysfunction With Chronic Marijuana Smoking and THC-Edible Use — JAMA Cardiology

Cannabis Linked to 2x Risk of Heart Disease Death, Scientists Discover — Science Alert

Cardiovascular risk associated with the use of cannabis and cannabinoids: a systemic review and meta-analysis — Heart (BMJ Journals)

The post Why cannabis is as bad for your heart as cigarettes appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yes, fiber keeps us regular. But it does SO much more than that! Fiber is an essential nutrient needed to prevent disease and dysfunction.

It’s well-known that eating the recommended amount of fiber supports heart health.

Why is that?

Science has finally found the answer…

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How fiber protects your heart

Fiber is good for heart health because it:

• Lowers blood pressure and the risk of hypertension.
• Helps manage cholesterol (especially soluble fiber found in fruits, grains, nuts and seeds.
• Promotes a healthy weight by helping you feel full longer.
• Improves the gut microbiome by feeding beneficial gut bacteria.
• Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, a condition often linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
• May reduce inflammation — studies have linked fiber intake to lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation associated with an increased risk of heart attacks.

But the ‘secret weapon’ behind all these health benefits is something called short-chain fatty acids — or SCFAs.

When the fiber you eat reaches your large intestine, it releases three types of short-chain fatty acids when broken down by gut microbes:

• Butyrate. A key energy source for cells lining the large intestine, butyrate is also linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer and may play a role in mitigating inflammation and supporting immune function.
• Propionate. Besides preventing constipation, propionate supports brain health and may protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
• Acetate. Not to be confused with the plastic chemical found in products like paint and packaging, the presence or absence of the SCFA acetate affects gene expression, metabolic regulation and enzyme activity.

However, some people have a rare genetic mutation, which prevents them from reaping the benefits of SFCAs from fiber — regardless of how much they consume. That isn’t very reassuring for them, but it provided an opportunity to prove how SFCAs and fiber truly benefit the rest of us…

Research by Monash University, for the first time, compared the effects of fiber and SCFAs on a cohort of people with the rare gene mutation against outcomes for people without the mutation.

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Consistent with their hypothesis, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the gene mutation cohort, even when they consumed a diet rich in fiber, thus demonstrating the importance of SCFA signaling in cardiovascular protection.

The gene mutation occurs in less than 1% of people, which means that, for most of us, eating the recommended amount of dietary fiber can support heart health, lowering the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke by up to 20%, according to the researchers.

How much fiber does your heart need

Experts recommend that we get between 25 and 30 grams of fiber daily from food.

Currently, the average dietary fiber intake among adults in the United States is only about 15 grams per day. That’s about half the recommended amount.

So, how can you work more fiber into your diet?

Prioritize whole grains. Choose whole grains over refined versions. Oatmeal is also a great source of whole grains.

Increase fruit and veggie intake. Aim for at least five servings daily. Eat fruits and vegetables with skin whenever possible for maximum fiber.

Legumes. Add beans, lentils and chickpeas to stews, salads, and soups.

Snack smart. Choose high-fiber snacks like popcorn, nuts, seeds and fruit.

To avoid digestive discomfort, increase your fiber intake gradually and drink plenty of water throughout the day to help it move through your system.

If you’re looking for a diet recommendation, you might be excited to know that SCFAs are key mediators of the favorable health effects of the Mediterranean diet.

It’s also important to know that SFCAs are produced by gut bacteria through the fermentation of dietary fiber. Probiotics can ensure an army of microbes that are up to that task!

Sources:

Heart disease risk is reduced by up to 20% just from eating fiber — New Atlas

Rare pathogenic variants in G-protein-coupled receptor genes involved in gut-to-host communication are associated with cardiovascular disease risk — Cardiovascular Research

The post The protective ‘signal’ fiber sends your heart appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That was a wake-up call. While I still have “normal” blood pressure, I can no longer take it for granted that I’ll never develop high blood pressure.

So, I’ve been looking into the risk factors of high blood pressure and how to best manage them. And it seems like I’m starting not a moment too soon — not only will I be controlling my blood pressure, but I may be reducing my risk of death as well….

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An early grave or risk factor management?

High blood pressure (or hypertension), defined as a systolic (top number) blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher, is the leading preventable risk factor for early death worldwide.

A study led by researchers at Tulane University used data from the UK Biobank to track more than 70,000 people with hypertension and more than 224,000 without it. The researchers followed the participants for nearly 14 years to observe how managing certain risk factors for high blood pressure affected premature death, defined as dying before the age of 80.

The study evaluated the following eight risk factors:

• Blood pressure;
• Body mass index (BMI);
• Waist circumference;
• LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol;
• Blood sugar;
• Kidney function;
• Smoking status;
• and Physical activity

What the study discovered was astounding…

Addressing each additional risk factor was associated with a:

• 13% lower risk of early death from all causes;
• 12% lower risk of early death due to cancer;
• 21% lower risk of premature death due to cardiovascular disease;
• And a 10% lower risk of premature death from other causes.

And the more risk factors were under control, the lower the risk of death was. Controlling seven or more was considered optimal and was linked to:

• 40% less risk of premature death from all causes;
• 39% less risk of early death due to cancer;
• 53% less risk of premature death due to cardiovascular disease;
• and a 29% risk of death from other causes. 

But if you struggle to get all seven under control, the researchers also found that hypertensive patients who addressed at least four of the risk factors had no greater risk of an early death than those without high blood pressure.

In addition, the results suggest that hypertensive participants under the age of 60 and those who didn’t use antihypertensive medication may show reduced responsiveness to joint risk factor control.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the association between controlling joint risk factors and premature mortality in patients with hypertension,” says corresponding author Dr. Lu Qi, a professor at Tulane University. “Importantly, we found that any hypertension-related excess risk of an early death could be entirely eliminated by addressing these risk factors.”

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How to manage high blood pressure factors

Interestingly, only 7.3% of hypertensive participants in the study had seven or more risk factors under control, emphasizing the opportunity for prevention.

Researchers say their findings underscore the importance of personalized, multifaceted care that extends beyond medication. The study found that the protective link was more pronounced in hypertensive participants taking antihypertensive medication, indicating that a broader range of health behaviors and conditions can still offer impactful benefits.

“Our study shows that controlling blood pressure is not the only way to treat hypertensive patients, because high blood pressure can affect these other factors,” Qi says. “By addressing the individual risk factors, we can help prevent early death for those with hypertension.”

It’s probably a good idea to manage the risk factors observed in the study, especially if you already have high blood pressure. Taking the following steps can help reduce your risk of dying early:

• Eat for better blood pressure. There are several diets research shows can take the numbers down. Check out these seven.
• Get moving. Make sure you get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity every week (about 30 minutes 5 days a week).
• Maintain a healthy weight. Make sure your BMI and waist circumference are within the normal range for your height and age. Try the breakfast food that mimics how Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro work.
• Keep your LDL cholesterol down. Some natural ways to do so include raising your intake of fiber and plant sterols and adding prickly pear (or a prickly pear supplement) to your daily regimen.
• Manage your blood sugar. Avoid foods that make your blood sugar spike and consider timing your meals to lower your blood sugar and blood pressure.
• Watch your kidney function. Taking a CoQ10 supplement can help improve your kidney function (and support normal blood pressure).
• If you smoke, stop. Smoking can raise your blood pressure, as well as the risk of plaque buildup in your arteries.

Since each factor carries a percentage and stacks the odds in your favor, take it a step at a time if it seems overwhelming. But work towards the bigger goal and the long life you deserve.

Sources:

Controlling these 8 risk factors may eliminate early death risk for those with high blood pressure — ScienceDaily

Degree of joint risk factor control and premature mortality in hypertensive participants — Precision Clinical Medicine

Smoking and High Blood Pressure — American Heart Association

The post 8 factors for lower blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That little blue pill certainly seems to put a smile back on men’s faces as it brings life back to the bedroom.

But did you know it wasn’t actually developed for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It was meant to treat high blood pressure, thanks to its ability to dilate blood vessels — wide open — to allow optimal blood flow.

And it was only after patients started taking the drug that reports of an interesting side effect began to circulate: It was helping an “organ” much further south. Now it’s going to their heads…

Believe me, the pharmaceutical companies will be dancing in the streets about this one too because they’ve found a connection to another problem people can buy their drugs to solve — avoiding Alzheimer’s.

What do ED and Alzheimer’s have in common?

Researchers at the University College London followed close to 270,000 men over a five-year timeframe, comparing the rates of Alzheimer’s between men taking prescriptions for ED to those without.

And after accounting for any other factors that could impact the results, they found the men taking the prescriptions were 18 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. These results were strongest among men who were issued the most prescriptions over the study period. 

This means that the brains of men who used those little blue pills more often benefitted the most.

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The active ingredient both men and women need

So how did treating the men’s ED problems benefit a condition of the brain? It had to be the head-to-toe blood flow.

The little blue pill works by increasing a molecule known as nitric oxide (NO) in the lining of the blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to widen, increasing blood flow and boosting oxygen to all the body’s organs and tissues — including the brain.

And fortunately, NO does not discriminate…

Both men and women naturally produce NO in their bodies as part of the process of normal, healthy circulation!

But sometimes we need a little help because…

• We don’t eat enough of the foods that help our bodies produce NO, like a handful of specific vegetables. You may also eat less red meat and dairy — at your doctor’s urging — which are great sources of an amino acid required for NO production.
• With age, the body’s healthy balance gets off-kilter. We often come up short on nutrients that support artery health and blood pressure. At the same time, we can experience an age-associated increase in fibrin — the protein used to form blood clots. It’s easy to see why too much would be a problem.

These problems may seem like a big deal, but you can work around all of them…

Let’s start with NO: Even if you’re not a veggie fan, you should focus on at least two: spinach and beets. When eating these foods, your body creates NO from them via the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway.

But if that voice in your head is saying, “Virginia, I just can’t do that,” then no worries…

L-Arginine is the amino acid in red meat and dairy required for NO production. Now I’m not going to advise more red meat. But L-Arginine is readily available in supplement form.

Next, let’s talk about two ways nattokinase can help. First, it’s an enzyme that received scientific acclaim when discovered in a Japanese superfood called natto — for dissolving fibrin, the protein that makes blood clot.

And natto just happens to be the highest food source of vitamin K2 as MK-7, a very important nutrient for vascular health. Just one tablespoon is enough, but if you don’t like vegetables, you probably won’t like it (slimy fermented soybeans). Again, look for supplements.

It works for me. But you know when given half the chance, I’m going to take the natural route while possible to keep my blood pressure in the normal range and promote healthy circulation — from my brain to my toes (and everywhere in between).

Sources:

Erectile dysfunction drugs may be linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease – EurekAlert!

The post Why this ‘male medication’ could make Alzheimer’s less likely appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That’s because when you ingest too much salt, your body responds to the excess sodium by holding on to water to dilute it. The result is an increase in the amount of fluid in your blood vessels, which raises the pressure inside the vessels and makes your heart work harder.

You may think taking blood pressure medication counteracts this effect. However, too much sodium offsets the benefits of two commonly used blood pressure medications: diuretics and vasodilators. So, if you’re taking either of these medications but still eating too much salt, you’re canceling out the medicine’s effects.

Therefore, regardless of whether you’re on blood pressure medication, it makes sense to cut back on the salt you consume, right? Well, that’s just half of the solution…

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Add potassium to the mix

Previous research has indicated that upping potassium intake can help control blood pressure. Both potassium and sodium are electrolytes, substances that help the body send electric signals that contract muscles and affect the amount of water in the body, among other essential functions.

With that in mind, researchers from the University of Waterloo developed a mathematical model that successfully identifies how the potassium and sodium ratio affects the body. The model showed that increasing the ratio of potassium to sodium intake had a positive effect on blood pressure.

In addition, the model was developed to identify how difference in sex impacts the relationship between potassium and blood pressure. The researchers found that men develop high blood pressure more easily than pre-menopausal women. Still, men are also more likely to respond positively when the potassium-to-sodium ratio increases.

“Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt,” says Anita Layton, a University of Waterloo professor. “Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium.”

“Early humans ate lots of fruits and vegetables, and as a result, our body’s regulatory systems may have evolved to work best with a high potassium, low sodium diet,” says Melissa Stadt, a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo and the lead author of the study.

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Getting the potassium-sodium balance right

If you need a little extra help, consider the DASH eating plan, specifically developed to help people lower high blood pressure. It focuses on whole foods, fat-free or low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats, fish and poultry, and limiting red meat and ultra-processed foods.

Not only was it designed with lower sodium intake in mind (the Standard Dash diet limits sodium consumption to 2,300 mg daily while the Lower Sodium Dash diet drops that to 1,500 mg), but it also provides guidance on reaching a target of 4,700 mg of potassium daily.

That sounds like a lot and might seem difficult if not for this helpful list with lots of recommended choices, which also identifies specific foods that pack the most potassium by food groups. For example…

• A medium potato, baked with the skin, provides 941 mg of potassium;
• A blessed medium banana will get you 422 mg;
• Plain non-fat yogurt (6 to 8 oz) provides 579 mg;
• White beans, ½ can, yields 595 mg;
• Wild Atlantic salmon puts 534 on your plate.

Be sure to check out the link to the full list!

One thing to keep in mind: if you’re already taking a diuretic for blood pressure management, you may need to check with your doctor about a potassium supplement. Diuretics increase urine output to help rid the body of excess fluid and sodium, but some can also cause potassium loss. Don’t start taking potassium supplements without your doctor’s advice, as having too much potassium in your body can be dangerous.

Sources:

High blood pressure? Eat more bananas — EurekAlert!

Modulation of blood pressure by dietary potassium and sodium: sex differences and modeling analysis — American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology

Dietary salt and blood pressure: A complex connection — Harvard Health Publishing

Foods high in potassium — Healthdirect

The post Why a banana a day is key to regulating blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This is old news, right?

But it’s not all about the heart.

Age also takes its toll on the flexibility of our blood vessels, particularly our arteries. And without arterial walls that are sufficiently elastic, you may as well be a sitting duck for heart disease and stroke.

Research has tried to tease out the most important factors for keeping arteries flexible, regardless of age.

And one such study has uncovered two factors that affect artery health the most — for women, at least…

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Women, stiff arteries and what matters most

A study from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland looked at four health markers in women ages 16 to 58 years: aerobic fitness, body fat percentage, muscle mass and blood pressure.

The researchers wanted to determine which of these four factors might be associated with arterial stiffening in various age groups, including even as early as adolescence.

To do this, they analyzed data from four separate studies among women of different age groups: adolescence, young adulthood, and middle adulthood. They also used data from the MIIA study (Monitoring Injury and Illness in Athletes).

Based on these analyses, it was clear that only two of the four factors — higher muscle mass and lower blood pressure — were associated with less arterial stiffness, regardless of age.

Better aerobic fitness and lower body fat percentage were also linked to better arterial flexibility — but age, too, seemed to explain these correlations.

“While age was the most important factor in explaining arterial stiffness, maintaining sufficient muscle mass and controlling blood pressure may protect against the adverse effects of aging on arterial health,” says Dr. Eero Haapala of the University of Jyväskylä.

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Helping your arteries stay young

Clearly, there’s a connection here. Keeping your muscles strong as you age could protect you from a double whammy — stiff arteries and sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). And both will promote heart health.

To try and avoid that trap, increase your muscle mass:

• Feed your muscles protein, but spread your intake out throughout the day so you can better absorb it.
• Strength train and make omega-3 supplements part of your fitness routine. A study found taking an omega-3 supplement daily more than doubled the amount of strength women gained during strength training.

But, drum roll, please…omega-3s have direct benefits on arteries too…

They’ve been shown to improve endothelial function in the artery walls.

Inside our arteries is an endothelial lining. That lining contains a substance called elastin — and as the name indicates, its job is to promote “elastic” or flexible arteries — the opposite of stiff.

At the same time, having flexible arteries improves vasodilation — the natural process that increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure (the 2^nd factor).

So an omega-3 supplement makes perfect sense not only to aid in increasing muscle mass with exercise for healthier arteries — but also to support the endothelial lining, which in turn promotes normal blood pressure.

Get more omega-3s of course by eating fatty fish a couple of times a week or through supplementing. Fish oil was the only option for years, but krill oil has become popular for producing less stomach upset and fish burps.

Sources:

Maintaining muscle mass supports women’s arterial health from youth to middle age — Eureka Alert

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and blood pressure with arterial stiffness in adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged women — Scientific Reports

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improve endothelial function in humans at risk for atherosclerosis: A review — PubMed

The post 2 factors that protect women from stiff arteries at any age appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

I take daily steps to keep my numbers where they should be — and one of those is exercise.

I’ve read the research, and there’s no doubt that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day can lower blood pressure.

But what if there was a way to condense exercise to just five minutes and still leverage its blood pressure-lowering benefits?

Here’s how we can…

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Up the effort for lower blood pressure

After analyzing the health data and activity levels of over 14,700 volunteers across five countries to see how different levels of activity impact blood pressure, researchers have some encouraging news…

Doing as little as five extra minutes of exercise daily was associated with measurably lower blood pressure readings.

FIVE minutes… but there’s just one little catch…

To make a short, 5-minute  burst of exercise work for blood pressure management, it must include higher-intensity movement that increases the demand on your heart and muscles.

In other words, you can’t take a slow and easy walk if you want to make it count. You need to ramp up your effort with activities like uphill walking, stair climbing, running, and cycling that require you to work harder. Just for five minutes.

But if you can go at it longer, even better…

They found that replacing sedentary behavior with 20-27 minutes of exercise per day could reduce the risk for serious heart problems by up to 28%. 

“The good news is that whatever your physical ability, it doesn’t take long to have a positive effect on blood pressure. What’s unique about our exercise variable is that it includes all exercise-like activities, from running for a bus or a short cycling errand, many of which can be integrated into daily routines,” said study first author Dr. Jo Blodgett.

Pressure-free blood pressure support

I’m also a fan of nutritional ingredients that have a powerful effect on blood pressure. I feel like I need the extra assurance, and other people may have their own reasons for reaching for them.

My cousin, who, of course, shares the same concerning family history, has physical constraints that make strenuous exercise difficult, even for only five minutes.

These are the ingredients we reach for…

• Vitamin K2 – MK-7 is a form of K2 that acts like a shuttle service, directing calcium to the places in your body where it’s most helpful, like your bones and teeth, and away from arteries where it can negatively impact cardiovascular health. This vitamin supports healthy arteries and promotes normal blood pressure levels.
• Grape Seed Extract (GSE) – Rich in polyphenols, GSE helps upregulate nitric oxide production (NO). NO is a messenger molecule naturally present in the inner lining of blood vessels. It’s a natural vasodilator, promoting healthy blood flow and circulation, but less is present with age (women lose it during menopause).
• Pterostilbene – Found in blueberries, this potent antioxidant helps block the creation of Angiotensin II — an enzyme that stiffens the walls of blood vessels.
• Green tea extract – The phytochemicals in green tea reduce oxidative stress and support cardiovascular health. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated green tea extract’s ability to support healthy systolic blood pressure.

Lowering your blood pressure shouldn’t cause more pressure. Take advantage of a short and powerful blast of exercise every day, and nutrition that helps.

Sources:

Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure — EurekAlert!

Just 28% Of Americans Are Exercising Enough, CDC Says—And It’s Even Lower In Some Regions — Forbes

The post Got 5 minutes? Lower your blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Just a few years ago, the European Society of Cardiology, using genetic data from 422,000 individuals, revealed a link between higher levels of 11 bacteria that were associated with a total of 28 health and disease outcomes, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and BMI. In one example, they found that the higher the level of Ruminococcus bacteria, the greater the risk of high blood pressure.

Another study showed major disturbances in the gut microbiome of patients suffering from heart disease, and that these alterations may start many years before onset of heart disease symptoms and diagnosis.

High blood pressure can precede heart disease, so getting it under control is one of the most important steps in protecting heart health.

Could it be as simple as balancing your microbiome with probiotics?

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Two probiotic strains could manage blood pressure

High blood pressure rates are rising worldwide, affecting about 40 percent of the world’s adults. Prior studies have found a link between these rising rates and an increased consumption of sugar.

High sugar consumption likely boosts blood pressure through increased insulin resistance or salt retention, among other mechanisms. It can also hurt the gut microbiome by blocking good bacteria and promoting the growth of bad bacteria.

A team of researchers in China decided to test two probiotic strains — Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus — on mice that developed high blood pressure after consuming water mixed with fructose. They measured the animals’ blood pressure every four weeks over 16 weeks. And what they found was encouraging…

The fructose-fed mice that received either probiotic showed significantly lower blood pressure than those fed fructose and not treated with probiotics.

Also, the researchers found no difference between the blood pressure readings of the fructose-fed mice that received probiotics and a control group of mice that only drank water. This suggests probiotics would maintain normal blood pressure levels, says computational biologist Dr. Jun Li at the City University of Hong Kong.

“Accumulated evidence supports an antihypertensive effect of probiotics and probiotic fermented foods in both in vitro and in vivo experiments,” Li says. “So we believed that the dietary intake of probiotic foods would well supplement traditional hypertension treatment.”

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Sugar’s deleterious effect on your microbiome

As part of their study, the researchers used genetic sequencing to explore links between altered gut microbiota and the change in blood pressure. They found a high-fructose diet in the mice led to growth of Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes bacteria, while treatment with probiotics returned those populations to control group levels.

There were new microbial signatures associated with blood pressure as well. High levels of Lawsonia and Pyrolobus bacteria, and low levels of Alistipes and Alloprevotella, were connected with lower blood pressure.

The next step for the researchers is a large clinical trial to see if the protective effect of probiotics extends to humans. “Probiotics present a promising avenue in preventive medicine, offering potential in regulating hypertension and reshaping our approach to cardiovascular health,” Li says.

But with the growing evidence of the gut microbiome’s impact on whole body health, there’s absolutely no harm in seeking out these two probiotic strains. Not only may they help with your blood pressure, but they’ll help bring balance to your gut microbiome.

Luckily, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus are common probiotic strains. Both of them are present in abundance in many fermented food sources. Specifically, Bifidobacterium lactis can be found in yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and buttermilk. And Lactobacillus rhamnosus can be found in kefir, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso.

Of course, probiotics are also available in supplement form — and don’t forget to feed them prebiotics to help them do their job even better.

Sources:

Two probiotics identified as promising hypertension treatments — EurekAlert!

Probiotics Bifidobacterium lactis M8 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus M9 prevent high blood pressure via modulating the gut microbiota composition and host metabolic products — mSystems

Bifidobacterium lactis — International Probiotics Association

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus 101: Sources, Benefits, and Uses — Physician’s Choice

Can fermented or probiotic foods with added sugars be part of a healthy diet? — ISAPP

The post Why probiotics may be the next big thing for lower blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, people living in the black hole of depression often suffer not only from negative psychological feelings but also from physical symptoms.

Even worse, depression has been found to lead to a frighteningly high rate of other chronic illnesses. This makes taking steps to support your mental well-being vital if depression has come knocking at your door.

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Depression drags your health down 30% faster.

Recent research involving 172,556 volunteers in the UK Biobank study delved into the likelihood a person with depression has of ending up with one (or multiple) long-term physical conditions.

The team followed participants for nearly seven years, focusing on 69 physical conditions. Ultimately, the research revealed two disturbing findings…

The first is that even at the start of the study, people with depression were already behind the eight ball. That’s because the research showed that those with depression had an average of three physical conditions compared with an average of two in people without depression.

And if that weren’t worrisome enough, the results revealed that over the study period, adults with a history of depression accrued those healthy problems 30% faster than those without depression.

The most common new conditions people with depression were likely to suffer included:

• Osteoarthritis
• Hypertension
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The results highlight that a previous diagnosis of depression is a risk market for accelerated development of long-term physical health conditions — and that depression should be viewed as a “whole body” condition.

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Recognizing depression

It’s crucial that we recognize the signs of depression early on. This research underscores the fact that if we want to safeguard our physical health, we must be proactive in identifying and addressing depression.

Psychological feelings of depression can include things like persistent sadness, anxiousness, hopelessness or pessimism.

You might also feel irritable, worthless, or helpless and lose interest in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed.

However, as we mentioned earlier, physical signs of depression are also a possibility. These can be issues such as:

• Sleep problems – 75% of those with depression experience problems falling or staying asleep.
• Chest pain – Depression can raise your heart rate, respiration and blood pressure.
• Fatigue often includes feeling exhausted even when you’ve had enough rest.
• Pain – People who are depressed are three times more likely to experience regular pain and four times more likely to get intense, disabling neck or back pain.
• Digestive trouble – Living with depression can upset your GI system, leading to nausea, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation.
• Headaches – Both tension-type headaches and migraines are common in people with depression.
• Weight or appetite changes – Depression can cause appetite changes in either direction.
• Agitation or restlessness – Irritability or anger has been reported in up to two-thirds of people with depression.
• Sexual dysfunction – Either depression itself or the prescription drugs given for it can result in loss of sex drive and performance issues.

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Because of all these symptoms, you might be tempted to turn to medication to help your depression.

It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional. They can provide guidance on what to expect from medications and help you make informed decisions.

Over the years, we’ve learned that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are only approximately 33% effective. Yet, they also carry a 33% higher risk of premature death.

For some people, talk therapy works better. You might consider using these lifestyle tips that research has shown to be key in breaking the catch-22 of depression.

Sources:

Depression linked with higher risk of long-term physical health conditions — EurekAlert!

9 physical signs you could have depression — Easy Health Options

Unraveling: The serotonin connection to depression — Easy Health Options

The post Depression can bring on physical illness 30% faster appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

If medication isn’t yet necessary, there are five natural supplements that can help promote normal blood pressure without concern for side effects.

Some conventional doctors are coming around to the idea of using these as your first choice to regain control of your blood pressure, along with lifestyle improvements that might include a healthier diet and regular exercise.

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What is normal blood pressure?

A normal blood pressure reading would be any blood pressure at or below 120/80 mm Hg and above 90/60 mm Hg.

When your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mm Hg or diastolic pressure is from 80–89 mm Hg, you could be considered to have prehypertension.

Although you aren’t classified as having high blood pressure yet, prehypertension can quickly turn into true high blood pressure.

Once your systolic blood pressure reaches between 130 and 139 mm Hg, or if your diastolic blood pressure reaches between 80 and 89 mm Hg you are diagnosed with stage one high blood pressure.

From there, the higher the numbers, the worse your condition is considered.

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Supplements that can help and how to take them

So, now that you know where your numbers put you on the blood pressure spectrum, what can you do?

The traditional advice of eating a healthy diet and getting the right amount of exercise still stands, but along with that, here are five supplements that have been shown to support blood pressure…

1. Omega-3s — Research has shown that increasing your omega-3s can decrease your blood pressure. So, add in a high-quality cold-water fish oil supplement like krill oil to get your blood pressure back into a healthy range. The Mayo Clinic recommends 6,000 mg per day (2,000 mg with each meal) for 6 months to prevent heart disease.
2. Vitamin D3 — People with low levels of vitamin D have a higher risk of high blood pressure. Taking a therapeutic dose of 5,000 IU per day of D3 can help you regain control of your blood pressure.
3. Calcium/Magnesium — Too little of either of these minerals is associated with high blood pressure. Women need 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium per day while men should get between 500-600 mg. You will need approximately 500 mg of magnesium to replace the amount you lose each day through your normal body processes.
4. Potassium — Potassium helps by balancing the salt level in your body. Adding a potassium supplement of 100 mg per day can help promote healthier blood pressure.
5. CoQ10 — 45- 60 mg of CoQ10 per day has been shown to lower blood pressure as much as 12 to 25 points. Just be sure to buy a soft gel as they are better absorbed.

If you’re on blood pressure medications don’t stop taking them. Talk to your doctor about the nutrients above and see if you can work together on a natural solution to maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Sources:

Nwankwo T, Yoon SS, Burt V, Gu Q. Hypertension among adults in the US: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief, No. 133. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2013.

Facts about hypertension — CDC

Fish oil — Mayo Clinic

New Guidelines for Potassium Replacement in Clinical Practice — Scribd

Coenzyme Q10 — University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)

Coenzyme Q10 — Mayo Clinic

The post 5 supplements that support normal blood pressure levels appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That’s because dropping the extra pounds is one of the most effective ways to improve your blood sugar.

And now according to a new study, there’s one more big benefit to following a weight management program for your diabetes — being able to cut back on or even toss out both your diabetes and your blood pressure medication for good.

Lose weight and kiss diabetes and high blood pressure goodbye

The research specifically utilized a weight management program developed by researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Newcastle for the Diabetes UK-funded Diabetes REmission Clinical Trial (DIRECT).

It involves multiple phases — the first of which is 12 weeks on a diet that involves consuming low-calorie soups and shakes. And it can lead to weight loss of over 15 kg or 33 pounds in just four months when followed fully.

For the second phase, you simply choose foods and eat wisely in order to maintain your weight.

For the study, researchers had participants stop all diabetes and blood pressure drugs at the start of the diet and then only had them restarted if their blood sugar or blood pressure went up.

And here’s what happened.

Not only did participants experience remission of their type 2 diabetes, but the diet also helped lower blood pressure — and reduce the need for antihypertensive medications.

The study showed that:

• Maintaining the 33-pound weight loss allowed 80 percent of people to become free from type 2 diabetes, without the need for diabetes medications for at least 2 years.
• Average blood pressure fell steadily as people lost weight.
• Blood pressure remained lower after the formula diet period finished, and then at 12 and 24 months.
• Just over a quarter (28 percent) of people needed to reintroduce a blood pressure tablet during the diet.
• Another 28 percent were able to remain off their blood pressure medications for at least two years following the diet.

“Our study shows that, in addition to possible remission from type 2 diabetes, there are other very important health benefits, as weight loss is a very effective treatment for hypertension and its associated serious health risks,” said Professor Mike Lean, from the University of Glasgow.

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Slimming down to ditch the drugs

The study showed that simply by losing weight, you have the power to not only improve your heart, blood vessel, and blood sugar health but also finally either decrease or eliminate the need for medication to treat those issues.

Of course, you don’t want to simply ditch the drugs without talking to your doctor, even if you are losing weight.

Instead, start a healthy weight loss plan and ask your doctor to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar to help you get off the medications safely.

To follow the diet used in the study, check out the book Life Without Diabetes: The Definitive Guide to Understanding and Reversing Diabetes by Ron Taylor, MD.

Or simply follow a low-calorie, nutrient-dense diet with plenty of fruits and veggies, such as the Mediterranean diet. Weight loss might be slower. But when it comes to weight loss, getting to your destination is what matters.

Sources:

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes and Ongoing Remission — Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre

Diabetes remission diet also lowers blood pressure and reduces need for medication — EurekAlert!

The post Kiss diabetes and high blood pressure goodbye in one step appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And, because the disease is often silent, up to 9 in 10 patients don’t even realize they have it until it’s severe.

If that weren’t bad enough, over the past four decades, modern medicine has offered only a handful of new options for treating it.

But that may be changing — thanks to the identification of an enzyme “helper” molecule that could be used not only to help develop new treatments, but to prevent kidney disease in the first place…

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Protecting the vital role of tubule cells

Metabolic reactions spark energy to carry out specific functions in the human body. Metabolites are like fuel for those reactions. Without these helper molecules, critical processes can go awry and often lead to disease conditions.

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that using a common supplement to boost one such helper molecule, called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD for short), protected mice from kidney dysfunction by protecting the mitochondria of kidney tubule cells.

Mitochondria are responsible for supplying energy to most cells in the body. Similarly, NAD is found in all living cells. Of course, NAD synthesis (like so many things) decreases with age and also quickens aging.

When the researchers were mapping metabolite changes in mouse and human kidneys, they identified differences in levels between healthy and diseased kidneys that were consistent, including a prominent decrease in NAD in diseased kidneys.

So they decided to give mice supplements to see if it would reverse the NAD loss — and it did. That protected the mitochondria in the tubule cells, which are used to return filtered nutrients to the body’s bloodstream.

When the mitochondria in those cells are damaged, a pathway causing inflammation and kidney disease development is activated. But NAD supplements suppressed the inflammation,  protected the tubule cell mitochondria and prevented kidney dysfunction in the mice.

When asked what the results of this study could do for the future of kidney disease treatment, co-lead investigator Katalin Susztak, MD, Ph.D., had this to say: “We hope that this research can lead to improved care in the future. So when patients have metabolite changes, they can receive treatment before kidney disorders arise.”

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Boosting the body’s NAD

The research team hopes that their research will lead to further studies into the role of metabolite changes in kidney dysfunction, as well as the development of new pharmaceuticals to prevent and treat kidney disease.

However, the supplement used in this research to boost NAD is already readily available over the counter.

The researchers suggested nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide — both of which are forms of B3 — and act as precursors to help the body produce the enzyme NAD.

For people at risk of kidney disease, supplementing to support NAD could be key to avoiding it.

If you currently have kidney disease and take medication, it’s a good idea to discuss taking supplements with your prescribing physician.

Sources:

Key mechanism for kidney disease identified – EurekAlert!

Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States – NIH

The post Key player in kidney disease identified (and a supplement that helps) appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s no secret that studies have shown that eating too much salt can cause your blood pressure to skyrocket.

But cutting down on salt is next to impossible…

Sure, you can remove the shaker from your dining table, ignore it at restaurants and say no to the gravy, sauces and dressings — but unless you’re preparing all your meals from scratch, salt is an inescapable given.

But what if there was something that countered salt’s harmful effects? Sort of a “kryptonite” that weakened its ability to raise blood pressure?

Sound too good to be true?

Well, this time it’s not…

Research has found that for women, at least, a heart-healthy nutrient can lower blood pressure, even in salty diets, and is urging women everywhere to start eating these foods…

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The relationship between salt and potassium

“It is well known that high salt consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure and a raised risk of heart attacks and strokes,” says Professor Liffert Vogt of Amsterdam University Medical Centers, the Netherlands. “Health advice has focused on limiting salt intake, but this is difficult to achieve when our diets include processed foods. Potassium helps the body excrete more sodium in the urine.”

Armed with these facts, the professor and his research team set out to determine just how vital potassium really is in managing the blood pressure dangers of salt.

So they accessed the health data of almost 25,000 participants between the ages of 40 and 79, a near-even split between men and women, and compared their blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular events to their sodium and potassium intake from their diets.

And the results were clear…

There’s an inextricable link between potassium consumption and blood pressure — but dietary potassium was linked with the most significant health gains for women, per Professor Vogt.

The team found that as potassium intake went up, blood pressure went down. Specifically, for every one-gram increase in daily potassium, women benefited from a 2.4 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure.

And these benefits were seen most clearly in women who ate a LOT of salt.

What about the men? While their benefits weren’t as significant as the women’s, they weren’t left out in the cold completely…

The researchers followed up with all of the participants for 19.5 years. And after adjusting for all confounding factors, like age, sex, body mass and more, they discovered that people who consumed the most potassium in their diets had a 13 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who got the least.

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Getting more potassium in your diet

When asked about the results of the study, Professor Vogt had this to say: “The results suggest that potassium helps preserve heart health, but that women benefit more than men. The relationship between potassium and cardiovascular events was the same regardless of salt intake, suggesting that potassium has other ways of protecting the heart on top of increasing sodium excretion.”

This is great news, but I do have one warning…

Just because potassium acts like salt kryptonite for blood pressure, don’t throw all caution to the wind. Too much salt has other effects on the body that are far from healthy…

Salt negatively impacts your body’s production of nitric oxide — a compound that relaxes and widens the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow.

A high sodium diet could leave you with immune system problems and open to infection as well.

Now, how to get more potassium into your diet…

To protect your heart and have better blood pressure, these foods should be on your list to eat regularly:

• Bananas (Green bananas have a special added benefit)
• Avocados
• Salmon
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Dark leafy greens
• Asparagus

And be sure to watch out for warning signs that you may be deficient in potassium, since many of us don’t get enough of the vital nutrient in our diets.

Sources:

Women urged to eat potassium-rich foods to improve their heart health – ScienceDaily

The post Women urged to eat this blood pressure ‘kryptonite’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s actually a fancy term for how stiff or flexible your arteries are. And it’s key to maintaining healthy blood pressure and stopping serious disorders like heart attack, stroke and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, researchers are finding that vascular compliance may be an indicator of another serious health condition that’s become widespread in the U.S. and around the world…

Arterial stiffness as an indicator of diabetes risk

Previous research has shown that high blood pressure (or hypertension) is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. And arterial stiffness, a common finding in people with hypertension, is also connected with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

So researchers set out to see which of these two factors may be more effective in predicting future type 2 diabetes risk, since early intervention can help prevent the onset and slow the progress of the condition.

What they found may change the way doctors identify patients most at risk for diabetes…

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Dr. Anxin Wang, senior study author and a researcher, along with his team, took a close look at health data from over 11,000 participants in the Kailuan study, an ongoing study of adults aged 18 to 98 years in Tangshan, China. That study included measurements of artery wall stiffness, which were calculated by using a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity — a standard technique that measures the rate at which pressure waves move down the blood vessels.

They compared the risk of type 2 diabetes among people in four groups:

• Those with normal blood pressure and arteries with normal amounts of stiffness (considered “ideal vascular function”).
• Those with normal blood pressure with stiffer arteries.
• Those with high blood pressure and normal artery stiffness.
• Those with high blood pressure with stiffer arteries.

The double cardiovascular whammy

How did the data pan out?

Compared to the group with ideal vascular function:

• Participants with both hypertension and elevated arterial stiffness had the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to the group with ideal vascular function.
• Those with normal blood pressure and stiffer arteries also had an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the ideal vascular function group.
• Participants with high blood pressure and normal artery stiffness had the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes.

If you think that’s surprising, you’re not alone…

“We were surprised to find that people with increased arterial stiffness were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, whether they had high blood pressure or not,” Wang said. “These results provide strong evidence that measuring arterial stiffness may be a better predictor than blood pressure in determining an individual’s future risk of Type 2 diabetes.”

One thing to note is that the study defines hypertension by the Chinese and international standard of 140 mm Hg/90 mm Hg or greater resting blood pressure. The guideline from the American Heart Association in the U.S. considers hypertension to be blood pressure of 130 mm Hg/80 mm Hg or higher.

They also found that this dangerous combo of high blood pressure and stiffer arteries was more likely to occur in:

• Men
• Older people
• Those who had a higher body mass index and higher heart rate and reported smoking and drinking alcohol

As if the news wasn’t bad enough, those with increased arterial stiffness also had higher fasting blood glucose and cholesterol levels compared to participants who did not.

“These findings provide new insight into the prevention of type 2 diabetes, indicating that early detection and treatment for high blood pressure and arterial stiffness may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” Wang says.

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Supporting your arteries

The American Heart Association says several healthy lifestyle choices will reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by keeping your heart healthy. They identify them as “Life’s Essential 8” and it’s great advice to follow — so check out the link for their checklist.

But how can you keep your arteries from stiffening up? Turns out there is one thing you can do right away…

Increase your vitamin K2 intake. Vitamin K2 has been shown in multiple studies to be supportive of the health of the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in the walls of your arteries. These cells are what keep our arteries smooth and flexible when we’re young. Unfortunately, as we age, the VSMC in our arteries age along with us and don’t function as well.

In one study, vitamin K2 has been found to hamper the death (or apoptosis) of VSMC, as well as reduce changes in the VSMC phenotype.

Another study indicates increased vitamin K2 may reduce arterial stiffness, slow the progression of vascular and valvular calcification, lower the incidence of diabetes and coronary artery disease and reduce death from cardiovascular causes.

There’s a high level of vitamin K2 deficiency among the U.S population, and some experts believe the recommended intake is suboptimal. So adding foods with vitamin K2 will help boost your levels.

You can get vitamin K2 from animal sources like beef, bison, goose, dairy products, chicken and organ meats like liver and some leafy greens. But a specific form of vitamin K2 known as MK7 has shown in research to be especially beneficial to increase arterial elasticity. A great source of MK7 is natto, a Japanese dish made of fermented soybeans.

Sources:

Artery stiffness may predict Type 2 diabetes risk better than BP and standard risk factors — American Heart Association

Vitamin K2—a neglected player in cardiovascular health: a narrative review — openheart

Vitamin K2 – Vital for Health and Wellbeing — Kappa Bioscience

The post The diabetes warning that comes from your arteries appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

While it may seem that way, there are plenty of known factors that can lead to stroke.

The good news is that many of those conditions usually present themselves well in advance and can be modified often by lifestyle changes or medication.

Where should you start? Research from the University of Galway in Ireland has identified which conditions can contribute to severe stroke — and the single most important modifiable risk factor…

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Types of stroke

First, a quick review of the differences among three types of stroke: ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic attack, or TIA.

The vast majority of strokes are ischemic. The arteries that supply blood to the brain become blocked by a clot or severe narrowing of an artery. Plaque can break off the walls of a blood vessel and can also cause a blockage.

Hemorrhagic stroke, as the name implies, happens when an artery in the brain breaks open or leaks blood. The blood from that artery creates excess pressure in the skull and swells the brain, causing damage to brain cells and tissues.

A transient ischemic attack (often called a “mini-stroke”) is a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain caused by a blood clot. Though TIAs can resolve on their own, usually with no permanent damage, it’s critical to seek immediate medical care when one strikes. A TIA is a warning sign that a full stroke may be imminent.

Risk factors for severe stroke

The Galway study has pinpointed the risk factors that not only carry a higher stroke risk but may also lead to more severe strokes.

They defined severe stroke as having outcomes ranging from being unable to walk or care for oneself without assistance to requiring constant nursing care to death.

A mild or moderate stroke was defined as having less severe outcomes, such as having no symptoms or requiring some help with personal care, but being able to walk without the assistance of another person.

The research started with 26,948 people from 32 countries with an average age of 62, of whom half suffered a stroke.

Researchers compared how important risk factors were for severe stroke and mild to moderate stroke to people who did not have a stroke.

They also compared how important risk factors were in those with stroke only, where people with a severe stroke were matched with and compared to people with a mild to severe stroke.

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They found that:

• 74% of those with severe stroke had high blood pressure, compared to 72% of those with mild to moderate stroke.
• 11% of those with severe stroke had atrial fibrillation compared to 9% of those with mild to moderate stroke.
• People who smoked were 1.9 times more likely to have severe stroke and 1.7 times more likely to have mild to moderate stroke than people who were not smokers.
• People with atrial fibrillation were 4.7 times more likely to have severe stroke and 3.6 times more likely to have mild to moderate stroke than people without atrial fibrillation.
• After adjusting for age, sex, country and type of stroke, researchers found people with high blood pressure were 3.2 times more likely to have a severe stroke and 2.9 times more likely to have a mild to moderate stroke than people without high blood pressure.
• They also found people with atrial fibrillation were 4.7 times more likely to have severe stroke and 3.6 times more likely to have mild to moderate stroke than people without atrial fibrillation.

So, what’s under your control?

It should be clear from the data above that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke, followed closely by atrial fibrillation and smoking.

And according to study author Catriona Reddin, MD at the University of Galway in Ireland and a member of the American Academy of Neurology “Our findings emphasize the importance of controlling high blood pressure, which is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke globally.”

But these three are often intertwined. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is a huge risk factor for atrial fibrillation. And of course, we know that smoking leads to high blood pressure.

So, we’ve got the beginnings of a stroke-avoidance plan here.

• Don’t smoke. If you do, get help quitting.
• See a doctor regularly to have your blood pressure checked, and consider a quality at-home monitor to track it outside of doctor appointments.
• Take steps to keep your blood pressure in a consistently healthy range.

Start here, and you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to avoiding a stroke.

Sources:

Which risk factors are linked to having a severe stroke? — Science Daily

Association of Vascular Risk With Severe vs Non-Severe Stroke — Neurology

High blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and your risk of stroke — heart.org

The post The risk factors most strongly linked to severe stroke appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It can also be a setup for a higher risk of dementia.

But for one stubborn health problem, the vitamin D connection has been tricky to nail down…

Previous studies have linked it to positive changes in blood pressure, but overall, the results have been inconclusive, at least in the general population.

But new research finds that it may be a matter of when and who vitamin D can help the most…

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Vitamin D impacts blood pressure in older people with obesity

Scientists at the American University of Beirut Medical Center hoped to find a direct connection between vitamin D supplements and improvements in blood pressure.

So they conducted a randomized controlled trial that included 221 older people with obesity who took vitamin D3 supplements during the study.

Historically, people with obesity often have a harder time managing blood pressure. That’s due to complex factors connected to obesity that impact blood pressure including hormonal imbalances, increased blood flow for kidneys that have to work harder, and visceral fat that increases pressure on the cardiovascular system and promotes inflammation.

They divided the study participants into two groups: one supplementing 600 IU/day of D3 (the recommended dietary allowance); and the other taking 3,750 IU/day, more than six times the RDA.

They followed the participants for a year and found that supplementation decreased blood pressure in both groups.

“Our study found vitamin D supplementation may decrease blood pressure in specific subgroups such as older people, people with obesity and possibly those with low vitamin D levels,” says Dr. Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan of the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

“High vitamin D doses compared to the IOM’s recommended daily dose did not provide additional health benefits.”

The researchers also did not report any adverse effects among the group taking the higher dose.

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Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

Winter is coming, and that means a lot of sunless days spent indoors.

That’s why we’re at a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency this time of year. After all, it’s not called the “sunshine vitamin” for nothing.

A whopping 42 percent of us are vitamin D deficient. But unless you get regular bloodwork done to monitor your levels, you won’t know you’re one of them until symptoms start to show up.

It’s all too easy to chalk up these issues to other health concerns, but if you’re experiencing any of these, especially if they’re new symptoms, it’s best to have your D levels checked.

Symptoms of D deficiency include:

• joint pain
• hair loss
• fatigue
• dizziness
• depression
• trouble sleeping

Among post-menopausal women in particular, dry eyes can be a symptom of a vitamin D deficiency too.

Signs of dry eye include:

• dryness
• grittiness
• soreness
• burning
• redness
• temporarily blurred vision that improves when you blink
• feeling like there’s something in your eye
• sensitivity to light
• watery eyes

If you need some direction on supplementing, the National Endocrine Society issued new Clinical Practice Guidelines about who should be taking amounts of vitamin D higher than the current RDA, and have even suggested that testing levels first isn’t necessary.

Sources:

Vitamin D supplements may lower blood pressure in older people with obesity — Eureka Alert

Blood Pressure Decreases in Overweight Elderly Individuals on Vitamin D: A Randomized Trial — Journal of the Endocrine Society

Obesity-Induced Hypertension:Interaction of Neurohumoral and Renal Mechanisms — Circulation Research

25-Hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is independently associated with cardiovascular disease in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey — Atherosclerosis

Latest Knowledge on the Role of Vitamin D in Hypertension — International Journal of Molecular Sciences

The post When vitamin D helps lower blood pressure the most appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yes, they are high in fat and calories. But a good chunk of that fat is of the heart-healthy variety. And they contain specific nutrients that should promote healthier blood pressure.

It’s this last bit that grabbed the attention of a group of scientists in Mexico. They decided to put the blood pressure-busting effects of avocados to the test. And what they found is pretty amazing…

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Avocado lowered blood pressure in women

The researchers examined a cohort of female Mexican teachers who were more than 25 years old and free from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at the beginning of the study. The study population was about 13 percent postmenopausal, 78 percent premenopausal and 9 percent unknown.

Dietary data was collected from over 67,000 participants four times over one year. The frequency of avocado consumption was categorized as one serving, which equaled one-half of an avocado. Results were grouped into five categories: less than one serving a month, two to three servings a month, one serving a week, two to four servings a week and five or more servings a week.

Ultimately, they found that women who ate five or more servings (or 2.5 avocados) per week had a 17 percent lower rate of hypertension than those who ate fewer servings.

And just as the researchers suspected, the avocado’s nutrition came through…

The women with the highest intake of avocados had increased levels of:

• heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs);
• fiber than those who ate lower amounts of avocados;
• magnesium and potassium as well.

The bottom line: All of these components improve lipid profiles in the bloodstream.

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It’s all in the superfood nutrition

Just one-half of an avocado contains 4 to 6 grams of fiber. Women who eat 25 grams of fiber a day have been found to have lower heart disease risk, including lower blood pressure. Plus, avocados contain lots of magnesium and potassium, and people deficient in these minerals have a higher risk of hypertension.

The researchers suggest that clinicians should consider adding half an avocado five times a week to a heart-healthy diet. That may sound like a lot of avocados, but there are plenty of ways to add them to your diet.

A little potassium-enriched salt (the salt that doesn’t raise blood pressure) and pepper is the way to go, in my opinion, when enjoying them.

The researchers noted that avocados are rich in several phytonutrients that could provide protective effects for heart disease, including antioxidants and phytosterols.

A 2019 study showed supplementation with phytosterols reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with high cholesterol levels. However, much higher amounts were used in the study than what you might gain from consuming avocados.

Another plus… It may just jumpstart your journey to better health outcomes in more ways than one.

That’s because the researchers found that the avocado-loving women in their study had other healthy characteristics: They were not current smokers and were less likely to be obese — and more likely to have a high-quality diet, be physically active and take multivitamins.

Sources:

1. Avocado Intake Associated With Less Hypertension in Women — Natural Medicine Journal

2. Avocado consumption is associated with a reduction in hypertension incidence in Mexican women — British Journal of Nutrition

The post What half an avocado a day does to your blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

I still love the taste of licorice, but as an adult I’ve switched to pure licorice.

But as someone with mild hypertension, I’m a LOT more careful about how much of the stuff I eat.

Licorice root has both good and bad effects on the body.

The World Health Organization has set guidelines for how much licorice it’s safe to consume.

But guess what? Now, they’re questioning those guidelines. And it looks like their judgment was off.

If you’re a licorice lover — and over 40 — you’ll want to read this…

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The benefits of eating licorice

Licorice is a well-known herb in traditional Chinese medicine.

There are more than 300 compounds in licorice root, some of which have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.

Licorice drops are well-known for soothing a sore throat. In moderation, licorice can ease stomach discomfort and kill oral bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Research has even found that one of those compounds, glycyrrhizic acid, may help fight prostate cancer.

But glycyrrhizic acid is a double-edged sword…

The risks of eating licorice

An excessive amount of glycyrrhizic acid can cause serious imbalances in your electrolyte levels, particularly potassium. It also affects the body’s fluid balance through effects on an enzyme in the kidney.

Both of these can cause high blood pressure, which can trigger heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms and congestive heart failure.

So, getting back to the WHO’s guidelines … just HOW MUCH black licorice can you safely enjoy without worrying about your blood pressure and heart?

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The guidelines were wrong

The standing guidelines from the World Health Organization state that 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid per day (about 3.5 ounces) is probably safe to eat for most individuals.

Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden had their doubts. They set out to test whether this limit is truly safe.

When you and I eat licorice, we don’t know how much glycyrrhizic acid we’re consuming.

But in this study, half of a group of 28 women and men aged 18-30 were instructed to eat licorice where the glycyrrhizic acid content was known to be exactly 100 mg.

The other half, the control group, ate a product that contained salmiak, which adds to the salty flavor of licorice.

At the end of two weeks, those who ate licorice saw their blood pressure increase an average of 3.1 mmHg.

In addition, those who ate licorice saw a decrease in renin and aldosterone, the two hormones that regulate the body’s fluid balance, another factor in causing hypertension.

About a quarter of the participants were especially sensitive to the effects of licorice. This group also had elevated levels of a protein that the heart secretes more of when it needs to work harder to pump blood through the body, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

So where does this leave licorice lovers?

As with all sweets, over-indulgence is not a good idea. But in this case, you’re not just looking to avoid weight gain. Too much licorice candy could land you in the hospital, or worse.

The FDA “encourages moderation,” while warning: “If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm.”

For me, licorice is an occasional treat. I limit myself to 1-2 pieces every few days.

Use good judgment. It’s probably best to treat yourself once every so often, rather than keeping a bag of licorice candy in your cupboard. That way, your risk of eating too much isn’t as great.

Sources:

Small amounts of licorice raise blood pressure, study finds — Science Daily

A low dose of daily licorice intake affects renin, aldosterone, and home blood pressure in a randomized crossover trial — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

What are the benefits of licorice root? — Medical News Today

The post Even a little licorice can raise your blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But in more recent years, naps have gotten a bad reputation because of their potential effects on heart health.

In 2020, an analysis of 20 nap studies revealed a connection between daytime napping and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Another one, published in 2022, found that frequent napping may be a stroke warning. And still another found that if you’re depending on naps to make up for sleepless nights, you’re still losing out.

Getting good sleep matters — so much so that the American Heart Association (AHA) recently revised Life’s Simple 7 to Life’s Essential 8 (a checklist for lifelong good health).

The new version acknowledges the growing body of research showing how people who get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night are better able to manage various aspects of their heart health — and how shortchanging that can have dire consequences you should know about… especially if you’re a napper.

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Hypertension, cardiovascular disease and sleep duration

Sleep duration is known to affect blood pressure and can increase the risk of hypertension. So, a team of researchers decided to evaluate the connection between sleep duration and the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) using data collected on adults who were middle-aged and older.

Participants were divided into two groups: a hypertension group and a non-hypertension group. There was also a CVD group and a non-CVD group. All participants underwent follow-up for an average of 6.5 years, during which any stroke or cardiac event was tracked.

In addition to nighttime sleep duration, researchers evaluated how often participants took naps, total day and night sleep duration and the percentage of naps in total sleep duration. Here’s what they found:

• According to the study results, middle-aged and older adults who reported sleep duration of less than 6 hours and those with a high nap ratio (at least 0.4) were at risk of hypertension. Men 60 years and older with a high nap ratio saw a higher risk of hypertension.
• As for CVD, risk was elevated in participants who had a sleep duration of less than 6 hours per night, those with a total sleep duration of less than 6 hours, and those with a nap duration of less than 0.5 hours. Women 60 years and older who slept for less than 6 hours were also at increased risk of CVD.

There were some limitations to the study. The only correlations that could be obtained were between hypertension or CVDs and nap, sleep duration at night, total sleep duration and nap ratio.

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The problem with naps: shortening your nighttime sleep duration

These study results show that if you’re 45 years of age or older, you should get more sleep at night instead of taking a long afternoon nap.

To improve nighttime sleep, the AHA recommends taking steps to optimize your sleep hygiene as much as possible. These include keeping your phone away from your bedside, dimming your devices at night to reduce blue light exposure and blocking device notifications overnight so you don’t get woken up.

Consider these tips as well to get better sleep:

• Resistance exercise has been shown to increase sleep time by an average of 40 minutes. But never exercise within a few hours of your bedtime. Exercising then could make it harder to fall asleep.
• Whether you’re three or 43, having a bedtime routine can help you sleep better. Here are four pillars of a good bedtime routine to help you sleep better than a toddler.
• A healthy gut microbiome is essential to produce serotonin — a key player in our sleep/wake cycle. Probiotics and prebiotics can help balance gut bacteria and support the production of serotonin.
• People who eat more fruits and vegetables sleep better. One study saw improvements in sleep quality in as little as 24 hours.
• Rule out sleep apnea. Signs include waking frequently during the night, gasping for air, having dry mouth or snoring. If you suspect sleep apnea, tell your doctor.
• If you have an overactive bladder, or BPH, stop drinking anything at least 2 hours before bedtime to avoid frequent bathroom trips overnight.

If you do all this and still struggle to get more than 6 hours of nighttime sleep, an occasional afternoon nap may be helpful — as long as it’s done strategically…

Take your nap early in the afternoon since napping after 3 p.m. can interfere with your nighttime sleep. Nap in a dark, quiet place with a comfortable temperature and few distractions. And keep your nap between 10 and 20 minutes, since the longer you nap, the more likely you are to feel groggy afterward.

Sources:

Sleep Duration Associated With Higher Risk of Hypertension — AJMC

Associations of siesta and total sleep duration with hypertension or cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged and older adults — Clinical Cardiology

Healthy Lifestyle — American Heart Association

Life’s Essential 8 — American Heart Association

Napping: Do’s and don’ts for healthy adults — Mayo Clinic

The post The strong connection between naps, hypertension and heart trouble appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Even though it’s far from it! 80% of heart disease need not exist. That’s not a wish. It’s a fact.

And unless you’re diligent, you might be missing an opportunity to avoid it. 

Here are some key facts you need to know:

1. High cholesterol and high blood pressure have no symptoms

Two of the leading preventable causes of heart disease can be present inside your body without you realizing it. Even though both conditions affect nearly half of all US adults, neither high cholesterol nor high blood pressure are associated with obvious physical signs or symptoms. So unless you have them checked, you can’t know if you’re in the clear.

How often should you have these evaluated?  My rule of thumb is that cholesterol levels should be checked once in your teens, twice in your twenties, three times in your 30s, four times in your 40s, five times in your 50s, and yearly there after. More frequent checks are required if abnormal readings are noted at any point along the way. Blood pressure should be checked at EVERY healthcare encounter and AT LEAST as frequently as cholesterol.

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2. Hidden risks are common

Even when you get your cholesterol checked, you may have incomplete information about your true risk. Apo B and Lipoprotein A are tests worth having — although few physicians are aware of these tests and actually order them.

Lipoprotein A is a genetically determined risk factor that can only be uncovered with a blood test. It affects about 1 in 5 Americans. And if you don’t test for it, you won’t know if you’re at increased risk of developing plaque buildup prematurely. You need this tested only once in your lifetime.

Apo B helps determine how confident we are that your LDL reading is a true representation of risk. Apo B can change with lifestyle adjustment.  Timing and appropriateness of Apo B testing is something that your doctor should weigh in on. Apo B and Lipoprotein A (Lp(a)) are both assessed with blood tests that are not expensive and are typically covered by insurance (but always good to check with your specific plan).

3. Heart disease is not just a concern for older adults

Traditionally, heart disease has been viewed as an illness affecting primarily older adults.

However, as outlined in a recent blog, heart disease begins in childhood.  And when we exercise less because we’re glued to screens, and when we’re surrounded by foods that fuel high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure, it might not be surprising that heart attacks among adults under 40 have become increasingly common.

Regardless of age, the time to start preventing heart disease is today.

4. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women — and many don’t know it

Many people still think of heart disease as primarily a “men’s issue,” but it’s actually the leading cause of death for women as well. In fact, heart disease kills more women each year than all cancers combined (including breast cancer).

Women are also less likely to experience the classic signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms in women can be subtler and may include fatigue, nausea, or shortness of breath. Although many women experience fatigue (Hello! We’re juggling multiple roles!) and both nausea and shortness of breath have many causes, if you have risk factors for heart disease (see #1 and #2), you should take your symptoms seriously — especially if they are new or unexpected. 

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5. Food drives most of it

Globally, heart disease remains the top cause of death. In the United States alone, someone dies from a heart-related condition every 33 seconds. This is roughly the equivalent of a September 11th-like tragedy repeating itself every 24 hours, 365 days a year.  

This statistic underscores just how pervasive and serious heart disease is. But it’s not just about mortality rates — it’s also about the quality of life for millions of people who live with heart conditions. And, to reiterate the point I made at the beginning of this blog, 80% of this represents unnecessary suffering. 

Five of the 7 modifiable risk factors for heart disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar/diabetes, excess weight, poor diet) are all due in part or in whole to dietary choices (quitting smoking and moving more are the other two modifiable risk factors).  This means changing what you eat is the most impactful thing you can do yourself to avoid this disease.   

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The post 5 scary heart health facts that could haunt you appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are a number of risk factors for AFib, including being over 60 years of age or having diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure or prior heart attacks.

But even seemingly unrelated conditions can increase the risk of AFib including thyroid disease or a serious infection.

If you suffer from migraine with aura you can be up to 30 percent more likely to develop AFib than those who don’t have headaches.

You may not give AFib much thought, but considering it’s been on the rise, it’s a condition that warrants our attention…

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Three times as many AFib sufferers

According to new estimates from UC San Francisco (UCSF), AFib has been on the rise for the past decade. In fact, it may be three times more common than previously thought.

UCSF’s latest estimate put the number of U.S. adults with AFib at roughly 10.5 million, or nearly 5 percent of the U.S. population.

After reviewing the medical records of nearly 30 million adult patients in California from 2005 to 2019, researchers found about 2 million of them had been diagnosed with AFib. They saw that numbers rose from 4.49% among patients treated between 2005 and 2009 to 6.82% of patients treated between 2015 and 2019. That’s a pretty significant jump.

They also noticed that AFib patients tended to be younger and were less likely to be female and more likely to have hypertension and diabetes.

When they standardized the data to reflect the entire U.S., the researchers estimated the current national prevalence of AFib to be at least 10.55 million.

Now, that makes AFib still pretty uncommon. Compare that 5 percent estimate with the roughly half of Americans aged 45 to 84 estimated to have some level of atherosclerosis.

But given how serious AFib can be, the increase in cases is definitely cause for concern. Some complications associated with AFib include shortness of breath, light-headedness, blood clots, and even heart failure. Most frightening is that people with AFib are up to five times more likely to have a stroke.

“Atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of mortality, is one of the most common causes of stroke, increases risks of heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease and dementia, and results in lower quality of life,” says first author Dr. Jean Jacques Noubiap, a postdoctoral scholar at UCSF with a specialty in global cardiovascular health.

“Fortunately, atrial fibrillation is preventable, and early detection and appropriate treatment can substantially reduce its adverse outcomes,” Noubiap says.

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Be proactive about AFib

To avoid becoming one of those increasing number of AFib cases, there are a few things you can do. First, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, ensure these conditions are managed well and practice healthy lifestyle habits like good diet and exercise.

But also be aware of symptoms that could indicate AFib and discuss them with your doctor, including:

• Extreme fatigue
• An irregular heartbeat
• Heart palpitations
• The feeling of butterflies or a fish flopping in your chest
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting (syncope)
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Be persistent with your doctor, especially if you’re a woman. The University of British Columbia Okanagan found that 77 percent of female participants in a study suffered AFib symptoms for more than a year before being diagnosed by their doctors.

Consider having your vitamin D levels tested. One study found that taking vitamin D lowered AFib risk by between 27 and 32 percent. Vitamin D is well-known to be heart-protective in general.

Finally, try adding nuts to your diet. Research found that people who ate nuts three times per week or more reduced their atrial fibrillation risk by 19 percent.

Sources:

Atrial fibrillation estimated to be three times more common than previously thought — Medical Xpress

Minimum National Prevalence of Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Inferred From California Acute Care Facilities — Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) — Heart Rhythm Society

Atherosclerosis — Cleveland Clinic

The post The heart condition 3 times more common than thought appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But that’s not all that the eyes can reveal…

It turns out that our eyes can provide a glimpse into what else can be going on in the body, including hints about many health ailments — and not just those affecting the eyes.

In some cases, they can even lead to life-saving early detection.

Here are 10 of them…

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Brain tumor

A simple visual field measurement can reveal abnormalities, but often patients are either unaware of them or consider them so benign that they don’t bother to report them. It’s important to make note of any visual field abnormalities because they can indicate brain tumors, such as pituitary adenoma.

Diabetes

Screening for diabetes is an area that’s ripe for improvement, especially since it often is not diagnosed until six to 13 years after its onset. An eye exam might speed that up — as well as prevent vision loss…

Lesions, characteristic of diabetes, can appear at the back of the eye before other symptoms are known. Slashing this delay is crucial because, within five years of diagnosis, 25 percent of patients with type 1 diabetes and 40 percent of those with type 2 diabetes who are treated with insulin will develop eye lesions that can have a major impact on vision.

Early identification and rigorous monitoring of eye health significantly reduce the risk of blindness, which can happen when diabetes goes untreated.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke. Yet high blood pressure, referred to as a “silent killer,” can go unnoticed until it’s a significant problem.

As strange as it might sound, the eye can be used to diagnose both of these conditions. This is because the eye is the only part of the body where blood vessels can be seen without requiring an incision or invasive techniques.

For instance, high blood pressure can be identified by unusual bends, kinks, or bleeding from blood vessels in the back of the eye, as well as definite signs on the retina. Hypercholesterolemia creates cholesterol deposits and atherosclerosis creates Hollenhorst plaques, both of which are visible inside the eye blood vessels. Cholesterol can also be seen in the cornea or the adnexa of the eye.

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Lupus

This inflammatory disease, in which the body attacks its own tissues and organs, can be indicated by dry eye, as well as by swelling in the white part of the eye, the middle layer of the eye or the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Lyme disease

This infection is transmitted by ticks and results in inflammation throughout the body. Many people with Lyme disease experience inflammation of the optic nerve, as well as an increase in “floaters,” small specks that drift across their field of vision, at the onset of infection.

Multiple sclerosis

About half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have optic neuritis, a condition in which the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Symptoms can include blurry vision, the sight of “washed out” colors and eye pain for a few days when you move your eyes.

MS can also be indicated by double vision or involuntary eye movements.

Cancer

Cancers that affect the eye, like retinoblastoma, can also cause metastases to the lungs and liver. The disease often develops without symptoms until it’s too late, so early detection is crucial.

Another cancer clue visible in the eye is congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CHRPE). It appears as a shape that looks similar to a bear’s paw and may be associated with colon cancer, which is often not diagnosed until the later stages.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Red eyes with deep, severe pain can be a harbinger of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This symptom indicates scleritis, a painful inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye, that requires treatment. Many people with RA also suffer from dry eye.

Thyroid disease

Hyperthyroidism can cause protruding eyeballs and retracted eyelids. This is most commonly caused by Graves’ disease, a condition in which the thyroid produces too much or too little hormone. This condition can also be accompanied by dry eye, blurry vision, or vision loss.

Get your eyes checked

If you have abnormal eye movements, asymmetric pupillary responses, sudden reading problems or the appearance of double vision, it’s time to visit your optometrist. They can help determine whether you need to be seen by an ophthalmologist for further diagnosis and treatment. Your ophthalmologist can refer you to another specialist if the condition extends beyond the eyes.

Sources:

Your Eyes Can Shed Light on Underlying Health Problems — Science Alert

MS eye and vision problems — MS Society

20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch — American Academy of Ophthalmology

The post 10 hidden health problems your eyes can reveal appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Medications can help, but most of my patients are interested in minimizing their need for those and deploying every lifestyle avenue available to achieve their BP goal. Losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, sleeping well, managing stress, and avoiding sodium and stimulants (like caffeine and alcohol) can all make a big difference.

But new research opens yet another avenue to lower blood pressure readings — spirituality and gratitude.

A groundbreaking study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session found that people with high blood pressure who engaged in daily spiritual practices saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 7 mmHg. This is a medication-level reduction!

In addition, participants also experienced improvements in the health of their blood vessels, as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a key marker of cardiovascular health.

The Power of Spirituality and Gratitude

The study, conducted in Brazil, followed 100 patients with hypertension over 12 weeks. Half of the participants received daily messages via their smartphones, designed to encourage spiritual reflection and practices such as gratitude, optimism, and forgiveness. These messages were simple yet impactful, inviting participants to take a few moments out of their day to focus on life’s purpose or complete small tasks like sending a message of thanks to someone.

The results were striking. Alongside the 7 mmHg drop in blood pressure, participants in the spirituality group saw their FMD increase by 4.5 percent, indicating healthier blood vessels and better cardiovascular function overall. In contrast, those who didn’t receive the intervention actually experienced a decline in FMD by 3 percent.

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Spirituality Without Boundaries

One of the most compelling aspects of this study is that the intervention wasn’t tied to any specific religious tradition. Instead, it focused on universal concepts such as gratitude and forgiveness, making it accessible to anyone regardless of faith background. 

While previous studies have hinted at the connection between spirituality and heart health, most have been observational, making it difficult to prove a direct link. This new study adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests focusing on positive emotions can lead to measurable health improvements.

Our Complex Self

In medical school, we are taught to look at the body in bits and pieces. Organ systems, targeted pharmaceuticals, treatment sub-specialization.  But when doctors finally go into practice, if they are observant and curious enough, they quickly see that nothing about the human body or human health is separate or isolatable.  

This is why relying only on targeted pharmaceuticals represents a narrow view of health and healing.  Each of us has the ability to help ourselves heal from within.  That doesn’t mean drugs are bad — but why not leverage our complexity to our advantage?  Including our emotions.  

Remember, a key pillar of healthy longevity is a sense of purpose and joy – a sense that is supported by feelings of gratitude, optimism and forgiveness.  What this new research confirms is that those emotions don’t just make us feel good —  they also measurably improve health. 

The post Study links spirituality to healthier blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And it’s a risk not to be taken lightly…

One-quarter of seniors who fracture a hip from a fall die within six months of the initial injury.

Other research shows 1-year mortality rates in hip fracture patients from nursing homes to be 36 percent for women and 54 percent for men.

And according to researchers at Rutgers University, there’s a surprising factor increasing this risk…

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The link between blood pressure medications and fractures

It wasn’t all that long ago that I warned about the threat that long-term use of blood pressure drugs can pose to our kidneys. Now I need to share another…

As noted by Hanna Gaggin, MD, MPH and Daniel Kirshenbaum, MD from Harvard Health Publishing, “A common source of prescriptions is high blood pressure, with older adults often finding themselves on multiple medications to lower their blood pressure.”

Unfortunately, as the Rutgers research reveals, this could spell an increased fracture risk.

The researchers analyzed data from nearly 30,000 elderly patients in long-term care facilities from 2006 to 2019, comparing the 30-day risk of fractures for patients who began using blood pressure medications with similar patients who didn’t.

They found that the 30-day fracture risk for adults who began blood pressure medication was 5.4 per 100 people per year. Compare this to a rate of just 2.2 per 100 for patients who took no blood pressure medication.

Put simply, blood pressure medications more than double the risk of life-threatening bone fractures.

But why? They were associated with a side effect that contributed to falls.

A dangerous impact on balance

To ensure they could pinpoint falls caused by the use of the drugs, the team weeded out all other issues, like demographics and clinical history — and it came down to blood pressure drugs.

The research also revealed that certain people are at higher risk of fracture when taking these meds than others, including:

• High systolic blood pressure (when the first number of the blood pressure reading is above 139).
• High diastolic pressure (the second number of the blood pressure reading above 79).
• And people with dementia.

The most extreme risk was found in people who had no recent use of blood pressure medication, who all experienced at least triple the chance of suffering a fracture within 30 days.

You’re probably wondering why taking these medications makes falls and fractures more likely.

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The researchers say that the increased risk is due to the medications’ adverse effects on balance.

This is especially true when someone taking blood pressure drugs first stands up and temporarily experiences a drop in blood pressure that deprives the brain of oxygen. It’s similar to what occurs with orthostatic hypertension.

And of course, interactions with other drugs (due to multiple prescriptions, known as polypharmacy) and existing balance problems that come with aging may only compound the problem.

Reducing fracture risk

While this study looked at nursing home residents, it’s important to remember that the median age of the people in this study was 77.

This means these fractures could just as easily happen to an older person at home. Therefore, it’s vital to know the steps to take to prevent falls and fractures if you or a loved one is taking medications for your blood pressure.

These include:

• Stand up slowly – Since blood pressure drops when you stand, it’s especially important not to rise too quickly. Take your time as you stand up to allow your pressure to adjust.
• Steady yourself – As you stand, hold onto something such as the back of a chair, a counter or the edge of a desk.
• Be aware – Caregivers and adult children should be mindful of the potential fall dangers that come with blood pressure drugs to offer proactive support.

Falls present a real and present danger to both quality and length of life for older adults, and many medications, not just blood pressure drugs, can play a significant role in their risk. Keep track of any medications you or your loved one is taking and take steps now to make falls and the fractures they cause less likely.

Sources:

Blood pressure drugs more than double bone-fracture risk in nursing home patients — EurekAlert

Is it safe to reduce blood pressure medications for older adults? — Harvard Health Publishing

The post Blood pressure drugs tied to surprising fracture risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Only about half (54%) of these 75 million individuals have their blood pressure under control.

In addition, about another 75 million Americans have prehypertension, which means their blood pressure is not quite in the high blood pressure range.

Because hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is also the number two greatest public health threat, getting an accurate measurement of blood pressure is critical. But are we? Recent findings have some experts asking, do we need to change how we measure blood pressure?

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What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force necessary to move blood through the arteries that exit the heart to deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

When you are told your blood pressure reading, the first number (systolic) is the highest pressure in your blood vessels while your heart is contracting. This number is an indication of how stiff your arteries are, and it’s important since arterial stiffness is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The second number (diastolic) is the amount of pressure in the arteries between heartbeats when your heart is relaxed.

Experts have determined that high blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure equal to or greater than 130 mmHg and diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 80 mmHg. While this seems like a clear definition of high blood pressure, the numbers are useful only if your blood pressure has been measured accurately. Do you know if your blood pressure has been read accurately?

Do we measure blood pressure accurately?

Blood pressure can be measured in several different ways, but the approach the vast majority of people are familiar with is the use of a blood pressure cuff wrapped around the brachial artery in the upper arm. In some cases, blood pressure is taken using the femoral artery in the thigh, around the wrist (typically home blood pressure devices), or central aortic.

Of all the methods, the one believed to be the most accurate is the latter, because it provides information on the amount of pressure affecting the organs, including the brain. However, central aortic blood pressure measurements require an invasive technique to be performed.

In a recent study appearing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a team of experts reviewed 74 studies that involved nearly 3,100 participants and involved measuring blood pressure using the popular cuff method, intra-arterial aortic BP and intra-arterial brachial BP. Overall, the authors found that:

• Cuff BP underestimated intra-arterial brachial systolic BP by a mean of -5.7 mmHg and overestimated intra-arterial aortic systolic BP by a mean of 5.5 mmHg.
• Cuff BP was reasonably accurate (accuracy up to 80%) for individuals with a blood pressure lower than 120/80 or those with a BP greater than 160/100.
• For individuals with systolic blood pressure between 120 and 159 mmHg and with diastolic values between 80 and 99 mmHg, accuracy declines to between 50 percent and 57 percent

They concluded that “Cuff BP has variable accuracy for measuring either brachial or aortic intra-arterial BP, and this adversely influences correct BP classification.”

Why blood pressure readings can be inaccurate

Several factors can affect the accuracy of a blood pressure reading and in some cases, more than one factor may be involved. For example:

• Size of the cuff. A cuff that is too small may cause the systolic reading to be 10 mmHg to 40 mmHg higher than it really is. The proper arm circumference should be visible on the cuff.
• Where the cuff is placed. The cuff should be positioned at heart level about 1 inch above the elbow bend and on bare skin, not over clothing. The sleeve of the shirt should be off and not rolled up, because blood flow can be affected.
• Hearing problems. If an individual is using a stethoscope to listen for changes in sounds in the brachial artery, A blood pressure reading may be inaccurate if the measurement is taken using a stethoscope and by an individuals who has some hearing loss.
• Calibration issues. Blood pressure devices, including home and automated machines, should be calibrated regularly to ensure accurate readings. Up to 15 percent of patients get an inaccurate blood pressure reading from home machines, according to one study.
• Body position. For the most accurate reading, you should be seated in a chair with your back supported, your feet flat on the floor, and your legs uncrossed for at least five minutes before the measurement is taken. Your arm also should be supported while you are seated.
• Activity. Certain activities can increase your blood pressure. For example, talking while having your pressure taken or having a full bladder both may raise your systolic pressure by 10 mmHg. You should not engage in any exercise for at least 30 minutes before having your pressure taken.
• Drug use. Intake of caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine should be suspended for at least 30 minutes before having your pressure measured.
• Seeing a doctor. For about 15 to 30 percent of people, seeing their doctor automatically causes their blood pressure reading to rise temporarily. This is known as white coat hypertension.

Health risks associated with low or high blood pressure

Abnormally low blood pressure can be caused by a number of factors, such as pregnancy, loss of blood, endocrine problems, nutritional deficiencies, and prolonged bed rest. Symptoms associated with low blood pressure can include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Problems with concentration
• Fainting
• Blurry vision
• Cold, clammy skin
• Fatigue
• Unusual thirst
• Rapid, shallow breathing

High blood pressure typically is not accompanied by symptoms. In fact, the first indication of hypertension may be a heart attack or stroke. Having high blood pressure increases your risk for developing kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, vision loss, sexual dysfunction, and stroke.

How to assess blood pressure risk without a cuff

If you want to assess your risk of high blood pressure without using a cuff or seeing your doctor, the waist-to-hip ratio is an option. The idea is that if you have more fat around your waist than you do on your hips, you may be at an increased risk for obesity-related hypertension.

Take a measurement of your hips at the widest part and your waist at the smallest part (immediately above the belly button). Then divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, and the resulting ratio indicates your risk of hypertension.

For example: a value of 0.9 or higher places men at risk for hypertension. Values less than 0.85 means a man is in excellent shape regarding hypertension risk, while values in between indicate good to average condition.

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Lifestyle changes key to lower blood pressure

Lifestyle modifications, rather than hypertension medications, are the key to lower blood pressure. This is the message more and more doctors need to pass along to their patients, along with guidelines on how to make those necessary changes. Among the most important lifestyle changes one can make are diet and exercise, although stress reduction, not smoking, and adequate sleep are also significant factors.

For example, the standard American diet is high in carbohydrates (especially sugar and fructose) and processed foods, both of which result in an overproduction of leptin and insulin and a rise in blood pressure. High levels of uric acid (associated with red meat, alcohol, turkey, some fish and seafood) also are associated with hypertension.

Another issue related to diet is the fact that high blood pressure is a symptom of the body’s resistance to leptin and insulin. A resistance to insulin, for example, elevates blood pressure because insulin helps the body store magnesium, a mineral that relaxes muscles. When cells are resistant to insulin, magnesium can’t be stored properly, resulting in blood vessel constriction and elevated blood pressure.

Leptin is a hormone that helps make us feel full via signals to the brain. However, for people with leptin resistance, the brain doesn’t realize when there is enough leptin circulating in the body, so you may not feel satiated and keep on eating, which can result in obesity and raised blood pressure. Ways to reverse leptin resistance is to avoid processed foods (especially those with added sugars, trans fats, and sodium), exercise regularly, and get plenty of soluble fiber.

Other dietary actions you can take to help lower blood pressure are:

• Focusing on locally grown, organic, unrefined foods
• Swapping simple or starchy carbs for healthy fats, such as avocados, coconut oil, raw nuts, grass-fed meats or pasture-raised poultry, and unheated organic nut oils. Sugars and starches elevate insulin and leptin levels, which can promote high blood pressure
• Practicing intermittent fasting, which is an effective way to normalize leptin/insulin sensitivity. Intermittent fasting can be done in a variety of ways. One way is to eat all of your calories during a specific period of time each day and fasting the rest of the time; for example, all food is consumed between 10 AM and 2 PM and you don’t eat (except for water and/or fluids) until 10 AM the next day. You also can explore other ways to practice intermittent fasting. The body is most sensitive (and thus less resistant) to insulin and leptin following a period of fasting.

Regular exercise is another important way to help normalize blood pressure. One unique exercise that takes only three minutes and will safely lower blood pressure is the nitric oxide dump exercise. It involves four basic movements that are done in rapid succession over a three-minute period two to three times a day. This exercise session stimulates the release of nitric oxide, which in turn lowers blood pressure by relaxing and dilating your blood vessels, improving immune system function, reducing the thickness of your blood, and boosting lean body mass. While doing this exercise — and all exercises — focus on breathing through your nose rather than your mouth. Mouth breathing can promote high blood pressure and fatigue.

Note: If you are taking medication to treat high blood pressure, work closely with your doctor as you adopt healthful lifestyle modifications. Do not make any medication changes without medical guidance.

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Medical treatment for high blood pressure

More than 100 drugs are available to treat high blood pressure, and all of them are associated with at least a few side effects, some of which are more serious than others. Among the most commonly prescribed drugs for high blood pressure include:

• Beta-blockers (e.g., acebutolol, atenolol, carteolol, among others), which lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. Side effects may include stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash, blurry vision, headache, and depression, among others.
• Diuretics, also known as water pills. Several groups of medications are in this broad category, including those that spare or don’t spare potassium. Examples of diuretics are chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide, bumetanide, furosemide, and amiloride, among others. Some side effects are headache, dizziness, thirst, increased blood sugar levels, muscle cramps, and rash, among others.
• Calcium channel blockers, which relax the muscle cells in blood vessel walls. Examples of calcium channel blockers include diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, and nifedipine. Some side effects include dizziness, edema, nose bleeds, rash, and ringing in the ears, among others.

You can start to take control of your blood pressure by monitoring it at home. When using a home BP monitoring device, be sure you take your blood pressure reading at the same time each day and to always take it on the same arm. Talk with a knowledgeable professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, pharmacist) to ensure you are using the device correctly.

The new gold standard for detecting hypertension and pre-hypertension is through the measurement of the central pressures, which the heart, brain, and kidneys actually experience, and is, in almost all cases if elevated, a measure of systemic arterial stiffness. Currently adopted by specialists including cardiologists and research institutions, the SphygmoCor® system is being expanded into use by more and more health and naturopathic professionals.

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