Among a group of 138 first-time marathon runners, researchers observed that after six months of training, participants experienced a 3- to a 4-point drop in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as a 9% improvement in aortic function. The … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pulp and Seeds Reduce Blood Pressure in Animal Study
Rats fed a diet that included pumpkin pulp and seeds for eight weeks had blood pressure 20% lower than rats on a control diet. Researcher Dr. Soweto Thomas notes, “With the animal model we can never really fully say that what we see is exactly what … [Read more...]
Normal Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Levels Can Prevent “Heart Block”
Heart block, also known as atrioventricular block, occurs when electrical signals between the chambers of the heart are disrupted. This is often felt as a skipped beat and can result in the need for a pacemaker. An analysis of data concerning more … [Read more...]
High Blood Pressure in Middle Age May Weaken Brain Later
If you let your blood pressure get too high in midlife, you may pay the price of mental decline when you are older. A study involving nearly 14,000 individuals found that hypertension in those aged 48 to 67 years was tied to a 6.5% drop in mental … [Read more...]
Diet: Just One Meal
A single fatty meal can cause the heart to beat harder and increase blood pressure. Researchers analyzed the effects of eating a high-fat fast food meal (42 grams of fat) and eating a meal with no more than 1.3 grams of fat. When subjected to a … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Less Salt, More Potassium
Reducing salt intake can lower blood pressure, which ultimately reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Results show that four or more weeks of modest salt reduction leads to notable decreases in blood pressure. Increased potassium intake was … [Read more...]
Wellness/Prevention: Essential Oils
Essential oils, which form the basis of aromatherapy for stress relief, are reported to have a beneficial effect on heart rate and blood pressure following short-term exposure and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. After 45 minutes of … [Read more...]