ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM HIGH BP?...DON T WORRY YOU CAN REVERSE IT?

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1 ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM HIGH BP?...DON T WORRY YOU CAN REVERSE IT? Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140 mm Hg or more, or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mm Hg or more, or taking antihypertensive medication. It often has no symptoms and many people do not know they have it. The chance of developing high blood pressure becomes greater as a person grows older. If you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. This means that you may be at risk of cardiovascular disease, for example a heart attack (when the blood supply to your heart is affected) or a stroke (when the blood supply to your brain is affected). You may also be at risk of damage to the blood vessels in your kidneys or eyes. The higher your blood pressure is, the greater your risk becomes. It is generally classified as: Normal: Systolic lower than 120 mm Hg, diastolic lower than 80 mm Hg Pre-hypertension: Systolic mm Hg, diastolic mm Hg Stage 1: Systolic mm Hg, diastolic mm Hg Stage 2: Systolic 160 mm Hg or greater, diastolic 100 mm Hg or greater

2 Hypertension may be primary, which may develop as a result of environmental or genetic causes, or secondary, which has multiple etiologies, including renal, vascular, and endocrine causes. With the reduction in the systolic and diastolic BP, the further cardiovascular risk can be easily managed and all this can be achieved by non-pharmacological (lifestyle measures) as well as pharmacological means. Lifestyle changes should be the initial approach to hypertension management and it includes dietary interventions (reducing salt, increasing potassium, alcohol avoidance, weight reduction, tobacco cessation, physical exercise, and stress management). Non-pharmacological therapy (or lifestyle management) has an important role in both non-hypertensive and hypertensive individuals. In non-hypertensive individuals, including those with prehypertension, lifestyle modifications have the potential to prevent hypertension and more importantly to reduce BP and lower the risk of BP-related clinical complications. In hypertensive individuals, lifestyle modifications can serve as initial treatment before the start of drug therapy and as an adjunct to drug therapy in persons already on medication. In hypertensive individuals with medication-controlled BP these therapies can facilitate drug step-down in individuals who can sustain lifestyle changes. Management 7 recommendations to lower BP and decrease cardiovascular disease risk include the following, with greater results achieved when 2 or more lifestyle modifications are combined 1. Weight loss (range of approximate systolic BP reduction [SBP], 5-20 mm Hg per 10 kg) 2. Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 oz (30 ml) of ethanol per day for men or 0.5 oz (15 ml) of ethanol per day for women and people of lighter weight (range of approximate SBP reduction, 2-4 mm Hg) 3. Reduce sodium intake to no more than 100 mmol/day (2.4 g sodium or 6 g sodium chloride; range of approximate SBP reduction, 2-8 mm Hg) 4. Maintain adequate intake of dietary potassium (approximately 90 mmol/day) 5. Maintain adequate intake of dietary calcium and magnesium for general health 6. Stop smoking and reduce intake of dietary saturated fat and cholesterol for overall cardiovascular health 7. Engage in aerobic exercise at least 30 minutes daily for most days (range of approximate SBP reduction, 4-9 mm Hg)

3 Millions of men and women experience hair loss as they age, sometimes starting as early as their 20s or 30s. Depending on the reason for your hair loss, you may be able to reverse it or at least slow it down LOSING YOUR TRESSES?? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY!?? Have you noticed an increasing number of hairs in your sink or hairbrush? Are you beginning to see more of your scalp when you look in the mirror? Some hair loss, if it s happening with you is absolutely normal. According to the experts, an estimate of a loss of approximately 50 to 150 strands of hair per day represents normal shedding for the human hair growth cycle. So, some hair in the sink or shower is nothing to be alarmed about. Sudden hair loss, or thinning hair over your entire head (and possibly other parts of your body), or clumps of hair falling out are considered unusual, and should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner or trichologist. The fear of losing more hair is usually what prompts people to seek medical attention. Although some people may be driven by vanity, for others hair loss is devastating to their self-esteem. Because hair cells are replenished more quickly and visibly than most other cells, the condition of your hair is like a barometer of your overall health. Sudden or excessive hair loss can indicate an underlying

4 problem, such as a vitamin or mineral deficiency, a hormone imbalance, a toxicity brought on by something in your environment, or too much stress in your life. Sometimes the cause for the hair loss can be treated or eliminated, resulting in new hair growth and healthier hair. Those individuals who have a genetic predisposition for early or excessive hair loss may not be able to fight it, but they can at least try to slow it down by being aware of factors that affect hair health. Dry, brittle hair Protein deficiency, possibly due to poor protein digestion Essential fatty acid deficiency Deficiencies in vitamin A, sulfur, silicon, or zinc Imbalance involving thyroid hormones Oily hair Essential fatty acid deficiency Deficiencies in zinc, vitamin B6, riboflavin, or folic acid Coarse hair Vitamin A deficiency and possible hypothyroidism (vitamin A metabolism requires adequate levels of thyroid hormones) Protein deficiency Split ends or untamed hair Iron deficiency Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc Loss of texture or shine Essential fatty acid deficiency Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc Imbalance involving growth hormone Premature graying Usually related to stress Hormone imbalance (probably related to stress) Deficiencies in B vitamins, sulfur, copper, or folic acid Imbalance involving testosterone, growth hormone, or ACTH (a pituitary hormone)

5 Scalp disorders (dandruff, seborrhea, and psoriasis) Fungal infection, accelerated by a high carbohydrate diet Disruption of local and systemic immunity Aggravated by stress Essential fatty acid deficiency Deficiencies in B vitamins, zinc, biotin, selenium, or copper (especially if sensitive to the sun) Excessive hair loss Patchy hair loss Poor blood flow or poor circulation to the scalp Deficiencies in protein, essential fatty acids, B vitamins, silicon, and zinc Imbalance involving thyroid, growth hormone (especially if hair loss is all over), or ACTH Metal poisoning Deficiencies in folic acid and zinc Imbalance involving ACTH or cortisol Balding all over the head Imbalance involving thyroid hormones, DHEA, or estrogens Hair loss can take a variety of forms, including thinning of hair, or circular bald patches. Any such pattern must be mentioned to the healthcare practitioner as it may be the sign of a medical condition or a nutritional deficiency Nutrition and Digestion for Hair Loss Healthy hair requires good nutrition, involving a wide variety of vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. As a result, poor nutrition will have a fairly immediate and obvious effect on hair

6 health. Starvation dieting, rapid weight loss and eating disorders often trigger some hair breakage or hair loss. Sometimes just introducing different foods into your diet, such as eating a lot of fried food over a period of days when you're not used to it, can change the appearance and health of your hair. Vegetable oils commonly used to fry foods can block the absorption of compounds critical to hair health. Margarine and hydrogenated fats are also considered to be detrimental to fatty acid metabolism and thus advised to be strictly avoided. Healthy hair requires the proper combination of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Improper digestion is another factor that can contribute to hair loss. A lack of pepsin (an enzyme essential for protein digestion) can interfere with the absorption of key nutrients. The hair, being mostly protein, so it s loss will readily reflect poor protein status. Medical Conditions Various diseases and medical conditions can also lead to thinning hair or bald patches. Thyroid disease (discussed below) is one of the most common explanations for hair loss. It may also occur with diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as HIV. Sudden, severe hair loss may indicate a liver dysfunction or other serious illness, so it is wise to bring it to the attention of your healthcare practitioner. Parasites, such as ringworm, and fungal or yeast infections can also cause hair loss. If left untreated, these conditions can rob the body of nutrients by preventing the proper absorption of proteins, vitamins, and minerals necessary for healthy hair. Women typically lose some of their hair shortly after pregnancy and during menopause, most likely as a result of changing hormone levels.

7 Hair loss due to chemotherapy is also usually temporary, with new hair beginning to grow once the treatment is stopped. Hair loss starts 2 to 4 months after the start of a severe or prolonged illness, or major surgery. This type of hair loss is most likely due to the stress of the illness or surgery and is also temporary, with hair returning as the body heals and regains its balance. Treatment Options Recognizing and treating an infection, especially a scalp infection, is critical to preventing total hair loss.

8 The hair loss treatment industry is booming, but unfortunately, many of the so-called treatments are scams that simply do not work. There is no "quick fix" to natural hair recovery. There are few FDA approved medicines available with the health practitioners. Please consult them for any changes observed in the hair growth. Start embracing your curls now!! Content is sourced from public domain & is provided by H3U for educational & informational purposes. It should not be considered as a substitute to medical advice. H3U makes every effort to ensure accuracy or completeness of editorial content, However we do not take responsibility for any errors, omission & also do not take responsibility to ensure that data, information of material is kept up to date. The views expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of H3U. Reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or otherwise, for reason other than

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