blood pressure

Posted on Diabetes, Diet, Obesity

Drinking plenty of water may actually be good for you

In the first systematic review, UC San Francisco researchers found that it helps with a variety of conditions, from obesity to migraine.  

Public health recommendations generally suggest drinking eight cups of water a day. And many people assume it’s healthy to drink plenty of water.  

Now, researchers at UC San Francisco have systematically reviewed the available evidence. They concluded that drinking enough water can help with weight loss and prevent kidney stones, as well as migraines, urinary tract infections, and low blood pressure.  

“For such a ubiquitous and simple intervention, the evidence hasn’t been clear, and the benefits were not well-established, so we wanted to take a closer look,” said senior and corresponding author Benjamin Breyer, MD, MAS, the Taube Family Distinguished Professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Urology.  

“The amount of rigorous research was limited, but in some specific areas, there was a statistically significant benefit,” Breyer said. “To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the benefits of water consumption on clinical outcomes broadly.” 

The researchers found the most evidence favouring drinking water to prevent kidney stones and help people lose weight. 

Drinking eight cups of water daily significantly decreased the likelihood of getting another kidney stone. 

Several studies found that drinking about six cups of water daily helped adults lose weight. However, a survey that included adolescents found that drinking more than eight cups of water daily had no effect. 

Still, the authors said encouraging people to drink water before meals would be a simple and cheap intervention that could have huge benefits, given the increased prevalence of obesity. 

Other studies indicated that water can help prevent migraines, control diabetes and low blood pressure, and prevent urinary tract infections.

Adults with recurrent headaches felt better after three months of drinking more water. 

Drinking about four more cups of water a day helped diabetic patients whose blood glucose levels were elevated.  

Drinking an additional six cups of water a day also helped women with recurrent urinary tract infections. It reduced the number of infections and increased the time between them. 

Drinking more water helped young adults with low blood pressure.

“We know that dehydration is detrimental, particularly in someone with a history of kidney stones or urinary infections,” said Breyer, a UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics member. “On the other hand, someone who suffers from frequent urination at times may benefit from drinking less. There isn’t a one size fits all approach for water consumption.” 

Posted on Cardiovascular disease

Breaking each hour with 10 mins of exercise significantly reduced blood pressure

Time spent sedentary beyond six hours per day during growth from childhood through young adulthood may cause an excess increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure, a new study shows. Continuously engaging in light physical activity (LPA) significantly mitigated the rise in blood pressure. The study was conducted in collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in the UK, and the University of Eastern Finland, and the results were published in the prestigious Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.
A new study shows that sedentary time beyond six hours per day during growth from childhood through young adulthood may cause an excess increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure. Continuously engaging in light physical activity (LPA) significantly mitigated the rise in blood pressure. The study was conducted in collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in the UK and the University of Eastern Finland, and the results were published in the prestigious Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.

In the present study, 2,513 children from the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s cohort were tracked from age 11 to 24. At the beginning of the study, the children spent an average of six hours per day being sedentary, six hours engaged in light physical activity (LPA), and approximately 55 minutes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). By the time they reached young adulthood, their daily habits had changed significantly: they spent nine hours per day sedentary, three hours per day in LPA, and about 50 minutes per day in MVPA.

The average blood pressure in childhood was 106/56 mmHg, which increased to 117/67 mmHg in young adulthood, partly due to normal physiological development. A persistent increase in sedentary time from ages 11 to 24 was associated with an average increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure. Engaging in light physical activity (LPA) from childhood helped to reduce the final blood pressure level by 3 mmHg; however, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) did not have any effect on lowering blood pressure.

“Moreover, a simulation model indicates that replacing just 10 minutes of sedentary time each hour with an equal amount of light physical activity (LPA) from childhood through young adulthood can lead to a decrease in blood pressure. Specifically, systolic blood pressure could drop by 3 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2 mmHg. This finding is significant because research has shown that a reduction of 5 mmHg in systolic blood pressure can lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by ten percent,” explains Andrew Agbaje, an award-winning physician and associate professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Child Health at the University of Eastern Finland.

The current study is the largest and the most extended follow-up of accelerometer-measured movement behaviour and blood pressure progression in youth worldwide. Blood pressure measurements, sedentary time, LPA, and MVPA were taken at the ages of 11, 15, and 24. The children’s fasting blood samples were also repeatedly measured for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Heart rate, socio-economic status, family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status as well as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured fat mass and lean mass were accounted for in the analyses.

“We have earlier shown that elevated blood pressure and hypertension in adolescence increase the risk of premature cardiac damage in young adulthood. The identification of childhood sedentariness as a potential cause of elevated blood pressure and hypertension with LPA as an effective antidote is of clinical and public health significance. Several MVPA-based randomised controlled trials in the young population have not lowered blood pressure. We noted an MVPA-induced increase in muscle mass enhanced by a physiologic increase in blood pressure, explaining why earlier MVPA-based randomised clinical trials were unsuccessful,” says Agbaje.

“The World Health Organization estimates that 500 million new cases of physical inactivity-related non-communicable diseases would occur by 2030 and half would result from hypertension. At least three hours of LPA daily is critical to preventing and reversing elevated blood pressure and hypertension. LPA includes long walks, house chores, swimming, and bicycling. We all, parents, paediatricians and policymakers included, should encourage children and adolescents to participate in LPA to keep their blood pressure healthy,” Agbaje concludes.

Leave a comment Posted on Cardiovascular disease

Blood Pressure: Know Your Numbers




Being knowledgeable about your health is always helpful. Your blood pressure is no exception, 1/3 people who have strokes die because of high blood pressure. The Blood Pressure infographic created by westfieldhealth.com describes what blood pressure is, what it means, and then how to maintain a healthy blood pressure. The infographic was found on behance.net.




High blood pressure puts strain on your heart and increases your likelihood of developing health problems in the future. It is one of the most common causes of heart attacks and strokes, and is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and dementia. One in three people in the UK have high blood pressure even though just a few simple steps can help combat it. By checking your blood pressure, exercising regularly and reducing the amount of salt in your diet you can significantly lower your blood pressure and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

The infographic provides some useful tips and advice about how you can keep your blood pressure in check.

This is a really good design with great information for people.  I wish it was a little bit easier to understand though.  A few of the data visualizations are not clearly explained.

In Blood pressure High Spots, I don’t understand what the size of each symbol on the UK map represents.  The implication is the amount of reports high blood pressure cases, but the values are not shown.  I don’t understand the right circle at all.  The percentage numbers seem to be spread on a map, but it’s not the UK, and I don’t recognize it.

In Looking After your Blood Pressure, I think this diagram is completely artistic, even though it seems to imply that it’s a data visualization.




In A Guide to Blood Pressure Levels, the area chart seems to be a visualization over time of some sort, but no x-axis values are shown, so the readers can’t tell what this chart means.

Blood pressure

Blood pressure

Leave a comment Posted on Alzheimer's

New Study Discovers Nine Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease which destroys memory and many other important mental functions.

Alzheimer and Causes

Alzheimer and Causes

It is, also, the most common cause of dementia that is defined as a group of brain disorders that result in loss of social and intellectual skills. Scientists aren’t quite sure what causes Alzheimer’s disease which is why there’s no specific treatment that could stop it. Furthermore, scientists from different parts of the world are constantly working on studies and researches whose primary aim is to find out something new about this disease. Findings of these studies are used to modify treatments, prevent or delay its occurrence or slow down its progress. The most recent study identified nine risk factors for this disease.

 

Factors that put you at risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease

 

This particular study was conducted by team of researches led by Wei Xu from Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University in China.

 

For the purpose of this research, scientists systematically searched PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to July 2014. They analyzed more than 300 studies and references they included. In total, about 16,906 articles were identified of which 323 with 93 factors met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis.

 

The results of this study were published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Researchers discovered the following Alzheimer’s disease risk factors:

 

The team of researchers pointed out that study is strictly observational but they also assume that findings could help medical professionals prescribe specific lifestyle changes to the Alzheimer’s disease patients. Scientists also discovered that some hormones, drugs for high blood pressure, vitamins etc. can help lowering the risk of this disease while homocysteine and depression are associated with heightened risk.

 

Alzheimer’s disease in numbers

 

  • 1 in 3 senior citizens dies with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
  • 1 in 9 Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s
  • 2 in 3 Alzheimer’s disease patients in the US are women
  • 6 – Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the US, and also it is the only leading cause of death that cannot be prevented or cured. North Dakota has a higher Alzheimer’s disease mortality rate than any other state in the US (54 deaths a year per 100,000 residents). On the other hand, the lowest mortality rate associated with Alzheimer’s disease is in Nevada (11 deaths a year per 100,000 residents)
  • 44 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s or dementia
  • 30% of people with Alzheimer’s also have heart disease
  • 29% people with Alzheimer’s disease also have diabetes.

 

FACT: Alzheimer’s disease is most common in Western Europe with North America close behind. The disease is least prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Protecting cognitive health

 

Although Alzheimer’s disease can’t be prevented or cured, you can still make some lifestyle adjustments that would slow down its progress. Plus, protecting your cognitive health is of crucial importance for your overall health as well. Here are some things you can do:

  • Exercise – physical activity is beneficial for your wellbeing and it can also help prevent cognitive decline. There’s a well-known Latin proverb which says Mens sana in corpore sano meaning “a sound mind in sound body”. The point of the proverb is to emphasize the importance of physical activity for all aspects of your life. Even taking a nice and easy walk for 30 minutes each day can be quite beneficial for you.
  • Supplement – today, you can find a wide range of supplements formulated to improve memory, focus, and cognitive abilities. These supplements are made of natural ingredients whose benefits for brain health are well-documented. For example, Nerium EHT is an age-defying supplement that promotes better cognitive function and brain health, combats inflammation and oxidative stress, improves focus and concentration, and strengthens brain’s natural functions. Due to natural ingredients, brain supplements usually do not induce any side effects.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids – are essential for optimal brain health and if you didn’t have the habit of eating seafood (or taking Omega 3 supplements) it’s good time for you to start doing so. Plus, your body needs Omega 3 fatty acids to remain healthy.
  • Intellectual stimulation – in order to function properly, your brain needs to be challenged. There are various ways you can do it. For example, play Sudoku, crosswords or puzzles. You can also take up a new hobby, sign up for some class, travel, learn a new language; even reading is brain-healthy.
  • Social engagement – socializing is quite important for your brain health. Depression, one of major risk factors of this disease, is associated with loneliness. Hanging out with friends and family is soul-enriching and it’s also beneficial for your brain.

 

Conclusion

 

Alzheimer’s disease is a subject of a wide array of studies nowadays. Results of this study can be considered as a new breakthrough which can help doctors prescribe specific lifestyle changes to slow down progress of this disease. Hopefully, in the near future, we can expect more studies that would provide a new insight into this disease.

 

References

 

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/brain-health/can-mental-physical-activity-prevent-alzheimers.html

 

http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/relation-dementia-alzheimers-sleep/

 

 

 

Author Bio

 

Willo Conner – a freelancer, online article editor, eBook author for health and fitness. He has designed and taught health programs on the topics of health disorders, body image and self-acceptance, beauty tips for women, exercise for seniors. He writes for many online publications.

Leave a comment Posted on Diabetes

Diabetes and Sleep – Dr Rob Hicks tells us why too little sleep puts us at risk from Diabetes.


Dr Rob Hicks on Diabetes and Sleep

Dr Rob Hicks on Diabetes and Sleep

Recent research has suggested that too little sleeps increases the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. Indeed 9 in 10 are consistently plagued with disturbed or sleepless nights and almost half say that it was worrying about something that keeps them awake at night – with money being the obvious concern. In fact is sleep is disturbed a person is quite likely to only sleep for four hours.

PatientTalk.Org conducted this interview about sleep and diabetes with TV’s Dr Rob Hicks just before Easter!

We kicked off with asking Rob to tell us a bit about the connection between sleep and diabetes. He replied “The connection is that if you’re suffering with a problem with sleep and so for example you’re not getting enough sleep that there is a link with an increased risk of developing type two diabetes and that’s two fold, one is because people who do not get enough sleep tend to gain weight and that’s often because actually when we are tired we eat more comfort food and we are less active and there’s also been some research recently suggesting for people who are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis this effects just how effective insulin is , it increases something called insulin resistance which is felt to be the most main reason for type two diabetes so this is one of the many reason why we should take a good night’s sleep very seriously indeed. ”


Turning to the prevention of diabetes he shared “Well the important thing about a good night sleep is obviously the following day if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep you feel really tired , not only loss concentration pool but also productivity is likely to be bad but also you switch to move too eating more comfort food which tend to be high in calories and high in saturated fat, your less likely to be active you’re more likely to drink alcohol, that piles on the pounds in weight and the major risk factor for type two Diabetes is gaining weight. ”

Of course a good nights sleep is important for those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. “A good night’s sleep is good for everybody whether they have got diabetes or not because one of the problems is with not getting a good night’s sleep and certainly the Dunelm sleep survey has highlighted this is that people who are left tired the following day they are more likely to be irritable, they are more likely to adopt unhealthy lifestyles habits that increase blood pressure that increase cholesterol , we know that those factors increase the risk of not just diabetes but also of heart attacks and strokes but also it increases the risk of stress and anxiety and when we are felling stressed again we don’t follow healthy practises so if we want to get the best out of the day look after our emotional and physical well being then it’s very very important to have a good night’s sleep. ”

You can find out about ways of getting more and better sleep to help fight insomnia at our previous blog! Please follow this link https://patienttalk.org/insomnia-busting-some-great-tips-to-help-you-get-more-and-better-sleep/.