Blood Pressure Archive

Healthy aging and longevity

Treating low vitamin D levels may help people live longer

Published January 1, 2022

Treating people who have low levels of vitamin D with supplements may reduce their risk for heart attacks and death from any cause.

Heart Health

Seasonal changes and blood pressure

Published January 1, 2022

Some people with borderline high blood pressure have higher readings during winter, even high enough to need medicine to control it. In spring or summer, they might be able to reduce the dose or stop taking the medication. Losing excess weight and cutting back on salt also can help.

Heart Health

Don't fail your heart health

Published January 1, 2022

The most common type of heart failure in older adults is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This is caused by the heart's left ventricle not being able to relax, which means less blood enters the chamber, so less gets pumped out. Prevention and treatments continue to evolve, but include controlling blood pressure, addressing weight gain with exercise and diet, not smoking, and curbing alcohol intake.

Heart Health

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

Published December 1, 2021

Swapping regular table salt (sodium chloride) with a salt substitute containing some potassium chloride may lower the risk of strokes and related heart problems.

Healthy aging and longevity

What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down

Published December 1, 2021

Doctors recommend several strategies to lower resistant hypertension. One strategy is discontinuing medications that may be contributing to high blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), decongestants, certain antidepressants, and corticosteroids. Another strategy is treating underlying conditions that can boost blood pressure, such as sleep apnea. Other ways to lower stubbornly high blood pressure include getting lots of aerobic exercise, eating a plant-based diet that’s low in salt, getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Heart Health

Over-the-counter drugs that can boost blood pressure

Published December 1, 2021

People with high blood pressure should avoid certain popular over-the-counter drugs used to treat cold and flu symptoms and pain. The problematic products are those that contain decongestants such as oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Because drugstores contain an overwhelming number of products that feature those drugs, people should ask their pharmacist to recommend a product.

Heart Health

Aerobic exercise helps hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Published November 1, 2021

Regular aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling may help people with resistant hypertension lower their blood pressure.

Healthy aging and longevity

Breathing your way to better health

Published November 1, 2021

Taking time out of a stressful day to perform simple breathing exercises can reduce chronic stress and prevent the harm it can inflict on the body. Even a few short breathing sessions can make a big difference for many people. Chronic stress, when it goes unchecked, can lead to a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, depression, and reduced immune response.

Mind & Mood

Some blood pressure drugs are linked with better memory

Published October 1, 2021

A 2021 analysis found that adults ages 50 and older who took an ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril or an ARB like candesartan that crosses the blood-brain barrier scored higher on memory recall tests after three years on the medication, when compared with those who took a different drug in the same class that doesn’t cross over.

Heart Health

Breath training may lower blood pressure

Published October 1, 2021

Using a device that strengthens breathing muscles for just five minutes a day may help lower blood pressure. The small handheld device provides resistance as a person inhales and exhales, providing what’s known as inspiratory muscle strength training.

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Blood Pressure Archive

Articles

Treating low vitamin D levels may help people live longer

Seasonal changes and blood pressure

Don't fail your heart health

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down

Over-the-counter drugs that can boost blood pressure

Aerobic exercise helps hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Breathing your way to better health

Some blood pressure drugs are linked with better memory

Breath training may lower blood pressure

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