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All Hypertension and Stroke Alerts
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The Best Exercises To Lower Your Blood Pressure
Exercise plays a valuable role in controlling blood pressure. Experts recommend engaging in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes five to seven days of the week. You do not need to push yourself to the point of discomfort to achieve benefits. In a recent analysis of more than 50 trials, regular, moderate physical activity reduced blood pressure by an average of 4/3 mm Hg. … More...
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How High Blood Pressure Can Affect Your Memory
The most serious effects of untreated hypertension are well known: strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease, and vision loss. But hypertension can contribute to lesser-known health conditions, including cognitive (thinking) impairments. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins explains how hypertension leads to thinking problems and provides advice.
Hypertension, particularly in mid-life, may be a major risk factor for cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. On the plus side, research is showing that treating hypertension may… More...
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Stroke--A "Man's Disease" No Longer
Stroke has long been considered a 'man's disease,' but that notion seems to hold no more. Each year in the United States, 46,000 more women than men have a stroke, and three out of five deaths from stroke occur in women. What's more, if you think that breast cancer is a woman's biggest health concern, think again. A woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer is one in nine, but nearly one in five women over… More...
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How Low Should You Go?
Aggressively treating high blood pressure may not be good medicine after age 80, according to a new study reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Volume 55, page 383).
In this study, researchers looked at the medical records of more than 4,000 veterans age 80 and older with high blood pressure. Participants who lowered their blood pressure to just below the upper limit of normal -- 139/89 mm Hg -- were less likely… More...
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More Reasons to Eat Dark Chocolate
Can eating dark chocolate help lower your blood pressure? Studies reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association suggest the answer is 'yes!'
Cocoa-rich dark chocolate may be as good at lowering blood pressure as some medications, according to two studies. But tea -- green or black -- doesn't seem to have any significant effect. … More...
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Is It A Stroke? Signs You Should Know
You probably know the symptoms of a heart attack, but it's just as important to know the symptoms of a stroke. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke may minimize damage to brain tissue and improve the chances of survival. Here's advice from Johns Hopkins.
Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Since drug therapy is most likely to be effective within the first three hours of stroke onset,… More...
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Controlling Blood Pressure May Forestall Dementia
Hypertension is more treatable than ever before, thanks to a wide variety of lifestyle measures and blood pressure medications. When effective, these treatments can not only lower blood pressure, but also reduce the risk of complications from high blood pressure -- specifically, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. … More...
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The Fiber-Blood Pressure Connection
A diet rich in fiber can help lower blood pressure. But should you eat more soluble or insoluble fiber? Recent research provides the answer.
The shift in Western societies from a diet based on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes to a diet based on meats, refined grains, and processed foods has been associated with an increase in the incidence of heart disease and type 2 diabetes -- and several studies pointed to a lack of… More...
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Should You Try a DASH-Style Diet?
If you are concerned about hypertension, perhaps you should try the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. In this article – and a related article Tweaking the DASH Diet -- Johns Hopkins specialists explore the benefits of a DASH-style diet.
The DASH diet is an eating plan that can have a significant and positive effect on your blood pressure. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fat… More...
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Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Stroke
Rather than dissolving clots like t-PA, the experimental drug -- known for now as NXY-059 -- helps brain cells survive the stroke.
For many years, doctors could do little to intervene while an ischemic stroke (a stroke resulting from the blockage of an artery supplying blood to the brain) was in progress. But that changed about a decade ago with the approval of the emergency stroke drug tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), also known as alteplase (Activase).… More...
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Coping With Emotional Incontinence After Stroke
Are you or a friend experiencing bouts of uncontrollable crying or laughter? Are the episodes inappropriate or disproportionate to the situation at hand? What's going on? It's called 'emotional incontinence' and occurs in 20-25% of people in the first year after a stroke.
Researchers have not yet pinpointed the exact cause of emotional incontinence after a stroke. One possibility is that a stroke damages areas of the brain that control emotions. This stroke damage can… More...
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Lowering High Blood Pressure With Lifestyle Changes
A study led by Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Lawrence Appel shows that making lifestyle adjustments can lower blood pressure and improve the effectiveness of blood pressure-lowering medication.
Hypertension is more treatable than ever before, thanks to a wide variety of lifestyle measures and blood pressure medications. When effective, these treatments can not only lower blood pressure, but also reduce the risk of complications from hypertension -- specifically, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. … More...
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Nighttime Blood Pressure May Predict Heart Trouble
Are you a 'dipper' or 'nondipper?' A recent study suggests that men with 'nondipping' nighttime blood pressure are at greater risk for heart failure even when their daytime blood pressure was taken into account.
If you've had high blood pressure for many years, it can take a major toll on your health. It can damage both large and small arteries, leading to strokes as well as diseases of the heart, kidneys, and eyes. Fortunately, by controlling… More...
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The Dangers of a TIA
Most people who have a stroke never see it coming. The stroke occurs without any warning of the impending danger. However, some people are fortunate enough to get a warning that could save their life -- if they heed the signal. … More...
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New Research on Diuretics
The diuretic chlorthalidone -- an older, cheaper drug for high blood pressure -- may be the best for lowering night-time blood pressure and preventing heart failure, at least in the short term, studies suggests.
What’s the Best Diuretic for High Blood Pressure? When it comes to the diuretic drugs used to treat high blood pressure, the original may still be the best, researchers report in the journal Hypertension (Volume 47, page 352). In a study… More...
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Shopping for a Home Blood Pressure Monitor
Using a home blood pressure monitor daily can help you learn how well your lifestyle measures and medications are working.
Did you know that you don’t have to wait until your next doctor’s appointment to have your blood pressure measured? You can measure your blood pressure in the privacy of your own home with a home blood pressure monitor. … More...
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Tweaking the DASH Diet
If you have hypertension, your doctor most likely recommended that you make changes in your diet. That’s because a variety of dietary factors -- from salt and alcohol to fruits and vegetables -- can influence blood pressure, and getting the right amounts of these foods can go a long way toward keeping your blood pressure under control. More...
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Another Reason to Keep Your Blood Pressure Normal
Researchers report that your odds of ever suffering a stroke depend largely on your blood pressure in middle age and beyond.
No matter how good your health is, it's important to prevent any rise in blood pressure. The main reason is that blood pressure can cause damage to your body when it goes above 110/70 mm Hg -- long before hypertension is diagnosed. In addition, if you keep your pressure at a normal level, you won’t… More...
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Sleep and Your Blood Pressure
Here's another reason for you to catch your Zs: healthier blood pressure. In 90–95% of people with high blood pressure, doctors are unable to pinpoint the exact cause. In these cases, the condition is called essential or primary hypertension. In the remaining 5–10% of people, doctors are able to identify a cause, and this type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. More...
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Stroke and Memory Loss
Cerebrovascular disease, including stroke, is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability in Western societies. Several studies have shown that the known risk factors for cardiovascular disease -- diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension -- are also associated with stroke, which may in turn increase the risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. More...
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New Data on High Blood Pressure
If you or a loved one has high blood pressure, you’ll want to take note of this important research reported in two leading scientific journals. Hypertension shortens lifespan
If you’re middle-aged and have hypertension, your high blood pressure may shorten your lifespan. A study by Dutch researchers reported in the journal Hypertension (Volume 46, page 260) found that by maintaining normal blood pressure readings people live longer and have a better chance of avoiding cardiovascular disease.… More...
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Sudden Headache? Blurred Vision? It could be a warning of a stroke.
Research from the journal Neurology explains why acting promptly at the first sign of a transient ischemic attack may prevent a major stroke.
You probably know the symptoms of a heart attack, but it’s just as important to know the symptoms of a stroke. Why is it important? Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Even a transient ischemic attack or TIA, in which stroke symptoms appear suddenly and… More...
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Understanding Central Pain Syndrome
Post-stroke pain is difficult to treat and misdiagnosis is common. Can anything be done?
If you’ve never heard of the central pain syndrome, you’re not alone. In fact, many doctors are unfamiliar with this syndrome, which can affect people who have had a stroke -- and can make their lives miserable. … More...
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Are You Forgetting to Take Your Blood Pressure Medication?
High blood pressure is a silent disease. So even though you may feel great, it’s critical that you take your blood pressure medication. Here’s are some practical tips to help you remember.
Many people don’t take their medications as often as they should and this is particularly true when it comes to blood pressure drugs. In a report published in the journal Hypertension (August 2005), researchers looked at data from 51,517 people (age 65 and over)… More...
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Meditation -- A New Way to Lower Blood Pressure
Research shows that meditation not only calms the mind, but affects the nervous system as well.
While the evidence is not definitive, it appears that chronic stress causes long-term elevations in blood pressure, and that certain stress-management techniques may be able to counteract these rises in blood pressure.
There are many ways to reduce stress: Massage, yoga, tai chi, and stress management classes are some of the more popular methods. But the relaxation technique that has… More...
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Setting the Record Straight on Aging and Your Blood Pressure
Why treating high blood pressure is important at any age.
For years, some doctors told their middle-aged and older patients not to worry if their blood pressure climbed with age. In fact, there was even a commonly held belief that if your systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) climbed as you aged, it was a positive sign that your blood was being propelled more forcefully through the blood vessels. … More...
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Simple Steps to Help You Prevent High Blood Pressure Without Medication
Diet and exercise are key, but there’s more you can do to prevent high blood pressure.
No matter how good your health is, it is important to prevent any rise in blood pressure. The main reason is that blood pressure can cause damage to your body when it goes above 110/70 mm Hg— long before high blood pressure is diagnosed. Also, if you keep your blood pressure at a normal level, you won’t need to take… More...
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Research Update on High Blood Pressure
If you’re middle-aged and overweight, a recent study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine may motivate you to shed a few pounds. The researchers found that people may be able to prevent high blood pressure by losing even modest amounts of weight.
Men and women with a body mass index of 25 or greater (an indication of being overweight) participated in the study; 623 were age 30–49 (the younger group), and 605 More...
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The Power of Exercise to Lower Your Blood Pressure
A regular exercise program might let your doctor reduce your high blood pressure medication, or possibly eliminate the need for it altogether. Learn which exercises yield the greatest rewards.
People who are physically fit are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and exercise may stop people with prehypertension from developing full-blown hypertension. In people with mild to moderate high blood pressure, studies have demonstrated that regular aerobic activity can decrease blood pressure by up to… More...
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