Taking the pressure off -- your blood pressure
Everyone is tense these days. Polls show the majority of us are nervous about staying safe and secure. No wonder high blood pressure (HBP) affects almost half of U.S. adults -- and, according to a commentary published in The American Journal of Medicine, only about 20% of folks with HBP are controlling it effectively. The health consequences are far-reaching.
We've long known that HBP increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70% of folks who have a first heart attack and 80% of those with a first stroke also have HBP. And now we know it's also associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's. A study published in Neurology shows that if your HBP is untreated, you have a 36% greater risk of developing Alzheimer's than folks without HBP.
The good news? If you have HBP, eating two to four extra cups of fruits and vegetables daily lowers your blood pressure while improving your heart and kidney health. The benefit comes from reducing the acid level in your blood. But it's also important to cut out foods that raise the acid level -- e.g. red and processed meats. Another effective technique: two minutes a day of inspiratory resistance training lowers blood pressure and strengthens your diaphragm muscle.
So, get your blood pressure under 125/85 (115/75 is ideal), eat more fruits and veggies, eliminate red and processed meats, and do inspiratory resistance training.
For support, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com and read "5 Supplements to Support Heart Health and Blood Pressure" on the iHerb.com blog.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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