Keep it Down

Just to point out that almost everything we do makes our blood pressure dance, which is just as well because if our blood pressure remained ...

Just to point out that almost everything we do makes our blood pressure dance, which is just as well because if our blood pressure remained steady we would be dead. Now, here are some blood-pressure uppers8230;

8226; Arguments and heated discussions
In a study conducted at Johns Hopkins University by Dr Craig Ewart it was found that marital problems and heated discussions boosted blood pressure temporarily.

Sabira Merchant, well-known theatre personality who has been successfully managing her high blood pressure for 25 years, recommends cooling off and resuming the discussion, when the mood has eased. 8216;8216;Everybody has a temper, only fools lose it,8217;8217; she says.

8226; Job stress
Several studies have established that just having a job that stresses you out can escalate your blood pressure.

8226; Smoking
Did you know that when you smoke a cigarette, your blood pressure immediately rises and can stay up for 30 minutes to an hour?

8226; Alcohol
Each increment in average drinks taken per day was associated with an average rise of systolic pressure of 1.21 mm Hg and an average increase in diastolic of 0.55 mm Hg.

8226; Caffeine
It tends to boost blood pressure in infrequent users8212;and if you8217;re already headed for hypertension, drinking coffee while under stress may speed up your trip.

		WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE?

			How can I ask Dr Golwalla such an obvious question? We all know what it is8212;that blood circulates through the body supplying every cell with nourishment and oxygen; the heart exerts force and pumps it into the large arteries creating pressure and this is called blood pressure. You8217;d know that the highest pressure during each heart beat is called systolic pressure and the lowest diastolic and that the normal systolic/diastolic range is between 120/70 and 130/80. Above that range is high bp. When it becomes too high, it results in hypertension caused by narrowing of the small blood vessels. This exerts more pressure on the heart. What I didn8217;t know was that BP is measured in millimetres of mercury, by an instrument called sphygmomanometer. Did you? Story continues below this ad

8226; Excessive salt
8216;8216;Avoid salt in excess,8217;8217; cautions Dr Sharukh Golwalla, consulting cardiologist to Mumbai8217;s premier hospitals. 8216;8216;Use natural seasonings, because a huge body of studies have revealed that after a few weeks, reduction in daily salt intake may lower systolic blood pressure by about five points in normal people and seven points in those with hypertension. 8216;8216;Use of oral contraceptives by women may also lead to fluid retention, which raises blood pressure,8217;8217; explains Dr Golwalla.

8226; Pot Belly
We all know that obesity is a prime culprit in high BP, but sporting a pot belly can raise it further. The heart must work harder for all that extra weight, but researchers speculate that the volume of blood flow through the fat tissue in pot belly-type obesity may be greater than in 8216;8216;all over obesity8217;8217; for people of the same weight.

8226; Stress Busting
Merchant finds that deep breathing and connecting to the superior being and praying regularly helps. Meditation helps, as does sitting quietly in one place and deep breathing. And of course, yoga.

8226; Aerobic exercise
Mounting evidence has increasingly established that this not only lowers blood pressure but may also prevent you from getting it in the first place.

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8226; Laughter
It goes a long way in helping and so does watching fish in a tank. Petting your pet and a healthy diet can work wonders too. Studies have shown that cutting down on saturated fat intake and boosting your fibre intake drops blood pressure levels.