Blood Pressure

Blood pressure should be checked periodically because it can be abnormal without causing any symptoms. Failing to find and adequately treat high blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many things affect blood pressure, including neural, glandular, kidney and cardiovascular factors. High blood pressure can be caused by hardening of the […]

A study appearing in The Lancet (Vol. 367, Issue 9507, 28 January 2006) looked at eight other studies and the impact eating fruits and vegetables had on the likelihood of stroke. The study analyzed research involving over 250,000 people from the US, Japan and Europe. It found that people who ate five or more servings

Some Pain Medications May Make Blood Pressure Rise According to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (October 28, 2002;162:2204-2208), frequent use of pain-relief medications may result in an increased-risk of high blood pressure in women. These drugs are known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Use of acetaminophen (eg Tylenol) was also monitored in

Quercitin is a bioflavonol found in onions, apples and other produce. A recent study appearing in the Journal of Nutrition (Nov. 2007; Vol 137) found that it may have a blood pressure lowering effect. Of the 41 people who participated in the study, 22 were hypertensive, with average blood pressure of 146/96 and 19 were

Pycnogenol is an extract from pine bark. Research published in the journal Hypertension Research (October 2007, Vol 30; pp. 775-780) looked at its effect on cardiovascular health. Sixteen young, healthy men were given either a placebo or 180 mg of Pycnogenol each day for two weeks. The research was designed to see the effect the

According to research appearing in the February, 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine may be beneficial to patients with high blood pressure. A total of 110 patients participated in two studies with 70 patients demonstrating signs of upper cervical subluxation/joint dysfunction. Patients receiving upper cervical

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (2005; 24(4): 257-65) 80 subjects with hypertension were given powdered milk tablets fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus, or placebo for a period of four weeks. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased an average of 11.2 mm Hg in those with mild hypertension.

Research appearing in the journal Neurological Research (2007; 29(Suppl 1): 98-103) looked at the effect of acupuncture on 30 subjects with hypertension who were taking medication for their blood pressure. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group received acupuncture for the eight weeks of the study. The other group received “sham” acupuncture.

Increasing vitamin C levels may have a favorable effect on high blood pressure. According to research appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1993;57:213-7), the concentration of vitamin C in the blood was inversely related to blood pressure. The higher the amount of vitamin C, the less likely the subject was to have high

Blood pressure should be checked periodically because it can be abnormal without causing any symptoms. Failing to find and adequately treat high blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many things affect blood pressure, including neural, glandular, kidney and cardiovascular factors. High blood pressure can be caused by hardening of the