Don't be a Heart Breaker - Change

Global Economic Climate Down - Blood Pressure Up.

Leading cardiologists report that the steep downturn in the economic climate can have severe affect on the heart. Increased stress, poor eating habits and lifestyles combined with less money all combine to potentially rincrease the chance of suffering high blood pressure leadding to heart problems. “We’ve seen an increase in patients complaining about heart palpitations, anxiety and stress in the past months,” said a leading professor of cardiology, at this School of Medicine. There are many ways to reduce your risk:

One area that is being investigated is the calming effects of contributing to society. Studies have shown that those who do good for the benefit of others enjoy boosted levels of seratonin and feel fulfilment that leads to lower anxiety. One such area is the issue of climate change and how it is already impacting peoples lives globally.

Time for Change says:

"If you believe passionately about a big issue, for example global warming and climate change, it is likely that by doing nothing you will feel saddened and depressed. Consider someone who has had the misfortune of becoming redundant and facing unemployment - the knowledge of not lending a hand to act on the issues of climate change will cause a deflation of self esteem. The knock on of this will be a tendancy to fall into bad lifestyle habits as listed below and raise blood pressure."

Anyone who chooses to actively get invloved and make a difference to climate change will certainly experience a feel good factor both in the short and long term. Climate change is only one of many examples where people can raise awareness and take action - but once you feel that you fully appreciate the devastating effects of climate change and the injustice it inflicts around the world.

Its easy to get invloved and contribute to good causes - and you'll feel better for it!"

Other Lifestyle Changes Eat more simple, fresh foods, you can more easily maintain a healthy weight. Avoid salty, fatty food.

Watch your blood pressure, too. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and heart disease.

Know your numbers - blood pressure readings:

Your systolic blood pressure ideally will be lowerr than 140 and diastolic under 90 - 140/90
Don't skimp on healthcare equipment - the arrival of budget blood pressure monitors on the high street have caused concerns in the healthcare industry over their accuracy. Lloyds Pharmacy for example are selling an upper arm, digital blood pressure monitor for ten pounds. However recent reviews suggest that not only is the lloyds pharmacy blood pressure monitor uncomfortable but its accuracy is doubted. Recommendations to get the best value for money monitor is to choose a clinically tested and approved machine. These may cost a little more than the lloyds economy monitors but you will be more certain of the results.
Keep exercising. forget paying for expensive gym memberships, go for a walk walks, do house work and play with children.

Above all reduce stress. Redirect your anxiety by exercising, meditating or spending time making changes and keep in touch with family and friends.

Blood Pressure Travel Tips

Things to consider in the New Year if you have high blood pressure.

January is traditionally the time that many people think about booking holidays or trips to forget about the miserable weather in the UK.

Many questions are asked at this time of year about what to consider if you are planning to travel and have high blood pressure so we are delighted to inform that the publication of two new information sheets about holidays, travel and blood pressure.

Managing blood pressure on holiday looks at the practical things you can do and arrangements to make when going on holiday or travelling abroad and have to treat high blood pressure

This is accompanied by a helpful article about travel insurance for people with high blood pressure. Many people wrongly believe that they cannot get travel insurance if they are diagnosed with high blood pressure. In the same way that the myth that they will lose their jobs should they declared diagnosis took a while to correct we think that the information here should help clarify the position and allow people to make holiday plans and

Although it is essential that you tell your insurers that you have high blood pressure there are only a few jobs and activities that are prohibited in the insurance cover you get

Resperate available in the UK

Something else positive is the announcement that Resperate - a device that is intended to help lower blood pressure naturally will soon be on sale at Medi Save

Its been a long time coming so lets hope that thorough testing has shown Resperate to be a useful tool to use in conjunction with other treatments to help lower high blood pressure.

Resperate is a portable device and you will be able to take it with you on your travels to keep up biofeedback exercises that should slow your breathing with results in a lowering of blood pressure.

Another top tip from the Holiday guide is to consider buying a cheap Lloyds blood pressure monitor rather than risk losing or damaging a more expensive device whilst travelling. Both Resperate and cheap blood pressure monitors are available online at Medical Supply Saver Stores and can be delivered to your door.

Eat Well and Lower Blood Pressure

To some the single most important thing to help lower high blood pressure is to look closely at the food they eat. The dark cold miserable weather tends to make people reach for "comfort foods"

As Christmas approaches we once again warn to go easy on the white stuff and check food labels carefully to be certain about the amount of salt in your diet as the amount of salt in food has a strong effect on health - especially blood pressure.

So obvious things to cut are crisps and nuts with drinks, "party food" which again is highly salted to accompany drinks - sausage rolls, mini quiche tartlets, the ever popular bite sized pasty and cheese on a stick. If you want to do yourself a favour munch celery sticks, fresh fruit and unsalted nuts.

Common presents at Christmas are food hampers which are packed with unusual foods and snacks that tend to be long shelf life items.

If you want to give a hamper as a present to someone who has high blood pressure you can save money and show you care by assembling your own low salt food hamper. And why not include the latest Omron M10 blood pressure monitor with a note explaining that the recipient can monitor the change in BP whislt sticking to a low salt diet.