How Protein Affects High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important that everyone take care of their blood pressure (BP), because high BP or hypertension is one of the leading causes of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease.
In fact, more than 73 million Americans have hypertension.
For many years, it was thought that the main thing to do to keep blood pressure under control was to limit salt intake, quit smoking and learn how to reduce stress.
Today, we now know that there are a number of factors that can lead to high blood pressure, and there is a lot more we can be doing to ensure that we do not end up having high blood pressure or other serious health conditions.
Some of these things include making sure that we monitor our weight, monitoring what we eat (nutrients), and check our blood pressure daily, which can be done with a home unit, or at any number of pharmacies that have free blood pressure testers.
Now, don't worry if you have a couple of readings that are higher than usual.
This is actually quite normal, as our blood pressure will fluctuate in certain situations.
For example, some people have been known to have their blood pressure increase when they are about to receive a needle (fear).
Other things that can affect your blood pressure readings include illnesses, anxiety (about the visit to the doctor, which is known as "white coat hypertension").
But, if your BP readings are repeatedly high, then it may be time to speak with your physician about blood pressure medication, as well as lifestyle and dietary changes that will help.
Adults over 18 should optimally have a blood pressure reading of 120 over 80, or lower.
If your reading is higher, say in the 120-139 over 80-89, you may be in the pre-hypertension stage.
High blood pressure (stage one) is a reading of 140-159 over 90-99, and high blood pressure (stage two) is 160 and higher over 100 and higher.
The Risk of Continued High Blood Pressure When you have high blood pressure, you are at risk for many other serious health conditions, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
In fact, hypertension is the number one risk factor for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), not to mention many other diseases and conditions.
And, if you fit into categories for other risk factors, your chance of developing any of these conditions increases greatly.
Some of these risk factors include family history, smoking, gender, diet, exercise and others.
If you fall into any of these categories, you should seriously consider making some serious lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, quitting smoking, and exercising more.
In fact, upon making these lifestyle changes, it may not be necessary to go on blood pressure medication, especially in the pre-hypertension stages.
Unfortunately, we can't choose our families, so there is not much we can do about genetics.
Primary or essential, and secondary, are the two types of hypertension.
The first is a condition that exists by itself, while the second is one that is caused by another health condition.
There are millions of people with hypertension, and in the US alone, nearly 30% of all women between the ages of 18 and 74 have high blood pressure to some degree, and as they get older, the numbers increase.
Hypertension is seen more in black women, with 80% of them over the age of 65 having the condition.
Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic Kidney Disease is a very serious condition of the kidneys, and one of the causes is hypertension.
But, this is also a condition that can cause hypertension.
Often, because both conditions can affect one another, many physicians are unable to correctly say which disease the patient had first.
This is a condition that can be life-threatening, because we need our kidneys to filter the waste products in our blood, and to maintain the right blood volume.
Once a person has a condition involving the kidneys, and they become damaged, there is an increased chance of kidney disease and even renal failure.
Heart Disease Another condition that is often caused by high blood pressure is heart disease, which kills more than 16 million adults all over the world each year, and, it is responsible for 30% of all deaths worldwide.
Approximately 40% of all deaths in the U.
S.
can be attributed to heart disease.
Strokes are also often brought about by high blood pressure, and about 600,000 people in the U.
S.
suffer from a stroke each year.
These numbers increase as people age, and the chance of having a stroke doubles with each decade after the age of 45.
The Importance of Weight Management It is important to maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid high blood pressure.
More than 34 million Americans are overweight, obese even, and this can not only lead to high BP, but all kinds of other health conditions.
With the exception of those who are overweight due to medical conditions, most people are overweight due to their diet and lifestyle.
For example, a person who has a poor diet and does not get much exercise is at a much higher risk for hypertension than someone who eats healthy and gets enough exercise.
Benefits of Proteins on High BP When it comes to high blood pressure, it is essential to have a healthy, well-balanced diet.
According to the American Heart Association, a typical diet for an adult should consist of 35% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 15% fat.
All of these are macronutrients, which we all need for survival.
Research has shown that getting the right amount of protein in our diets may help to considerably lower the risk of hypertension, and even the chances of having a heart attack.
You can get plenty of protein from delicious, healthy dietary sources, or, you may even want to use protein supplements, provided it is alright with your physician.
In fact, soy protein has been known to lower blood cholesterol levels, and may even help to lower blood pressure.
Other popular proteins used in supplements include whey, casein, rice and egg.
Types of Protein Supplements There are many different types of protein supplements available that you can use, and two of the more popular types are protein powders and liquid protein shots.
Both provide the protein we need, but are low in fat and calories.
You can do a lot with protein powders, from adding them to recipes to using them to create delicious, low-fat, low-calorie protein shakes and smoothies.
Liquid protein shots are great because they are small and portable and can be taken with you on the go.
In fact, more than 73 million Americans have hypertension.
For many years, it was thought that the main thing to do to keep blood pressure under control was to limit salt intake, quit smoking and learn how to reduce stress.
Today, we now know that there are a number of factors that can lead to high blood pressure, and there is a lot more we can be doing to ensure that we do not end up having high blood pressure or other serious health conditions.
Some of these things include making sure that we monitor our weight, monitoring what we eat (nutrients), and check our blood pressure daily, which can be done with a home unit, or at any number of pharmacies that have free blood pressure testers.
Now, don't worry if you have a couple of readings that are higher than usual.
This is actually quite normal, as our blood pressure will fluctuate in certain situations.
For example, some people have been known to have their blood pressure increase when they are about to receive a needle (fear).
Other things that can affect your blood pressure readings include illnesses, anxiety (about the visit to the doctor, which is known as "white coat hypertension").
But, if your BP readings are repeatedly high, then it may be time to speak with your physician about blood pressure medication, as well as lifestyle and dietary changes that will help.
Adults over 18 should optimally have a blood pressure reading of 120 over 80, or lower.
If your reading is higher, say in the 120-139 over 80-89, you may be in the pre-hypertension stage.
High blood pressure (stage one) is a reading of 140-159 over 90-99, and high blood pressure (stage two) is 160 and higher over 100 and higher.
The Risk of Continued High Blood Pressure When you have high blood pressure, you are at risk for many other serious health conditions, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.
In fact, hypertension is the number one risk factor for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), not to mention many other diseases and conditions.
And, if you fit into categories for other risk factors, your chance of developing any of these conditions increases greatly.
Some of these risk factors include family history, smoking, gender, diet, exercise and others.
If you fall into any of these categories, you should seriously consider making some serious lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, quitting smoking, and exercising more.
In fact, upon making these lifestyle changes, it may not be necessary to go on blood pressure medication, especially in the pre-hypertension stages.
Unfortunately, we can't choose our families, so there is not much we can do about genetics.
Primary or essential, and secondary, are the two types of hypertension.
The first is a condition that exists by itself, while the second is one that is caused by another health condition.
There are millions of people with hypertension, and in the US alone, nearly 30% of all women between the ages of 18 and 74 have high blood pressure to some degree, and as they get older, the numbers increase.
Hypertension is seen more in black women, with 80% of them over the age of 65 having the condition.
Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic Kidney Disease is a very serious condition of the kidneys, and one of the causes is hypertension.
But, this is also a condition that can cause hypertension.
Often, because both conditions can affect one another, many physicians are unable to correctly say which disease the patient had first.
This is a condition that can be life-threatening, because we need our kidneys to filter the waste products in our blood, and to maintain the right blood volume.
Once a person has a condition involving the kidneys, and they become damaged, there is an increased chance of kidney disease and even renal failure.
Heart Disease Another condition that is often caused by high blood pressure is heart disease, which kills more than 16 million adults all over the world each year, and, it is responsible for 30% of all deaths worldwide.
Approximately 40% of all deaths in the U.
S.
can be attributed to heart disease.
Strokes are also often brought about by high blood pressure, and about 600,000 people in the U.
S.
suffer from a stroke each year.
These numbers increase as people age, and the chance of having a stroke doubles with each decade after the age of 45.
The Importance of Weight Management It is important to maintain a healthy weight in order to avoid high blood pressure.
More than 34 million Americans are overweight, obese even, and this can not only lead to high BP, but all kinds of other health conditions.
With the exception of those who are overweight due to medical conditions, most people are overweight due to their diet and lifestyle.
For example, a person who has a poor diet and does not get much exercise is at a much higher risk for hypertension than someone who eats healthy and gets enough exercise.
Benefits of Proteins on High BP When it comes to high blood pressure, it is essential to have a healthy, well-balanced diet.
According to the American Heart Association, a typical diet for an adult should consist of 35% protein, 50% carbohydrates and 15% fat.
All of these are macronutrients, which we all need for survival.
Research has shown that getting the right amount of protein in our diets may help to considerably lower the risk of hypertension, and even the chances of having a heart attack.
You can get plenty of protein from delicious, healthy dietary sources, or, you may even want to use protein supplements, provided it is alright with your physician.
In fact, soy protein has been known to lower blood cholesterol levels, and may even help to lower blood pressure.
Other popular proteins used in supplements include whey, casein, rice and egg.
Types of Protein Supplements There are many different types of protein supplements available that you can use, and two of the more popular types are protein powders and liquid protein shots.
Both provide the protein we need, but are low in fat and calories.
You can do a lot with protein powders, from adding them to recipes to using them to create delicious, low-fat, low-calorie protein shakes and smoothies.
Liquid protein shots are great because they are small and portable and can be taken with you on the go.