Did you know that even babies can develop high blood pressure? Many might think of this as uncommon but it isn’t. When babies have high blood pressure it is usually because they are premature or have kidney or heart problems. When an older child has high blood pressure it is usually a result of their family history.

As you might have noticed today, there is an increase in obesity in children. This also increases their blood pressure putting them at health risks. A great way to prevent this is to have your child’s blood pressure checked often as they grow older.

More ways to help are watching your child’s diet and making sure they get plenty of exercise. Some kids are not as active today what with the video games and all. Try to get your child involved in regular activities from the start. It will benefit their health as well as their self esteem later down the road.

Just like adults, you can easily help control your child’s blood pressure. Watch their diet. Be sure they are getting the right nutrition and limit their salt intake. Get them eating vegetables and fresh fruits. While many children do not like vegetables, there are many ways to overcome this. You can spice up a recipe that involves vegetables.

Physical activity is the key to any healthy lifestyle. Getting your child involved in physical activity when young will help ensure they stay active and healthy as they age. Involve them in sports of their choosing and take walks with them. You can both benefit from this.

If your family has a history of high blood pressure, be sure your child gets routine check ups. This will help ensure they do not develop high blood pressure and if they do, you can start controlling it. Remember stress can raise blood pressure and while some kids shouldn’t be stressed, they are.

Children deal with stress just like adults, just in different ways. Talk with your child and stay active in their life and what goes on. You want them to have a happy healthy life and you can help them achieve that goal.

If you are unable to control your child’s blood pressure through their diet and exercise, you might have to turn to medication. Talk with your doctor and let them know what you have already tried. Sometimes this is not enough alone, but with medication, can help control it.

Try to exercise with your child every day. Exercising alone sometimes is harder for children and adults alike. You can get involved with your child this way and it will benefit you both.

Talk with your teenager about smoking and drinking. These both cause high blood pressure and once they know the risks they are less likely to try them. Do not think your child is invisible from developing any health problems along with high blood pressure.

Remember that blood pressure increases with age until you are around fifty. If you get a head start on watching yours and your child’s at an early age, you will both benefit very well in the end.

There is no other gift greater than the gift of health. It is rightly said that health is wealth.We should aspire to develop all round physical, mental and spiritual health. Imbalance or improper functioning of the physical or mental bodies results in serious repercussions on the well being of a person, which would necessitate medical attention.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is one among the various diseases that affect the human body. The medical term for blood pressure is hypertension. Blood pressure is characterized by abnormal pressure levels in the arteries. The blood pressure in a healthy, normal person is 90/60mmhg. When the pressure is lower than the normal, it interferes with the well being of a person. When the pressure increases, it causes damage to the heart and sometimes proves fatal. Hypertension is usually caused due to excess stress, strain, and emotional disturbances. In some cases, arterial problems, disturbed kidney function and malfunctioning of the endocrine gland cause hypertension. The usual symptoms of the disease are dizziness, sound in the ears, headaches and dull vision.

How Yoga Helps

In order to prevent this disease, yogic practices should be incorporated into our daily routine. Yoga helps to combats stress and saturates the mind with tranquility.. However, yoga is not the only cure for hypertension, medical advice is necessary. The Yoga asanas help in bringing about a balance in the autonomous nervous system, a center that controls stress. Yoga helps in regulating the blood pressure by stabilizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
Sedentary lifestyles are the reason for high blood pressure. Physical activity and ability to stay active helps to reduce the risk of blood pressure. Physical activity makes the heart stronger. Exercise helps to improve the condition of the heart, by making it pump more blood efficiently.

High blood pressure is caused due to high levels of stress. It is purely a mental condition. The most effective way to handle stress is to change your mental attitude towards the problems that trouble you. To initiate change in thought patterns requires mental strength. This strength can be gained through pranayama.

Hypertension affects the internal organs like heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Practice of asanas and pranayama helps to reduce the damage caused by hypertension. During asana practice, the movements are static; hence, it requires less blood and oxygen to assume a posture. This poses less strain, keeping the muscles relaxed. The circulation of blood is improved. Yoga helps in oxygenating the blood, enabling fresh nutrients to all the vessels and capillaries in the blood. When blood circulation is improved, the brain absorbs more oxygen and this helps one to be alert, enhances concentration skills and improves mood swings. When stress is reduced, the body’s immune system gets a boost, that also effectively enhances cognitive abilities.

In order to prevent this disease, yogic practices should be incorporated into our daily routine. Yoga helps to combat stress and saturates the mind with tranquility. However, yoga is not the only cure for hypertension; medical advice is also necessary. The Yoga asanas help in bringing about a balance in the autonomous nervous system, a center that controls stress. Yoga helps in regulating the blood pressure by stabilizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Sedentary lifestyles are the reason for high blood pressure. Physical activity and ability to stay active helps to reduce the risk of blood pressure. Physical activity makes the heart stronger. Exercise helps to improve the condition of the heart, by making it pump more blood efficiently.

High blood pressure is caused due to high levels of stress. It is purely a mental condition. The most effective way to handle stress is to change your mental attitude towards the problems that trouble you. To initiate change in thought patterns requires mental strength. This strength can be gained through pranayama.

Hypertension affects the internal organs like heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Practice of asanas and pranayama helps to reduce the damage caused by hypertension. During asana practice, the movements are static; hence, it requires less blood and oxygen to assume a posture. This poses less strain, keeping the muscles relaxed. The circulation of blood is improved. When blood circulation is improved, the brain absorbs more oxygen and this helps one to be alert, enhances concentration skills and improves mood swings. When stress is reduced, the body’s immune system gets a boost that also effectively enhances cognitive abilities.

Physiological benefits of yoga

•    Sleep pattern is improved.
•    Yoga normalizes weight.
•    Energy levels increase
•    Immunity increases
•    Pulse rate decreases
•    Blood pressure decreases

Psychological benefits of yoga

•    Concentration is improved
•    Attention focus is improved
•    Memory is enhanced
•    Mood swings get stable
•    Social skills improve
•    Poise and steadiness grow

Yogic Postures

An Insight ??Yoga poses requires one to study each pose and execute them slowly with balance and concentration. Asanas work on all the systems of the body, also making the spine and joints supple. It tones up the muscles, glands and internal organs. Yoga asanas must be executed with proper breathing. Undoubtedly, yoga contributes to spiritual growth and improves the quality of life. Apart from increased flexibility in the muscles, chronic health conditions are treated and cured through the practice of yoga. Inner peace ensues after the practice of asana and pranayama and this enables the practitioner to tread life with purpose and direction. ???A peek into select poses.

Camel pose??Steps

1.    Sit on your heels.
2.    Inhale and bend the back to touch the ankles with the hands. The back must be arched.
3.    Hold this position for few breaths and exhale while coming back to the original position.Relax.

Knees squeeze

Steps

1.    Lie on your back.
2.    Lift your right knee and bring it close to your chest. Use your arms to support the knee against the chest.
3.    The left leg should be kept straight.
4.    Bring the right knee to the original position and relax.
5.    Repeat the same with the other leg.

Corpse pose

Steps

1.    Lie flat on your back.
2.    Close your eyes.
3.    Be aware of the body parts and turn your attention to them.
4.    Relax the body parts at will from toes to head. Relaxation has to be induced.
5.    Mind should be made free from all disturbing thoughts.
6.    When the posture is executed perfectly, peace and calmness saturates the being.

Nadi shodhana- Breathing Exercise

This practice is also called alternate nostril breathing. Practice of Nadi Shodhana helps to calm the mind of its disturbances and makes it conducive for meditation. Nadis are the carriers of prana to the different parts of the body. There are 72,000 nadis in the human body. Pranayama cleanses these channels and the body is energized with the flow of pranayama.

Steps

1.    Sit in a comfortable position and relax all the body parts.
2.    Close your eyes.
3.    Close your left nostril with your thumb and inhale slowly. Exhale the breath through the right nostril. This constitutes one part of the breathing.
4.    Alternate the breath to the right nostril, i.e, inhale through the right nostril by closing the left nostril. Then, exhale through the left nostril.
Pranayama should be followed by meditation.

Meditation

Meditation helps to be in touch with the inner self.

Steps

1.    Just close your eyes and focus your attention on the point between the eyebrows.
2.    One can chant ‘Om’ for a few minutes until a peaceful feeling touches you. Fill the mind with faith in the divine that always protects and directs your being.

The Last Word

Yogic Practice is an exercise in self-discipline. ‘Discipline’ is best explained by this quotation, written by an author who prefers anonymity, ” Discipline is, to do the things you don’t want to do, when you know you need to do them.”

Asanas are simple to practice, which is followed by pranayama and meditation. Yogis say that when breath is controlled and becomes rhythmic, one can enjoy the gift of health. The body is made of vital current or prana. The prana is also called the life force. The body is sustained by the flow of prana into all the body parts. When one does breathing exercises, or pranayama, the prana is regulated and the body is suffused with increased energy level. The prana currents help to cure diseases and set in healing vibrations. This enables the body to heal itself.

Finally, bear in mind that asanas should be practiced with ease, devoid of any tension. One must be conscious of the body movements during practice. The relaxed movements induce calmness and peace. Yoga Bhashya states, ‘ The posture becomes perfect when the effort of achieving it vanishes.’

Reference: Submitted by : Mrs.Uma, Edited by : Mrs. Savitha http://www.medindia.net

Are you aware that what you eat can affect your blood pressure? Watching your diet can be very beneficial to keeping your blood pressure normal. Even if you have never had a problem with high blood pressure, taking necessary precautions can be beneficial.

You could try a Vegetarian diet. In this diet you will get many of the following:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Vitamin A & C
• Potassium
• Complex Carbohydrates
• Polyunsaturated Fat
• Fiber

All of these can have a great influence on your blood pressure.

Sugar can increase your blood pressure, especially the common table sugar sucrose. Try to limit your intake of this. A diet high in fiber has been proven effective in lowering blood pressure. Along with lowering your blood pressure this diet will also help you reduce your cholesterol levels and even promote weight loss.

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is very important as well. Any diet that includes consuming fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods and is low in total fat, cholesterol and saturated fat has proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure.

Many people use more salt than they are aware of. Maybe because some of us are just used to automatically salting our food unaware if it was salted when being cooked. (If eating out) Reducing your salt intake will also help lower your blood pressure.

A diet high in potassium and low in sodium reduces your blood pressure rise by reducing the effect of adrenaline. If you reduce your sodium intake you must also increase your potassium intake.

There are some vegetables and spices that help control your blood pressure. Many of these are very common vegetables and spices so you may be helping your blood pressure and not even know it.

Onions’ essential oil is very beneficial. If you have two to three tablespoons of this essential onion oil a day, it could help reduce your systolic levels. Tomatoes are also a beneficiary to controlling blood pressure. They are high in GABA, a compound that helps lower your blood pressure.

Broccoli contains several blood pressure reducing ingredients. Carrots also have many compounds that do the same. Introducing these vegetables to your diet will do wonders for your blood pressure. Even if you don’t suffer from high blood pressure, it’s best to keep it at a safe level and take the extra precautions to get there.

Garlic and celery are also great to add to your diet. Garlic is good for the heart which you’ve probably been told before. Eating just one clove of garlic a day has been proven to be beneficial.

Whatever diet you choose or whatever foods you try to limit, remember you are doing it for your health. Many people learn to enjoy healthier foods as they get older. If you have any questions or concerns about your blood pressure get with your doctor. They will be happy to assist you and answer any questions you might have. Taking care of your health is very important and will make you feel much better.

Have you tried changing your lifestyle to help your blood pressure only to find it isn’t helping very much? Sometimes lifestyle changes alone aren’t as effective as when combined with blood pressure medication. There are many different kinds of blood pressure medications out there today. Usually two different medications are used rather than one alone. Here are some of the main blood pressure medications:

Alpha-Blockers: This medicine reduces nerve impulses to your blood vessels allowing easier flowing of the blood making your blood pressure decrease.

Alpha-Beta-Blockers: These work just like the alpha-blockers but also slow your heart beat. This means less blood pumps through your vessels making your blood pressure decrease.

Nervous System Inhibitors: This medication relaxes your blood vessels by controlling the nerve impulses making your vessels wider and decreasing blood pressure.

Beta-Blockers: These reduce your nerve impulses to your heart and blood vessels, making your heart beat decrease while dropping your blood pressure.

Diuretics: These are also known as ‘water pills,’ a very common medication. These diuretics work in your kidney, flushing out all excess sodium along with water from your body.

Vasodilators: These open your blood vessels directly by relaxing the muscle in your vessel walls which then causes your blood pressure to decrease. ï ACE Inhibitors: ACE stands for ‘Angiotensin converting enzyme.’ These inhibitors prevent a hormone called angiotensin II from forming, which will usually cause your blood vessels to narrow. They help the vessels relax which makes your blood pressure decrease.

Angiotensin Antagonists: These block your blood vessels from angiotensin II. When blocked these vessels can widen letting your blood pressure decrease.

Calcium Channel Blockers: These keep any calcium from entering your heart’s muscle cells and your blood vessels causing your blood pressure to decrease.

An alternate to taking any medication if possible is watching a few lifestyle habits. For instance a healthy diet can help control your blood pressure. Substitute salt for other seasonings and add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Get at least thirty minutes of physical activity or exercise a day. That doesn’t mean you have to exercise thirty minutes all at once. Ten minutes here and there is just as effective. Try to keep your stress level at a minimum. High stress can increase your blood pressure so find something that relaxes you and helps you de-stress. Do this whenever you find yourself stressed out beyond your means. Try to cut back on tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Quitting altogether is more beneficial but isn’t always easy.

Remember there are many resources and products available to help you quit either of these habits. Sometimes these lifestyle changes will not work alone. Your doctor might prescribe you a blood pressure medication if not two. Just talk with your doctor to find out what would be better for you and your blood pressure. Ask any and all questions and if you are taking other medications tell your doctor. Certain medications including oral contraceptives and cold medicines can increase your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a very serious illness, and over half of the people who suffer from high blood pressure or Hypertension, as it is usually called, do not even know they have it.

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High blood pressure is a very common issue with many people. High blood pressure is usually called Hypertension. Although, it cannot be cured, there are ways to help keep it in control. One way is through foods that lower your blood pressure as a natural treatment.

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