Hypertension

Massage therapists offer one of the best stress-relief services in a relaxation massage. It seems obvious we, as therapists, would use massage as our own stress reliever, but what if it's not enough? Have you ever taken the time to find your best stress relief, the one that is most effective for you at this time in your life? Let's look further into what makes a stress-reliever effective and how to identify your best stress relief. What is Stress? Stress causes mental or emotional strain or tension from difficult or demanding circumstances. Stress has been used interchangeably with words like strain, pressure, anxiety and tension. We have all experienced stress in large and mild doses.  High stressors are things like divorce or the death of a child or spouse. A more mild example may be moving, and even milder may be client complaints. Think about stress you've experienced in your life, big or small, and recall how it made you feel in your body. Some common

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I suffered from postpartum depression. There was a day I will never forget. I've been reading the coverage of the Duxbury mother who has been accused of killing her three children and who jumped from a second-story window. My story is not original or unique. As a new mother at 35, I experienced significant postpartum depression. My case did not progress to postpartum psychosis. I was a family nurse practitioner at the time. I had worked as a pediatric registered nurse for 15 years before that. I suffered from postpartum depression immediately after my son was born. I was terrified of hurting him. I was afraid to let him out of my sight or let anyone else care for him. I thought he would sense my sadness and think I didn't love him. There was a day I will never forget where I was overwhelmed with anxiety and sadness. I held him in a carrier and paced the apartment. I was afraid to be near a kitchen knife, that I might hurt him. Even 27 years later this statement fills me with sh

February 21, 2023 What does high blood pressure have to do with your health? Some experts argue, everything. According to the CDC, the No. 1 cause of death is heart disease, and the No. 1 cause of heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure and high cholesterol. "High blood pressure can cause many health problems in the long term," said Caleb Lindstrom, DO, Family Medicine Resident at McLaren Greater Lansing Family Medicine. "The repeated and constant stress placed on your blood vessels puts you at increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and death." Your heart carries oxygen and nutrients throughout your body with every contraction of your heartbeat. The force of your blood traveling through your body in the blood vessels is your blood pressure. Your blood pressure is measured by two numbers — the top number (systolic) and the bottom number (diastolic) — and those numbers should be less than 120/80. If your blood pressure is

I was in Savasana, the last pose of yoga class, when it hit me. My heart started racing like the beat of a heavy metal drummer. Bum bump bum bump bum bump. I felt like there wasn't enough air in this world for me to breathe. I wanted to cry out loudly. I wanted to leave. But I didn't because I'm the social media dude who makes fun of yoga. I create comedy videos and memes about students leaving Savasana (Corpse Pose) early. Lying on my mat, soaked with sweat, I wondered, is this karma? Is the Universe teaching me a lesson? Am I about to die? This is where they'll find my body, I thought. Here in a yoga studio, dead in Savasana. How many memes would be made of me? "Yogi Bryan Dead at 40 Mastering Corpse Pose." I can't leave, I told myself. I can't freak out. I can't be a meme. How to Calm Down from a Panic Attack I've dealt with anxiety since I was a kid. My family used to tell me, "Stop worrying, you'll get an ulcer.&

0 More than one in 10 Americans have high cholesterol. Why is this important to know? High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, the number one killer of all Americans. As your total cholesterol rises, so does your risk for heart disease. The good news is that in most cases, cholesterol levels can be lowered and maintained with a combination of diet, exercise and cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins, says Marco Gonzalez, MD, Nebraska Medicine neurologist. There is also evidence that natural health products or supplements may help lower cholesterol levels. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance your body uses to build cells and make hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterol travels through your body through your bloodstream. You get cholesterol from the foods you eat and your liver, which produces cholesterol. What is the role of cholesterol? Your total cholesterol is made up of LDL, low-density lipoprotei

Managing blood cholesterol levels is one way to avoid cardiovascular disease and protect against heart attacks and strokes. Doctors concentrate on helping men lower their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol. Too much LDL in the bloodstream can create plaque buildup inside arteries. If this buildup blocks blood flow to the heart or brain, the result is a heart attack or stroke. Your goal level for LDL depends on your risk factor profile. In general, the lower the number, the better. If you already have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk for it, you should aim for an LDL of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). For people at average risk, achieving a level of less than 100 mg/dL with lifestyle changes is excellent. You and your doctor can decide if you need a statin or other medication to lower your LDL further. But what about LDL's cholesterol counterpart, high-density lipo

This transcript has been edited for clarity. I'm Dr Neil Skolnik. Today we are going to talk about the new Blood Pressure Targets in Adults With Hypertension: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians). There are very few things that we treat more often than hypertension, so you'd think the guidelines would have been clear a long time ago. Less than 10 years ago, in 2014, JNC 8 recommended target blood pressure (BP) for individuals under 60 to be < 140/90, and for those older than 60, < 150/90. Then, based primarily on the SPRINT trial (which included only people with or at significantly elevated risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease), in 2017 the American Heart Association's hypertension guidelines lowered the target BP to < 130/80 for most individuals. It's a little more nuanced than that, but most of us don't remember the nuance. I've written about my reser

This transcript has been edited for clarity. I'm Dr Neil Skolnik. Today we are going to talk about the new Blood Pressure Targets in Adults With Hypertension: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians). There are very few things that we treat more often than hypertension, so you'd think the guidelines would have been clear a long time ago. Less than 10 years ago, in 2014, JNC 8 recommended target blood pressure (BP) for individuals under 60 to be < 140/90, and for those older than 60, < 150/90. Then, based primarily on the SPRINT trial (which included only people with or at significantly elevated risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease), in 2017 the American Heart Association's hypertension guidelines lowered the target BP to < 130/80 for most individuals. It's a little more nuanced than that, but most of us don't remember the nuance. I've written about my reser

A cardiologist explains what is considered a healthy range for blood pressure and cholesterol and how they are key to cardiovascular health. 8 Min Read • Heart Health • Story By Camille Bautista-Fryer

(SACRAMENTO) A new UC Davis Health study found that a ketogenic (keto) diet improves muscle function in older animals by preventing muscle mass loss due to age (sarcopenia). The lead author of the study is the molecular exercise physiologist Keith Baar, a professor in the Departments of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and of Physiology and Membrane Biology. In this Q&A, he shares his latest research on the keto diet, its effect on muscle growth and brain health, and its potential side effects. What is a ketogenic or a keto diet? A ketogenic or keto diet includes eating high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods to reach a state of ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns more fat for fuel, instead of sugar, and produces acids known as ketones. The keto diet is widely known as a weight-loss diet, but it also has a far-reaching effect on the muscles and the brain. A keto diet prevents muscle deterioration and even restores muscle function&q

samael334/Getty Images Looking for ways to lower high cholesterol? One of the first steps to take is eating more home cooked meals that are full of fiber rich foods like oatmeal, brussels sprouts, kidney beans, apples and pears, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating at least five to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day to help decrease your LDL (bad) cholesterol, because soluble fiber can help reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. "A plant-based diet can go a long way to cutting dietary intake of cholesterol," says Dr. Nick West, MD, Cardiologist, Chief Medical Officer, and Divisional Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at Abbott's Vascular Business. "Fruits and vegetables contain little, if any, cholesterol, and the added high fiber and vitamin content is not only heart-healthy, but may reduce the risk of cancer also." A healthy protein to include is fish. The American Heart

How to stop a panic attack before it starts: Expert reveals 5 ways to manage anxiety to prevent it from spiralling out of control By Abi Turner For Mailonline Published: 15:10 GMT, 5 February 2023 | Updated: 15:14 GMT, 5 February 2023 Panic attacks are distressing for sufferers, and when severe can have debilitating effects on their general well-being and quality of life. The experience is characterised by sudden, unexpected bouts of acute and debilitating anxiety, often accompanied by distressing physical symptoms. These physical symptoms can be so severe, that it is not uncommon for first time sufferers to believe that they are experiencing a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Priory psychotherapist Susie Garcia told FEMAIL five different ways to head off a panic attack before anxiety starts spiraling out of control.  It is essential to learn the symptoms of panic attacks so