Entry for July 31, 2007

TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the world, affecting nearly one in three adults.

High blood pressure is a threat because it makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and contributing to angina (chest pain related to heart disease). Unchecked, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease.

Some people can lower and control their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle measures - losing weight if necessary (even a 10 percent weight loss might do the trick), quitting smoking if that's an issue, limiting intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea and sodas) and alcohol, all of which can contribute to the problem, as well as cutting back on salt (processed foods are the biggest sources of sodium in today's Western diet) and practicing relaxation methods.

The last of these may be the most important, yet doctors often fail to emphasize the importance of learning how to relax the involuntary nervous system, which controls the tone of blood vessels. Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and biofeedback training can all help. There is a simple device called “RESPeRATE” (www.resperate.com) that teaches you to lower your blood pressure by changing your breathing patterns.

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If you have high blood pressure and have made and are maintaining these lifestyle changes, you might then try to cut down on your blood pressure medication. Do so gradually, and be sure to monitor your pressure at home - at least 2-3 times a day, both when you are calm and when you are not -to make sure that it doesn't start to rise. If it does, you'll have to return to the usual dosage of your medication. It would be best to make these changes under the supervision of your physician so you will not be alone in your efforts.

If you have a family history of hypertension, lifestyle measures may not be enough to keep your blood pressure under control - you probably will need some medication. But no one should depend on drugs alone. A healthy lifestyle, including relaxation practice, is also a key to keeping blood pressure in the safe range.