Your Blood Pressure

Singing to good health

2011-08-30T15:57:00.001Z

Mary Bowers improves her physical and mental fitness with Britain’s biggest choir - http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/article3148494.ece

Find your inner heavenly host,” Mary King says, waving her arms around and smiling as 200 people raise their heads over their manuscripts of Handel’s Messiah. They are oblivious to the couple, a few feet away, who are slouching on a sofa and slurping wine, while a girl is grinning, distracted from her coffee and laptop by the group.

We are in the atrium of the Royal Festival Hall, having a very public rehearsal. I am surrounded by a sea of altos. Five minutes earlier I had stuck my tongue out at one of them, staring her in the eye as we sang some arpeggios from the back of the throat. We had done several variants of the exercise, from the excited labrador to the lazy St Bernard.

This is the latest outing for Voicelab, an initiative run by King at the Southbank Centre. She has trained choirs to work with the band Elbow, worked with Billy Bragg, taught Ewan McGregor and Patrick Swayze to sing in the West End and is fine-tuning the cast for Shrek the Musical.

But her greatest passion is to get the also-rans to sing. Massive Messiah is a drop-in choir. On Saturday, its numbers could swell to as many as 750 — there could be as many people performing in the Royal Festival Hall as there are watching. King believes that singing the music is just as good for health and wellbeing as hearing it.

“It’s an incredible physical high,” she says. “It’s like going for a run. It produces endorphins. There could be several reasons. It could be that there’s inclusivity. They are bound by a common purpose. But these people could feel better by knitting or reading a book together. Or it could be that music engages them in something emotionally, something that’s artistically rich. Then there are the physical delights of singing: breathing lower, letting the diaphragm work, your belly and shoulders relaxed. You pour out the music.”

Singing is good exercise. King, who is immensely cheerful, relaxed and slim, could be a poster girl for its benefits. The disciplined breathing involved in singing, with the tensing and relaxing of muscles, is much like that emphasised in Pilates. Although little research has been done on the subject, it’s likely to be a calorie-burner too.

“It’s absolutely about fitness,” King says. “There are a large number of large singers but that’s more to do with what they put in than what they burn off.”

The emotional and psychological benefits are more familiar. “If I was suddenly to break into song it would be because some kind of emotion would be building that couldn’t be contained by speech. Singing is a refinement of the two basic instincts: one is to cry and one is to laugh. When you are in a choir you can lose yourself in the music and leave your stuff at the door.”

Last week King had the Voicelab singers waltzing across the floor, much to the delight of the onlooking crowd. Steve Allen is a publican who has taken part in sessions for three years. He decided to take singing lessons again at the age of 54, having abandoned his choir in his early twenties. Choral singing is part of lifting his spirits.

“After a performance it’s quite euphoric,” he says. “I’ve always felt quite self-conscious but you get used to it. It’s quite a confidence booster. I just get such a buzz.”

“If you look at performers you’ll see that when they sing their blood pressure goes up, their heart rate goes up,” says John Rubin, a consultant ENT and head and neck surgeon, and former president of the British Voice Association. “If you were to do an EMG [muscle test], they would be using a lot of the muscles in their legs and abdomens. I have no doubt there’s some toning going on there. And there does seem to be some evidence that groups of people coming together is good in helping stress.”

So much so that researchers at Canterbury Christ Church University’s Sidney De Haan Research Centre, which examines links between health and the arts, is evaluating the possibility of arts on prescription.

Many neuroscientists believe that singing can have a physical healing effect. Singing uses the right-hand side of the brain, whereas speaking uses the left. Some autistic children who are unable to speak are able to sing.

In America, stroke victims who have lost the power of speech have slowly recovered their powers of communication through singing, a process known as melodic intonation therapy. Singing is used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to increase lung capacity and ease the symptoms of bronchitis and emphysema.

Sufferers of Parkinson’s disease, who in the early stages begin to lose the ability to speak clearly, are able to sing their thoughts instead. And specialist choral groups have helped dementia sufferers. Singing for the Brain, an initiative that began in Berkshire and has grown to 35 groups, enables sufferers to tap into music that has a particular resonance, while also learning new songs. Its founder, Chreanne Montgomery-Smith, says that for many patients music has been a key to unlocking memories — and that in lifting people’s spirits singing also lifted the stigma of a debilitating illness, allowing patients to open up. “It’s tapping into something they can do because their memory for music is well preserved until the end,” she says. “If you make people believe in themselves, great things can happen. They are surprised that they can learn, and this opportunity to make beauty is a very powerful help to people who are stigmatised and marginalised.”

Montgomery-Smith says that for sufferers of dementia, who are often dismissed as a lost cause, music has become a great way to manage their illness. “A lot of families find that they have many pleasurable, sociable times after singing, which they haven’t experienced before.”

It is also a great aid to physical health. “It engages all parts of the brain. It’s a key to movement and a key to speech. It deepens the breath — which, since elderly people use only a third of their lung capacity, is terribly important.”

King believes that everyone can be taught to sing, even if some people take longer to train than others. Being tone deaf, she says, can be caused by a multitude of problems, from hearing impairments to a loss of confidence.

“When we are at school, if somebody has challenges of pitch it’s much easier to say, ‘Johnny, shut up’. There’s this thing of ‘because you’re not very good, don’t do it at all’. It’s something that we British do.”

For the less naturally talented, King recommends getting a singing teacher or joining a choir that has a suitable style. World music has plenty of repetition and only two or three harmonies — or join a big choir to learn from more confident singers.

“Lots of people think ‘I’m not quite brave enough’ but you can be quite anonymous,” says Zara Nunn, who has also joined the Massive Messiah. “You can sit at the back and flex your muscles a bit.”

And singing for health requires loss of self-consciousness rather than honing of pitch. “You can do it with a disc in a car,” King says. “The strong but wrong, the loud and proud, open- throated deliciousness: I admire that.”

Dr Rubin agrees: “I’m a great believer in just singing in the shower.”

Halfway through the rehearsal, a very tall man in a beige overcoat walks down the central aisle between the tenors and basses. He seats himself in the front row. Instead of ejecting him, the choir members exchange swift glances, then carry on.

“Apparently he explained to the person next to him that he was completely deaf,” Allen says later. Whether or not he could hear, he seemed perfectly content sitting among the singers, who, some engrossed in their copies of Handel and others mesmerised by King’s enormous grin, all belted out cries of “Glory to God!”

Salt Cutting Down High Sodium Diets

2010-08-13T15:41:00.002Z

The amount of salt present in today's diet is nothing short of insane. You can't go anywhere today without being confronted with a ton of salt.

I don't see anything wrong with cooking on the lighter side with less salt and letting people add more if they want to. The manufacturers are incredibly stubborn about this, and make it very difficult for people to reduce their sodium consumption if they really want to.

The same with sugar content — and, yet, whenever they leave out salt and/or sugar, the price goes up along with blood pressure readings

There's a myriad of factors involved with the economics of food production. The most obvious of which is demand. Creating a new product, such as Reduced Fat Oreos, will necessarily cannibalize existing product lines. Hence, a higher margin is needed to make the production profitable.

I wonder what proportion of excess sodium in peoples' diets is derived from the excess calories they consume -

It is simple: never eat processed or restaurant food. Never add salt. Don't have it in the house. I don't. My sodium intake is about 200 mg/day (from the trace amounts present in vegetables and fish). I get to taste the real flavors of food, spices and herbs.

Trying to cut partway is too complicated. Just cut it out entirely.

Summer Flowers

2010-07-15T14:40:00.004Z

Roadside Flowers Health and Beauty

A sea of blue linseed flowers next to a busy dual carriageway is capturing the eyes of passing motorists.

The floral display has blossomed across several acres of land alongside the A35 in Dorset, a popular holiday route. But passing drivers have to arrive early to catch the plants in their glory, as the flowers bloom just once a day in the morning and close up in the afternoon.

The plants will eventually produce linseed oil which, as well as helping to preserve cricket bats, is rich in omega-3 oils. The fatty acid is believed to have benefits for the skin, help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.

CPR - A demonstration by women in underwear

2010-05-19T13:08:00.004Z

Ever wondered how to do CPR?

An interesting take from this page shows the basics that everyone should know -just in case.

Health education takes an interesting angle - this video on cardiopulmonary resuscitation uses lingerie models to take us through the various steps to perform CPR. Well chosen womens underwear allow the models to show exactly how to position the patient and perform cpr - checking for conciousness and clearly demonstrating what to do to try to revive someone.

High Blood Pressure - Salt Does Not Help

2010-04-21T13:54:00.003Z

Guest Post from Miss Guided

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a doctor or scientist, but I've seen two widely reported studies on the effects of salt in the last 10 years.
The first concluded that salt does not cause sustained high blood pressure, but merely causes a temporary increase when high salt content food is consumed. That study concluded that a salty diet was only dangerous to people who already have high blood pressure or have other risk factors making them prone to heart attacks, strokes, etc.
A high salt diet didn't lead to endemic high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any other increased long term risk. I don't see anything here that refutes this. I'm guessing those 100k increased deaths are mainly people who were already in those high risk groups and continued to consume a lot of salt.
Why should everyone have to alter their diet because a minority of people should avoid something? Whats wrong with educating those people to watch out for their own health?
What's next, outlawing peanuts? Mandating soy milk for everyone because some people are lactose intolerant?

Marathon effort to eat five a day

2010-04-08T14:28:00.003Z

The news that the five a day message is showing results is good.

This should encourage people to adopt these lifestyle changes be they performance athletes, long didtance marathon runners or average joes who just want better health.

"Maybe if we stop thinking we have to eat five portions of fruit and or vegetables every day, we might just eat them because they’re nice."

Well said! That's about the most sensible thing I've heard for years on the subject of nutrition. Damn and blast these so-called experts who keep moving the goalposts.

Kidney Donations to be encouraged

2010-03-24T16:12:00.003Z

Comment to this article in Wall Street Journal

It's common medical knowledge, yes, that you can donate a kidney without losing renal function. The liver even has amazing regenerative abilities and donating a portion of your own to another does not reduce your liver's capacity at all; in fact, it grows back and the only reminder you have is the scar from the surgery.

Is it sending the wrong message to encourage more people to donate? The US government has not entered the organ donation scene yet (otherwise we'll all be required to donate...right?) Imagine that scenario with the liberals screaming that organs are a right and everyone should be forced to donate, etc etc etc. (I'm saying this tongue-in-cheek, but.....)

Shouldn't we be encouraging people to be more RESPONSIBLE and to avoid situations where they would need a new kidney or liver i.e. decreasing salt intake, which coincidentally helps your heart and lowers blood pressure or stopping/reducing alcohol intake to stop cirrhosis and liver scarring?

Why don't we kick the irresponsible in the balls and get them to start pulling their weight around? (coincidentally, a high weight correlates to Type II diabetes which can lead to renal failure, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. Not just a pun, folks)

If someone has a liver disease or kidney failure due to some genetic problem that isn't their fault, I would consider donating. But for another individual who has lived their life recklessly and without thought or consideration to the future...well...I guess with Obama's healthcare reforms you will now get free dialysis for the rest of your life at the a cost

There used to be a time when a person understood that his actions had consequences, immediate or otherwise. Where have those times gone???

Flights And Cabin Pressure

2010-02-19T12:58:00.004Z

Flights Pressure

The pressure is on to reduce the cabin pressure in flights to the UK as it has been suggested that along with causing unecessary ear problems the dramatic changes in the atmosphere on desent is is causing concern for blood pressure levels.

A vague study monitored the pressure levels of passengers arriving at UK airports. The results of those completing longhaul flights varied considerably than those on shorter flights. The readings of travellers from the United Sated arriving on flights to Manchester demonstrated the difference between adjusting the cabin pressure during the final two hours of the flight.

Further details of this study have not been authorised and published.

Elsewhere on the net you can find information about blood pressure and flying which should give reassuring advice for travellers with high blood pressure

Van Drivers To Check Pressure

2009-12-11T12:53:00.002Z

A drive by road safety campaigners is attempting to get the typical "man in the van" to be more aware of his blood pressure and that of those around him by offering discount mobile bp monitors to UK residents who choose to display the sticker - 'if you can't take the pressure - take the bus'.

The UK's van driving community has come under much criticism for adding to the stress level of other road users and on the run up to Christmas even more attention is drawn to the urgency of couriers and parcel delivery firms whose vans contribute most yet they too are at risk from high blood pressure.

The campaign - called Vantastic will promote regular roadside blood pressure checks to assess the heart health of drivers and pedestrians.

High blood pressure is easily detected by measuring it and this campaing aims to demonstrate how easy and quick that can be done using one of the latest affordable blood pressure monitors.

If this awareness campaign proves successful it is expected that further niche target groups will be approached in other creative and effective ways.

Mediterranean Diet - Cheerful and Healthy

2009-10-06T10:50:00.001Z

Eating a mediterranean-style diet not only lowers the risk of heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers, but may also reduce the risk of developing depression by almost a third.

So by adopting a mediterranean style diet you can be healthier and more cheerful!

A Spanish study looked at the eating habits of more than 10,000 healthy people over roughly 4.5 years. It was found that eating a diet high in unsaturated fats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, legumes and cereals reduced the risk of developing depression by more than 30 per cent overall when compared with ignoring the dietary rules of a mediterranean diet. (See below for a description of this diet). This lowering of risk was still present when other mood-boosting effects were taken into account (such as being married, having children, leading a healthy lifestyle and personality traits).

Also, the researchers found that the reduction in risk of depression was directly related to:

eating more fruit
eating more nuts
changing the oils and fats you eat so that you eat more unsaturated fat compared with saturated fat
eating more (for example peas, beans, peanuts, carob, lentils and soy).

The study's authors say that the results of their research are encouraging, but more studies will be needed to confirm the positive effects of a mediterranean diet.

A mediterranean-style diet is one that:

encourages regular exercise to help with weight control and give your heart a good workout
features large amounts of fruits and vegetables instead of other foods
uses unsaturated fats (such as olive oil) instead of saturated ones (such as butter, ghee or lard)
cuts out salt from cooking by using herbs and spices instead
encourages eating small amounts of nuts regularly (for example having a handful as a snack once a day)
allows you to drink red wine in small amounts
has very little red meat
adds at least two fish or shellfish meals to your weekly diet.

Induced Births Recommended for Women with High Blood Pressure

2009-08-06T09:14:00.003Z

As reported today a study from the Netherlands suggests that pregnant women with high blood pressure or mild pre-eclampsia should have an induced birth after 37 weeks to avoid further complications such as eclampsia, HELLP syndrome or maternal death.

Roughly 6-8% of pregnant women in the UK have high blood pressure or high blood pressure problems such as pre-eclampsia. For more information about read this blood pressure and pregancy.

The HYPITAT study looked at 756 pregnant women who were 36-41 weeks into their pregnancies in the Netherlands who had either high blood pressure or mild pre-eclampsia. The women were then either given an induced labour after 37 weeks or were not given a medical intervention (but followed closely in case treatment was needed).

Of the pregnant women who were induced, 31% developed further medical problems
Of the expectant mums who were not induced, 44% developed further medical problems.

This means that being induced at 37 weeks seems to reduce the risk of further complications by 29% for pregnant women who have either high blood pressure or mild pre-eclampsia. (No women or babies in either group died during the study.)

Also, fewer pregnant women in the induced group needed a caesarian section when compared with the "no intervention" group.

The study's authors have recommended that women who have high blood pressure (and a diastolic pressure of 95mmHg or higher) or mild pre-eclampsia during their pregnancies should be advised to have their labour induced after 37 weeks.

However, these findings have provoked discussion among health professionals involved in managing and delivering pregnancies. Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives have stated that they see this research as helping to add to the knowledge and choices of expectant mothers and that health professionals should always take into account the needs and wishes of individual expectant mothers when making treatment decisions

A guide to blood pressure levels

2009-07-17T10:02:00.002Z

blood pressure levels:

What the readings mean - know your numbers.

Less than120/80mmHg – blood pressure is at the ‘optimal’ level so follow a healthy lifestyle to keep it that way
121/81 – 129/84mmHg – blood pressure is ‘average’ and you would benefit from lowering it
130/85 – 139/89mmHg – blood pressure is on the ‘high side of normal blood pressure’ and should be lowered
140/90mmHg or above – if readings are consistently at or above this level you have high blood pressure, take action now to lower it

Holiday Ideas - Camping to Lower Blood Pressure

2009-06-19T11:21:00.005Z

Going Camping

Most people choose summer to take their annual holidays in the hope of breaking their routine and finding time for relaxation. Earlier this year we talked about holidays and travel and gave a few tips about how to keep an eye on your blood pressure whilst abroad.

Now we are looking at helping those whe choose to take a budget holiday and enjoy a camping trip.

Camping, it has been suggested, can be of great benefit to health - natural ambiant temperatures, fresh air and a feeling of one-ness with the world combines to reduce stress which in turn should boost the imune system and help lower blood pressure.

Stress free camping

Of course it is essential that you have the right camping equipment if you are to fully apprieciate the great outdoors. Its all very well to think you can simply pitch a tent in a field, fire up a camping stove, roll out a sleeping bag and awake the next morning amidst the morning dew and wild flowers well rested and ready for the day ahead.

The right camping equipment

Sounds idyllic doesn't it? However a camping holdiay can go quickly wrong. Without some careful planning and the right equipment camping can be a miserable experience.

Proper Sleep - Camp Beds

We know about the importance of a good nights sleep so take your time to find a camp bed that will keep you away from the damp ground and comfortably support all of you. Some of the latest camp beds are actually self inflating mattresses but the traditional old style camp bed made of metal legs and stretched canvas are still firm favourites with many campers.

Healthy Eating

Just because you are without you home kitchen doesn't mean you should fall into bad ways when it comes to mealtimes. Avoid the "specialist" dehydrated camping supplies and tinned food. camping stoves today are more efficient tha the primus stoves of yesteryear so buy, catch or pick fresh food and cook it outdoors. Remember - even if its your holiday resist the temptation to choose barbecue food like sausages and burgers - try grilled mackerel or lean tender steaks.

Make the most of your well earned break - get kitted out with decent camping equipment, a sturdy tent and hope the rain stays away.

Bed Time - Lowering Blood Pressure

2009-04-28T13:28:00.003Z

Effects of more sleep and blood pressure contained many suggestions to help get longer and improved sleep.

Key to a peaceful night's sleep is of course a good quality bed.

Here we examine what to look for when choosing a new bed.

One of the keys to getting a good night's sleep is to make sure that you have a suitable and comfortable bed. In this guide to choosing beds, we'll take a look at some of the factors you should consider when buying a new one without raising your blood pressure.

Many specialist bed shops offer a wide range of beds and you can order them online so that your new bed will be delivered straight to your home.

Choosing Beds - Size is important

One of the first things to think about is the size of bed that you need. You will usually be able to choose from several different sizes but, in the UK, the sizes of beds aren't standard, so one manufacturer's single bed, for example, may be a slightly different size from the single beds produced by another manufacturer.

According to The Sleep Council, beds are commonly sold in the following sizes:

* Single (approximately 3ft by 6ft 3in, or 90cm by 190cm)

* Double (approximately 4ft 6in by 6ft 3 in, or 135cm by 190cm)

* King Size (approximately 5ft by 6ft 6 in, or 150cm by 200cm)

* Super King Size (approximately 6ft by 6ft 6in, or 180cm by 200cm)

However, it's important to check the measurements of any bed that you're considering before you buy it.

If you are trying to decide between two different sized beds, it's usually better to buy the bigger of the two, as this will give you more room to stretch out and you'll get a better night's sleep.

What Type of Bed?

There are a number of different types of bed that you can choose from including divan beds, bedsteads, hideaway beds, bunk beds and sleep stations. Whichever you choose there are essential things to check to ensure proper sleep and to improve the liklihood of lowering blood pressure. Read more about blood pressure and how to control it.

A divan is essentially a base for a mattress and has a wooden frame. Some divans have firm, rigid platform tops without springs whereas others feature spring units, so you will need to decide which type you find most comfortable. Generally, divan beds aren't as firm as beds with bedsteads. You can buy divan sets, which consist of a divan and a mattress, meaning that you can be sure that the mattress is the perfect size for the divan and that the divan and mattress will have a uniform look. Some divans have built-in storage drawers, which can be handy if space is an issue in your bedroom.

We hope that the above information is helpful and you feel the benefit of lowering blood pressure with better sleep. You can read more suggestions for better sleep here

Blood Pressure - Travel and Holidays - Global Warming

2009-02-17T16:57:00.003Z

The blood pressure blog has updated its list of clinically validated blood pressure monitors. The machines, all approved by the British Hypertension Society are ideal for using at home as well as in medical environments. The main manufacturers are Omron, A & D and Microlife.

On the same blog we learned how weather affects blood pressure - both cold weather and more recently the effects of climate change such as global warming can have on hypertension.

Wikitravel now includes a pages about blood pressure in its general travel section which help travellers whith high blood pressure and recieving treatment for it prepare for holidays ant trips. You will find tips about geting prescriptions, seeking medical help and trying to control your blood pressure whilst abroad. Special information about blood pressure and travel insurance with lots of helpful information about what you should do and what you must avoid if you have high blood pressure and want travel insurance for a holiday.

Air travel contributes to carbon emissions and greenhouse gases that are the primary cause of climate change which leads to global warming.

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and act on global warming you can contribute donations to organisations that are actively invloved in issues surrounding global warming. You can make a charity donation directly or use mainstream donation sites such as Justgiving who have dedicated fundraising pages for climate change.

Act now to reduce global warming - we all can help.

Valentines Day - Love your Heart - ♥

2009-02-09T16:04:00.003Z

Gifts from the heart for the heart

What better way to show how much you care than choose gifts for this year's Valentine's Day that are good for heart health.

Gifts that show you care can be either traditional valentine gift ideas such as flowers, chocolate and lingerie but why not think about giving home medical equipement that will help keep an eye on that precious heart?

Flowers

Both giving and recieving flowers can be good for blood pressure. The alluring colours and natural fragrances have a calming effect and promote general well being. However we cannot condone the common practise of ordering flowers that have been grown far away in far away climates and imported usually by airplane just for the week of joy they give.

We recommend that any gift ideas should be considered for both the ethical and environmental imapct they have. For example flowers grom in other global climates when transported around the world by plane and more locally lorry and delivered by other vehicles will contibute a horrendous amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that are affecting the climate. Change the source of the flowers you give to be more local and you will reduce your carbon foot print and contibutions to climate change.

Chocolates

The impact of transporting ingredients has a lesser effect on climate change than that of flowers as they can be carried in dry bulk efficiently and made into confectionary gifts locally.

Lingerie

One to set the heart racing - saucy undies are a certain winner for Valentines Day - not just for women! Men too love the thrill of pulling on a new pair of pants with umourous messages printed across the front - better still by your man the hilarious "trunk" effect trunks.

For the heart - Resperate

RESPeRATE is one of the latest blood pressure lowering devices now available for UK customers. Resperate claim that simply by following its programme of listening to music whilst performing breathing exercises. Although the price tag is perhaps way too high for what you get Resperate has been in use and well recieved in the US for several years and maybe worth considering using alongside existing treatments.

Blood Pressure Monitor from Lloyds Pharmacy?

Once again we have been asked if cheap monitors are worth considering if you want to measure you BP at home. Lloyds pharmacy continue to offer their budgest blood pressure monitor for under ten pounds but you will notice many bad reviews of the lloyds blood pressure monitor on blogs and customer feedback sites. At this stage we can only reiterate using cliniclly tested and approved machines and using them correctly. Whilst Llloyds pharmacy offer great patient information leaflets it is surprising that they seem not to have submitted the lloyds monitor for Hypertension Scociety approval.

Playing music to lower blood pressure

2008-11-03T16:37:00.003Z

The calming effects of listening to music are well known. Many people play music to suit or change their moods including those that enjoy ambient music for meditation and some even for stimulation - see this interesting article about using an adult toy that "tunes in" to your portable music player.

With the arrival of ultra portable music players anyone can listen to their choice of music at all times. Even the Pickfords removal company men were spotted strutting their funky stuff whilst humping boardroom tables during an office move. All over the UK jobs are being completed while listening to music and whilst it is important to concentrates whilst "on the job" many more are turning to chilling out during working hours in order to help lower their blood pressure.

The most popular music player is now the iPod with four variations. The new nano is ultra small and boasts impeccable sound quality and is a favourite of those wishing to relax to more classical music whereas the iPod shuffle is a cheap ipod ideal for wearing during vigorous exercise.

Althought the iPod has lead the field in portable music there are many models of mp3 players available. Some MP3 players are available at incredibly low prices. A quick glance over at the MP3 Player Guide shows that some leading mp3 players are now offering more bang for you buck than iPods - eg the Archos Wifi has a monster 160GB storage and you can't fail to be impressed by the Creative Zen MP3 Player graphics and display.

No mater which model you choose a comfortable set of headphones are essential both for sound quality and assisting relaxation.

Keep Fit - The Wii Way

2008-10-15T09:09:00.005Z

Wii Fit - Fitness through gaming

Previously we featured the various ways you can help lower your blood pressure by staying fit - and it emerged that keeping fit isn't restricted to playing sports but some of the latest video games now offer a full workout. We made a passing mention of the new Wii Fit game that is sweeping the country - so much so that already money saving wii game forums are crying out to find the best deals for wii console and fit game bundles

Wii Fit is an incredibly versatile game that combines hours of fun with carefully chosen exercise - the game has been designed with providing a work out for otherwise couch potatoes without them realising. So addictive are these not so cheap wii games that players often find themselves missing between meal snacks - preferring to eat a proper balance meal at regulary intervals to prepare for the next exhausting bout of Wii Fit.

In an attempt to prevent the escalation of childhood obesity it is rumoured that Nintendo are looking at ways to subliminally incorporated diet and fitness messages into childrens interactive nursery rhymes, using classics such as the Little Pigs - "And this little piggy went Wii Wii Wii - all the way home" along with Jack Sprat - and the consequences of his fat diet.

Best Price Omron M10IT Blood Pressure Monitor

2008-09-17T11:41:00.005Z

Following on from this post measuring blood pressure that suggest improvements could be made recording readings by not using old manual sphygmanometers - as people who would like to check their BP at home would find these awkward to use and probably get unreliable readings, with stethoscopes we thought it would be an ideal time to have a round up of the best blood pressure monitors available for home users.

For some time Omron have been recognised as leading the field with its upper arm and wrist blood pressure monitors. Using its patented intelisense technology the Omron range of automatic blood pressure monitors have been developed to combine comfort and ease of use whilst still recording highly accurate results.

The latest machine is the Omron M10it blood pressure monitor which attracts favourable reviews with users noting the extended memory and allowing two people to use it and store their own personal records as being of added value. Searching online to compare prices we found you can buy the Omron M10 IT for less than £50 - the best price from medisave in the UK.

For those who strive to control their blood pressure the Omron M10 is an excellent value monitor and is approved by the British Hypertension Society who recommend various lifestyle changes and regular monitoring to prevent high blood pressure.

Stethoscopes Support Salt Reduction

2008-08-26T16:04:00.003Z

One of the most tiresome jobs uk doctors continually find themselves doing is emphasising the health benefits of reducing salt in food. Now a creditable organisation has become prominent in the fight to lower salt in food - encouraging better labelling of food by manufacturers and supermarkets such as the CO-OP and promoting using fresh ingredients without adding salt when cooking.

Medical staff can almost be heard breathing a sigh of releif as they put their stethoscope to their ears when performing routine blood pressure checks - at last - a reference to reinforce their health message.

A team of health care specialists formed Consensus Action on Salt & Health - cash - and includes cardiologists who are also involved with www.bpassoc.org.uk

This organisation has rallied to the calls for reduced salt in food and is able to offer evidence of the effect a diet high in salt can have on blood pressure.

Earlier this year (2008) it promoted a Salt Awareness Week and the reported commitment of leading food producers and sellers such as Pizza Hut, McCain, Walkers, M&S and Heinz to begin reducing salt in the food is a triumphant step forward.

"Many people believe that they are not at risk if they don't add salt to food when cooking or at the table" reported a leading health awareness website "however blood pressure readings with my trusty littmann cardiology stethoscope reveals the truth about the impact of hidden salt in food".

Blood Pressure Measured Whilst Playing Wii Games

2008-08-07T14:30:00.007Z

Blood Pressure Measured Whilst Playing Wii Games

First there was Wii sport - the video game that had us all waving arms around "playing" on a pretend tennis court or boxing rings. Then followed Wii Fit - an imaginative way to sell video games for the Nintendo Wii.

Now there are reports of patents being filed for a Wii game accessory that will allow players to monitor their health whilst playing Wii Fit. The idea - a brainwave of Kent Hsu - is to add on a wrist blood pressure monitor band to the Wii controller that will measure blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature. Gimmick it may be but as one commenter said "I don't think the idea is Wii Fit will make people fit - but it will succeed in making them aware of their body and health. This is merely an advance on using existing technologies that encourage regular monitoring of blood pressure - like the novelty gift of a blood pressure monitor in pants without the need for a stethoscope or visiting the Doctor's surgery

Omron Target Online Health Record Customers

2008-07-08T13:29:00.007Z

Towards the end of last year the Blood Pressure Info blog covered the announcement that on the back of faster internet connections it was now possible to store health records online at Microsoft's HealthVault and Google Health. There followed a flurry of activity from medical supply manufacturers to adapt their equipment and products to easily link in to these online medical files and data storage and Omron have recently announced that they hope to form a strategic relationship to support Microsoft Healthvault by making a pedometer and blood pressure monitors compatible to share information with the platform.

In June Omron Healthcare announced it had developed two blood pressure measuring devices - one a wrist blood pressure monitor, the other an upper arm monitor which will enable users to accurately measure their blood pressure and integrate important blood pressure data with other wellness information for better health management.

Assuming the users perform a speedtest to check their internet connection demonstrates adequate file transfer rates individuals can access and manage their health information through a free web-based account that enables them to collect and store information, as well as backup files and share this information with family members and physicians.

We watch this space to see if the new smart pants that can take blood pressure readings will also become compatible with online health file storage.

Illogical Blood Pressure Measurement

2008-06-17T15:28:00.002Z

Continued monitoring shows over three quarters of people that are diagnosed with hypertension are fifty and over and as such the greatest pressure of high blood pressure is mainly due to systolic pressure.

Professor Williams of Leicester suggested that medical teams need to re-think the way they measure blood pressure considering the demographics and to focus only on the higher of the two conventional readings.

Systolic pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries at the start of the heart's pumping cycle and is the key risk factor for older patients who are at higher risk of cardiovascular and heart problems reported the Lancet medical journal.

Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure during the rest phase of the heart cycle and it is concluded that measuring diastolic pressure readings for diagnosis and susceptibility analysis in the over fifties has thus become illogical.

Benefits of measuring only systolic pressure should simplify treatment strategies and make it easier for patients to understand their high blood pressure condition.

Additionally it would encourage researchers at pharmaceutical companies to develop high blood pressure medicines that would focus on addressing the correct blood pressure target.

More Sleep = Lower Blood Pressure: More tips for better sleep

2008-05-12T10:21:00.008Z

Your Blood Pressure thought that more tips and hints for improving sleep would be helpful following on from the previous post which gave the results of a the Mayo Clinics research into sleep and its measurable effect on blood pressure.

It cannot be emphasised enough that many of the secrets to a good nights sleep can often be controlled by changing lifestyle patterns - thinking about the environment you want to sleep in and what activities precede bedtime.

For example a combination of the escalation of fast broadband internet connection that now allows users to hook up from anywhere around the house by utilising their home wireless networks and the arrival of ultra portable wireless laptops such as the Asus Eee PC now means many people are continuing to surf the net in the bedroom - in many cases actually falling asleep whilst online. Like drinking coffee playing online games or even gambling before bedtime is bound to stimulate and prevent restful sleep. Indeed the over stimulation of watching videos etc is probably an added factor in raising blood pressure at a time when it should be at its lowest.

Previously we highlighted how a comfortable bed and good quality bedding would aid deeper sleep and it seems for many people light pollution also contributes to disturbed sleep. A simple solution would be to install blackout blinds but if this compromises your style of interior decoration perhaps consider reading this article about other types of roller blinds that dispels the myth that roller blinds are only to be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

Rather than copy the top 10 tips for sleep from JJ at Hints and Things you can read them here

Rest easy, sleep deeply and help your blood pressure.

Good Night

Can longer and better sleep improve high blood pressure?

2008-04-29T10:25:00.009Z

A report published via MayoClinic Hypertension suggests that prolonged sleep deprivation increases the chances of raised blood pressure (hypertension).

Researchers analysed the results of under five thousand participants, who were between the ages of 33 and 85 years old.

Among participants at the younger end of the range, those who slept for less than 6 hours each night had more than twice the chances of increased blood pressure than those who slept seven or more hours per night. This was not significant in those older than 59 years.

Early studies linked less sleep with cardiovascular disease however it was unclear if sleep deprivation could also affect blood pressure in people who didn't have a sleep disorder.

Better sleep clearly reduces the incidence of raised blood pressure and various methods are suggested to promote this including reviewing the bedroom environment, window coverings, tranquility and bedding:-

Fresh Air - an open window helps oxygenate the brain for deeper sleep.
Use heavy curtains or effective blinds to keep the room properly dark.
Quality bedding - the bedding you has an effect on the quality of sleep. Studies show that better quality bedding sets and duvet covers not only help relax but also maintain a constant comfortable temperature
Avoid caffeine for several hours before bed-time

The researchers commented in this study study that people who sleep for short spells — below six hours a night — increase their daily average blood pressure and heart rate. Over time it is concluded, this may lead to continued high blood pressure.

Of course further studies are needed to better understand the role of sleep deprivation in high blood pressure.

But this preliminary study suggests that increasing the amount and quality of sleep may play a role in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure and Driving - Inconclusive Tests

2008-03-11T12:09:00.003Z

A very small study has recently been completed to see if blood pressure is raised by driving.

The objective is to determine if the length of time spent driving on various terrains affects the driver's blood pressure, causing it to go up or down. Could stress caused by driving cause an increase in blood pressure as time spent driving increases and what would be the effect on blood pressure with different terrains?

The tests were done during urban driving and repeated for extreme off road action.

Equipment, Materials and Methods

For both tests the vehicle was a top of the range SUV - a Land Rover Discovery - which it was hoped would give drivers an increased degree of comfort and security so as not to affect the readings

Members of the Land Rovers Owners Club who responded to a post on the Land Rover Owners forum were considered to be best suited for this experiment as they were familiar not only with the vehicles used but no strangers to driving in more extreme conditions and terrains - see this video of a land rover doing what a landrover does best

Using an automatic blood pressure monitor, the blood pressure of drivers was measured at 15, 30 and 60 minute intervals while driving. Readings were repeated three times on each subject. The average blood pressure was calculated.

Disappointing Results

The data did not show a big change in blood pressure during urban driving but revealed a slight elevation when driving in more challenging conditions.

Conclusions

There were not significant changes in the blood pressure readings of the drivers.
The study did not support the expectation that blood pressure would go up under the stress of driving.
It would be interesting to see if the blood pressure would change more dramatically if the tests were done during commute traffic, bad weather or with other distractions such as children in the car, blaring sound systems or mobile phone conversations were added.

Health Records on the Web - Faster Broadband means better healthcare

2007-12-07T11:45:00.000Z

With the recent emergence of healthbank from Microsoft as noted on the blood pressure blog it follows that faster broadband connection speeds are necessary to allow rapid transfer of this medical data such as the history of reading recoded by those that regulary measure their blood pressure at home.

In a helpful post about the development of UK Broadband over at thenextpost about how increased speeds and cheap broadband connections have risen on the political agenda - the recent Australian election campaign had the future of broadband high on its "hot topics" and in the UK the debate has begun in earnest.
BT claim there's plenty of bandwidth available but it doesn't take much calculating that if the population as a whole began to keep and check their online health records - blood pressure readings for example are a daily event for many - added to the introduction of all NHS patient data being shared via the internet then preparation for a replacement to the copper wires we now have to be made.

Improving awareness about blood pressure with online PR

2007-10-10T08:38:00.000Z

Following another hugely successful event once more the awareness about blood pressure has been raised. The Blood Pressure Testing Week held in September took the message that knowing your blood pressure was a vital element in looking after you health.

Top Banana blog mentions the input from Online PR professional Ellie Precious to the work of Blood Pressure Monnitoring in this post and highlights the importance of getting messages clearly and accurately across on the web.

The post goes on to suggest that embracing web 2.0 technologies - social networking and user interactivity can play a vital role in any online PR exercise. Even video sites are now able to promote messages and this is demonstrated in the use of this clip - how to measure your blood pressure

Taking Control of Your Health - Blood Pressure

2007-08-22T14:57:00.000Z

Measure your Blood Pressure

House wife Barbie posted recently on her blog that people in the US are following the trend of taking control of their health. She explains that for many regularly checking blood pressure is high on the list of what can be done at home - quickly and simply with an automatic blood pressure monitor.

Barbie refers to the list of Omron Blood Pressure Monitors which have a fine reputation for simple operation, comfort and accuracy.

Most Omron monitors have been checked and validated by the British Hypertension Society and are available online at Medisave, the First Aid Warehouse or from your local pharmacy.

Start now and enjoy the benefits of taking control of your blood pressure.

Overcome Stress, Tackle High Blood Pressure

2007-08-03T09:21:00.000Z

The challenges of modern living are often claimed to be the cause of stress related illness.

The BBC recently ran a feature - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5132210.stm about the relationship between stress and high blood pressure.

Now as I understand it stress itself doesn't cause high blood pressure but often its the lifestyle associated with stress that can have an adverse effect on the bodies health. Fags and Booze are obvious elements of a less than healthy lifestyle - including rasing blood pressure but reading this article - http://www.execo.co.uk/blood_pressure.htm hightlights that busy executives may pay little attention to their diets and regularly opt for comfort, convinient food - usually jam packed with sugar and salt - salt and its effect on blood pressure as we should all know is terrible.

Simple steps to reduce stress and therby reduce the risk of poor lifestyle habits - take five minutes - do nothing, enjoy real food - chew slowly and appreciate the grub, LAUGH - a lot.

Only a small thing but it lowered my blood pressure...

2007-02-07T12:30:00.000Z

Hard to believe that something so small could have such a dramtic effect on my blood pressure. After the expense of Christmas and moving house I'd got a motly array of outstanding balances on my credit cards. Stress - the interest was crippling.

Every time I meaurd my blood pressure it was way high and having followed a good lifestyle I could only put this down to the outstanding credit card balances.

My mate davina over at Top Banana suggested that I should consolidate these debts onto a zero balance transfer new card -hmmm

Blimey what a relief - zero interest on balance transfers til December 2008. My BP droped like a stone. I'll have made a pile of cash then and paid it off.

Beta Blockers New UK blood pressure medicine guidelines

2006-06-29T15:29:00.000Z

New guidelines (June 2006) about treating high blood pressure with medicines and drupgs like beta blokers read more here Blood Pressure Information and Advice

Low blood pressure

2006-01-10T13:03:00.000Z

Blood pressure can vary over a wide range. For instance, the top pressure when the heart contracts (systolic) can vary from 90 to 240 mmHg and the bottom pressure when the heart relaxes (diastolic) can vary from 40 to 160 mmHg. About a hundred years ago it was first recognised that high blood pressure was a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. At this time, it was thought that low blood pressure was a major cause of depression and tiredness. Many people were quite wrongly treated for low blood pressure in the UK in the early 1900s. However, there is no evidence that low blood pressure causes either of these symptoms.
It is only in a tiny minority of people with low blood pressure, ie, readings below 90/60 mmHg, where there is an underlying cause and treatment may be needed. Most people with low blood pressure are extremely lucky because on average they are going to live longer and need to take out a good pension policy! This page on low blood pressure is designed to reassure those with low blood pressure and at the same time ensure that, in those rare situations where there is an underlying cause, you seek appropriate medical advice.

What is blood pressure?

Your heart pumps blood around your body through a network of tubing called arteries and capillaries and then back to your heart via your veins. As your heart contracts it pushes blood into your arteries and this causes an increase in pressure. When your heart contracts, the pressure is at its highest in your arteries and this is known as systolic pressure. As your heart relaxes and refills with blood, the pressure in your arteries falls and this is known as diastolic pressure. When blood pressure is measured in your arm, both of these pressures are measured.

For further information about measuring your blood pressure visit the dedicated home blood pressure monitoring site.

Your blood pressure varies by large amounts, depending on what you are doing. The lowest blood pressures occur when you are asleep or if you relax all your muscles. Standing up, exercising or anxiety all cause an increase in blood pressure. In a single day your blood pressure may vary by 30 to 40 mmHg systolic with similar proportionate changes in diastolic pressure. This is why when you have your blood pressure level assessed it is so important to have it measured under the same conditions every time.
The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of heart disease and stroke, whatever your level is. This means that someone with a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is at greater risk than someone with a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. This is why it is so important for everyone to lead a healthy lifestyle to make sure that their blood pressure is as low and as healthy as it can be. Current evidence suggests that if your blood pressure is less than 100/70 mmHg, your risk of a stroke or heart attack is very small and therefore the best blood pressure to have would be below 100/70 mmHg.
What is normal blood pressure?
Until recently, normal blood pressure was considered to be the average blood pressure of the population, ie, in the UK the average adult blood pressure is approx 125/80 mmHg. However, this is not an ideal blood pressure. For instance, the Yamomamo Indians who live in the tropical jungle of Venezuela and still lead the same lifestyle that all humans led up to 1,000 years ago, with a diet consisting of fruit, vegetables and roots with only small amounts of meat. They have an average blood pressure of 96/62 mmHg and this does not rise as they get older. They also have an average cholesterol of around 3.1 mmol/L and do not develop any disease of the arteries.

What is low blood pressure?

If the Yamomamo Indians have an average blood pressure of 96/62 mmHg and are extremely fit and well, it is difficult to define what is meant by low blood pressure. Most people with blood pressures at these levels, ie, around 90/60 mmHg are completely normal and are very lucky that for some reason they are protected from all the bad things we do that increase our blood pressure, like eating too much salt, not eating enough fruit and vegetables, being overweight and inactive etc. However, there are a few people with a blood pressure at these levels who have an underlying cause for their low blood pressure. In nearly all of these cases, blood pressure is much lower when you stand up, particularly if you stand up suddenly. This fall in blood pressure on standing is likely to cause symptoms of fainting and/or dizziness.

Normally, when you stand up blood tends to pool in the veins in your legs. This is stopped by nerves, which contract the veins in your legs ensuring that enough blood returns to your heart and that there is no reduction in the amount of blood that your heart pumps. This maintains the blood supply to your brain.
However, if there is pooling of blood in your veins, less blood returns to your heart and less is pumped out which means a reduction in the amount of blood going to your brain. This causes symptoms of dizziness and some people may faint. This is exactly what happens to guards on parade when they faint because they have been standing in one position for too long. You can mimic this effect when you squat down for a while, for instance when looking at books on a low shelf, and then stand up suddenly.

Therefore, if you have a low blood pressure and you also have symptoms of dizziness or faintness when standing up suddenly you should have your blood pressure checked, both when you are lying down and when you then stand up. This drop in blood pressure when you stand up is called postural hypotension.

What causes low blood pressure?

The commonest causes are:

Acute illness, for example, severe blood loss and sudden severe infectionMany acute illnesses associated with severe blood loss, fluid loss, infection or damage to the heart may cause low blood pressure and very low blood pressures when sitting up or standing. When this happens blood pressure levels are an important measure of the severity of the illness and that is why blood pressure is measured so often in acutely ill people.

Blood pressure lowering drugs Nearly all of the modern blood pressure lowering drugs do not cause a drop in blood pressure when you stand up. The only class of drugs that is commonly used nowadays that may cause a drop in standing pressure are alpha blockers – the commonest one used in the UK is doxazosin. If you are taking doxazosin and you feel dizzy or faint when you stand up you must get your blood pressure measured when standing to check whether it is dropping.
If you are older, and particularly if you have diabetes, there may already be a tendency for your blood pressure to fall when you stand and even the modern tablets may make this slightly worse.

If you get severe food poisoning and are sick and have diarrhoea, you may lose large amounts of fluid from your body. This will make any tablets lower your blood pressure further. If you do get severe food poisoning it is important to check your blood pressure and stop the tablets if your blood pressure is low, i.e. less than 110/70mmHg.

If you have a drop in blood pressure when you stand up, but you still need to continue with the tablets for high blood pressure, then it will help if you get up slowly. For example, when you are lying flat in bed, sit up slowly, then stand up slowly and avoid sudden attempts to stand up without support.Rare diseases of the nerves that control the reflexes in the veinsSome people develop problems with the nerves supplying the reflexes in their legs so that when they stand up the veins do not contract and they develop a severe drop in their blood pressure. This is very rare. If you have a severe drop in blood pressure when you stand and you are otherwise well (ie, not on any blood pressure lowering drugs) then you should have further investigations. You will need to have tests on a ‘tilt table’ where you lie down and then have your blood pressure and heart rate measured whilst the table tilts to see exactly what is causing the drop in blood pressure.

Diabetes

Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves supplying blood vessels and can therefore be associated with a drop in pressure when standing up.

Increasing age

As you get older, your arteries stiffen and are less supple and this may occasionally cause a fall in blood pressure when you stand.

Failure of the adrenal gland

The adrenal glands are two very small glands just above the kidney that produce important hormones, one of which is aldosterone. This hormone is very important in controlling the amount of salt in your body. If your adrenal glands become damaged this can mean that there is not enough aldosterone in your body. This leads to a loss of salt from your body and this may cause low blood pressure, with dizziness or faintness when you stand up suddenly. This condition is very rare, but important to pick up as, it can easily be treated by replacing the missing hormones.

Will I need any investigations?

Investigations are only conducted if you have symptoms that suggest a fall in blood pressure when you stand up, ie, dizziness or faintness. If you do have these symptoms or a fall in blood pressure when you stand then your doctor should conduct further tests or refer you to a specialist. This will mean having a tilt test where you will be strapped to a table and tilted, with careful measurements of heart rate and blood pressure taken. Hormone levels in your blood may also be measured to check that your adrenal glands and nerves are working normally.

How is low blood pressure treated?

This will very much depend on the cause. If you are well with no drop in blood pressure when standing then you should congratulate yourself – you do not need any treatment. However, if you do have symptoms then treatment will depend on the underlying cause. If you are taking blood pressure lowering drugs they may need to be changed, particularly if you are taking an alpha blocker such as doxazosin. You will need to discuss this with your doctor or practice nurse. Many people find that by getting up slowly their symptoms can be avoided.
Failure of the adrenal glands can be treated by replacement of the missing hormones. If you have a disease of the nerves then this can be more difficult to treat, but you may respond to drugs that stimulate the nervous system. You may also find that wearing elastic stockings or an anti-gravity suit, or taking hormones that cause retention of salt and/or eating more salt can help. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Is low blood pressure associated with tiredness or depression?

Many years ago it was thought that blood pressures below a systolic of 90 mmHg could lead to tiredness and depression and many women were wrongly treated for low blood pressure with drugs that stimulate the nervous system. Large studies have now suggested that there is no relationship, provided there is no underlying cause for the low blood pressure.

What should I do if I think I have got low blood pressure?

The first thing to do is to have it measured either by your doctor or practice nurse, or get a machine to measure it yourself. It is important to measure your blood pressure not just when you are sitting, but also when you are lying down and standing up. If when you stand there is a large fall in blood pressure and you feel dizzy, you should then seek further advice.

If your systolic pressure is above 80mmHg with no drop when you stand up, and you feel quite well, then you are one of the few lucky people who naturally have very low blood pressure. For reasons that are not fully understood you are protected from the effects of salt and other factors that can cause raised blood pressure levels. On average, you will live longer than people with higher blood pressures.

Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home

2006-01-01T12:18:00.000Z

Knowing what your blood pressure is and having a consistently accurate reading that you can trust is important, not only for you when you are testing at home but also for your health professional. Inaccurate readings can lead to misdiagnosis, and can mean the difference between having treatment or not.

Some people would like to be able to monitor their blood pressure at home and many doctors encourage this. Many people see their doctor or nurse every three months, six months or each year, once their blood pressure is under control. In between these times it can be very useful to regularly check your own blood pressure at home.

Machines for measuring your blood pressure are not available on the NHS, you will have to buy your own. However, in some cases your doctor or nurse may lend you a machine for a period of time. Some clinics, doctors and nurses will ask you to bring in your own machine before you start measuring at home, so that they can check the machine is accurate and can answer any questions that you might have.

Taking and monitoring blood pressure can make you feel more in control of your condition, and more confident that any medicines that you take and any changes that you make to your lifestyle are working. However, measuring blood pressure at home can also make some people feel more anxious about their readings, not less. If this is the case, make sure that you resist the temptation to take readings more often than your doctor has advised. It will also help to make sure you are familiar and comfortable with taking your own readings and that your make your measurements part of your daily routine.

Readings to aim for at home
The aim of treatment for high blood pressure is to reduce it, when measured by your doctor or nurse, to 140/85mmHg or below. This figure applies to readings that are taken in the surgery or clinic. When your blood pressure is measured in a clinic, particularly with a doctor but also with a nurse, it may be higher than when you are more relaxed at home. It is therefore important that with your own measurements at home, ideally they should be below 140/85mmHg. However, in some people this may be difficult to achieve.As blood pressure varies in everybody by quite a large amount, there will always be one or two readings when you measure your blood pressure which will be higher, so always repeat the measurements when you are more relaxed. However, if you find that on repeated measurement your blood pressure is higher than usual make sure that you go and see your doctor or nurse, taking details of the measurements with you.

How often do I take readings?
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you need to measure your blood pressure. When you first start measuring your blood pressure at home, you will probably check it twice a day, morning and evening. This may go down to once a day and then to once a week when your blood pressure is under control and you become confident at measuring it. Try and take it at the same times each day or week.When you take your blood pressure, sit down and rest your arm on a firm surface, such as a table. Follow the instructions that come with the monitor and make sure that you keep a record of all your readings, and ideally the time that you took your last tablet.

Why is blood pressure important?

2005-12-31T14:31:00.000Z

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. The higher your blood pressure the greater your risk of developing narrowed arteries which can lead to heart problems, kidney disease and strokes. The good news is that if your blood pressure is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with tablets. This will reduce your risk of developing heart and brain problems that might otherwise occur if your blood pressure is not treated. In many people, blood pressure is not checked or measured, and in some people who have high blood pressure it may not be treated adequately.Your heart pumps blood around your body through a network of tubing called arteries. Every time your heart pumps it forces blood through these arteries and into smaller blood vessels called capillaries. The force that your heart produces in your arteries when it pumps is called your blood pressure. When the heart contracts and forces blood through the arteries your blood pressure goes up, when the heart relaxes it goes down.

Why is blood pressure important?

High blood pressure can also be called hypertension; both words mean the same thing. If you have a blood pressure measurement that is consistently more than 140/90mmHg then you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and dementia. This means that if you have high blood pressure you are at greater risk of developing these conditions than someone who does not have high blood pressure.If your blood pressure is high it causes strain on the vessels carrying blood around your body. This strain can cause vessels to become clogged up or to weaken, and this in turn can lead to narrow blood vessels and clots which can cause damage to the heart or brain. More rarely, it can lead to the blood vessels bursting. Having high blood pressure can also cause heart failure. Heart failure is when your heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should, and this can cause you to become short of breath and can cause your ankles to swell. High blood pressure can cause kidney failure, some eye conditions, and there is some research that shows that by lowering blood pressure you may be able to prevent some kinds of dementia.Whether you have high blood pressure, or normal blood pressure, it is important to realise that the higher your blood pressure, whatever it is, the higher your risk of heart disease or stroke. This means that all of us should be adopting a lifestyle that will help to lower our blood pressure whether we have high blood pressure or not.For all of us, leading a healthy lifestyle means taking regular exercise, eating a diet low in fat and salt and high in fruit and vegetables, being the right weight for our height, drinking sensibly and not smoking. Following these guidelines will help you to reduce your risk of having a heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or dementia in the future.So, there are many very good reasons for controlling your blood pressure both and now and in the future.

What causes high blood pressure?

A small number of people have what is called secondary hypertension, which means that there is an underlying cause of their high blood pressure. For example, some people develop high blood pressure if they have problems with their kidneys or adrenal glands (which sit above your kidneys). These glands produce hormones that are important in controlling blood pressure.However, for most people there is no definite cause for their high blood pressure and doctors call this essential hypertension. The small blood vessels in the body narrow and this causes the pressure to build up, a bit like squeezing a garden hose.How common is high blood pressure?In the UK there are about 16 million people with a blood pressure higher than 140/90mmHg. One in every three adults now have high blood pressure, with larger numbers affected in older age groups.

Who gets high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can affect anyone. However there are some groups of people who are more likely to have it.

If you have a family history of high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack you are more likely to have high blood pressure yourself

If you are black then you are more likely to have high blood pressure than the rest of the population in the United Kingdom; you may be more sensitive to salt in your diet and more likely to have a stroke. If you are South Asian then you are more likely to have diabetes or a heart attack which means that it is important for you to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels well controlled. The reasons for this are not fully understood

Some other conditions are also linked to high blood pressure, such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. If you have any of these conditions then it is even more important that your blood pressure is identified and well controlled
Your lifestyle can also affect your blood pressure. If you are overweight, eat too much salt and not enough fruits and vegetables, are physically inactive and drink too much alcohol you are more likely to have high blood pressure

Blood pressure also goes up as we get older. At least half of all people over the age of 75 have high blood pressure

Whereas you cannot change your genes, or the fact that you will grow older, you can change your lifestyle. Changing your diet and exercising more will lower your blood pressure. This is something that everyone should do but is particularly important if you have high blood pressure as it may avoid the need for tablets.

How do I know if I've got high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms which is why many people do not know that they have it. For this reason high blood pressure is sometimes called the 'silent killer'. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure or not is to have it measured. This is why it is important for you to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Think of it as part of an MOT for your body, and a number that you should know in the same way that you would know how much you weigh or how tall you are.