Postprandial Hypotension And Blood Pressure
Some people are genetically predisposed to postprandial hypotension. In others, it comes on after a stroke, accident, or other trauma damages key nerves or blood pressure sensors. In most people, though, postprandial hypotension stems from aging-related changes that interfere with the body’s ability to respond quickly to sudden changes in blood pressure.
A major culprit is high blood pressure, which stiffens arteries, making it harder for them to narrow and relax as needed. Failure of blood pressure sensors in the arteries or stretch receptors in the stomach can lead to postprandial hypotension, as can diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and other nerve-damaging conditions.
Foods That Are Rich In Fructose And Increases Blood Pressure
The food which are high in fructose and added sugar are carbonated drinks and beverages, fruits and vegetables like banana, kiwi, cherry, blackberry, mango, tomato, dates, asparagus, beans, broccoli, etc., processed foods like barbeque and pasta, dried fruits, etc. Thus a person who is at increased risk and also those who are already suffering from hypertension must be cautious about the intake of added sugar or fructose in their diet. These people must also try to avoid the processed and packed foods which are generally very high in added sugar. Moreover, in contrary to the earlier belief, they should include salt in their diet so as to utilize its positive effects on the body. However, the quantity must not exceed the limit.
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Diabetes And High Blood Pressure: What Is The Relationship
Your blood pressure is one of the most important markers of health especially as a person with any type of diabetes.
High blood pressure is very common in people with diabetes. In fact, the two conditions often go hand-in-hand because they can both result from the same lifestyle factors.
In this article, well discuss what high blood pressure is and what causes it, what is a healthy blood pressure measurement, the link between diabetes and high blood pressure, and what you can do to prevent or lower high blood pressure levels.
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Drugs That Raise Your Blood Sugar
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you probably know about the different types of food and drink that can increase your blood sugar . But did you know some prescription medicines can do this as well?;
This is why you should tell everyone who prescribes medicines for youdoctors, dentists, or nurse practitionersthat you have diabetes. At the same time, its important for the doctor or managing your diabetes treatment to know of any new medicines you may be taking that were prescribed by someone else.
There are many medicines that can raise blood sugar and cause hyperglycemia, or blood sugar levels above normal. If you arent sure about a medication youve been prescribed, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it will affect your blood sugar before you start taking it.;
Common medicines that raise blood sugar levels include:
Upswing: Steroids And Water Pills
People take corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to treat rashes, arthritis, asthma, and many other conditions. But they can boost your blood sugar, and may even trigger diabetes in some people. Diuretics that help high blood pressure, also called water pills, can do the same. Some antidepressants also raise or lower blood sugar.
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Avoid Stress If Possible
A stressful day here and there isnt likely to contribute to high blood pressure. Chronic stress, however, can absolutely lead to persistently high blood pressure.
Whether its an overly demanding job, an unhealthy relationship, an anxiety disorder, overwhelming parenting responsibilities, and the many other ways life can take on more than we can mentally handle are all reasonable culprits of high blood pressure.
While many sources of stress may not be fully within your control, it may be time to truly consider what you can change in your life for the sake of your immediate and long-term wellbeing.
How To Measure Your Blood Pressure
Measured painlessly with a cuff attached to a small handheld pump operated by a healthcare professional using a stethoscope, your blood pressure should be measured at every check-up as a person with diabetes.
You can also get an inexpensive at-home blood pressure cuff which is critical for those already diagnosed with high blood pressure. And you can have your blood pressure measured in free booths often located near the prescription pick-up area of your pharmacy or grocery store.
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Caution: Birth Control Pills
Types that have estrogen can affect the way your body handles insulin. Still, oral contraceptives are safe for women with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association suggests a combination pill with norgestimate and synthetic estrogen. The group also says birth control shots and implants are safe for women with the condition, though they can affect your blood sugar levels.
Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a fairly common problem these days. Many people who suffer from high blood pressure have no overt symptoms. Only during a routine check-up, their high pressure is detected. For this reason it is very important that a person gets his blood pressure checked regularly. Some people experience certain symptoms if their blood pressure increases above the normal level. They are as follows:
Waiting for these symptoms to appear is quite risky. Moreover, they might not be good markers of high blood pressure as well. These symptoms generally appear in case of a hypertensive crisis which can be life threatening. A hypertensive crisis is when the systolic blood pressure is above 180 and the diastolic blood pressure is above 110. If this is the case then the person needs emergency medical care.
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Limit Your Alcohol Intake And Ditch The Cigarettes
If youre currently drinking more than one serving of alcohol per day or more than 7 drinks per week for women and 14 drinks per week for a man.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people living with diabetes follow the general guidelines for alcohol consumption:
- Men: No more than 2 drinks per day on average
- Women: No more than 1 drink per day on average
Ideally, if youre really motivated to improve your overall health, alcohol would be considered a small indulgence on the weekend versus something you consume on a daily basis. Keep in mind that alcohol is technically a poison to the body that your liver has to process to rid from your system. It will wear on every aspect of your health if consumed all too often, even 1 drink per day.
Keep In Mind That Not All Sugar Raises Blood Pressure
Keep in mind that natural sugar that comes from fruit is healthy when consumed as part of the whole fruit. Sugar in fresh fruit is combined with loads of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy blood pressure levels and metabolic functioning. The sugar in whole fruits is digested slowly due to the high fiber content, supplying your body with a steady stream of fuel without blood sugar spikes.
The problem with fruit sugar comes when it is isolated from the whole fruit and added to processed ingredients. So, when avoiding sugar to benefit blood pressure, make sure to watch out for added sugars! But feel free to consume fresh fruit in abundance.
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Why Sugar Will Raise Your Blood Pressure More Than Salt
So if its not salt, what is it?
It seems like in everything I write, in all my public talks, in all my discussions about nutrition, I somehow find my way to this statistic:
The average American consumes 150 pounds of refined sugar per year.
We are so used to it in our diet that we dont realize its relatively new historically speaking.; Prior to industrialization, making refined sugar from sugar cane was a long and laborious process.;;The sugar industry was built on the back of the slave trade.; Initially, only wealthy Europeans could afford it. This is also the first evidence we see of diabetes.
With the advent of industrialization in the 19th century, industry took over for slave labor and made the manufacturing more efficient.; Throughout the 20th century, sugar became increasingly available to everyone as the food industry put it in everything.
This is without question the root reason to our type II diabetes epidemic . This is the root reason to our obesity epidemic as the body stores excess sugar as fat.; And yes, its the root reason to hypertension.
Hypertension is a condition of industrialized societies.; Countless researchers including Dr. Price did not find hypertension in non-industrialized societies despite many cultures liberally consuming salt in the form of sea salt, sea vegetables and salt-preserved foods.; Nor did they find rampant sugar consumption.
And of course, class members blood pressure drops as well.; Many stop their blood pressure medications.
Drinking Soda May Increase Your Blood Pressure
This shopper may be doing the right thing by driving his cart right by the soda display.hide caption
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This shopper may be doing the right thing by driving his cart right by the soda display.
A new study adds yet another reason to consider scaling back your soda intake, and it’s already putting beverage makers on the defensive.
Researchers from the School of Public Health at Imperial College in London analyzed the diets of nearly 2,700 middle-aged people in the U.S. and the U.K.
They found that people drinking more than one soda or other sugar-sweetened beverage a day had higher blood pressure, and that it kept going up the more they drank. After accounting for weight and other risk factors, that habit seemed to still put them at greater risk for cardiovascular problems.
Now the American Beverage Association is warning people not to jump to conclusions. In a statement sent to Shots, ABA takes issue with the study for lumping in U.S. and U.K. sodas, which are made from different sweeteners.
Research associate Ian Brown says that despite the difference, the blood pressure effects were the same across the pond.
ABA says: “Regrettably, this study does nothing more than distract the public from widely accepted and clinically proven approaches to lowering the risk for hypertension and heart disease.” You know, doing the boring stuff like diet and exercise.
But don’t sit there sanctimoniously thinking that your diet soda is going to save you.
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How To Avoid Added Sugars And Improve Your Blood Pressure
Avoiding added sugars is the key to limiting sugar intake in your diet.;Dietary guidelines from the American Heart Association;recommend that for men, 36 grams of added sugar is the daily maximum and for women, 25 grams is the daily maximum. Less is always better though, so aim to consume as little added sugar as possible. Knowing where added sugars are hiding is important for making the best food choices for a low-sugar diet. Follow these tips for cutting down on the amount of added sugar in your diet.
How Does Sugar Contribute To Metabolic Syndrome
Sugary beverages and processed foods that contain lots of added sugar that are immediately broken down by the digestive system, entering the bloodstream in high amounts. This causes a spike in blood sugar levels. Lots of glucose is coursing through the blood vessels and in response, the pancreas releases insulin that signals to body tissues to use available glucose to power cellular processes. Though some glucose is vital for survival and normal energy levels, excess glucose causes inflammation and is stored as fat throughout the body and in the liver.
Over time, chronic consumption of excess glucose can cause inflammation that damages the pancreas and makes insulin unresponsive to glucose in the bloodstream. This results in hallmarks of metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
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What Would A Doctor Prescribe Steroids For
Doctors prescribe steroids for many issues, including but not limited to treating the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, and common allergies.;
In more serious cases, steroids help treat Addisons disease, when the body lacks the ability to produce corticosteroid, that the body needs for proper functioning.;
Steroids are also used to suppress the immune system to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients.;
Overlapping Characteristics Of Diabetes And High Blood Pressure
A 2012 study in China focused its research on how obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes may influence blood pressure levels.
The study suggests that both conditions diabetes and hypertension result from the onset of low-grade inflammation and that both should be considered as chronic inflammatory diseases.
It is now realized that insulin resistance, which predicts type 2 diabetes, also has a role in the development of hypertension, explains the study. Indeed, hypertension and diabetes substantially share common pathways such as obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and mental stress.
In reality, diabetes and hypertension are found in the same individual more often than would occur by chance, adds the study. The researchers concluded that both conditions are often the result of genetic or environmental factors: diet, weight, tobacco use, stress, and activity level.
Exercise can play a major role in the development and treatment of both conditions.
In the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, subjects with a change in moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity were 49% to 65% less likely to develop diabetes, explains the report.
Then, in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study with over 15 years of follow-up, patients engaging in regular exercise saw a 17 percent reduction in their risk of high blood pressure.
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What Makes Blood Pressure Suddenly Increase
Asked by sam
What Makes Blood Pressure Suddenly Increase?
During a recent visit to the doctor my blood pressure was suddenly very high, so high that I had to go to the emergency and be monitored for several hours. I was put on metaprolol, but my blood pressure still spikes throughout the day. What would make my blood pressure go up like that? At what point is it so high that I should go to the ER again?
What Is High Blood Pressure Or Hypertension
High blood pressure is a condition based on the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels while that blood is being pumped and circulated throughout your body by your heart.
When the force of your blood is too high and it qualifies as high blood pressure it can put your entire wellbeing in danger.
High blood pressure severely increases your risk of:
- heart attack
- sexual dysfunction
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Is Sugar Bad For You
If you love sweets, don’t despair. You don’t have to give them up forever. Sugar will raise your blood sugar levels more quickly than other carbs, but diabetes experts now say the total amount of carbs is most important. So keep your serving sizes small and take into account the total carbs and calories.
Blood Sugar Spike: What To Do
Its important to know the symptoms of hyperglycemia. If you suspect that you have high blood sugar, perform a finger stick to check your level.
Exercising and drinking water after eating, particularly if youve consumed a lot of starchy carbs, can help lower your blood sugar.
You can also use an insulin injection, but be careful only to use this method while closely following the recommendation of your doctor regarding your dose. If used improperly, insulin can cause hypoglycemia .
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Complications Of High Blood Pressure
The ultimate outcome of chronic high blood pressure, regardless of the cause, is the same. If left unchecked, high blood pressure damages blood vessels. Blood vessels develop scar tissue and harden in response to continuous hypertension-induced injury. Hypertension combined with concurrent metabolic conditions like high cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which is the formation of plaques in the artery. Damaged and blocked blood vessels may restrict blood flow to certain parts of the body, leading to tissue damage. In particular, high blood pressure significantly contributes to the development of heart disease and the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
Luckily, many things can be done to reverse high blood pressure and prevent life-threatening complications. Your physician may decide to prescribe blood pressure medication to help control hypertension. In addition to medication, healthy diet guidelines and lifestyle changes can help you remove added sugars from your diet and lower blood pressure.
Blood Sugar Spike Symptoms
Learning to recognize the symptoms of hyperglycemia can help you keep your diabetes in control. Some people with diabetes immediately feel the symptoms of high blood sugar, but others go undiagnosed for years because their symptoms are mild or vague.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia typically begin when your blood glucose goes above 250 milligrams per deciliter . Symptoms get worse the longer you go untreated.
Symptoms of a blood sugar spike include:
- frequent urination
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Roller Coaster: Female Hormones
When a woman’s hormones change, so does their;blood sugar. Keep a monthly record of your levels to get a better idea of how your menstrual cycle affects you. Hormone changes during menopause may make blood sugar even harder to control. Talk to your doctor about whether hormone replacement therapy is a good idea.
Added Sugar Intake Increases Blood Pressure
Its becoming common knowledge that added sugar plays a causal role in chronic diseases like insulin resistance, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes. What few people realize is that, just like high salt intake, high sugar intake directly contributes to high blood pressure. So, eating excess sugar is a significant and direct causal factor for both diabetes and hypertension.
The mechanism for sodium-induced high blood pressure and sugar-induced high blood pressure differ. Salt increases blood pressure by causing you to retain water, which increases blood volume and increases the pressure exerted on vessel walls.
Research;published in;Open Heart;and conducted by researchers at Saint Lukes Mid America Heart Institute in Missouri and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York examines the impact of added sugar on cardiovascular health. Results showed that added sugars negatively impact blood pressure by increasing inflammation, increasing salt retention, and decreasing nitric oxide. Consuming too much sugar also activates the nervous system and increases heart rate.
The impact of sugar on nitric oxide a powerful vasodilator in the body is particularly compelling. Nitric oxide is a critical molecule for the healthy functioning of the endothelium, the lining of cells that control constriction or dilation of blood vessels.
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