People With Diabetes And High Blood Pressure Are More At Risk Of Having A Heart Attack Or Stroke So It’s Important To Know How To Look After Your Blood Pressure
If you have diabetes, you need your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional at least once a year. This check is part of your annual review.
If your blood pressure is high , you’ll need treatment to bring it down. This is because it puts a strain on your blood vessels and can damage them. This can make it harder for blood to flow around the body and reach all the vital areas it needs to, like your heart. And you’re more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also puts you more at risk of developing all types ofdiabetes complications, like serious problems with your feet, your eyes and your kidneys.
There’s lots to help manage your blood pressure – because your lifestyle has a direct impact. But lots of people also need to take medication to treat high blood pressure and reduce the risk complications.
It’s really important to know that you might have high blood pressure and feel fine, because there aren’t usually any symptoms. But even if you feel healthy, high blood pressure is damaging your blood vessels and you need to get treatment. That’s why you should never miss a blood pressure check – it’s a free test and takes two minutes.
Too Much Added Sugar Can Be One Of The Greatest Threats To Cardiovascular Disease Here’s How To Curb Your Sweet Habit
Sugar has a bittersweet reputation when it comes to health. Sugar occurs naturally in all foods that contain carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy. Consuming whole foods that contain natural sugar is okay. Plant foods also have high amounts of fiber, essential minerals, and antioxidants, and dairy foods contain protein and calcium.
Since your body digests these foods slowly, the sugar in them offers a steady supply of energy to your cells. A high intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains also has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
Does Sugar Raise Blood Pressure It Depends Where It Comes From U Of T Researchers Say
Combined data from over two dozen nutrition studies show that while sugar-sweetened drinks are linked to elevated blood pressure, healthier foods that contain some sugars do not share the same relationship – and in fact may have a protective association when it comes to high blood pressure, according to University of Toronto researchers.
Sugar-sweetened beverages were linked with a 10 per cent increase in blood pressure in the review, which pooled results from more than 900,000 participants in the other studies. Fruit, small amounts of 100 per cent fruit juice, and dairy and whole grains with moderate amounts of added sugar all showed some protective associations with hypertension, the researchers found.
The findings were published this week in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“The food source matters,” says John Sievenpiper, an associate professor in the department of nutritional science in U of T’s Faculty of Medicine and principal investigator on the study.
“Many dietary guidelines for sugar are based on evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages are harmful, but we shouldn’t necessarily extrapolate that to whole fruit, or low-fat yogurt or a whole-grain cereal that contains sugars.”
The results should provide some relief to consumers and patients concerned about high blood pressure, and who may count teaspoons of sugars in the many foods they eat over the course of a day, Sievenpiper adds.
Does Sugar Raise Blood Pressure It Depends Where It Comes From Researchers Say
Combined data from over two dozen nutrition studies show that while sugar-sweetened drinks are linked to elevated blood pressure, healthier foods that contain some sugars do not share the same relationship—and in fact may have a protective association when it comes to high blood pressure, according to University of Toronto researchers.
Sugar-sweetened beverages were linked with a 10 percent increase in blood pressure in the review, which pooled results from more than 900,000 participants in the other studies. Fruit, small amounts of 100 percent fruit juice, and dairy and whole grains with moderate amounts of added sugar all showed some protective associations with hypertension, the researchers found.
The findings were published this week in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“The food source matters,” says John Sievenpiper, an associate professor in the department of nutritional science in U of T’s Faculty of Medicine and principal investigator on the study.
“Many dietary guidelines for sugar are based on evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages are harmful, but we shouldn’t necessarily extrapolate that to whole fruit, or low-fat yogurt or a whole-grain cereal that contains sugars.”
The results should provide some relief to consumers and patients concerned about high blood pressure, and who may count teaspoons of sugars in the many foods they eat over the course of a day, Sievenpiper adds.
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More information:DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.118.010977Citation
Participant Characteristics Anthropometrics Measurements And Demographics
Participant characteristics, including anthropometric and demographic data, are presented in . There were no significant differences between males and females in terms of age, BMI, anti-hypertensive medication use, education level, race, employment, or smoking status. The mean age was 70.8 ± 4.1 years and 70.6 ± 4.0 years for males and females, respectively. For BMI, the average participant was overweight, regardless of gender . Of the participants, 32.8% held a graduate or professional degree, 86.7% were White, 73.4% were retired, 98.4% were not current smokers, and 69.5% were married. There were statistically significant differences between males and females in terms of height , weight , income , and marital status .
Predicted Changes In Percentage Of Population With High Blood Pressure
Our regression model predicted that decreasing added sugar intake results in an 8.4 mmHg drop in systolic BP and a 3.7 mmHg drop in diastolic BP in females, regardless of anti-hypertensive medication use. If females consume 2.3 teaspoons less added sugar, we predicted that 34.3% of females would have high BP readings, indicating a 12.9% drop in the percentage of females with hypertension readings and a 24.3% increase in the percentage of women with normal BP readings.
What Is The Recommended Blood Pressure Range For People With Diabetes
It’s important to keep your blood pressure within a healthy range. This reduces your chances of your body developing further health complications.
Blood pressure should be below 140/80mmHg for people with diabetes or below 130/80mmHg if you have kidney or eye disease or any condition that affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain. But it is important to speak to your healthcare team about your individual target.
Whilst you may not have any symptoms of high blood pressure, it can be harmful to your health if left untreated. This is due to the increased pressure placed on your heart, eyes, kidneys and other organs.
As we’ve said previously, heart attack or stroke are some of the conditions your body becomes more vulnerable to with high blood pressure. Other conditions you become more at risk of include:
- Cardiovascular dementia
- Heart failure
Hormonal Changes In Menstruation Tend To Mess With Blood Sugar Levels
Widely known menstruation symptoms include low mood and certain food cravings, but did you know that the menstrual cycle can also cause blood sugar level swings? “Blood sugar spikes during the ovulatory phase for a few days and then increases again in the last week of the cycle — the days prior to the onset of a period,” explains Dodell. “This is due to peak levels of estrogen and progesterone.” Also worth noting: Women in perimenopause, when hormone levels and menstrual periods are often irregular, are likely to find their blood sugar levels to be unpredictable, says Grieger.
If your menstrual cycle seems to affect your blood sugar levels, you may find it helpful to look for a monthly pattern in your blood sugar readings, the Mayo Clinic recommends. A pattern would allow you to predict changes in your blood sugar and to work with your doctor to adjust your treatment approach as needed throughout your cycle.
Study Suggests Sugar Is Worse For Blood Pressure Than Salt: Really
In recent years, salt has become somewhat less of a culprit in heart disease, and sugar has, at least in some researchers’ eyes, taken its place. Now, authors of a new study in Open Heart argue that sugar consumption may be considerably worse for blood pressure than salt intake. In fact, they say, “It is time for guideline committees to shift focus away from salt and focus greater attention to the likely more-consequential food additive: sugar.” Whether it’s really valuable to pit one white crystal against the other is unclear, but what we do know is that neither salt nor sugar, in high amounts, is very good for anyone’s heart. For people who already have heart disease or high blood pressure, it’s probably best to keep an eye on both.
But here’s the rationale for the argument that sugar is worse for blood pressure than salt. Sugar, in high amounts, has many well-documented negative effects on the body, and in particular, on one’s metabolic profile. There’s an established link between sugar and metabolic syndrome, a conglomeration of cardiovascular markers that includes insulin resistance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides , and excess weight, especially in the form of belly fat.
“The best thing people can do for their health,” says DiNicolantonio, “is eat real whole food and avoid added sugars – worrying less about the salt.”
Reduce The Sensitivity Of Receptors That Regulate Blood Pressure
When excess sugar raises insulin levels, it also reduces the sensitivity of the baroreceptors that regulate blood pressure. Baroreceptors are found in the walls of your arteries. They constantly monitor blood pressure and send signals to the brain when they sense a change in your blood pressure. The brain responds by initiating mechanisms that adjust your blood pressure.
Medication And Supplements May Contribute To Blood Sugar Changes
Illness itself can increase blood sugar levels, but so can illness-fighting medication. A number of over-the-counter and prescription drugs — even some vitamins and supplements — can raise blood sugar. Examples include corticosteroids, asthma medication, birth control pills, certain antidepressants, and some medication for severe acne, Dodell says. While the exact causes aren’t completely clear, research suggests that changes in blood flow as well as direct effects on insulin release and receptors may explain why blood-pressure-lowering medication has the potential to spike blood sugar.
It’s therefore important to let your doctor know about each and every medication you take, whether OTC or prescribed by another doctor, he says. They may be able to help you find an alternative medication that is better for your blood sugar levels or, alternatively, simply help you manage your blood sugar despite any sugar-increasing medicine.
How To Increase Low Blood Pressure Naturally & Quickly: 11 Tips
Low blood pressure is a serious problem like hypertension. How blood pressure may inflict untold damage to the body and mind. It causes symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, difficulty breathing, nausea, palpitations, blurred vision and cold, clammy skin. The condition may be caused by issues such as dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, prolonged bed rest, heart problems, pregnancy, a reduction in blood volume, neurological conditions and endocrine disorders. Certain medications such as beta blockers, diuretics, antidepressants, alpha blockers, and others may also lead to the problem of low blood pressure. You can try several simple ways to alleviate symptoms. In this article, VKool.com will show you 11 solutions on how to increase low blood pressure naturally and quickly. The writing collected a list of safe and effective solutions for treating low blood pressure from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Keep reading this writing to learn these 11 solutions on how to increase low blood pressure in more detail!
List Of Foods That Cause High Blood Pressure: 22 Worst Foods
The risk of hypertension or high blood pressure, is associated with lack of exercise and weight gain as well. Habits like eating salty foods and smoking can increase blood pressure. Everything which you ingest may either cause blood pressure to be high or help it. This is due to the sodium retention. As we know, sodium retention is a major primary factor of hypertension. Therefore, with hypertension you want to have one diet low in fat and sodium. In this article, VKool.com will show you 22 worst foods on the list of foods that cause high blood pressure. The writing collected a list of foods that cause high blood pressure from reliable sources. However, it is not intended to give medical advice and it is solely for the informational purpose. Keep reading this writing to learn these 22 foods that cause high blood pressure in more detail!
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.
Also Read:
Foods To Eat And Avoid And Workouts To Raise Blood Pressure
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Delia Rimes
Jun 14, 2017
“I m normally have high blood pressure, and I take two meds for that . Every now and then it will take a nose-dive out of nowhere. On two separate occasions, it will do this while I sleep, even to the point of passing out. Tonight was the second time. It is very scary to pass out while you sleep. I also have obstructive sleep apnea. When I was growing up, my mom would pour cola syrup into a cup of crushed ice and I’d sip on it. I also used to carry smelling salts.”…” moreRated this article:
Stress Increases Cortisol Which Affects Insulin Sensitivity
You’re overextended at work, there’s a family crisis, and suddenly your blood sugar level is through the roof. Sound familiar? “Stress definitely raises blood sugar levels,” Dodell says. “It increases cortisol, our fight-or-flight hormone. When cortisol goes up, it makes us less sensitive either to our body’s own insulin or to insulin injections.”
Stress can be physical — sustaining an injury, for example — or mental, such as being beset with financial woes or marriage problems. Even positive changes to your daily routine — a promotion at work or going on vacation — can cause a sudden increase in blood sugar, he says.
The best ways to de-stress and get the hormones back under control? “People often turn to food, which doesn’t help,” Grieger says. “But we can learn new ways to manage stress.” There are things you can do when you’re right in the moment — when tension at work suddenly makes you want to pull your hair out. “Go for a five-minute walk or take 10 deep breaths to slow your breathing,” she says. “And there are regular habits you can develop, like establishing a daily exercise or meditation routine.”
Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure More May Cut Health Risks
One major study found that lowering systolic blood pressure to well below the commonly recommended level also greatly lowered the number of cardiovascular events and deaths among people at least 50 years old with high blood pressure.
When study participants achieved a systolic blood pressure target of 120 mmHg — compared to the higher target of 140 mmHg recommended for most people, and 150 for people over 60 — issues such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure were reduced by almost one-third, and the risk of death by almost one-fourth.
“That’s important information, because more lives may be saved and more deaths may be prevented if we maintain lower blood pressure in certain patients,” says Lynne Braun, NP, PhD, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Braun cautions, however, that your personal blood pressure target depends on a variety of things, including your current blood pressure, lifestyle, risk factors, other medications you are taking and your age. “Every person has to be evaluated as an individual,” she says. “Realistically, we can’t get everybody down to 120, and trying to do so may create unintended problems.”
It can be dangerous, for instance, to keep an older person on medications that have unsafe side effects, such as diuretics , which can cause dehydration and dizziness in older adults.
And there can be other issues involved with taking multiple medications, such as cost and compliance.
Sugar Contributes To Risk Factors For High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, means that the blood in our blood vessels is exerting excessive force on arterial walls. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers, the first being systolic pressure, which describes the pressure as the heart contracts to circulate blood throughout the body. The second measurement, diastolic pressure, describes the pressure in blood vessels between heartbeats. In general, the systolic pressure measurement tends to be higher than the diastolic pressure measurement.
High blood pressure is associated with metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Added sugar is a well-known culprit in causing a host of metabolic conditions including obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.
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.
Do Allergy Medications And Diabetes Medications Interact
I heard people with diabetes need to be careful with allergy medications. Are there allergy medications I cannot take with my diabetes medication? Zyrtec® , Claritin® , Allegra® , and Benadryl® are all allergy medications that should not affect your blood sugar when used by themselves. However, these antihistamines are often paired with pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are both decongestants. These two medications can cause an increase in blood sugar when taken with diabetes medication and should be avoided, if possible, in people with diabetes. Be sure to read labels on cold and allergy medications, and be careful when the letter D is added to a medication name, such as Zyrtec-D or Claritin-D. This means that it contains pseudoephedrine.Continue reading >>
More Studies Indicating How Sugar Raises Blood Pressure
In 2014, researchers concluded sugar had a direct effect on blood pressure independent of weight gain. They researched dietary intervention trials between 1965 and 2013. The trials compared sugar in diets which measured the effects on cholesterol and blood pressure. Their findings confirmed sugars contributed to cardiovascular risk independent of body weight gain .
A study published in 2012, compared high fructose corn syrup soft drinks with sucrose sweetened soft drinks. Forty men and women were given 24 ounces and examined over a 6 hour period. Both drinks showed an increase in blood pressure but the high fructose corn syrup drink raised systolic blood pressure more . The average increase was 15 mm Hg systolic and 9 mm Hg diastolic.
A 2 week diet high in fructose was shown in 2010 to increase systolic BP by 7 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 5 mm Hg. In addition, there was an increase in heart rate, triglycerides and fasting insulin .
In 2014, a study examined added sugar intake and cardiovascular diseases. The researchers observed a significant link between added sugar intake and increased risk for cardiovascular disease death .
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Why Sugar Will Raise Your Blood Pressure More Than Salt
So if it’s 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 don’t realize it’s 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, it’s 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.
Unexpectedly High Blood Sugar Readings Can Be A Bummer
If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, your doctor has probably told you time and time again that maintaining control over your blood sugar is essential.
“Controlling blood sugar is important for two main reasons,” says Lynn Grieger, RD, CDCES, a certified personal trainer in Prescott, Arizona, and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. “On a day-to-day basis, people just feel better when their blood sugar stays in a healthy range. Over the long term, it’s the best thing you can do to prevent complications of diabetes from occurring.” Diabetes complications include nerve damage, kidney disease, skin conditions, eye damage, heart disease, and stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association.
One of the main and most frequently discussed contributors to high blood sugar is a diet too rich in carbohydrates, which once digested turn into sugar . Certain high-carb foods are among the most common foods that spike blood sugar, she explains.
RELATED: 10 Foods to Avoid When You Have Type 2 Diabetes
There are some triggers ofhigh blood sugar, however, that are out of your control or can sneak up on you. Such triggers can make it difficult to manage blood sugar levels even when you think you’re doing everything right.
Here are 10 surprising yet common causes of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia.
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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.