Understanding Food Labels: 5 Tips for Healthier Eating - Part 2

Be sure to check out part 1 of this article to read about the first 3 tips if you have not done so already.

Tip 4: Understand common labeling terms (”lite,” “light,” “reduced,” “less,” and “low”)

Let me start off by saying that “lite” and “light” have the same meaning and are used interchangeably on nutritional labels. For the purpose of this article I will use “light” to represent both terms. If a label says “light,” the food must be an altered version of a food and have either 1/3 less calories or 1/2 the fat than the regular version (with the same weight serving size). A food can also be “light” if it is low-fat, low-calorie, and has less than 1/2 of the sodium content of the regular food. If a product uses the words “reduced” or “less” as in sugar, fat, calories, etc. it means that the product has at least 1/4 less of the particular ingredient specified than the original version of the food. Foods in their natural form, such as unprocessed fruits and vegetables can never be labeled “light,” “reduced,” or “less” even if they are low in fat, calories, and sodium. These terms only apply to foods that have been processed or have added ingredients.

The term “low” can be used in conjunction with 5 different ingredients (calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol) and they are all based on 100g (gram) servings of the food. Low-calorie = 140 calories or less per 100g serving, low-fat = 3g or 30 calories of fat or less per serving, low-saturated fat = 1g or 10 calories of saturated fat or less per serving, low-sodium = 140mg or less per serving, and low-cholesterol = 20mg of cholesterol or less with 2g of saturated fat or less. You may have noticed is that there is no definition listed for low-carb, which is because there is no officially recognized definition. If the term “low” is used with any other ingredient than the 5 listed above, it is essentially meaningless. To illustrate this point, I recently saw a package of “low-carb” rice, which was rather strange since the rice was about 90% carbs.

Understanding these terms is a big first step, but it is important to know that just because something has a label such as “low-fat”, it does not mean that the product is necessarily healthy. In some cases (usually sweets) fat calories are replaced with sugar, so the product may be lower in fat, but just as unhealthy. In other cases, natural ingredients are replaced with artificial ingredients that have fewer calories, but sometimes these ingredients cause negative reactions, such as an upset stomach or a decrease in energy level. Additionally, some people think that if an item has less fat, sugar, etc. they can eat more of it, but in many cases people end up consuming more total calories and gaining fat even though they are eating low-fat or low-calorie products. Of course these products are generally marketed to people who are trying to lose weight and people often end up buying foods that ultimately hinder their weight loss instead of help it. As you hopefully know after the first part of this article, you must always look past the marketing of the product and take the time to read the label.

There is one last big problem with these terms and it is most commonly found with liquid products, although it can occur with any product. Since the terms are based on comparing equal portion sizes by weight, it means that anything added to a product that adds weight can affect label claims. To illustrate how product labels can be manipulated, I will discuss 2 cans of coconut milk (1 regular and 1 lite) that I saw a couple months ago. The lite version had 50% less fat written on the front of the can, so of course I picked up both cans to find out why one can had so much less fat than the other. When I compared the labels I saw that everything (fat, calories, etc.) was 50% less in the lite version. Then I compared the ingredients list and found that they were identical except the lite version had a one added ingredient as the first ingredient. Can you guess what the ingredient was – water. The 2 coconut milks were technically the same except one was diluted 50%. Since water has no fat or calories it can be added to many products to make them “lite” or “reduced.” In this case, buying the lite version only means you get 50% less of the product. This is an extreme case, but adding water to products to make the label appear healthier happens quite frequently.

Tip 5: Understand Net Carb Labeling

Net carbs values are being found on more and more product labels, especially on products marketed for weight loss. Consumer awareness of the carbohydrate content of foods has increased in recent years due to the popularity of Atkins and other carb restricted diet programs. While these diets are not as popular as they once were, foods low in carbohydrates are as popular as ever. This has led to companies labeling products with “net carbs” to attract carb conscious eaters. As with the term “low carb,” there is no approved definition or standard for calculating grams of net carbs.

Luckily however, there is a general consensus about what constitutes a net carb. The net carb value is supposed to represent the grams of carbs contained in a product that will have a negative impact on your insulin levels (causing levels to increase). This is important, because higher increases in insulin result in more fat storage. The typical approach to calculating net carbs is to take the total carbohydrate content and subtract fiber, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners. Any carbohydrate left over is considered a net carb. As labeling goes products with lower net carbs are promoted as being better for losing fat or preventing fat gain. While there is some truth to this concept, as usual it is not the whole story.

The biggest problem with the net carb approach is it fails to take into account that different carbohydrates affect the body’s insulin response to different degrees. You may have heard of the glycemic index, which was developed to determine how quickly different foods are absorbed in the body and how much they will affect insulin levels (faster absorption = higher insulin spike = more fat storage). For example, table sugar (sucrose) will cause insulin levels to rise more than fruit sugar (fructose), but they are both considered net carbs. In addition, proteins and fats, as well as the size of the overall meal will also affect the insulin response. Simply looking at the net carb grams does not accurately reflect how the food will affect your body.

Of course, the carbs that are removed from the “net carb” calculation (fiber, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners) are important as well. Even though these ingredients are not considered net carbs, they can still have a significant impact on your body. Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, maltitol, isomalt, xylitol, etc.) are not sugar or alcohol, but they share some of the chemical properties of both. They are only partially broken down by the body, which is why they are not supposed to have an impact on insulin levels. It takes around 2 grams of sugar alcohols to equal the number of calories in 1 gram of regular carbohydrate. The problem is that anything that cannot be broken down must still be processed and removed from your body. Consuming large amounts of sugar alcohols often results in an upset stomach. In addition, some people still experience insulin responses and feel fatigued or “crash” after consuming sugar alcohols.

Artificial sweeteners are different, because they have essentially no calories, but they can also cause an insulin response in some people, although it is less common. The big problem with these ingredients is that many people have negative physiological reactions to consuming them, such as feeling run down, not being able to think as clearly, or headaches. In addition, people can experience withdrawal symptoms when they initially stop having them (increased irritability, headaches, etc.) If you have noticed similar reactions yourself, try natural sweeteners, such as stevia instead.

Fiber on the other hand is worth noting because of its positive attributes. Sticking with the insulin theme, soluble fiber will slow down the absorption of foods, which will actually improve (decrease) the insulin response. Much of the fiber found in foods is insoluble, which does not have much of an effect on insulin, but it is still good for you, because it will help clean out your arteries. Most people do not get enough fiber and increasing your intake can improve your health, fat loss, and even help satisfy your hunger.

As you can tell, net carbs can be rather confusing, especially because different individuals respond differently to various types of carbs and artificial ingredients. In any case, negative reactions become more likely when you consume larger amounts of the artificial ingredients. My advice is to become aware of how your body reacts to different foods and ingredients. For example, if you notice yourself feeling tired within an hour of eating a particular food, try to decrease your consumption of that food. Net carb labeling is helpful for pointing out food options for people trying to decrease their carb intake, but as the 5 tips in this article point out, you should read the whole label to get the full story about what you are eating and drinking.

Using these 5 tips when you purchase food and drinks will enable you to choose healthier products and ultimately help you look better and feel better. As an added bonus, these tips can also help you save money. Many people assume that when a product costs more it will be healthier, but this is not always the case. Using these tips will help you find cheaper products that are just as healthy or high in quality as more expensive ones. It may take some time to become good at reading labels, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Try using these tips next time you are at the store or you can even just look at the products you have at home. You may be surprised at what you find.

Ross Harrison, CSCS, NSCA-CPT is a certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and nutritional consultant who teaches people how to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their quality of life with exercise and nutrition. For more information or to sign up for his free health and fitness newsletter containing tons of useful information, visit precisionhealth-fitness.com/ precisionhealth-fitness.com.

Learn More About Human Muscles

The human body contains more than 600 muscles. Skeletal muscle contains contractile units that have the ability to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, thus enabling the muscle to contract or shorten. Muscles cannot independently lengthen. They can lengthen only by contracting the opposing muscles. When one muscle (the agonists) contracts, the opposite muscle (the antagonist) lengthens.

In order for muscles to contract at all, they must be attached to the bones. Strong, fibrous tissues located at each end of the muscle, called tendons, accomplish this. The attachment of the muscle at the proximal end of the bone (the end closer to the body) is considered the muscles’ origin. The attachment at the distal end of the bone (the end farther from the body) is referred to as the muscle’s insertion. The origin of the trunk muscles are always at the upper or superior attachment, while the insertion is found at the lower or inferior attachment.

Muscles have different contraction capacities and therefore can play different roles depending on the desired movement. A muscle can contract concentrically while it shortens or pulls. This typically results in a movement in which the muscles acts as a primary mover.

A muscle can also contract concentrically in cooperation with other muscles. The synergistic effort results in a movement that the muscle would not have been able to perform completely on its own. In this situation, the muscle would be considered a synergist or an assistor.
On the other hand, a muscle may also contract eccentrically while it lengthens, Even though it is elongating, the muscle can still be contracting enough to help slow the movement. In this case, the muscle acts like a brake to control the body as it moves.

Yet another possibility is that a muscle could be contracting isometrically while it neither shortens nor lengthens. A muscle may utilize varying degrees of these isometric contractions in order to stabilize the body and certain joints during an exercise. The muscle would be working as a stabilizer in this situation.

A muscle may also contract to prevent an undesired effect of another contracting muscle. It would then be acting as a neutralizer. For example, the abdominal muscles neutralize part of the effects of the hip extensors and erector spinae as we walk. Neutralization prevents the spine from reaching large degrees of hyperextension.

As you learn the various movements the human body is capable of performing, the roles and responsibilities of each muscle during each joint motion will become clearer. If you are a personal trainer, fitness instructor, or coach, it is extremely important that you know this information in order to more competently teach and train your clients and athletes.

For more resources :
101bodybuilding.com 101bodybuilding.com

101cookingrecipes.com 101cookingrecipes.com

desserts-recipes.com desserts-recipes.com

Doctor… I Have a Pain in the Neck - What Can I Do?

Neck pain is a common and costly medical ailment. Few studies of really effective medical treatments exist compared with those, say, for low back pain.

Many drugs used in clinical practice have been tried. Among those are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptic agents, and opioid analgesics.

While uncontrolled studies show benefit, controlled studies are lacking. So what has been shown to work so far? According to a recent study, there are only two medicines that have been proven to be effective. The first is intravenous methylprednisolone for acute whiplash used within eight hours for whiplash and the second is intramuscular lidocaine for chronic mechanical neck disorders. (Peloso PM, Gross AR, Haines TA, et al. Medicinal and injection therapies for mechanical neck disorders: a Cochrane systemic Review. J Rheum 2006; 33:957-967).

What is disheartening is that the usual treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen have been largely ineffective- at least according to this one large study.

Even epidural injections were classified as showing “limited evidence of benefit.”

A number of interventions in this large study were ineffective. These include:

• Oral psychotropic agents
• Oral anti-inflammatory agents and oral analgesics
• Intramuscular injections of multivitamins.
• Nerve-block injections

In addition, several interventions were judged to have shown “moderate evidence of no benefit.” These included intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin (Botox A), intracutaneous injections of sterile water, subcutaneous injection of carbon dioxide and melatonin.

So what can you do if you’re a patient?

First of all, remember that these studies that are published in the literature have flaws. They do not report the data from private practices. Also, many of the studies that are reported as being “negative” are done in large medical centers where there is already a built in bias that these treatments don’t work. It’s sad but true. A lot of academic doctors really don’t believe in treatment. They’d rather write negative papers.

Second, make sure you see a skilled rheumatologist… one who is skilled in the management of osteoarthritis and neck problems.

The things that might afford some relief in addition to the two described above are also- at least in my 25 years of experience are:

• Physical therapy for chronic problems
• Chiropractic for acute problems
• A neck support pillow
• Ice/ moist heat
• Gentle traction
• Exercises done under the supervision of a skilled therapist
• A soft cervical collar worn temporarily
• Epidural, nerve block, and soft tissue injections (despite what they say, I think they work)

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/types-of-arthritis.html Types of Arthritis

Sedation Dentistry, Is It For You?

Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way for patients to receive needed dental care that may not be receiving it because of fears and other dental issues that keep them from going to the dentist. Many people avoid going to the dentist for a variety of reasons even when they desperately need care. Sedation dentistry gives them an option to receive the care they need while avoiding some or all of their concerns that are preventing them from going.

Do you avoid dental work for one reason or another? If so, you are not alone. Many people avoid dental work for a variety of reasons that include fear of pain. The most common reason people put off dental work is because of dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry may be the answer for you if you fall into this category.

Your feelings are understandable, but delaying dental treatment can cause very minor and simple issues to become very large and major issues. You may even possibly die if a cavity is not taken care of correctly in a timely manner. The tooth decay can rot up into the jaw and eventually infect the brain which can be very dangerous.

Sedation dentistry will give you the option to get your dental work completed by allowing you to overcome your dental anxieties. Even procedures like root canals can be non-traumatic. Additionally, sedation dentistry allows patients to combine multiple dental procedures into one or two visits, saving time and limiting the inconvenience.

While sedation dentistry is not for everyone, it may be the answer you’ve been seeking for yourself or a loved one. Sedation dentistry could be right for you if you exhibit any of the following:

• Dental Anxiety
• Sensitive Teeth
• Difficulty Getting Numb
• Complex Dental Issues
• Dental Phobias – Fear of Needles
• Limited Time to Complete Dental Work
• Traumatic Dental Experiences
• Difficulty Controlling Movement

Patients with cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease sometimes are unable to control their movements. This can impede these patients from getting the dental care they need. Sedation dentistry can relax a patient so that involuntary movements don’t interfere with dental work.

If you decide to try sedation dentistry, you should understand that there are several types of sedation. They range from completely unconscious to a mild oral sedative. With each of these levels of sedation also comes a level of risk. The more you are sedated the higher the possibility of a complication. You should find out what type of sedation a dentist uses and what type of training they have before deciding which dentist you want to use.

Types of sedation:
Oral Sedatives
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
General Anesthesia

Degrees of Dental Sedation:
The four dental sedation methods listed above can provide varying degrees of sedation. These include:

1. Anxiolysis
2. Conscious Sedation
3. Deep Sedation
4. Unconsciousness

Some people should not use sedation dentistry. If you have a medical condition that could be aggravated by a sedative, then you should probably consider an alternative form to resolve your dental issues. You should inform your dentist of any type of condition or allergic reactions to medications before scheduling sedation. Additionally, sedation dentistry is usually reserved for patients that are 18 or older, but some dentists have been trained to treat children. You will have to find the dentist with the right training to meet your needs.

In summary, many people have aversions to dental work. Sedation dentistry gives these people an option to get the dental care they need without having to go through their fears of dental work. You may consider this option if you fear dental work and yet still need a dentist’s services.

Dr. George Hoop, DDS, is a leading dentist in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Hoop specializes in ftmyerssmilecenter.com/ Fort Myers Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants and Sedation Dentistry. Visit us for more information on Dr. Hoop and the ftmyerssmilecenter.com/ Southwest Florida Smile Center, or call (239) 939-7299.

Memory Loss: Prevent with Exercise

Nobody really knows how exercise helps prevent loss of mental function, but every factor that helps protect you from getting a heart attack or stroke also protects you from dementia. Anything that protects blood vessels also protects your brain. Heart attacks and dementia are associated with eating too much fat, saturated fat, fried foods, refined carbohydrates, too many calories, and not eating enough vegetables, nuts, beans and other seeds; being overweight, not exercising, taking more than two alcoholic drinks a day, and smoking.

The statin drugs that are commonly used to help prevent heart attacks have also been shown to help prevent dementia. Again, we see that almost everything that helps prevent heart attacks also appears to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The statin drugs appear to help by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation, independent of their cholesterol-lowering actions. Exercise may do the same things.

The Nurses’ Health Study from the Harvard School of Public Health has shown that exercising your muscles improved cognitive function in older women (Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2004). Another study shows that more than 85 percent of middle-aged people who start an exercise program drop out in the first six weeks. You’re more likely to continue if you exercise with others: a spouse or friend, with a personal trainer, or in an organized group or class.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at drmirkin.com DrMirkin.com

drmirkin.com/email/newssign.asp Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

How Apples Can Help You To Lose Weight

Apples are excellent fruits. They contain almost all vitamins and mineral stuffs you need. Apples contain pectin and folic acid as well.

Apple diet can solve metabolism problems and helps with excess weight problems. But you must know that it is not a panacea. Apple diet can not make you slim and graceful forever. This diet will help you to get rid of some excess weight. But you can gain this weight again if after the diet you return to nutrition that already led you to excess weight.

Apples diet is good as any other mono diet (kefir, rice, curd, vegetable, fish) as an addition to your main health and weight loss program. It is better to have apple fasting day especially after holidays or if you broke your diet plan.

To have weight loss you need 1-2 apples fasting days a week having balanced nutrition at the same time.
To strengthen achieved results in weight loss program and not to gain excess weight again you must have 2-3 apples fasting days a month.

Moreover apple diet is very helpful for atherosclerosis prophylaxis and therefore for hypertension treatment.

There are variants of apples diet.

1. Fresh apples. You may eat them as many as you want. You must drink not less than 1-1,5 litre (~2-3 pints) of liquid.

2. Baked apples. You may bake them in oven, make apple sauce but without sugar. It is recommended in case of bowels problems. Baked apples are better assimilated than fresh ones.

3. Kefir (yoghurt)/apples. This day when you eat 1 apple you drink half a glass of kefir (yoghurt). It is easy to calculate that having 6-7 apples you drink 3-3.5 glasses of kefir (yoghurt).

Choose the suitable for you variant and success will wait you. You may combine the variants. In any case please consult with your dietitian before.

Some helpful advices.

If you quitted smoking it can lead to excess weight gaining or to slow down your weight loss program results. Have 2-3 apple fasting days without a break one time in 10 days. You will have 8-12 apple fasting days during month. It will help you to avoid weight gaining for sure.

People with alimentary canal problems must eat apples every day. Moreover scientists discovered that apples contain substances that oppress malignant cells stimulating oncological problems.

It is important to know what sorts of apples suit you. Sour sorts of apples are counter-indicative for people with stomach ulcer for example. Only sweet sorts suit in this case. From the other hand sure sorts of apples are more preferable for people with decreased acidity. Remember that grated apples are assimilated better. Apple seeds contain plenty of iodine that is good for thyroid gland.

Important.

People succeed in weight loss not from apples but from low calorie way of nutrition. You may have weight loss eating potatoes as well. The main thing is not what you eat but how much. That is the formula of success.

Be healthy,

Nataly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nataly Orlova is a recognized authority on the subject of overweight and obesity problems. Her articles published in overweight-info.com overweight-info.com provides a wealth of information on everything you’ll ever need to know about overweight, obesity and other health problems.
Food/points table can be found here overweight-info.com/foodpoints-table/. overweight-info.com/foodpoints-table/.

Dieters : Questions You Must Ask Yourself when You Want to Lose Weight

Now I know you’re always asking yourself questions.

You know the ones like “Why can’t I lose weight?” and “Why does everything that’s bad for you taste good?”. But those questions won’t get you anywhere – except maybe helping you feel sorry for yourself and setting you up for a spot of comfort eating.

A more empowering set of questions, on the other hand, will get you off to a good start if you’re about to begin a weight loss program (or keep you on track if you’re in the middle of a diet).

Here are the questions to ask when you want to give your weight loss efforts a real kick start.

Why do you want to lose weight?

Make sure your reasons for losing weight are clear. Do you want to look good? Do you want to feel healthier? Has your doctor given you a health warning? Do you just want to be able to run around the park with your kids? Maybe all these reasons apply. The more reasons you have for losing weight and the more you are aware of them the easier it will be to remind yourself to keep to your weight loss program when the going gets tough. Even better, spend some time imagining how you will FEEL when you succeed. This will do more than anything to increase your motivation.

How much weight do you want to lose?

Set yourself a target. This gives you something to aim for and you will be able to see how much closer you are getting each week. You can never succeed if you don’t know what the end point is. “I want to lose weight” is not a measurable goal – you have succeeded (of sorts) after you lose an ounce. Make your goal specific with a target to aim for.

What will you do to lose weight?

Nothing is going to change unless you do. So what changes are you going to make? Will you follow a particular plan or just cut down in general? How will you know if you’re succeeding? What exercise will you take (if any)? How will you make sure that you follow your plan? What will you do about the things that might get in the way? Vague ideas about losing weight need to translate via a concrete plan into action. Ask yourself the questions and decide what you will do.

Who will support you?

Some people will actively encourage you and help your efforts while others will get in the way of your plans. Do you know who your supporters will be? And who you will need to avoid or find some way to deal with? Ask for the support you need from those you think are most likely to give it or join a club of people who are also trying to lose weight. These are available online or offline. If you can afford it think about getting a coach – all that focus on your success will work wonders. As for those who are less than enthusiastic about your plans, think about ways of handling them. Of course you’ll need a different strategy for close friends and relatives than you need for the guy who brings cakes into the office and insists you eat one!

And the final question?

When will you start?

There’s no time like TODAY. No eating the pantry empty before you begin. Dump the junk food and get started right now!

Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small

Janice Elizabeth is a successful weight loss coach, slimming club owner and author of “The Diet Exit Plan”, an 8 week coaching program for simplyslimming.com automatic permanent weight loss. Request her FREE 15 page report “How to lose weight without dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn’t want you to know” at simplyslimming.com SimplySlimming.com TODAY!

Hypertension - Pathological Classification and Solutions

Hypertension is a serious cause of illness, mortality and a cost to society. There is good evidence that hypertension is inheritable, although the precise genetic pattern is not known. Many studies have also confirmed a positive correlation between body weight and high blood pressure. Patients who lose weight can reduce their blood pressure. The pathophysiological mechanisms under scrutiny currently involve: a) Salt sensitivity, b) Rennin-angiotensin-aldosteron system and c) Sympathetic nervous system.

There is no universal agreement on the definition of hypertension, but most authorities accept that an “at rest” sustained blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg is a borderline hypertension. Furthermore, diastolic pressure between, 95 and 104 mmHg is categorized mild, 105 and 114 mmHg is categorized moderate and 115 mmHg and above severe. Up to 90% of people who have elevated blood pressure have no obvious cause for their condition. However, the key feature in all patients is an increased total peripheral vascular resistance.

Hypertension has also been classified according to the clinical and pathological consequences of the blood pressure elevation. Essential or benign is often without symptoms. Malignant hypertension needs prompt treatment as it is a serious condition and can cause organ damage or risk of sudden death cerebral hemorrhage if left untreated.

Benign hypertension produces hypertrophy of the left ventricle due to increased cardiac overload and peripheral vascular resistance. Longstanding hypertension creates disease of small arteries and the development of atherosclerosis. There are a number of other diseases that precipitated or accelerated by hypertension such as aortic aneurysm and cerebral hemorrhage.

Malignant hypertension is a pathological syndrome that present a marked raise of diastolic blood pressure over 130 – 140 mmHg, leading progressively to renal disease. Malignant hypertension can occur in previously fit individuals, but in most cases occur in individuals with benign hypertension. Consequences of malignant hypertension include: Ventricular (left) hypertrophy, cardiac failure, retinal hemorrhage, blurred vision, blood in the urine, kidney failure, cerebral hemorrhage and severe headaches.

Hypertension may result from several other underlying conditions such as: Renal hypertension - the possibility of renal disease should be considered with every patient with hypertension. Endocrine causes - Cushing’s syndrome adrenal tumors can cause hypertension but are not common. Aorta problems (coarctation) - hypertension is one of the common features here. Death can result from cardiac failure, aneurysm or cerebral hemorrhage. Drug therapy - many drugs such as anti-inflammatory, corticosteroids, some non-steroidal drugs and the contraceptive pill can induce hypertension. Age - A progressive rise in blood pressure with increasing age is observed.

Regulation of normal blood pressure is a complex process. An accurate measurement of blood pressure is the key to diagnosis. Several options and most importantly such as medication and lifestyle changes- weight bearing exercise such as walking for 30 minutes four to five days a week, practice meditation and Thi-Chi and quit smoking. Embrace a diet that includes foods rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium to help with blood regulation and prevent or treat vascular disease. Additionally, some natural blood pressure remedies and supplements such coenzyme Q10, garlic supplements, hawthorn supplements and folic acid may help in the reduction of high blood pressure in some patients.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to hypertension-guide.com/ Hypertension

Heart Disease

Heart disease, as the name implies, is an affliction of heart and its associated systems. Around 13 million people suffer from coronary heart disease, with 479,000 people dying from it each year. Congenital heart disease affects 8-10 out of 1,000 children every year in America.

Heart disease has branched into different types, each disease having its own causal factors, symptoms, treatment procedures, and prevention measures. However, still there are certain similarities in the symptoms and diagnoses among the numerous types of heart diseases.

Different types of heart diseases include coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, heart muscle disease, aorta disease, pericardial disease, heart failure, and many, many more.

Some common symptoms of heart disease include chest discomfort, pain in different parts of the body, shortness of breath, nausea, coldness, vomiting, unexplained severe headaches, sweating, anxiousness, heartburn, swelling in limbs and tissues, and many more.

Sometimes, there might not be any symptoms of heart disease. Hence, it is called a silent killer also.

Usually, diagnosis is possible through tests which are conducted especially for this purpose. Some tests include electrocardiography tests, which measures the electrical activity when the person is at rest; laboratory tests, which includes blood testing; nuclear imaging; ultrasound; radiological imaging; invasive tests, which involves the insertion of catheters into the heart’s blood vessels for closer examination; and many more.

Heart disease prevention lies in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping a good diet. One should be particularly careful if high cholesterol, diabetes, and other problems run in the family. Some heart diseases are triggered by these factors.

Apart from this, medications are also available to keep blood pressure, diabetes, and other undesirable things in control. For those suffering from severe heart disease, surgery remains the ultimate remedy.

Heart disease is a dangerous disease which can slowly strengthen its hold on people without their being even aware of it. One has to be particularly careful and recognize its symptoms, besides taking good care to prevent from being a victim.

e-HeartDisease.com Heart Disease provides detailed information on Heart Disease, Heart Disease Symptoms, Congenital Heart Disease, Coronary Heart Disease and more. Heart Disease is affiliated with e-HeartAttacks.com Preventing Heart Attacks.

Why It Is Important To Be Happy

The simple answer to this question is because it is not worth to remain moody or sad. An answer based on biological observations would be happiness trigger the production of vital hormones in the body that is crucial for overall health and metabolism. Another worthy reply to this query is happiness brings in a positive and stable mental frame of mind. But, whichever concept you endorse upon, one aspect is quite clear, being happy is many times more worthy than letting the negative emotions build in yourself.

Realistically enough, we all live in a world amidst so much of unlucky people, poverty, violence, stress, competition, and all sorts of sadness inducing environment you can think of. So it is only natural that a part of our mind always tends to carry a tinge of sadness or lean towards this negative emotion often because the natural momentum is acting in that direction. But, being sad could leave more than a profound impact on the human body as far as its overall health is concerned. As per the latest medical researches, most cases of depression, stress, apnea, migraine, and many other diseases have its roots in the sad frame of mind. Even the specialists treat these conditions say, one of the best medicines for these diseases are happiness, laughter and relaxation. Need any more proof to believe that it is important to be happy?

From you, the common man out there, the only possible way out of this mess is to make a mental effort by yourself - to muster the drive and power – in order to trudge your way back to happiness. Learn to focus on better and positive things when sadness sets in, and try to convince oneself that you are still lucky and well placed than many others living in this world. Make it a habit to smile even in adversities, and avoid being alone. That is, always try to be in the company of others or engage yourself in activities that interest you to the core. Never ever let the mind wander idle.

Finally, if you are convinced that you are not able to shrug of the element of sadness fully, consider consulting a psychologist. If there is any case of a budding depression, then earlier medical intervention could set things straight. In short, try every possible step to fight off sadness, mentally or medically, whichever is required. Because, it is really important to be happy! The stakes are that high.

John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.

happyessence.com happyessence.com