Blood Pressure Information: Diet, Sodium & Medication

Why does sodium increase blood pressure? Maintaining healthy levels requires understanding dietary impacts from meat, turmeric, and supplements like niacin.

Cold Medications That Do Not Affect Blood Pressure

Strong over-the-counter cold medications help people make it through the cold and flu season, but some drugs can raise blood pressure. Individuals with hypertension or heart disease should choose medicines by the cold symptoms that they treat. Sneezing, coughing and runny noses can safely be treated.

Read more →
weight loss

Can Blood Pressure Medicine Make You Lose Weight?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious cardiovascular condition present in one in three adults in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. However, various medications can help reduce your readings to a normal level.

Read more →
Blood Pressure

Body Position and Blood Pressure

Blood pressure monitoring is an essential component of medical care, as this vital sign is checked at nearly every doctor’s appointment and monitored regularly while in the hospital. As the goal is to achieve target blood pressure levels, the monitoring technique is essential to get right.

Read more →
Fresh salted cucumbers

Do Pickles Affect Blood Pressure?

Dill pickles -- and other salty foods -- cause your blood pressure to increase through the natural action of sodium on the body. Eating one pickle won’t kill you.

Read more →
Empty dish after food on the table with wooden background

Why Does Blood Pressure Drop After a Meal?

Eating is a pleasurable time for most, especially when your favorite dishes are on the menu. If you have postprandial hypotension, though, meal time can cause a drop in your blood pressure, causing you to feel dizzy or light-headed.

Read more →
sea salt on wooden table

Can Too Much Sodium in My Diet Cause Headaches?

Too much sodium is bad for your health, but in most cases salt probably isn't to blame for your achy temples. Most people have headaches from time to time, and doctors can't fully explain 90 percent of them, according to Harvard Health Publications.

Read more →
Woman lying on exercise mat

Can You Do Situps if You are Fat?

Work up to your situp by first flattening and strengthening your abdomen. Learn these situp-type exercises so you can engage your three abdominal muscle groups, gradually reshape your abdomen and accomplish a situp. Use a resistance band or even a robe belt for assistance in the beginning.

Read more →

How Alcohol Affects Blood Pressure

Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, travels through the bloodstream, and is absorbed by various tissues throughout the body.

Read more →
Bood pressure

How To Take Your Blood Pressure with Sleeves

Blood pressure is used as a general diagnostic tool to determine heart health. Blood pressure numbers can help physicians diagnose, treat and predict medical problems. Monitoring your own blood pressure at home is a good way to keep track of your heart's health.

Read more →
Blood pressure gauge

How Can Amino Acids Affect Blood Pressure?

Amino acids are organic compounds that your body uses for a number of functions, including digestion, protein-building and tissue repair, says MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health.

Read more →
Sport. Sprinter leaving starting blocks on the running track.

Blood Pressure Range for Athletes

Athletes enjoy better cardiovascular fitness than their less active counterparts. This commonly leads to a lower resting heart rate as the cardiovascular system of a trained athlete functions more efficiently.

Read more →
Close-up of salt and pepper shaker

Why Does Sodium Increase Blood Pressure?

Sodium is one of the most important minerals in the body. The kidneys use sodium to maintain the proper balance of water and electrolytes—chemical substances such as sodium and potassium—and sodium is critical for water retention. But this very characteristic can cause problems with blood pressure.

Read more →
Linseed oil

The Effects of Flaxseed Oil on Blood Pressure

If your blood pressure is too high you have a higher risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke. Keeping your blood pressure under control means eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, losing weight and managing stress.

Read more →
Doctor speaking patient in hospital

Reasons Blood Pressure Is Higher in the Morning

The daily pattern for blood pressure readings usually peaks in the afternoon, falling at night and slowly rising from the time a person awakens. Blood pressure usually starts to drop once again in the late afternoon and early evening.

Read more →
resin harvesting

Uses for Pine Tar

Pine tar, derived from pine trees, is actually impure turpentine, originally obtained by distilling the resins from the split fatwood of pine tree roots. Modern methods of obtaining the resins also include using steam pressure. Pine tar is a thick, brown liquid that carries the scent of pine.

Read more →
British doctor taking senior woman's blood pressure

How the Kidneys Work in Maintaining Blood Pressure

One way in which the kidneys maintain blood pressure is through the regulation of the volume of blood in the body. As the American Heart Association explains, one of the major roles of the kidneys is maintaining the proper levels of electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) in the body.

Read more →