Are You Currently Taking Medicines for Hypertension? - Important Things You Should Know About Your Medications

You have high blood pressure if your blood pressure reading is 140/90 or above this level.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, chances are you've been advised by your physician to change your lifestyle.

What does your doctor mean when he tells you to change your lifestyle?

Changing your lifestyle means putting an end to the things that you are currently doing that cause your blood pressure to rise.

You should stop smoking.
Stop drinking too much alcohol.
Stop eating salty and fatty food.
Stop drinking caffeinated drinks.
You should also avoid stress.

If you are currently taking medications, here are important things to know how those medications work inside your body to treat your hypertension:

1. Vasodilators. Vaso-is a prefix which means blood vessels. Dilator-means opener, expander, widener. Therefore the word vasodilator means "blood vessel widener".

Vasodilators open or widen the blood vessels making it easy for blood to flow freely through them. Vasodilators also help relax the muscles of the blood vessel walls.

These phenomena are what cause blood pressure to fall making you feel better after taking this type of medication

2.Alpha-blockers. When your body is under stress, it releases a hormone called catecholamine which causes the heart to beat more vigorously. You feel this happen when you are afraid, angry, extremely happy or threatened.

Muscles surrounding some blood vessels contain the substances called alpha adrenergic receptors that bind with catecholamine.

Once catecholamine attaches to an alpha receptor, the muscles contract, blood vessels narrow causing blood pressure to rise.

Alpha blockers help lower down blood pressure by preventing the binding of catecholamine to alpha receptors in the muscles.

Turmeric Helps Prevent Cancer

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a type of root crop that belongs to the ginger family. It has a deep yellow color and a strong odor. It is commonly used as a condiment in cooking. 

It is extensively grown in South India where it has played a major role in Indian traditional medicine.

Curcuminoids are the most important substance found in turmeric. They contain curcumin, a substance that has the ability to protect you from bacteria, from different types of viruses, and from the bad effects of air pollution. It can protect you from inflammation and from things that cause cancer.

Why is turmeric good for you?

• Turmeric is good for you because it prevents inflammation by reducing the amount of histamine in the body; and by increasing the amount of cortisone produced by the adrenal glands.

If turmeric can prevent inflammation then this supplement will greatly help those who suffer from arthritis, gout, and other similar illness. 

• Recent studies showed that turmeric has the ability to treat heart and kidney diseases, some kind of cancer, and diabetes.  

• It can prevent the clumping together of blood platelets thus promoting circulation and protecting the body from atherosclerosis.

• It also has the ability to protect the kidneys from various harmful substances that enter the body.

Turmeric is not recommended for pregnant women as it can cause contractions which may ultimately lead to premature labor. 

 
In Indian traditional medicine, turmeric was used to treat common stomachaches, and other more serious stomach and liver diseases. 

It was used to treat skin diseases which include scabies, eczema, shingles, chicken pox, and various types of allergies.

Turmeric has also been used extensively in ancient times to treat all kinds of sores, aches, body pains.

Where can you buy turmeric?

You can buy turmeric in major groceries, in drug stores and in health and wellness stores all over the country. Turmeric is sold in powder form, and in capsule form as well.

If it is not sold separately as a supplement, you can find it in the spice section of groceries and supermarkets.

Aside from the powder form, the root crops can be found in Asian stores and in some farmers' markets. 

You Should Act Fast When Someone Around You is Having A Stroke

Stroke is a medical emergency. It occurs when:

1. the brain is deprived of oxygen supply due to blocked blood vessels and

2. there is internal bleeding due to burst blood vessels.

What to do when someone around you is having a stroke?

You should not waste time. 

Rush that person to the hospital immediately to avoid further damage to the brain. 

If the brain is deprived of oxygen for one minute to one a half minutes it will stop working because the cells have been damaged and if, within 3 hours there is no medical attention given, the patient will experience severe damage that is irreversible.

What are the signs and symptoms that a person is experiencing a stroke?

Remember the letters F-A-S-T. You should act fast and check the 

FACE. Deformed lips, and changes in the shape of the cheeks and eyes 

ARMS.  One arm is hanging because of the damage in a certain part of the brain.

SPEECH. The patient can no longer talk very clearly, his speech is slurred.

TIME. Time is of the essence in this situation. No time should be wasted. The patient should be treated immediately as any delay can mean a lifetime of regret. 

2 Types of Stroke

1. Ischemic. Ischemic stroke happens when there is not enough blood flowing to the brain depriving it of much needed oxygen supply to the brain.
   
2. Hemorrhagic. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood accumulates within the skull area. This is further classified into intra-axial hemorrhage and extra-axial hemorrhage.