Blog - Page 26 of 121 - Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure with Lisa Nelson RD

Heart HealthHome Blood Pressure Monitor: A Review

Published August 3, 2016

vive_precision_blood_pressure_monitor_1_large Monitoring blood pressure at home is one step you can take to supplement clinic monitoring for a more complete representation of your typical blood pressure throughout the day.

There are a wide variety of blood pressure monitors available. The American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association all recommend upper arm devices for greater accuracy. Avoid wrist and finger monitors.

When purchasing a home blood pressure monitor, it’s important you consult with your doctor or medical supply company to ensure you select an appropriate cuff size.

Vive Precision Blood Pressure Monitor

ViveHealth.com gifted me with a Vive Precision Blood Pressure Monitor along with compensation to review this device. That being said, all opinions in this review are my own.

The Vive blood pressure monitor comes with a large, easy to read display and is battery or AC power compatible. The product I received came packaged with the four AAA batteries needed. It did NOT come with the AC adapter. Looks like it requires a standard DC V6 adapter. I do like battery operated… one less cord to wrangle and the device notifies you if the battery power is getting low.

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Lower Blood PressureHow to Monitor Blood Pressure at Home

Published July 27, 2016

monitor-blood-pressure-at-home High blood pressure is diagnosed when blood pressure is consistently equal to or greater than 140 mm Hg/90 mm Hg.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 70 million adults are diagnosed with high blood pressure. This is equal to about 1 out of every 3 adults in this United States.

Blood pressure diagnosis is often based on clinic blood pressure readings. This is problematic due to a variety of factors resulting in inaccurate readings. Some factors that impact blood pressure accuracy include adequate rest period prior to blood pressure measurement, cuff size appropriate for arm circumference, and cuff deflation rate. Additional challenges to the clinic settings is whether or not the reading reflects the normal blood pressure level when outside the clinic setting. Many suffer from what is termed “white coat hypertension” where blood pressure rises in response to the medical environment.

Monitoring blood pressure at home is one step you can take to supplement clinic monitoring for a more complete representation of typical blood pressure levels.

A Joint Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), American Society of Hypertension (ASH), and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) encourages increased regular use of self-monitoring blood pressure for the majority of patients with hypertension to increase patients’ engagement and ability to manage their blood pressure, as well as enable the care team to provide appropriate and timely treatment.

Take these steps to monitor blood pressure at home:
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Posted in Lower Blood Pressure | Tagged high blood pressure, hypertension, lisa nelson, monitor blood pressure, monitor blood pressure at home, self monitoring blood pressure

Lower Blood PressureTypes of Blood Pressure Medications

Published July 20, 2016

PillsAndTablets Many high blood pressure medications are available. Most options fall within these eight categories.

Diuretics

You may also hear diuretics called “water pills”. They increase the elimination of sodium and water by the kidneys. This decreases blood vessel fluid volume, which reduces pressure against artery walls, thereby lowering blood pressure.

The three classes of diuretic drugs include thiazide, loop, and potassium-sparing.

Examples of diuretics include:

Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
Furosemide (Lasix)
Bumetanide
Amiloride
Eplerenone (Inspra)

Beta-blockers

This drug category may also be called beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Beta-blockers inhibit the effects of the hormone epinephrine (aka adrenaline), resulting in a slower, less forceful heartbeat. Beta-blockers can also promote vasodilation (i.e. widening of the blood vessels). These two actions results in reduced blood pressure.

Examples of beta-blockers include:

Acebutol (Sectral)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL)

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Posted in Lower Blood Pressure | Tagged blood pressure medicine, blood pressure meds, drugs, high blood pressure, hypertension, lisa nelson, medication, pills, types of blood pressure medication

Heart HealthWhere should heart rate after exercise fall?

Published July 13, 2016

Woman stretching with raised leg over railing

Heart rate after exercise may be used as an indicator of your heart fitness.

Normal resting heart rate

According to the National Institute of Health, normal average resting heart rate should be:

60 – 100 beats per minutes for children 10 years and older, as well as adults/seniors
40-60 beats per minute for well-trained athletes

Target heart rate during exercise

For moderate intensity activities your target heart rate is 50 – 69% maximum heart rate. For vigorous activity levels your target heart rate is 70-85% maximum heart rate.

To calculate your target heart rate subtract your age from 220. This gives you your maximum heart rate. Now, multiple your maximum heart rate by 0.5 and 0.69 to obtain your target heart rate range for moderate intensity activities. Multiply your maximum heart rate by 0.7 and 0.85 to obtain your target heart rate range for vigorous activities.

Depending on your goal intensity – moderate vs. vigorous – your heart rate should fall within your target heart rate range during activities.

If you are typically inactive, set your goal for the lower end (50-60% maximum heart rate) and work your way up over time.

There are blood pressure medications that lower maximum heart rates. Discuss with your doctor if you currently take blood pressure medications. Your target heart rate zone may need to be adjusted.
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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged dietitian, exercise heart rate, heart rate, lisa nelson, maximum heart rate, normal heart rate, nutritionist, post exercise heart rate, resting heart rate, target heart rate

Lower CholesterolIs it now considered okay to eat saturated fat from butter and tropical oils?

Published July 6, 2016

saturated-fat[1] It’s no wonder so many of us are confused about healthy eating. Even the nation’s dietary experts keep changing their mind about what we should eat and what we should avoid. We asked USC School of Pharmacy Research Professor Roger Clemens to help remove some of the confusion surrounding healthy fats.

Q: What are the latest dietary guidelines regarding fat and cholesterol?

Dr. Clemens: The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report states that cholesterol is no longer a nutrient of concern. The available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol. This is consistent with the conclusion of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology report.

Q: Can you explain this change in thinking over the past several decades?

Dr. Clemens: Nutritional science is dynamic. In the 1980s, the Dietary Guidelines suggested consumers avoid too much total fat and saturated fat. Over time, total fat guidelines have been upwardly adjusted with the 2010 Guidelines suggesting diets with up 35 percent of daily calories from fat. The 2015 executive summary suggests no upper limit for total fat consumption. Saturated fat guidelines have similarly evolved and now suggest including up to 10 percent in a healthy diet, and replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fat. This thinking may still be changing, however. Current evidence does not clearly support cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats.
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Posted in Lower Cholesterol | Tagged butter, cholesterol, dietitian, lisa nelson, nutritionist, saturated fat, tropical oils

Lower Cholesterol4 Reasons Why You Need More Fiber

Published June 29, 2016

dietary fiber How many grams of fiber do you consume daily?

Most Americans consume half the recommended dietary intake of 25 grams (women) to 38 grams (men) of fiber daily for adults 50 years or younger. Over the age of 50, women should consume 21 grams of fiber and men 30 grams per day.

There are two types of fiber.

Soluble fiber turns to a gel during digestion. Sources of soluble fiber include oats, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans, peas, lentils, and some fruits and vegetables (i.e. oranges, apples, carrots).

Insoluble fiber is not digested. It adds bulk to the stool and helps food move through the stomach and intestines. Sources of insoluble fiber include vegetables, whole-grains, and wheat bran.

A diet high in fiber is connected to many health benefits.

Lower cholesterol levels

Boosting fiber intake from whole-grain products leads to a slower build-up of arterial plaque. Studies also find soluble fiber to protect against atherosclerosis, which is this build-up of plaque in the arterial walls.

Dietary fiber also binds to LDL cholesterol during digestion, resulting in lower LDL cholesterol levels, without decreasing HDL cholesterol levels.
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Posted in Lower Cholesterol | Tagged dietary fiber, fiber, fiber and cholesterol, fiber and colon cancer, fiber and diabetes, insoluble fiber, lisa nelson, Lower Cholesterol, satiety, soluble fiber