Does B12 Deficiency Affect Blood Pressure
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for the body, but vitamin B12 has no direct relationship with blood pressure and has little effect on blood pressure. Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause anemia, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, depression, and memory loss.
Eating foods rich in vitamin B12 is a simple and effective way to supplement vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal foods, such as pig liver, chicken liver, goat liver, pig kidney, chicken kidney, goat kidney, milk, goat milk, eggs, duck eggs, quail eggs, beef, mutton, and pork.
Only Diabetics Get High Glucose Values
While a high glucose value can indicate diabetes, nondiabetics can also have higher values than normal. When researchers studied people wearing a continuous glucose monitor who did not have a diabetes diagnosis, they found 93% of individuals reached glucose levels that are considered dangerous, with 10% spending over 2 hours per day in these dangerous levels. Traditional glucose measurements, like a single point in time blood glucose value, are unable to capture these abnormalities.
There are actually several causes of high blood sugar unrelated to diabetes that the CDC recognizes. These include certain foods, like artificial sweeteners and coffee. Other factors like stress can do it, too. If you live with an endocrine or pancreatic condition, had surgery recently, or are experiencing intense physical stress , you may also see your glucose value rise.
Natural Treatment For High Blood Pressure
Preventing high blood pressure is key, however, there are natural treatment options available that could help to reduce your blood pressure.
Managing stress with meditation or deep-breathing exercises Quit smoking Eating more food rich in calcium and magnesium
Eating foods rich in potassium can help
In Addition to the options listed above, there are several natural supplements that may also help to lower blood pressure or prevent it from elevating, to begin with.
Berberine
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Healthy Tips For Lowering Blood Pressure
Making certain lifestyle changes can not only reduce complications from diabetes but can also greatly reduce your risk of high blood pressure. In fact, lowering your systolic blood pressure by 10 points has been shown to lower all diabetes complication risks by 12 percent overall.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Regularly visit your primary care physician and take advantage of free blood pressure screenings.
- The American Heart Association recommends either 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity each week.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit your salt intake to two grams per day, which is about one teaspoon.
- Eat a diet with low sugar but plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish, healthy fats, and whole grains.
- Dont smoke and drink only in moderation.
- Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , which can raise blood pressure. Take acetaminophen instead whenever possible.
If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, these lifestyle changes can help you get your diabetes and blood pressure under control. The goal is to live well with diabetes and work to prevent complications, and lowering your blood pressure is a critical step.
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 , youll 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 youre more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also puts you more at risk of developing all types of diabetes complications, like serious problems with your feet, your eyes and your kidneys.
Theres 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.
Its really important to know that you might have high blood pressure and feel fine, because there arent usually any symptoms. But even if you feel healthy, high blood pressure is damaging your blood vessels and you need to get treatment. Thats why you should never miss a blood pressure check its a free test and takes two minutes.
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What Is The Recommended Blood Pressure Range For People With Diabetes
Its 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 weve 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
Lower Your Sugar Intake To Reduce High Blood Pressure
05/22/2019 | 2 min. read
Dr. Stephen Sinatra
There are now several studies confirming that too much sugar will put you at a greater risk for developing heart disease than too much cholesterol. Yet, while Americans are very aware of the dangers of high cholesterol, few people are educated about how harmful sugar can be. One of the biggest dangers is how it can be a cause for high blood pressure .
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What Are The Problems Associated With The Low Levels Of Hdl Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is mainly synthesized by the liver. It can transport cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues to the liver for metabolism and then be excreted by bile. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol can protect blood vessels, prevent fat deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels, thereby preventing arteriosclerosis.
Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol has a great impact on the body and can easily lead to the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Eating more foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids is an effective way to increase HDL cholesterol. Such as rapeseed oil, avocado oil, olive oil, peanuts and soybeans and so on.
In addition, fresh vegetables and fruits rich in soluble fiber can also effectively increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Low Blood Sugar Cause High Blood Pressure
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How Long Is Medication Needed For
In most cases, medication is needed for life. However, in some people whose blood pressure has been well controlled for a period of time, medication may be able to be stopped. In particular, in people who have made significant changes to their lifestyle . Your doctor will be able to advise you if you can reduce any of your medication.
Understanding The Relationship Between High Blood Pressure And Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with type 2 diabetes also suffer from high blood pressure, which has very few noticeable symptoms, can lead to an enlarged heart, and further complicate and worsen your diabetes symptoms.
If you have diabetes, youre already aware that you have to take special precautions with your blood sugar. But you may not be aware of another, often silent, problem that can go hand-in-hand with diabetes high blood pressure or hypertension.
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Are Certain People More Likely To Have Low Blood Pressure
Some people, especially if you have diabetes, are at a higher risk of your blood pressure temporarily dropping after eating or when getting up from a chair or from lying down in bed, for example. The former is whats called postprandial hypotension and the latter is orthostatic hypotension. Normally, when you’re digesting food, or when you change your body position from sitting to standing, your cardiovascular system adapts by beating harder as well as more rapidly, and constricting the diameter of certain blood vessels, such as those far from your intestine where digestion occurs. These physiological changes all collaborate to maintain your blood pressure. But, if these changes do not occur fast or adequately enough, your blood pressure can drop, sometimes to dangerous levels.
Why Sugar Will Raise Your Blood Pressure More Than Salt
So if its 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 dont realize its 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, its 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.
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Diabetes And High Blood Pressure Risks
The condition occurs in as many as two-thirds of people with diabetes and places these individuals at twice the risk of heart disease than a person only dealing with high blood pressure.
Theres no doubt that diabetes and high blood pressure are a dangerous duo, said Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Theyre both very common and are linked by obesity, which is also very common. Nearly half of all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have high blood pressure at the time of their diagnosis.
More Than Salt Sugars May Contribute To High Blood Pressure
New evidence published in the online journal Open Heart suggests that added sugars probably matter more than dietary sodium for risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of premature mortality in the developed world, and hypertension is its most important risk factor.
Hypertension was implicated as a primary or contributing factor in more than 348,000 deaths in the US in 2009, with costs to the nation in excess of $50 billion annually. Controlling hypertension is a major focus of public health initiatives, and dietary approaches to address hypertension have historically focused on sodium.
Nonetheless, the potential benefits of sodium reduction are debatable studies have shown that the reduction in blood pressure achieved by restricting salt is slim.
Recent data encompassing over 100,000 patients indicates that sodium intake between 3-6 g/day is associated with a lower risk of death and cardiovascular events compared with either a higher or lower level of intake. Thus, guidelines advising restriction of sodium intake below 3 g/day may cause harm, the authors write.
Processed foods happen to be major sources of not just sodium, but also of highly refined carbohydrates: that is, various sugars and the simple starches that give rise to them through digestion. The researchers comment:
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Current Levels Of Sugar Consumption And Dietary Guidelines
Approximately 300years ago humans were only consuming a few pounds of sugar per year. More recent estimates suggest intakes in the US population anywhere from 77 to 152lbs of sugar per year,, with 13% consuming at least 25% of their total caloric intake as added sugars. This level of consumption equates to an approximate average intake of added sugars of 2447 teaspoons per day, with an average daily fructose consumption of 83.1g. suggests how such large intake may be possible, showing some representative foods and the sugar loads associated with their consumption. In a study of over 1000 American adolescents the average daily intake of added sugars was 389g for boys and 276g for girls, or up to 52% of total caloric intake. The level of added fructose intake implied by these numbers is shocking, especially considering there is no physiological requirement for added sugar, particularly fructose, in the diet so potential harms of ingestion clearly outweigh any potential benefits.
Amount of sugar in common food items
Aside From Salt And Sugar What Raises Blood Pressure
In addition to high-salt and high-sugar products, foods that raise blood pressure include those that are high in saturated fat. Foods high in saturated fat can contribute to weight gain and metabolic syndrome while raising your risk of hypertension too.
Not eating enough potassium contributes to high blood pressure. Adequate potassium intake promotes electrolyte balance in the blood and helps counteract the effects of sodium.
Leading a sedentary lifestyle can raise your risk of developing hypertension. Without sufficient activity and exercise, the heart does not grow stronger as a muscle. As a result, the heart must work much harder to pump blood throughout the body, which causes blood flow to exert more pressure on arterial walls.
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How To Lower Your Blood Pressure
A lot of lowering your blood pressure is down to making positive lifestyle changes. But we know its not always that straightforward, and some people will need medication to help too.
- Try different ways to cope with stress
- Have less caffeine
Your healthcare team can support you with making these changes. Find out what healthcare checks and services you are entitled to.
Can High Blood Sugar Cause Brain Damage
Researchers are finding more evidence linking elevated blood sugar levels with cognitive problems.
Visit your doctor, and no matter what your age, you’ll step on the scale, get your blood pressure checked, and receive a lab slip to test your cholesterol levels. But a test for blood sugar? That’s a toss-up.
SARA ASNAGHI/BEHANCE
Doctors are short on time, patients don’t like being stuck with needles, and the prevailing opinion is that blood sugar isn’t an issue until people reach their golden years. Trouble is, a growing body of research suggests that maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels throughout your life could play a key role in preserving your brain.
Research has shown a link between diabetes and for decades. In fact, a November 2012 review in Experimental Gerontology reported that people with diabetes have double the risk of developing dementia. Now, scientists are discovering that even modestly elevated blood sugar levels may speed up cognitive decline.
“We know that people with diabetes are at increased risk,” says James A. Mortimer, PhD, professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of South Florida and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology . Even pre-diabetes has shown up in some studies. But this is pre-pre-diabetes, in the 90 to 100 mg/dL range.”
Sugar Spike
Swing Low
Safeguarding Your Brain
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Diet Physical Activity And Demographic Questionnaires
The electronic form of the 2005 Nutrition Quest Block Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess average daily intake of food, beverages, and supplements . Approximately 110 food items were included, and each food item was accompanied by questions about the frequency of consumption and serving sizes. Frequency questions concerned intake year-round and accounted for seasonal food intake. This questionnaire was administered by a trained researcher. Measuring cups and spoons were provided as a reference for serving sizes. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly , designed to be used on individuals aged 65 and older, was used to determine physical activity in the participants . The questionnaire contains items about the individuals leisure-time, household, and work-related activities performed over the past seven days. Various activities including reading, walking, dancing, gardening, and home repairs as well as volunteer or paid work. The demographic questionnaire was used to collect information about the participants age, sex, education level, marital status, race/ethnicity, and income.
Blood Pressure And Anthropometric Measurements
Participants were asked to sit quietly in a room for 5 minutes before BP was measured. A trained researcher measured the participants arm to determine proper cuff size. Participants were asked to remain silent during BP readings. Two readings were taken on a digital BP monitor , and the average of the two was recorded. Mean arterial pressure was derived from systolic and diastolic BP. MAP is defined as the average of arterial pressure during a single cardiac cycle and is calculated as follows: Diastolic BP + 1/3 pulse pressure, where the pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic BP. Participants were asked to change into scrubs and to take off their shoes for the anthropometric measurements. Weight was measured using a digital scale and recorded in both pounds and kilograms. Height was measured in centimeters, using a stadiometer. Participants were asked to stand with their feet and back against the wall. Body mass index was calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.
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