What is pulse pressure and why are people talking about it?
Pulse pressure refers to the difference between the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) blood pressure. If your blood pressure (BP) is 120/80, for instance, your pulse pressure is 120 - 80 = 40 mmHg. A pulse pressure of 40 mmHg is normal.
Why does this matter?... Read more
Thiazide diuretics, like hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone, are extremely popular medications, often regarded as first-line agents in treatment of blood pressure.
When someone is first diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), they are often first placed on a thiazide diuretic. Alternatively, thiazide diuretics are frequently added... Read more
Melatonin is a sleep hormone, produced by the pineal gland seated deep inside the brain,
as well as other parts of the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract. For
years, melatonin has been recognized as a regulator of circadian rhythms,
the natural cycle of sleep and wakefulness that has allowed humans to inhabit
the earth in phase with the... Read more
An exhaustive review of health records of 443,632 veterans nationwide reported by Ross D. Fletcher, MD, of the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C. revealed that blood pressures are higher in winter. Dr. Fletcher reported his findings at the American Heart Association meetings in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Fletcher's study involved... Read more
