High Blood Pressure Expert Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH shares High Blood Pressure management news and commentary at HighBloodPressureConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88 http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88 http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/20775/kids Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:28:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH You may have heard about the "obesity epidemic" in the media. The risks appear to be even greater than ever. About a third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight.  As the prevalence of childhood risk factors increases so too will adult heart disease. Childhood obesity contributes to many of the adult risk factors including height, blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and diabetes.  Recent... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/20775/kids http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/19608/salt Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:56:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH Most Americans eat too much salt (or sodium). In some studies nearly three times the healthy amount of 1.5 grams per day. 95% of men and 75% of women eat 5.8 grams per day. A diet high in sodium increases blood pressure and is directly linked to heart attacks and strokes. These effects are more pronounced in blacks, older patients, those with high blood pressure at baseline, and those with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.   Sources... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/19608/salt http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/16349/perfect Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:28:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH A study presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, FL described 72 patients with mild to moderate high blood pressure who were injected with an experimental vaccine. The vaccine, known as CYT006-AngQb works by inhibiting angiotensin II, a molecule responsible for elevating blood pressure.   Decreasing angiotensin II levels is not a new concept. Medications such as ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/16349/perfect http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/15332/high Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:13:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH A recent study indicates that angry men have higher blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease. Long-term stress affected both men and women.   Individuals with pre-hypertension, a systolic blood pressure between 120 and 140, or a diastolic between 80 and 90, were most at risk.   Anger was defined as those with a generally negative, hostile outlook and angry reactions to perceived slights.   The exact mechanism by... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/15332/high http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/14746/day-high Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:13:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH Much like heart attacks, strokes are due to a decreased blood flow through an artery. In a matter of seconds brain tissue begins to die if its blood supply is decreased.   High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for both heart attacks and strokes. Over time, those with hypertension are at risk of developing cholesterol buildup of their arteries. If this occurs in the heart, angina or heart attacks can result. In the... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/14746/day-high http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/14384/bird Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:23:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH A recent study in the journal Hypertension, reports that women who are sleep deprived have a greater risk than men of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Nearly 7,000 people were evaluated in Warwick, Britain. Women who slept less than five hours per night were twice as likely to have high blood pressure compared to those who slept seven or more hours. Interestingly, no such association applied to men in the study.   Besides... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/14384/bird http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/12688/high Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:53:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH High blood pressure goes hand-in-hand with obesity. As obesity increases among children in the United States, so does high blood pressure.   It is more difficult to diagnose high blood pressure in children due to a changing definition of "normal" as children grow. A recent study evaluated over 15,000 children and adolescents from 3 to 18 years of age for seven years. Approximately one in every 14 children was diagnosed with... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/12688/high http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/12278/blood Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:23:01 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH New blood pressure guidelines were published in May of 2007 by the American Heart Association (AHA). After reviewing recent studies the doctors at the AHA determined that many patients who previously thought they had well controlled blood pressure need to lower it even further.   High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. This number was lowered to 130/80 if you have diabetes or... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/12278/blood http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/11013/natural Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:21:00 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH Are there any natural options for someone who needs to lower their LDL but cannot use cholesterol medications due to side effects? Is red wine a good supplement to other lifestyle changes?  The most effective natural way to lower cholesterol is with diet and exercise leading to weight loss. A diet low in cholesterol, trans and saturated fats as well as regular aerobic activity is ideal.  Plant sterols can also help decrease... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/11013/natural http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/7790/hard Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:30:01 -0000 Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH I have high blood pressure, but I do not know the cause. I have been feeling like my heart is pumping way too hard sometimes for no reason. My heart rate is normal most of the time, but the actual beats feel forceful.   This is a good question. I have many patients who are aware of their heart beat. This is often called feeling “palpitations.” There are many causes of such palpitations and an evaluation by a doctor is important. This... http://www.healthcentral.com/high-blood-pressure/c/88/7790/hard