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Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2014

Update Conversion Tool A1C to Blood Glucose

One of our commenters, Elisabeth, posted the following link to a good online conversion tool:

ACCU-CHEKs A1c Calculator

Just enter your average blood glucose reading and it will return an estimate of your HbA1c.

Thank you, Elisabeth!
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Elisabeths comment appears in a post from 2006: Conversion Tool - A1c to Blood Glucose
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Sniffing Out a Low Blood Sugar

Researchers in Ireland and the UK are investigating whether dogs can detect a falling blood sugar in their diabetic owners. Anecdotal reports suggest they can.

Dr. Deborah Wells from the School of Psychology at Queens University, Belfast (pictured), and Dr. Shaun Lawson from the University of Lincoln, UK, are looking for 100 type 1 diabetics to complete an online survey.

They are also seeking video footage of dogs reacting to their owners low blood sugar levels.

Anyone interested in partaking in the study may contact Dr. Deborah Wells at 028-9097-4386 or email d.wells@qub.ac.uk
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Queens University press release:
Dogs Sniff Out Diabetes
BBC News summary:
Dogs To Sniff Out Owner Diabetes
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Friday, February 7, 2014

A Snarky Rant on Sodium and Blood Pressure

Quick rant today, related to my recent obsession with all things blood pressure (see here and here).  I just found this quote on the CDC website that really steamed my clams...

"Sodium intake from processed and restaurant foods contributes to increased rates of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Decreasing sodium intake to within recommended limits could prevent thousands of deaths annually, because nearly 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to high blood pressure." (1)


To me this is short-sighted, oversimplified, and quite frankly ignorant. Sodium reduction can be a good thing because it often occurs simultaneously with elimination of processed junk, like said "processed and restaurant food". But being all narrow-minded and reducing sodium intake to the level they recommend can be dangerous (2, 3).

There is a better option... We can get the same outcome by simply increasing potassium intake... aka, replacing shitty junk foods with vegetables, meats, fruits, dairy, and starchy tubers (4). And I see no reason not to add a little salt for flavor.

Why, oh why, cant we just teach people how to eat real food?? This would solve so much.  But NO, thats never the answer... lets just encourage everyone to buy low-sodium processed shit... because low-sodium HoHos are SO much better than regular HoHos.

We COULD... recommend more potassium, found in fruits, veggies etc., and end up ACTUALLY TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO EAT FOOD... or we could teach them to look for "low-sodium" on a box of Cheez-Its.

REAL FOOD?
or
low-sodium twinkies.

REAL FOOD?
or
salt-free french fries.


Come on people, get real.  Just eat real food.
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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Getting to Grips with and Understanding the Basics of High Blood Pressure

Hypertension means a great different things to different people. The Common definition refers to High Blood Pressure without alluding to any cause.

Because of the silent and insidious way it works in the background i.e. no symptoms it is referred to as the Silent Killer. If left uncontrolled or untreated then High Blood Pressure can cause a variety of illnesses all of which could kill if left to their own devices. In the United States of America alone their estimate to be 50 million sufferers of High Blood Pressure.

High blood pressure occurs more often in blacks—in 32% of black adults compared with 23% of whites and 23% of Mexican Americans. For blacks it would also appear the adverse consequences of high blood pressure were worse.

High blood pressure occurs more often in older people—in about three fourths of women and almost two thirds of men aged 75 or older, compared with only about one fourth of people aged 20 to 74. For those suffering with clinical obesity the incidences of high blood pressure rise by 200%.

It is a staggering figure that possibly only two thirds of the potential high blood pressure sufferers in the US have been diagnosed.Of these people, about 75% receive drug treatment, and of these, about 45% receive adequate treatment.

Hypertension is calculated by way of registering two figures. The first figure is the highest and reflects the highest pressure in the arteries upon contraction of the heart during the process known as systole. As would appear logical the second figure relates to the process of contraction within the heart known as diastole.

The traditional way of reporting blood pressure figures is calculated in millimetres of mercury and described as the systolic over the diastolic (120 over 80 etc). If the blood pressure readings were greater than a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure off greater than 90 mm Hg than to suffer was deemed to be suffering from high blood pressure.

However it has now been recognized that even these figures may be arbitrary as even the smallest increase in blood pressure is a risk.The limits were established because people with blood pressure above these levels are at increasing risk of complications.

Research has shown that it is not unusual for raised figures in both systolic and diastolic pressures for sufferers of high blood pressure. The one major exception to this widely accepted approach towards blood pressure is when it is arising through increased age whereby it is not uncommon to see a raised systolic pressure alongside a normal diastolic figure.

This disorder is called isolated systolic hypertension. Where the blood pressure is in excess of 180/110 mm Hg and there is an absence of associate symptoms then the entire condition is referred to as a hypertensive urgency.”

There has been an additional condition recognized as malignant hypertension and this occurs when blood pressure readings are in excess of 210/120 mm Hg.It occurs in only about 1 of 200 people who have high blood pressure.

Again the incidences of malignant hypertension is greater within the black community and amongst those people from the socioeconomic groups. Unlike hypertensive urgency, malignant hypertension may produce a variety of severe symptoms. If untreated, malignant hypertension usually leads to death in 3 to 6 months. Stephen Morgan writes regularly on High Blood Pressure issues and more information on the above can be found at High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressure Symptom and also at www.livingwithhighbloodpressure.net/treatment.html

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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Foods Choice Accord To Blood Type

Foods Choice Accord To Blood Type | To know, is food that consume by us appropriate with needs or no, The fact this is really effected by kind or type of blood. Yes, Every Blood type have different respond to some thing that we consume.

Dr. Peter DAdamo, a naturopathic physician and expert in the field of human blood groups revealed that each blood type, produces antigen which react to any kind of food. DAdamo said that food consumption does not cause a good reaction to the blood type can cause fatigue, fluid retention and weight problems.

Meanwhile, if you eat foods that are compatible with your blood type, this is will help increase energy, prevent disease and reduce weight.

Here is a glimpse of Foods Choice Accord To Blood Type, as described by DAdamo:

Blood Type O

Blood type O is one of the most common blood type and amount than most other types of blood groups. About 45 percent of Americans known to have blood type O. Based on the type of food, people with blood type O is perfect for eating a high protein-rich meat. Individuals with blood type O have more stomach acid than other blood types, which makes them better suited for digesting meat.

Blood Type A

According to DAdamo, a person with blood type A best fit to eat vegetables vegetarian alias, because they do not have enough stomach acid to digest meat. Vegetable protein diet such as beans, legumes, soy foods and complex carbohydrates are suitable for you who have blood type A.

Blood Type B

Corn, wheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds are foods that can affect metabolism and cause fatigue and fluid retention. People with blood type B should also avoid eating chicken, because it has a lectin in muscle tissue and cause unfavorable reactions with their blood type. Adamo advised to eat lots of vegetables and select types of meat such as lamb, rabbit and venison.

Blood Type AB

The blood type AB is the rarest blood type. In America, only about 5 percent of the population has this blood type. Given the mixture of blood group genes you inherited, so it is best suited to your diet is to eat a mixture of seafood, wheat and vegetables. According to DAdamo, individuals with blood type AB have less stomach acid levels are sufficient for the digestion of meat, but they can eat fish. DAdamo says, green vegetables, fish and low fat milk is a food that is right for them with blood type AB.

May this Foods Choice Accord To Blood Type article be useful, you also interest in Foods Choice Accord To Blood Type
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Friday, October 25, 2013

How to Lower Blood Pressure

How to Lower Blood Pressure - How to lower blood pressure naturally? Matthew Burg, PHD Professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center New York Once said: "Any one with hypertension should be encouraged to do some things to lower blood pressure without the aid of pharmacological agents".

Here we will write some ways to lower blood pressure with was launched by health news:
lower Blood Pressure
Stop Smoking
Smokers are at high risk of hypertension. Nicotine makes blood pressure soaring, this is the cause of chronic hypertension. Stop smoking help lower blood pressure, plus there are other health benefits.

Regular Exercise
Exercise or physical activity for 30 minutes a day for a week, has been quite lower blood pressure. Gerald Fletcher, m.d., a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic say, move actively reduces blood pressure 3-5 points, and can reduce their hypertension drug use. Choose something you like: walking, jogging, swimming and cycling.

Reduce Alcohol
Very little of the benefits of alcohol for health. Too much drink will increase blood pressure.

Eat Bananas
Most of the salt can increase blood pressure, potassium, however, were able to reduce the ill effects of sodium. Most of the sufferers of hypertension this mineral deficiencies. Increase potassium intake up to 4,700 mg/day are beneficial for people with hypertension. Banana, a baked potato with skin, orange juice, yogurt is the main source of potassium.

Cut Down On Salt
Limit salt intake 1,500 mg a day. The easy way is to avoid processed foods, since many contain sodium. Be sure to also check out the levels of sodium in food labels.

Lose Weight
Lose weight a few pounds have a major impact on blood pressure. Excess weight makes the heart work harder, which causes hypertension. While losing weight reduces the workload of the heart.
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Saturday, October 5, 2013

High Blood Pressure Home Remedies The Natural Way


Most people know that having high blood pressure can lead to very serious medical issues.  We all know that high blood pressure, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.  The bad thing is that there are a lot of things we dont know about high blood pressure, such as what causes it.  Also a lot of the prescription drugs prescribed for high blood pressure have dangerous side effects.  If you want to get your blood pressure under control, try these high blood pressure home remedies.
It is estimated that upwards of 95% of the people who have high blood pressure dont even know that they are at risk.  That is why high blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer.  There are a lot of things you can do that can help you lower your high blood pressure.
Of course, if you are under a doctors care and taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor before you make any changes.  Even though these home remedies are all natural, that doesnt mean that you still cant have a potentially dangerous interaction with your other medications.
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Here are some things you can try:

1. Use fresh lemon juice, about half a lemon, and add to an 8 ounce glass of water. Drink throughout your day, two to three hours apart.

2.  Mix a tablespoon full of gooseberry juice with some honey and drink every day in the morning.  Gooseberry helps to keep your blood flowing smoothly.

3.  Take 1 tsp. of fenugreek seeds and add to a cup of water and drink daily in the morning and at night before bed.  Doing this for about 25 days can help lower your high blood pressure.

4. Eating fresh papaya daily, on an empty stomach, has been shown in some people to help lower blood pressure.

5. And last, but not least, garlic. This may be one of the best known remedies for treating high blood pressure.  Most people recommend taking about 1 clove a day and have noticed a significant decrease in their blood pressure in about 3 months.  You can easily add it to many of the foods you prepare.

6. Exercise, particularly those, such as yoga, that are relaxing can help lower your blood pressure.  The more you exercise the healthier your body will become and depending on the cause of your high blood pressure this could help lower your high blood pressure by giving you some much needed relaxation techniques.

If you are obese the exercises will provide the added benefit of helping you lose weight which will not only help with the high blood pressure but which can also help clear up, or prevent, many other health related issues.
Dont allow high blood pressure to put your health at risk. With so many potential side effects you want to make sure you get, and keep, your high blood pressure under control, and you dont need to solely rely on expensive prescription drugs and all the side effects they come with. Use these simple high blood pressure home remedies to get this dangerous disease under control once and for all.

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