When the force of the blood against the artery wall increases and then stays elevated, the individual is said to have high blood pressure (medical term is hypertension). When this diagnosis is made, it is made for life; therefore. it is not made on a single reading. Generally, it is made by a physician only after they have taken readings at least two or more times on different occasions and over a period of time just to make sure the blood pressure readings are consistent. Because of the serious effects of high blood pressure on the body, doctors are careful in making this diagnosis.

It would be wise for an individual, if their personal physician suspects hypertension, to take their own readings on a regular basis in between doctor visits. The easiest way would be to find a store that offers a blood pressure monitoring device. Many grocery stores or discount stores will have a monitoring device for their customers. Check the blood pressure twice a week or more and keep track of the numbers. It is also important to keep track of the time of day the reading was taken to share with the physician. Blood pressure could be checked morning, afternoon and evening for a few days since there will be fluctuations in the numbers throughout the day. Checking several times throughout the day may show a pattern that would be helpful for the physician. Blood pressure can also be taken in the privacy of the home using a monitoring device purchased from a local store that carries health care products. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a good product for your use and demonstrate how to use it.

If the readings are 140/90 (considered high) on a consistent basis, you should talk with your personal physician about the best way to control your hypertension. In some instances, the doctor may suggest diet, exercise and stress management techniques to see if the hypertension can be controlled without medication. If the readings are dangerously high, being put on medication immediately to control the hypertension may be necessary.

It is critical to get control of the hypertension as soon as possible since the damage is being done with each beat of the heart:

1. Stroke. Obviously, hypertension is an extremely important risk factor since a weakened blood vessel, under high pressure, could break and bleed into the brain causing a stroke. If the arteries are narrowed by the constant high pressure, there is also a possibility of a blood clot lodging in one of the narrow arteries causing a stroke. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in America.

2. Vision. hypertension also affects the eyes by causing the blood vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed. Not only can the vision become blurred, in some instances, the severity of the bleeding can lead to blindness.

3. Arteries. As the arteries in the brain, heart and kidneys harden as the result of age and blood pressure, the heart and kidneys must work harder.

4. Heart. One of the major risk factors for a heart attack is hypertension. It is the arteries which provide the heart with nourishment. The arteries carry the blood with oxygen to the heart. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen because of narrowed arteries, “angina” which is chest pain can occur. If the arteries are totally blocked and no blood rich with oxygen can get through to the heart, then a heart attack occurs. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America.

5. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). An individual who has CHF has a heart which is unable to pump enough blood to supply what the body needs to survive. Hypertension is number one risk factor for CHF.

6. Atherosclerosis. Hypertension makes the heart beat too hard contributing to hardening of the arteries.

7. Kidney Disease. High blood pressure makes the kidney work harder contributing to kidney disease.

A reading between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg means an individual has prehypertension which means there is the potential to prevent rising into the high blood pressure range. If there are no healthy lifestyle changes made at this stage, the blood pressure will continue to rise with the end result being a diagnosis of high blood pressure, a permanent diagnosis.

The catastrophic effects of high blood pressure can not only destroy the quality of life of an individual, but also their finances. So, the important question to ask is “How do I want to live my life?” The answer will either lead to lifestyle changes which prevent or control hypertension and all it’s effects – or not!

There are a number of reasons that people seek out an Austin chiropractic center, but the most common one is from suffering the pain of an auto accident injury. After being hurled across a vehicle that is involved in a collision, it is typical that people report pain in their neck and lower back. These are the symptoms of whiplash and should be treated by a caring professional who is trained in access the extent of damage suffered by the muscles and spine, and who can treat patients with the attention of a medical practitioner.

Using state of the art technology to alleviate the pain of an automobile collision a doctor of chiropractic can restore the balance of the body and heal the bruised and aching discs and vertebrae that cause the swelling and tightness of muscle groups after an accident. With the healing process extending to all parts of the body, some patients continue to visit the Austin chiropractic office after their injuries have been cured because they are looking for a total body wellness program that can keep them healthy and fit.

By aligning the nervous system and relaxing the muscles throughout the body, doctors are able to use their knowledge of anatomy to correct the imbalances between systems and restore a person’s health to a natural state of well being. For those that have been injured and undergone recovery therapy after an accident, the continued care that they receive allows them to live a full and active lifestyle that is augmented by regular examinations and treatments designed to help them maintain their body at its peak performance level.

Cardiovascular exercise is any kind of movement that causes the increase of the heart beat, and the increase of breathing. Cardiovascular training, exercises our lungs and heart, it also enables the body to burn fat and carbohydrates. It works best when performed on large muscle groups such as those used when for swimming, aerobic exercise, pump classes, running, and strength training. It really doesn’t matter if you decide to go for a run, train with a personal trainer, or go for a roller blade, or what ever takes your fancy? As long as you have a increase of heart rate (blood pumping through your body at a quicker then it normally would) for 20 to 30 minutes at a time will improve your overall health and fitness will benefit.

There are many benefits to cardiovascular exercise, and of all the different types of exercise cardiovascular exercise has had the most scientific investigation. The results of these tests conclude that cardiovascular exercise reduces the risk of certain cancers, developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, just to name a few. It also has a positive effect on our mental health wellbeing, coordination, and boosts our energy levels for extended periods of time. I find that whenever I do a cardiovascular workout with my personal trainer, whether its 6am or 6pm, I feel a increase of mental well being. It either kick starts my day, or puts me in a better state of mind after a hard days work.

Personal trainers are a great way to really exert yourself with cardiovascular exercise. They push you to use large muscle groups, and to increase heart and lung capacity in a controlled environment with weight and circuit training. I always find that personal trainers are great to make sure you have correct posture when lifting weights. Unfortunately a lot of gym users end up with bad back due to incorrect posture and stance. Personal trainers are also great due to the student / teacher environment they provide. A good trainer will always push you to excel and improve your cardiovascular fitness

There are two kind of cardiovascular exercise, continuous, and intermittent cardiovascular training.

The first, continuous training, means exercising for a longer period of time without a decease or break in the pace you set, at a lower intensity over a longer period of time, then intermittent cardiovascular training. I personally use Albert Park Lake as a circuit for continuous cardiovascular exercise. Its 5.3 km to do a lap of the lake, and to jog or walk at a steady pace for that period of time allows me to do that in a continuous motion without stopping or slacking the pace. Intermittent cardiovascular training is high intensity training for a period of time that then allows a break in the intensity of training for a period of time, and then increasing the intensity again. An example of this would be to run for 3 minutes at a fast past and then slow down to a jog or fast walk for 2 minutes, and then increase the pace again for another 3 minutes. This allows the body to have some recovery time before the next high intensity of cardiovascular exercise.

Cardiovascular exercise has many great befits for the mind and body. It allows us to empower ourselves in so many positive ways. It really doesn’t matter if we swim in a pool, go for a run or walk, or go to a personal trainer. A healthy mind and body is all that really matters.