Tag

Blood Pressure

All articles tagged with #blood pressure

lifestyle5 hours ago•16 min saved

Arm posture can swing blood pressure readings, study finds

A Johns Hopkins study shows that subtle arm-position changes during BP testing—such as dangling or resting on a desk—can raise readings by several mmHg, potentially moving a diagnosis from “elevated” to “stage 2.” Desk-level arm support and alignment with heart height yield the most accurate results. The findings highlight the need for proper posture in clinics and at home, with guidelines from the American Heart Association and ongoing efforts to reduce misdiagnosis and unnecessary prescriptions.

via Earth.com|

#arm-position #blood-pressure #home-monitoring

health1 day ago•27 min saved

Eating Earlier at Night May Boost Heart Health, Study Finds

A Northwestern University study on overweight and obese adults found that delaying the last meal to at least three hours before bedtime improved nighttime heart rate and blood pressure, as well as morning glucose regulation, without calorie restriction, suggesting an earlier dinner window may benefit overall cardiometabolic health—though the small, mostly female sample and lack of meal-content data limit generalizability.

via Outside Magazine|

#bedtime-eating #blood-pressure #cardiometabolic-health

health3 days ago•5 min saved

A Simple Bedtime Rule: Stop Eating 3 Hours Before Sleep to Support Heart Health

A small study of 39 adults with overweight/obesity found that stopping eating at least three hours before bed (a 13–16 hour overnight fast) improved nocturnal blood pressure dipping and reduced resting heart rate, and also improved glucose control, compared with a shorter habitual fast of 11–13 hours. The benefits occurred without cutting calories and are thought to arise from better alignment with circadian rhythms, though results may not generalize to everyone; gradual habit changes and attention to daytime meals can help implement this approach.

via Prevention|

#blood-pressure #blood-sugar #health

cardiovascular-cardiology4 days ago•33 min saved

Circadian-aligned overnight fasting lowers blood pressure, study finds

A randomized study of 39 overweight or obese adults found that finishing meals at least three hours before bedtime and extending overnight fasting to about 12–14 hours—tied to the body’s circadian rhythm—reduced nighttime blood pressure by about 3.5%, lowered heart rate by 5%, and improved daytime blood sugar, suggesting meal timing may meaningfully affect cardiometabolic health; larger, more diverse trials are needed.

via Medical News Today|

#blood-pressure #cardiometabolic-health #cardiovascular-cardiology

health9 days ago•266 min saved

Bananas and Blood Pressure: A Modest Heart-Healthy Boost

Bananas can help lower blood pressure because they’re rich in potassium, which helps the kidneys remove excess sodium, reduce fluid retention, and relax blood vessel walls. The BP drop after eating one banana is modest, and benefits don’t compound with more fruit—one banana a day is typically enough and increasing intake could raise potassium to unsafe levels for people on certain medications or with kidney disease. Regular banana consumption also supports heart health through fiber and magnesium, but medications and broader lifestyle changes remain important for blood pressure management.

via AOL.com|

#bananas #blood-pressure #cardiologists

health-and-medicine9 days ago•6 min saved

Sleep-Aligned Eating Window Boosts Heart Health

A 7.5-week Northwestern Medicine study found that adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease who stopped eating three hours before bed and extended their overnight fast by about two hours saw lower nighttime blood pressure and heart rate, and better daytime glucose control, without cutting calories; aligning eating windows with sleep rhythms may boost cardiovascular health, with strong adherence and plans for larger trials.

via ScienceDaily|

#blood-pressure #cardiometabolic-health #circadian-rhythm

health17 days ago•271 min saved

Eat Your Way to Lower Blood Pressure: Foods Experts Recommend

Cardiologists and dietitians say adopting a DASH-style, high-fruit/vegetable, high-fiber eating plan can help reduce blood pressure within about three months. Key foods to focus on include low-fat yogurt, berries, leafy greens, garlic, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, fatty fish like salmon, avocado, quinoa, broccoli, and unsalted pumpkin seeds, while limiting salt, alcohol, saturated fats, and processed foods. Combine these dietary choices with regular exercise, weight management, and, if prescribed, medications to manage hypertension.

via AOL.com|

#blood-pressure #dash-diet #health

health22 days ago•5 min saved

Small Changes, Big Impact: Five Steps to Take Control of Your Blood Pressure

Nearly half of US adults have high blood pressure, a major modifiable risk factor for heart disease, stroke and possibly cognitive decline. The article lays out five practical steps: know your numbers by properly measuring BP at home (to catch white‑coat hypertension); understand personal risk from genetics, age and pregnancy; follow the DASH diet with potassium‑rich foods and lower sodium (ideally under 2,300 mg/day); get regular aerobic and isometric exercise to reduce pressure and stress; and, if needed, use medications to reach targets below 130/80, noting that lifestyle changes still improve outcomes beyond the BP number.

via The New York Times|

#blood-pressure #dash-diet #exercise

health22 days ago•11 min saved

Coffee and blood pressure: small, temporary bumps, not a hypertension risk

Coffee can raise blood pressure briefly, especially in new drinkers or those with hypertension, as caffeine stimulates heart rate and constricts vessels. Blood caffeine peaks 30 minutes to 2 hours after a cup and has a 3–6 hour half-life. Studies typically report systolic BP rises of about 3–15 mmHg and diastolic rises of 4–13 mmHg, with individual responses varying by genetics, age, and habitual intake. Overall, coffee is not consistently linked to a higher hypertension risk, though very high BP patients should discuss intake with a doctor. Practical guidance: know your BP, limit caffeine to about four cups a day (or switch to decaf if needed), avoid caffeine before BP measurement, and consider reducing or timing intake if your BP is elevated.

via The Conversation|

#blood-pressure #caffeine #cardiovascular-health

health24 days ago•2 min saved

Nearly Half of Americans Have Hypertension, Yet Most Are Untreated or Uncontrolled

New NHANES data from 2021–2023 show 47% of Americans over 20 have hypertension, with 79% of those cases uncontrolled; among the uncontrolled, about 61% aren’t taking blood-pressure medications. Experts say many could reach the 130/80 target with medication and lifestyle changes, but awareness gaps and access issues hinder treatment, contributing to 664,470 deaths in 2023. The findings underscore the need for broader screening and better treatment uptake to improve cardiovascular health.

via Gizmodo|

#antihypertensive-medication #blood-pressure #health

health25 days ago•12 min saved

Three subtle signs your high blood pressure may be silently harming your organs

A cardiologist warns hypertension often has no obvious symptoms but can quietly damage the heart, brain and kidneys. When symptoms do appear, they may include fatigue, headaches and breathlessness during exercise, but many sufferers have no clear warning signs. The takeaway is regular blood pressure monitoring and addressing lifestyle factors—nutrition, sleep, weight and activity—to prevent organ damage and reduce risks like heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

via Daily Express|

#blood-pressure #cardiac-health #health

wellness28 days ago•8 min saved

Potassium Power: 10 Foods That Help Lower Blood Pressure

Americans largely under-consume potassium, a nutrient vital for fluid balance, muscle function, and heart health. The piece lists 10 potassium-rich foods (tomato paste, lentils, avocado, dried apricots, bananas, citrus, melons, kiwi, potatoes, coconut water) and notes the NIH guideline of about 3,400 mg daily; it argues for getting potassium from foods rather than supplements to support blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

via GQ|

#blood-pressure #diet #heart-health

technology29 days ago•4 min saved

Apple Watch Hypertension Alerts Roll Out to Seven New Markets

Apple expanded hypertension notifications to seven more countries (Australia, Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, and Turkey) for Apple Watch and iPhone users. The feature, introduced last year, uses watch sensors and algorithms to flag potential high blood pressure over a 30-day period and can prompt users to monitor more frequently with medical guidance. Available on Apple Watch Series 9+ and Ultra 2+ via the Health app, the rollout aims to help address the global burden of hypertension.

via MacRumors|

#apple-watch #blood-pressure #health

health1 month ago•56 min saved

Beige fat around arteries may help lower blood pressure, mouse study suggests

A mouse study shows beige fat around blood vessels helps keep blood pressure low by suppressing the enzyme QSOX1; when beige fat is converted to white fat, QSOX1 rises, leading to stiffer vessels and higher BP. Removing beige fat or blocking QSOX1 prevented hypertension in mice, suggesting beige fat has a local vascular role and that QSOX1 could be a target for future hypertension therapies.

via Live Science|

#beige-fat #blood-pressure #brown-fat

health1 month ago•19 min saved

Midlife obesity linked to vascular dementia risk via long-term blood pressure rise

A new study finds that obesity in midlife raises the risk of vascular dementia later in life by about 50–60%, likely through decades of elevated blood pressure that damages brain vessels; genetic markers strengthen the causal link and the study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Jan 22, 2026).

via The Washington Post|

#blood-pressure #genetics #health