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Controlling Your Blood Pressure Archive

Heart Health

Controlling blood pressure with fewer side effects

Updated July 14, 2023

Heart Health

A look at diastolic blood pressure

Published April 1, 2022

When it comes to managing blood pressure, doctors tend to focus on lowering the top (systolic) number, but the bottom (diastolic) number also plays an essential role in heart health. Diastolic pressure is the pressure during the resting phase between heartbeats, and helps coronary vessels supply oxygen to the heart muscle. It’s important to keep both blood pressure numbers low per guidelines, but research suggests the diastolic number should not fall too low.

Heart Health

Coffee and your blood pressure

Updated January 19, 2022

A recent study alleviates concerns about coffee's role in heart disease and stroke and makes observations about coffee's physiological effects.

Heart Health

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

Published December 1, 2021

Swapping regular table salt (sodium chloride) with a salt substitute containing some potassium chloride may lower the risk of strokes and related heart problems.

Staying Healthy

What to do when your blood pressure won’t go down

Published December 1, 2021

Doctors recommend several strategies to lower resistant hypertension. One strategy is discontinuing medications that may be contributing to high blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), decongestants, certain antidepressants, and corticosteroids. Another strategy is treating underlying conditions that can boost blood pressure, such as sleep apnea. Other ways to lower stubbornly high blood pressure include getting lots of aerobic exercise, eating a plant-based diet that’s low in salt, getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Heart Health

Over-the-counter drugs that can boost blood pressure

Published December 1, 2021

People with high blood pressure should avoid certain popular over-the-counter drugs used to treat cold and flu symptoms and pain. The problematic products are those that contain decongestants such as oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Because drugstores contain an overwhelming number of products that feature those drugs, people should ask their pharmacist to recommend a product.

Staying Healthy

Breathing your way to better health

Published November 1, 2021

Taking time out of a stressful day to perform simple breathing exercises can reduce chronic stress and prevent the harm it can inflict on the body. Even a few short breathing sessions can make a big difference for many people. Chronic stress, when it goes unchecked, can lead to a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, depression, and reduced immune response.

Heart Health

Aerobic exercise helps hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Published November 1, 2021

Regular aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling may help people with resistant hypertension lower their blood pressure.

Mind & Mood

Some blood pressure drugs are linked with better memory

Published October 1, 2021

A 2021 analysis found that adults ages 50 and older who took an ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril or an ARB like candesartan that crosses the blood-brain barrier scored higher on memory recall tests after three years on the medication, when compared with those who took a different drug in the same class that doesn’t cross over.

Heart Health

Breath training may lower blood pressure

Published October 1, 2021

Using a device that strengthens breathing muscles for just five minutes a day may help lower blood pressure. The small handheld device provides resistance as a person inhales and exhales, providing what’s known as inspiratory muscle strength training.

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Recent Articles

Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives

Skin care for aging skin: Minimizing age spots, wrinkles, and undereye bags

Medicare versus Medicaid: Key differences

Prostate cancer: Short-course radiation as effective as longer-term treatments

Lost a tooth? What to know about dental implants

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Evidence-based uses and unproven claims

Gatorade. Liquid IV. Do you need extra electrolytes?

Sexual violence can cast a long shadow on health

Eggs, protein, and cholesterol: How to make eggs part of a heart-healthy diet

Can a quick snooze help with energy and focus? The science behind power naps

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