Latest news with #highbloodpressure
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did'
High blood pressure has become a reality for more and more Americans—in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults have high blood pressure. This is concerning considering that high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke and heart failure. While a high blood pressure reading may leave you feeling defeated, for many, it can inspire them to spring into action. And that's what happened to 36-year-old Ashley (Aevie) Vielma. The Houston, Texas resident knew that her blood pressure was climbing, and she decided to do something about it. Vielma was aware of her family's history with high blood pressure. She shares that her grandmother, mother and sister, along with other family members, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. She also lacked a consistent exercise routine, and it didn't help that she ate a 'poor diet' that was high in salty, processed foods and saturated fats. She also admits that low-quality sleep was to blame. 'I would fall asleep with my phone and rarely got more than six hours of sleep each night,' she says, adding that she was always stressed out and dehydrated. Consequently, Vielma became pre-hypertensive in her late 20s in 2015, with a reading of 125/82. 'My worst number was 128/95 in 2019 during an acute period of high anxiety and stress,' she says. 'My doctor began monitoring my blood pressure regularly to make sure the elevated numbers were not sustained. Otherwise, I could have needed medication or hospitalization.' Related: Whether You're Dealing With High Blood Pressure or Want to Avoid It in the Future, Here Are the 25 Best Foods to Eat During this period, Vielma says that she would get dizzy spells from time to time when she stood up quickly. 'I was always tired!' she says. 'I also struggled to maintain resilience. I was easily overwhelmed and my stress showed at work and at home.' Related: The One Habit That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to a Cardiologist That's when Vielma decided to take matters into her own hands. She started walking regularly and doing low-impact exercise, such as Pilates. 'I really enjoyed the classes at Club Pilates and it was easy to commit to it regularly,' she says. She also carefully listened to her doctor and began researching healthy habits in addition to the ones she was already weaving into her life. 'Deep down, I knew that exercise alone would not be enough to reduce my blood pressure. I started getting six to eight hours of sleep regularly. I stopped screen-scrolling and set a timer on my bedroom lamp. It's lights out at 10:00 p.m. now,' she says. She couldn't believe how much exercise and high-quality sleep were positively impacting her mind and body. 'My mood improved and I had a lot more energy,' she reveals. Then she tackled her diet. She shares that despite how much she enjoyed indulging in her favorite foods, she ultimately knew that it was taking a toll on her health. That's when she started drinking at least two liters of water daily, which made it easier to feel satisfied instead of overeating at every meal. She looked at the salt, fat and sugar content on nutrition labels—particularly since those ingredients can affect hormone levels and the cardiovascular system. Instead of salting her food, she used herbs to increase flavor. When she goes out to eat, she orders dressing or sauce on the side and cuts things with lemon juice to reduce the sodium. In general, fibrous veggies and lean proteins are a big part of her diet. Additionally, she made breathing and mindfulness top priorities in her life. She now uses meditation techniques to stay present, something that contributed to lowering her blood pressure. 'Before, I was always thinking about what happens next or how I could have done something differently or better,' she says. 'Now I focus on one or two things at a time and I let the past go. This stops my mind from becoming overwhelmed, overthinking about everything little that went wrong, or all that needs to be accomplished in a week or a month.' As a result of all of her impressive efforts, her blood pressure has stayed around 112/72 since 2020. She keeps a digital blood pressure monitor in her night table to keep track of her numbers daily. Related: Want to Prevent Heart Disease? A Huge Study Says This Is the Exact Blood Pressure You Should Aim For Today, Vielma is an instructor at Club Pilates, the very fitness studio that first fostered her fitness routine, and she continues to practice healthy lifestyle habits. But she never feels as if she's officially out of the woods.'It's definitely easier to stay active now as a Club Pilates instructor, but I will always keep monitoring my blood pressure to make sure I'm staying in a healthy range,' she says. 'If I ever need additional resources, such as medication, I will pursue that option.'Vielma has learned just how important blood pressure is when it comes to overall health. She advises, 'If you have a family history of high blood pressure, or had an elevated reading, and are not on medication, at least invest in a monitor to track your numbers at home. A monitor is affordable and can be a lifesaving device if a crisis ever arises.' Related: This Easy Diet Tweak Can Lower Blood Pressure—and No, It's Not Less Salt Ashley (Aevie) Vielma, Club Pilates instructor. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 'High Blood Pressure Facts' 'I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did' first appeared on Parade on May 25, 2025
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
How eating whole food, plant-based proteins lowers the risk of having high blood pressure
Eating more minimally processed plant-based proteins – such as beans, nuts and lentils – may lower the risk for high blood pressure, according to new research. Advertisement The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also suggested that minimally processed animal proteins could be included in weekly meal plans without significantly affecting a person's high blood pressure risk 'Our study focused on foods, not the plant-based supplements that can be found on store shelves,' said the study's senior author Dr Marcia Otto, a nutritional epidemiologist and an associate professor at UT Health Houston School of Public Health in the US state of Texas. Nearly half of all adults in the US have high blood pressure, or hypertension, a condition that raises the risk for heart attacks strokes and other health problems. Tofu and soybeans are good sources of plant-based proteins. Photo: Shutterstock Prior research has shown diet plays a critical role in the prevention and management of high blood pressure.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did'
High blood pressure has become a reality for more and more Americans—in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults have high blood pressure. This is concerning considering that high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke and heart failure. While a high blood pressure reading may leave you feeling defeated, for many, it can inspire them to spring into action. And that's what happened to 36-year-old Ashley (Aevie) Vielma. The Houston, Texas resident knew that her blood pressure was climbing, and she decided to do something about it. Vielma was aware of her family's history with high blood pressure. She shares that her grandmother, mother and sister, along with other family members, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. She also lacked a consistent exercise routine, and it didn't help that she ate a 'poor diet' that was high in salty, processed foods and saturated fats. She also admits that low-quality sleep was to blame. 'I would fall asleep with my phone and rarely got more than six hours of sleep each night,' she says, adding that she was always stressed out and dehydrated. Consequently, Vielma became pre-hypertensive in her late 20s in 2015, with a reading of 125/82. 'My worst number was 128/95 in 2019 during an acute period of high anxiety and stress,' she says. 'My doctor began monitoring my blood pressure regularly to make sure the elevated numbers were not sustained. Otherwise, I could have needed medication or hospitalization.' Related: Whether You're Dealing With High Blood Pressure or Want to Avoid It in the Future, Here Are the 25 Best Foods to Eat During this period, Vielma says that she would get dizzy spells from time to time when she stood up quickly. 'I was always tired!' she says. 'I also struggled to maintain resilience. I was easily overwhelmed and my stress showed at work and at home.' Related: The One Habit That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to a Cardiologist That's when Vielma decided to take matters into her own hands. She started walking regularly and doing low-impact exercise, such as Pilates. 'I really enjoyed the classes at Club Pilates and it was easy to commit to it regularly,' she says. She also carefully listened to her doctor and began researching healthy habits in addition to the ones she was already weaving into her life. 'Deep down, I knew that exercise alone would not be enough to reduce my blood pressure. I started getting six to eight hours of sleep regularly. I stopped screen-scrolling and set a timer on my bedroom lamp. It's lights out at 10:00 p.m. now,' she says. She couldn't believe how much exercise and high-quality sleep were positively impacting her mind and body. 'My mood improved and I had a lot more energy,' she reveals. Then she tackled her diet. She shares that despite how much she enjoyed indulging in her favorite foods, she ultimately knew that it was taking a toll on her health. That's when she started drinking at least two liters of water daily, which made it easier to feel satisfied instead of overeating at every meal. She looked at the salt, fat and sugar content on nutrition labels—particularly since those ingredients can affect hormone levels and the cardiovascular system. Instead of salting her food, she used herbs to increase flavor. When she goes out to eat, she orders dressing or sauce on the side and cuts things with lemon juice to reduce the sodium. In general, fibrous veggies and lean proteins are a big part of her diet. Additionally, she made breathing and mindfulness top priorities in her life. She now uses meditation techniques to stay present, something that contributed to lowering her blood pressure. 'Before, I was always thinking about what happens next or how I could have done something differently or better,' she says. 'Now I focus on one or two things at a time and I let the past go. This stops my mind from becoming overwhelmed, overthinking about everything little that went wrong, or all that needs to be accomplished in a week or a month.' As a result of all of her impressive efforts, her blood pressure has stayed around 112/72 since 2020. She keeps a digital blood pressure monitor in her night table to keep track of her numbers daily. Related: Want to Prevent Heart Disease? A Huge Study Says This Is the Exact Blood Pressure You Should Aim For Today, Vielma is an instructor at Club Pilates, the very fitness studio that first fostered her fitness routine, and she continues to practice healthy lifestyle habits. But she never feels as if she's officially out of the woods.'It's definitely easier to stay active now as a Club Pilates instructor, but I will always keep monitoring my blood pressure to make sure I'm staying in a healthy range,' she says. 'If I ever need additional resources, such as medication, I will pursue that option.'Vielma has learned just how important blood pressure is when it comes to overall health. She advises, 'If you have a family history of high blood pressure, or had an elevated reading, and are not on medication, at least invest in a monitor to track your numbers at home. A monitor is affordable and can be a lifesaving device if a crisis ever arises.' Ashley (Aevie) Vielma, Club Pilates instructor. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 'High Blood Pressure Facts' 'I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did' first appeared on Parade on May 25, 2025
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Dr. Oz, head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, talks program cuts, healthy eating during Philadelphia visit
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, was in Philadelphia Monday promoting the administration's mission of making America healthy again. Before an event in West Philadelphia, Oz spoke with CBS News Philadelphia health reporter Stephanie Stahl for a wide-ranging conversation. Oz said he's committed to protecting the 160 million Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. During an event at the Second Antioch Baptist Church, Oz helped promote a campaign by the American Heart Association called Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure. Oz, along with doctors from Penn Medicine, said controlling hypertension could save millions of American lives. "It's called the silent killer since most people have no idea they have it until they have a stroke or a heart attack," Oz said. An important way to control high blood pressure is healthy eating. The church is also a food pantry, and the former cardiothoracic surgeon underscored the importance of using food as medicine and touted the Trump administration's commitment to make America healthy. "If you eat real food, food that comes out of the ground looking the way it looks when you eat it, that is the recipe for a healthy diet," Oz said. But the Trump administration wants to cut food stamps and Medicaid, programs that cover nutrition and health costs for people with limited incomes. Asked how they can make Americans healthier if these programs are being cut back, Oz said, "If we want to improve the health of the country, we have to make it easy to do the right thing." Oz also said getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse will save millions, along with a work requirement for people to get benefits. He says making the system more efficient will help everyone. Stahl: "Once you go through all of those systems, are you assuring people that the most vulnerable will continue to have services that they need?" Oz: "It's our duty, if we're a great people — and we are a great people — to do just that." Oz didn't provide any specifics on how he would make sure vulnerable people are protected from the proposed cuts.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teacher from Watford urges everyone to get blood pressure checked
A primary school teacher from Watford who randomly discovered she had hidden high blood pressure has urged people to get checked. Daisy Mpofu, 37, had not checked her blood pressure for around five years and had not thought about doing so until being offered the chance at the school where she works. "Had I not had it checked then I probably would not have identified the fact I had high blood pressure as I just assumed it was still fine," she said. Daisy Mpofu had not checked her blood pressure for around five years and had not thought about doing so until being offered the check at the school where she works. (Image: NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex) Having contacted her GP, Daisy was advised to take blood pressure readings at home over the course of a week and was then prescribed medication which has helped lower her blood pressure into the healthy range. Daisy is now encouraging all her friends to get checked. It comes as the NHS is urging everyone over 40 to 'take a sec to check' their blood pressure during May Measurement Month. High blood pressure, sometimes known as hypertension, usually has no symptoms but can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and stroke. Anyone over 40 that has not been checked in the last six months can visit one of more than 200 pharmacies across Hertfordshire and west Essex. The NHS says people who are black or South Asian are more likely to be at risk from high blood pressure, "so if this applies to you or your family members, please do come forward for a quick, free and painless check".
