Prevention Kidney stones

Lifestyle changes

You may reduce your risk of kidney stones if you:

• Drink water throughout the day. For people with a history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend passing about 2.6 quarts (2.5 liters) of urine a day. Your doctor may ask that you measure your urine output to make sure that you're drinking enough water. If you live in a hot, dry climate or you exercise frequently, you may need to drink even more water to produce enough urine. If your urine is light and clear, you're likely drinking enough water.
• Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods. If you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may recommend restricting foods rich in oxalates. These include rhubarb, beets, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate and soy products.
• Choose a diet low in salt and animal protein. Reduce the amount of salt you eat and choose nonanimal protein sources, such as legumes.
• Continue eating calcium-rich foods, but use caution with calcium supplements. Calcium in food doesn't have an effect on your risk of kidney stones. Continue eating calcium-rich foods unless your doctor advises otherwise. Ask your doctor before taking calcium supplements, as these have been linked to increased risk of kidney stones. You may reduce the risk by taking supplements with meals.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can help you develop an eating plan that reduces your risk of kidney stones.

Medications

Medications can control the amount of minerals and acid in your urine and may be helpful in people who form certain kinds of stones. The type of medication your doctor prescribes will depend on the kind of kidney stones you have. Here are some examples:

• Calcium stones. To help prevent calcium stones from forming, your doctor may prescribe a thiazide diuretic or a phosphate-containing preparation.
• Uric acid stones. Your doctor may prescribe allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) to reduce uric acid levels in your blood and urine and a medicine to keep your urine alkaline. In some cases, allopurinol and an alkalinizing agent may dissolve the uric acid stones.
• Struvite stones. To prevent struvite stones, your doctor may recommend strategies to keep your urine free of bacteria that cause infection. Long-term use of antibiotics in small doses may help achieve this goal. For instance, your doctor may recommend an antibiotic before and for a while after surgery to treat your kidney stones.
• Cystine stones. Cystine stones can be difficult to treat. Your doctor may recommend that you drink more fluids so that you produce a lot more urine. If that alone doesn't help, your doctor may also prescribe a medication that decreases the amount of cystine in your urine.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) are small, hard deposits that form inside your kidneys. The stones are made of mineral and acid salts. Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.

Liver disease

The liver is situated on the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is the largest internal organ of the human body and weighs around 1.5kg in the average adult. Blood from the digestive system must first filter through the liver before it travels anywhere else in the body.

The principal roles of the liver include removing toxins from the body, processing food nutrients and helping to regulate body metabolism. A range of conditions can prevent the liver from performing its vital functions. Culprits include fat accumulation, alcohol misuse, viral infection, iron or copper accumulation, toxic damage and cancer.

The most common cause of liver disease is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ('fatty liver'). Cirrhosis is the end-result of many liver conditions and involves severe scarring of the liver (with liver nodule formation). It is associated with a progressive decline in liver function resulting in liver failure.

Tips for Hair Care

Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components of a tasty breakfast—but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and affordable, all-natural ones at that. And they're not the only ones. Did you know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own skin's oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Or that the mild acidity in lemon is an effective—and gentler—alternative to chemical-laden products? Next time your locks need a lift, save money by using one of these kitchen fixes.

What Are Muscle Aches?

Muscle aches are also known as muscle pain, myalgia, or simply pain in the muscles. Muscle aches are extremely common. Almost everybody has likely experienced discomfort in his or her muscles at some point.
Because almost every part of the body has muscle tissue, this type of pain can be felt practically anywhere. According to the Mayo Clinic, it usually affects a small number of muscles at a time, although myalgia throughout the body is possible

How is osteoporosis treated?

If you have osteoporosis, you may need to make some lifestyle changes and also take medicine to prevent future fractures. A calcium-rich diet, daily exercise, and drug therapy are all treatment options.
These different types of drugs are approved for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis:

• Bisphosphonates (bis-fos-fo-nates) — Bisphosphonates are approved for both prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Drugs in this group also can treat bone loss, and in some cases, can help build bone mass.
• SERMs — A class of drugs called estrogen agonists/antagonists, commonly referred to as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. They help slow the rate of bone loss.
• Calcitonin (kal-si-TOE-nin) — Calcitonin is a naturally occurring hormone that can help slow the rate of bone loss.
• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) — These drugs, which are used to treat menopausal symptoms, also are used to prevent bone loss. But recent studies suggest that this might not be a good option for many women. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made the following recommendations for taking MHT:
  • Take the lowest possible dose of MHT for the shortest time to meet treatment goals.
  • Talk about using other osteoporosis medications instead.
• Parathyroid hormone or teriparatide (terr-ih-PAR-a-tyd) — Teriparatide is an injectable form of human parathyroid hormone. It helps the body build up new bone faster than the old bone is broken down.

Your doctor can tell you what treatments might work best for you.

How can I prevent weak bones?

The best way to prevent weak bones is to work on building strong ones. No matter how old you are, it is never too late to start. Building strong bones during childhood and the teen years is one of the best ways to keep from getting osteoporosis later. As you get older, your bones don’t make new bone fast enough to keep up with the bone loss. And after menopause, bone loss happens more quickly. But there are steps you can take to slow the natural bone loss with aging and to prevent your bones from becoming weak and brittle.

cara alami turunkan tensi anda

Sudah tidak  menjadi rahasia umum bahwa tekanan darah tinggi bisa berisiko terhadap penyakit mematikan seperti stroke, gagal ginjal, dan serangan jantung. Konsumsi obat darah tinggi, di samping bisa menurunkan tekanan darah, juga mengandung efek samping. Tapi jangan khawatir, tekanan darah yang tinggi tak melulu harus diatasi dengan obat-obatan kimia. dengan mengkosumsi makanan makanan dan ikuti anjuran  berikut:

rang minang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSHpr3B3rKg

What are the different types of diabetes?............................Diabetes Mellitus (cont.)

These diabetes complications are related to blood vessel diseases and are generally classified into small vessel disease, such as those involving the eyes, kidneys and nerves (microvascular disease), and large vessel disease involving the heart and blood vessels (macrovascular disease). Diabetes accelerates hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) of the larger blood vessels, leading to coronary heart disease (angina or heart attack), strokes, and pain in the lower extremities because of lack of blood supply (claudication).

What are the different types of diabetes?..............................Diabetes Mellitus (cont.)

There are two major types of diabetes, called type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes was also formerly called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), or juvenile onset diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas undergoes an autoimmune attack by the body itself, and is rendered incapable of making insulin. Abnormal antibodies have been found in the majority of patients with type 1 diabetes. Antibodies are proteins in the blood that are part of the body's immune system. The patient with type 1 diabetes must rely on insulin medication for survival.

What Is Diabetes?

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes (as it will be in this article) was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss in the ancient world. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the urine, hence the term sweet urine.
Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence of insufficient production of, or lack of response to insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

Chicken Katsu Ala Jepang Rasa Nikmat

Menurut sejarahnya Katsuretsu atau biasa disebut katsu saja ini menggunakan bahan dasar daging sapi, jenis masakan ini sudah dikenal sejak abad 19. Kenapa disebut katsuretsu atau katsu saja yang artinya hidangan goreng yang dilapisi tepung manir. Hal ini sesuai dengan bentuknya yang memang masakan ini digoreng dengan lapisan tepung dibagian luarnya.

Chicken Katsu sendiri merupakan olahan varian dari katsuretsu yang awalnya hanya menggunakan daging sapi saja sebagai bahannya. Sebuah masakan memang membutuhkan daya kreasi untuk memunculkan citarasa kuliner yang baru. Berawal dari coba-coba hingga menjadi makanan layak makan dan bisa menjadi sajian andalan. Mungkin yang sekarang sudah memiliki restoran-restoran besar awalnya dari coba-coba juga, bisa jadi.

Seperti hal nya masakan Jepang yang lain, Chicken Katsu juga menjadi hidangan andalan yang ditawarkan olen restoran ala Jepang. Tidak jauh berbeda dengan Sushi atau masakan lain seperti Chicken Teriyaki juga mampu mengundang selera para pecinta kuliner Jepang. Jika yang lain bisa membuatnya kenapa anda tidak? Untuk itu kesempatan yang baik ini akan saya bagikan resep masakan Jepang untuk jenis masakan katsu ini. Resepnya ada di Cara Membuat Chicken Katsu Ala Jepang Rasa Nikmat yang berikut ini.

Bahan-bahan :

• 1 potong daging dada ayam
• 1/4 sendok teh bubuk merica
• 1 sendok teh garam
• 1/4 sendok teh penyedap rasa
• 1 sendok makan air jeruk lemon
• 1 butir telur
• 2 sendok makan susu cair
• 5 sendok makan tepung terigu
• 100 gram tepung roti kasar

Cara Membuat Chicken Katsu Ala Jepang Rasa Nikmat :

1. Pipihkan daging dada ayam menggunakan palu untuk membuat steak, lalu lumurilah daging ayam tersebut dengan bumbu yang telah disediakan dan aduk-aduk hingga merata. Diamkan ayam selama kira-kira 30 menit hingga bumbu benar-benar meresap.
2. Campurkan telur dan susu cair, aduk-aduk hingga tercampur rata, lalu disisihkan dahulu. Kemudian lumuri daging ayam yang sudah dicampur bumbu dengan tepung terigu, lalu celupkan ke dalam campuran telur dan susu cair, selanjutnya guling-gulingkan ayam ke dalam wadah tepung roti.
3. Yang terakhir diamkan ayam yang sudah dicampur tepung di dalam kulkas selama 30 menit agar tepung roti lebih kuat menempel. Panaskan minyak dan gorenglah daging yama hingga berwarna kuning kecoklatan, jika dirasa sudah matang segera angkat dan tiriskan, lalu Chicken Katsu siap dihidangkan.

Sangat mudah kan cara membuatnya, jadi jangan takut untuk mencoba hal yang baru meskipun anda belum bisa masak sama sekali. Bahan-bahan di atas bisa dihidangkan unruk 4 orang. Sekali lagi selamat mencoba dan tetap berkreasi.

Cara Membuat Nasi Bakar Teri Spesial Enak dan Mantap

Nasi bakar pada dasarnya hampir sama dengan arem arem namun yang berbeda adalah cara membungkusnya dan juga cara mengolahnya, di mana arem-arem dikukus sedangkan nasi bakar dibakar di atas bara api. Namun baik arem-arem maupun nasi bakar menurut saya sangat enak dan banyak orang yang suka termasuk saya. Nasi bakar sudah sangat lazim disajikan di rumah-rumah makan maupun di restoran terkenal, maka tak heran jika nasi bakar menjadi menu favorit bagi banyak orang.

Resep membuat nasi bakar sangat mudah dan tidak rumit. Bahan-bahan yang tidak mengikat atau dalam arti bisa menyesuaikan selera pembuatnya semakin memudahkan kita dalam memilih bahan yang kita mau. Kali ini menu internasional akan mencoba membuatkan resep nasi bakar yang sederhana namun memiliki citarasa nikmat.

 

 Resep yang akan saya bagikan adalah Cara Membuat Nasi Bakar Teri Spesial Enak dan Mantap. Untuk anda yang sudah tidak sabar yuk segera saja kita simak resepnya yang berikut ini.

Bahan-bahan :

• 500 gram beras
• 750 ml santan
• 2 batang serai (dimemarkan/digeprak)
• 50 gram teri kering (dibersihkan)
• Daun pisang secukupnya (untuk membungkus nasi)
• Bumbu yang dihaluskan :
• 6 butir bawang merah
• 2 siung bawang putih
• Garam secukupnya

cara membuatnya:

1. Campurkan beras dengan santan, teri, batang serai, serta bumbu-bumbu yang telah dihaluskan, lalu aduk-aduk hingga semua bahan tercampur dengan rata. Selanjutnya masaklah bahan hingga santan meresap. Kukus lah beras hingga matang lalu sisihkan terlebih dahulu.
2. Bunmgkuslah nasi dengan menggunakan daun pisang yang  sudah disiapkan, lalu bakar bungkusan nasi tersebut diatas bara api hingga tercium aroma harum.
3. Jika di rasa sudah cukup segera angkat dan hidangkan bersama dengan lauk pauk yang anda inginkan atau sesuai selera, bisa ditambahkan sambal dan juga lalapan.

Sangat gampang kan membuatnya, dan juga sangat cepat. Bahan-bahan di atas bisa dibuat untuk 8 bungkus nasi bakar. Sebagai akhir kata selamat mencoba dan jangan berhenti berkreasi.

Cara Membuat Sayur Kangkung Siram Bumbu Petis Nikmat dan Sedap.

Jumpa lagi para pecinta kuliner, kali ini resep yang akan kita buat adalah resep cara membuat sayur kangkung siram bumbu petis. Kangkung seperti yang kita ketahui adalah tumbuhan sayuran berwarna hijau yang mengandung vitamin A cukup tinggi da memiliki sifat anti oksidan yang mampu menolak radikal bebas yang masuk kedalam tubuh manusia dan bisa menangkal penyebab kanker dan sebagai anti aging yang baik. 

Ada dua macam kangkung yang dibudidayakan yaitu kangkung air dan kangkung darat. Namun pada dasarnya kangkung yang sangat populer ini merupakan tanaman liar yang banyak atau sering kita jumpai di tempat-tempat berair, biasanya sawah atau rawa adalah tempat dimana kita sering menjumpai tanaman sayur ini.

Sedangkan jika kita ingin tau apa manfaat kangkung bagi tubuh, tentu kita akan banyak mendapatkan manfaat dari sayuran yang satu ini. Berdasarkan penelitian kangkung memiliki manfaat mengatasi sembelit, mengatasi insomniac atau susah tidur, karena kandungan vitamin dan mineral nya di sinyalir mampu memberikan ketenangan dan relaksasi pada sistem syaraf. Sifat diuretik pada kangkung juga dikatakan bisa memberikan efek yang baik untuk kesehatan ginjal.

 

Bahan-bahan :

• 3 ikat kecil sayur kangkung (siangi dan cuci hingga bersih)
• 1 potong tahu Cina ukuran besar (dipotong dadu, lalu digoreng)
• 3 sendok makan minyak goreng (digunakan untuk menumis)
• 3 butir bawang merah (rajang/iris halus)
• 2 siung bawang putih (rajang/iris halus)
• 5 buah cabai rawit (rajang/iris halus)

Kuah petis :

• 4 siung bawang putih (dihaluskan)
• 1 sendok makan petis udang
• 2 sendok makan kecap manis
• 2 sendok makan air asam
• 1/2 sendok teh garam
• 100 ml air

cara membuatnya:

1. Rebuslah kangkung hingga kangkung matang lalu tiriskan dahulu.
2. Campurkan semua bahan untuk membuat bumbu petis, masaklah hingga mendidih.
3. Tumislah bawang merah bersama dengan bawang putih dan juga cabai rawit hingga tercium aroma harum.Tuangkantumisan tersebut kedalam kuah bumbu petis, lalu aduk-aduk hingga rata samapi kuah agak mengental lalu angkat. 
4. Penyajian : tata kangkung dan tahu goreng diatas piring saji, lalu siram dengan kuah bumbu petis yang sudah dibuat, segera hidangkan saat panas.

Bubur Ayam Special Kuah Soto Enak Banget

Nah bagaimana cara membuatnya simak saja resepnya di Cara Membuat Bubur Ayam Special Kuah Soto Enak Banget.

Bahan-bahan untuk membuat bubur ayam :

200 gram beras, cuci bersih dan tiriskan

2 liter air

2 lembar daun pandan

2 lembar daun salam

1 sendok teh garam

Bahan-bahan untuk membuat kuah bubur ayam :

1 dada ayam

1 batang daun bawang

2 batang seledri

1 liter air

1 batang serai dimemarkan

3 lembar daun jeruk dimemarkan

2 cm jahe dimemarkan

6 sendok makan kecap manis

3 sendok makan minyak goreng

Bahan bumbu yang dihaluskan :

8 siung bawang merah

5 siung bawang putih

3 cm kunyit dibakar

5 butir kemiri disangrai

1 sendok makan garam

1 sendok teh merica bubuk

Bahan pelengkap sajian bubur ayam :

100 gram kacang kedelai goreng

5 buah cakwe diiris

Irisan daun bawang, bawang goreng, irisan daun selederi serta kerupuk

Samabal rebus atau sambal kemasan

Cara Membuat Bubur Ayam Special Kuah Soto Enak Banget :

1. Membuat bubur : Masaklah beras dicampur air,  daun salam, daun pandan, dan garam hingga menjadi bubur kental, angkat dan sisihkan.
2. Membuat kuah : panaskan minyak goreng, tumis bahan bumbu yang telah dihaluskan hingga keluar bau harum. Rebus ayam bersama tumisan bumbu serta daun bawang, batang seledri, batang serai, daun jeruk dan jahe hingga ayam menjadi lunak, angkat dan suwir-suwir ayam.
3. Tambahkan kecap manis dalam kaldu sisa rebusan, masak sebentar lalu angkat.
4. Cara Penyajian : Siapkan mangkuk, isilah dengan bubur, letakkan diatasnya suwiran daging ayam. Taburi dengan kacang kedelai yang sudah digoreng, seledri dan bawang goreng, daun bawang. Tuangkan kuah soto secukupnya. Letakkan diatasnya kerupuk.
5. Bubur ayam siap disantap.

Bubur Sumsum Istimewa Praktis Lembut dan Nikmat

Nah untuk anda yang tertarik dengan menu ini sebagai menu berbuka puasa, segera siapkan bahan-bahan dan alat untuk memasaknya dan silahkan anda simak resep special yang akan saya bagikan di Cara Membuat Bubur Sumsum Istimewa Praktis Lembut dan Nikmat berikut ini.

Bahan-bahan :

• 100 gram Tepung beras
• 3 lembar daun pandan (bersihkan dan sobek lalu buatlah simpul)
• 650 santan kental (hasil parutan 1 butir kelapa tua)
• 1/2 sendok teh garam

Bahan-bahan kuah :

• 100 ml air bersih
• 200 gram gula merah (disisir halus)
• 2 lembar daun pandan (bersihkan dan buat simpul)

Cara Membuat Bubur Sumsum Istimewa Praktis Lembut dan Nikmat :

1. Bagilah santan ke dalam dua wadah yang berbeda, panaskan santan pada wadah pertama bersama dengan simpulan daun pandan menggunakan api kecil sambil terus diaduk, jangan sampai santan pecah.
2. Santan pada wadah kedua dicampur dengan tepung beras dan garam, aduk-aduk hingga semua bahan tercampur rata. Kemudian tuangkan pada wadah kedua kedalam campuran santan pada wadah pertama yang sedang dipanaskan, aduk-aduk terus kedua campuran hingga menjadi bubur yang kental. Setelah dirasa cukup matang segera angkat da biarkan dingin.

Cara membuat kuah bubur sumsum :

1. Campurkanlah air bersama gula serta daun pandan dan aduk-aduk hingga menyatu dan rata.
2. Kemudian rebuslah campuran gula dengan menggunakan api sedang hingga mengental, jika dirasa cukup segera angkat dan sisihkan hingga dingin.

Cara Penyajian :

• Ambil beberapa sendok kedalam piring saji, lalu tuangkan kuah gula merah diatas bubur sumsum.

Makanan Sehat saat Sahur & Berbuka Puasa

Saat sahur:

- Utamakan air, vitamin, dan elektrolit. Artinya, minum air putih dan buah-buahan, atau jus buah tanpa gula. Air kelapa juga boleh. Caranya minum air kelapa dulu, dan karena sifat elektrolit di air kelapa , maka kita akan masih merasa haus baru dilanjutkan dengan minum air putih. Ketika tidur tubuh kita kehilangan berat 1-2 kg, dan itu adalah air. Jadi memulai puasa dengan restorasi cairan adalah langkah yang baik.

- Pilih menu utama yang terdiri dari karbohidrat kompleks seperti nasi merah, ubi, spageti, atau bubur kacang hijau dengan gula aren. Jenis karbohidrat ini lebih “tahan lama” dalam membuat gula darah stabil, sehingga mood menjadi relatif lebih baik.
- Jangan lupakan serat, baik dari sayur atau buah. Selain membersihkan usus, serat adalah “sapu alami” yang membantu membersihkan sisa daging di sela- usus.
- Pilih lemak sehat atau minyak yang tidak digoreng, seperti zaitun, minyak kelapa atau flaxseed oil. Misalnya dalam bentuk sambal. Lemak membuat pergerakan makanan di perut menjadi lambat, sehingga lebih tahan lapar. Akan tetapi kalau diasup minyak gorengan, baik dari makanan siap saji yang dibeli semalam sebelumnya, atau menggoreng langsung, maka kita memasukkan radikal bebas ke dalam tubuh kita. Akibatnya manfaat puasa secara fisiologis berkurang.

healthy food for breaking fast

Saat berpuasa, umat Islam memang diwajibkan untuk tidak makan mulai terbit fajar hingga terbenam matahari. Mengurangi makan saat berpuasa bukan berarti Anda harus mengurangi kualitas makanan. Saat berbuka, pastikan Anda mendapatkan nutrisi yang Anda butuhkan dalam sehari. Unmaclinic.com menyarankan Anda untuk mengonsumsi lima makanan sehat ini saat berbuka.

how to maintain a healthy heart?

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight, especially if you carry excess weight around your middle, ups your risk of heart disease. Excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
One way to see if your weight is healthy is to calculate your body mass index (BMI), which considers your height and weight in determining whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat. BMI numbers 25 and higher are associated with higher blood fats, higher blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
The BMI is a good, but imperfect guide. Muscle weighs more than fat, for instance, and women and men who are very muscular and physically fit can have high BMIs without added health risks. Because of that, waist circumference also is a useful tool to measure how much abdominal fat you have:

• Men are considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (101.6 centimeters, or cm).
• Women are overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (88.9 cm).

Even a small weight loss can be beneficial. Reducing your weight by just 5 to 10 percent can help decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of diabetes.

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth

Chewing on Ice

It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.

Playing Sports With No Mouth Guard

Whether you play football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get in the game without a mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic that protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. Self-fitting mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or you can have one custom made by your dentist.

sweaty palms

Sweaty palms, more properly known as palmar hyperhidrosis, is a condition that affects about 1% of the US population. Although the exact cause of sweaty palms is still debated, many experts believe it is caused by a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system, causing the sweat glands in the hands to produce sweat unnecessarily.

Sweating is a device the body uses to help regulate its temperature to keep everything running smoothly. The human body has millions of sweat glands, and more than half of them are found in the hands. When the body becomes agitated – through physical exertion, extreme temperatures, or stress – the sweat glands release sweat to help cool the body back down to its optimal temperature range.

People who have severe palmar hyperhidrosis experience sweaty palms even when the body should not, for any physiological reason, be trying to cool down. This can cause severe discomfort and embarrassment and can get in the way of performing certain everyday tasks. Though sweaty palms are treatable through a number of different procedures, there is no complete cure, and most people continue to live with the
condition throughout their lives.

In the past, the medical establishment tended to diagnose sweaty palms as a purely psychosomatic illness, but this view is gradually fading. While psychological factors can certainly exacerbate the condition – when one begins experiencing sweaty palms in a social situation, for example, the stress induced by inappropriate sweating can cause even more sweating to occur – it is generally accepted now that the underlying cause is physiological. The most likely cause of sweaty palms, as well as other types of hyperhidrosis, is an overactive sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system manages all sorts of functions in the body that make up what is commonly termed the fight-or-flight response; this includes the release of a number of chemicals such as adrenaline, increasing heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and of course, sweating. When the sympathetic nervous system malfunctions, certain fight-or-flight responses may be triggered at inappropriate times, as in the case of sweaty palms.

Whether the malfunction of the sympathetic nervous system has, in turn, a deeper cause is a matter of some study and discussion. It may be that the malfunction occurs on the level of the ganglia themselves, or it may be that a neurological malfunction triggers the sweat glands in the palms to act inappropriately. Whatever the root cause, sweaty palms is at last sufficiently understood to offer a number of chemical treatments to help those suffering from this affliction to realize a level of normalcy in their lives that only a few decades ago would have been nearly impossible.

Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

 

Sexual Health

"When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex offers those health benefits and more. That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD, a New York psychologist and sex therapist. 'Of course, sex is everywhere in the media,' she says. 'But the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for many people.'
Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Davidson and other experts. The benefits aren't just anecdotal or hearsay -- each of these health benefits of sex is backed by scientific scrutiny." *

What is metastatic brain cancer?

What is metastatic brain cancer?

Cancer cells that develop in a body organ such as the lung (primary cancer tissue type) can spread via direct extention, or through the lymphatic system and/or through the bloodstream to other body organs such as the brain. Tumors formed by such cancer cells that spread (metastasize) to other organs are called metastatic tumors. Metastatic brain cancer is a mass of cells (tumor) that originated in another body organ and has spread into the brain tissue. Metastatic tumors in the brain are more common than primary brain tumors. They are usually named after the tissue or organ where the cancer first developed (for example, metastatic lung or breast cancer tumors in the brain, which are the most common types found). Occasionally, an abbreviated name may be used that often confuses people; for example, "small cell brain cancer" actually means "small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to the brain." People should not hesitate to ask their doctor about any terms they do not understand.

What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer is a disease of the brain in which cancer cells (malignant) arise in the brain tissue. Cancer cells grow to form a mass of cancer tissue (tumor) that interferes with brain functions such as muscle control, sensation, memory, and other normal body functions. Tumors composed of cancer cells are called malignant tumors, and those composed of mainly noncancerous cells are called benign tumors. Cancer cells that develop from brain tissue are called primary brain tumors while tumors that spread from other body sites to the brain are termed metastatic or secondary brain tumors. Statistics suggest that brain cancer occurs infrequently and is likely to develop in about 23,000 new people per year with about 13,000 deaths as estimated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and American Cancer Society.
Not all brain tumors are alike, even if they arise from the same type of brain tissue. Tumors are assigned a grade depending on how the cells in the tumor appear microscopically. The grade also provides insight as to the cell's growth rate. NCI lists the following grades:

• Grade I: The tissue is benign. The cells look nearly like normal brain cells, and they grow slowly.
• Grade II: The tissue is malignant. The cells look less like normal cells than do the cells in a grade I tumor.
• Grade III: The malignant tissue has cells that look very different from normal cells. The abnormal cells are actively growing and have a distinctly abnormal appearance (anaplastic).
• Grade IV: The malignant tissue has cells that look most abnormal and tend to grow quickly.

The most common primary brain tumors are usually named for the brain tissue type from which they originally developed. These are gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, vestibular schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (medulloblastomas). Gliomas have several subtypes which include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas, and choroid plexus papillomas. When the grades are coupled with the tumor name, it gives doctors a better understanding about the severity of the brain cancer. For example, a grade III (anaplastic) glioma is an aggressive tumor, while an acoustic neuroma is a grade I benign tumor. However, even benign tumors can cause serious problems if they grow big enough to cause increased intracranial pressure or obstruct vascular structures or cerebrospinal fluid flow.
Brain cancers are staged (stage describes the extent of the cancer) according to their cell type and grade because they seldom spread to other organs, while other cancers, such as breast or lung cancer, are staged according to so-called TMN staging which is based on the location and spread of cancer cells. In general, these cancer stages range from 0 to 4, with stage 4 indicating the cancer has spread to another organ (highest stage).

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 3/24/2014

Gejala Kanker Otak

Gejala Kanker Otak

Gejala kanker otak stadium awal dan lanjut umumnya dapat kita deteksi dengan mudah, jika terjadi beberapa indikasi sebaiknya memeriksakannya di dokter spesialis.

1. Sakit kepala
Sakit kepala merupakan penyakit yang umum seperti halnya demam, flu, atau sakit gigi. Tentu obat sakit kepala yang umum ini dapat dengan mudah kita temukan di pasaran. Namun perlu diketahui ada beberapa kriteria sakit kepala yang dapat menjadi salah satu tanda kanker otak.

• Sakit kepala yang sangat hebat (terutama jika terjadi pada pagi hari setelah bangun tidur)
• Tidak memiliki riwayat sakit kepala
• Intensitas sakit kepala lebih sering dari pada sakit kepala normal
• Sakit kepala dan sakit demam atau sakit lainnya secara bersama-sama

Kidney Glossary

Acute Renal Failure

Kidney failure that happens quickly—within days or a week. It is often caused by injury or drug interactions. Acute renal failure usually can be reversed.

Adequacy

Enough dialysis to avoid symptoms of uremia. 

Anemia

A shortage of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body's tissues. Symptoms include paleness, shortness of breath, weakness, irregular heartbeat, fuzzy thinking, fatigue, and sexual problems.

Arterial Line

Tubing connected to a needle inserted into the hemodialysis patient's vascular access. During dialysis, the arterial line carries blood away from the body and into the dialyzer (artificial kidney) on the dialysis machine.

Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula

A blood vessel that is made by surgically sewing together an artery and a vein (often in the forearm) to create the rapid blood flow from the heart needed for efficient hemodialysis. It is also commonly called a native fistula or fistula.

Arteriovenous Graft

An access that is made by connecting one end of a piece of artificial vein to the patient's vein and the other end to the patient's artery. The graft is a larger vessel with the rapid blood flow needed for efficient hemodialysis. It is commonly called a graft.

Bilateral Nephrectomy

Removal of both kidneys.

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen. A waste product, or toxin, that appears in the blood as protein from food is digested. BUN levels are a measure of how well dialysis is removing wastes from the blood. Normal ranges of BUN in healthy people are 5-18 mg/dL in children, 7-18 mg/dL in adults, and 8-20 mg/dL in adults over 60 years old. Higher levels are present in patients with kidney failure.

CAPD

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis. Patients using this form of dialysis put dialysate fluid into the abdomen through a surgically placed catheter, or tube. This fluid comes in contact with the peritoneal membrane, a thin layer of tissue around the abdominal organs. Some of the toxins in the blood pass from blood vessels in the wall of the peritoneal membrane into the dialysate. The fluid, which may change from clear to slightly yellow, is then drained out of the body through the catheter. The process is usually repeated four or five times per day.

Catheter

A tube. In peritoneal dialysis, a small catheter is permanently inserted into the abdomen to allow dialysate fluid to enter and exit. Sometimes a central venous catheter is inserted into the subclavian or internal jugular vein just below the collar bone or in the neck or groin to allow temporary blood access for hemodialysis.

CCPD

Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis. Like CAPD, dialysate fluid is drained into the abdomen through a catheter. Instead of changing the fluid several times each day as in CAPD, a machine changes the fluid several times each night while the patient sleeps.

Chronic Renal Failure

Kidney failure that takes place over a long period of time. Chronic renal failure is usually not reversible.

Creatinine

Creatinine is produced normally by muscles and is used to measure kidney function. It is always higher than normal in dialysis patients. Normal ranges of creatinine are 0.3-0.7 mg/dL in children birth to three, 0.5-1.0 mg/dL in children 3-18 years old, and 0.6-1.3 mg/dL in adults.

Dialysate Fluid

A fluid used for dialysis that consists of a mixture of water, glucose, and certain elements (electrolytes) the body needs. Dialysate usually contains sodium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, and calcium. During dialysis, waste products in the blood pass through a porous (filtering) membrane or dialyzer into the dialysate fluid.

Dialysis

The movement of very small, microscopic particles (toxins) from one side of a porous (filtering) membrane to another. Waste products and excess chemicals (electrolytes) in the blood pass through the membrane into a solution that does not contain those toxins. Both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis pass blood through a membrane to filter out waste products and fluid into dialysate.

Dialyzer

A plastic artificial kidney that contains thousands of very thin, hollow, tube-like membrane fibers. Blood flows through the inside of the hollow membranes. The fibers are surrounded by dialysate. Toxins from the blood move through the membranes and into the dialysate. The blood remains inside the hollow tubes and is returned to the body, once cleaned.

Disequilibrium

Headaches and dizziness during dialysis. Disequilibrium can occur if dialysis removes a lot of fluid very quickly, or if blood pressure drops.

Dry Weight

A patient's weight without excess fluid. A patient can lose several pounds of fluid weight during a dialysis session. The actual amount depends upon the amount of fluid consumed between dialysis treatments.

Dwell Time

The length of time peritoneal dialysis patients keep fresh dialysate in the abdomen. After the dwell time is over, used dialysate is replaced with fresh dialysate either by the patient (using CAPD) or by a cycler machine (CCPD).

Edema

Swelling in soft tissues, especially in face, hands, feet, and ankles. May be caused by drinking too much liquid between dialysis treatments or inadequate dialysis.

EPOGEN® (EPO)

(Epoetin alpha) A DNA-engineered form of the human hormone erythropoietin used to treat anemia. EPO sends a message to the bone marrow to make more red blood cells, so patients have more energy and endurance. A hormone produced by healthy kidneys that signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells.

End-Stage Renal Disease

End-stage renal disease, or permanent kidney failure. ESRD occurs when kidney function is approximately 10% to 15% of normal or less, and the patient needs dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.

Exchange

The process of draining used peritoneal dialysate from the abdomen and putting in fresh dialysate. An exchange may be done by the patient or by a cycling machine.

Fistula

See Arteriovenous (AV) fistula.

The "5 Es"

The core principles of successful rehabilitation: Encouragement, Education, Exercise, Employment, and Evaluation.

Graft

See Arteriovenous graft.

Hematocrit (Hct)

The percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. Normal hematocrit is from 37% to 47% for women and from 42% to 52% for men. The NKF-DOQI recommended target hematocrit range for dialysis patients is 33% to 36% and most patients need regular doses of EPO and iron to stay at this level. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues, patients feel tired and listless.

Hemodialysis

A type of dialysis in which the patient's blood is removed from the body and cleansed by a dialyzer, i.e., an artificial kidney. The patient's blood travels through needles placed into a specially created blood vessel. Blood is passed through the dialyzer, cleansed, and then returned to the body.

Hypertension

High blood pressure. This can be caused by too much salt intake, fluid build-up, or too much of the hormone renin, produced by the kidneys. Hypertension can cause headache, blurred vision, blindness, heart damage, and stroke.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure. This can occur if large amounts of fluid are removed from the blood vessels too quickly during dialysis. Hypotension can cause a fast pulse, dizziness, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, or fainting.

Kidney Failure

Loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove fluid and toxins from the body. The two most common causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure. It may also be caused by other viral or hereditary disorders. Kidney failure is less often caused by damage related to medications, or by other conditions such as kidney stones or injuries.

Kt/V

This is a formula for prescribing adequate dialysis and checking to see if the patient is receiving enough dialysis. Kt/V is calculated by multiplying toxins removed, called clearance (K), by the amount of time (t) of the dialysis treatment, and dividing by the volume (V) of water in the body. The doctor uses blood tests to learn if the patient is getting enough dialysis. The recommended prescribed Kt/V for hemodialysis is 1.3, with a minimum actual Kt/V of 1.2. The recommended prescribed Kt/V for peritoneal dialysis is a minimum weekly Kt/V of 2.0. These figures are the floor, or minimum, only. A formula for calculating Kt/V for hemodialysis can be found in the AAKP Advisory: Inadequate Hemodialysis Increases the Risk of Premature Death, listed in the Resources section at the back of this booklet.

LORAC

The Life Options Rehabilitation Advisory Council. This group is made up of health care professionals, patients, business leaders, and researchers dedicated to helping dialysis patients realize their fullest potential.

Modality

A type or mode of treatment. In ESRD, the modalities of treatment include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and transplant.

Nephrology

The study of the kidneys. It is the medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.

Nephrologist

A physician who specializes in studying the kidneys and helping patients with kidney problems.

Neuropathy

Nerve damage. It can be caused by diabetes. It can also be caused by uremia, or a build-up of toxins in the body. Too little dialysis over time can lead to nerve damage. Neuropathy can cause weakness, burning, tingling, and numbness, especially in the feet and lower legs, but also in the hands.

Peritoneal Dialysis

A form of dialysis that uses the body's own peritoneal cavity to hold dialysate fluid. The peritoneal membrane acts like a filter to allow toxins, excess chemicals, and fluid to move into dialysate. Peritoneal dialysis "exchanges" fresh dialysate for used dialysate, often several times a day. Exchanges can be done by the patient (see CAPD) or by a machine (see CCPD), or in some cases both types of exchanges are combined to help the patient get enough dialysis. Combination therapy may be called "PD Plus."

Peritoneal Membrane

The porous, double-layered, sac-like lining that surrounds the abdominal organs in the body's peritoneal cavity.

Peritoneum

The area surrounded by the peritoneal membrane, which includes the abdominal organs.

Rehabilitation

A return to stable health, a positive outlook, and enjoyable activities that make people feel better physically and mentally. A successful rehabilitation program uses medical treatment, counseling, education, diet, and exercise.

Renal

Related to the kidneys.

Toxins

Chemical waste products produced by metabolic processes in the body like digesting food, breathing, and mental and physical activity.

Uremia

A condition of excess toxins or impurities in the blood. Symptoms include weakness, lack of energy, poor appetite, weight loss, metallic or ammonia taste in the mouth, skin color changes, and worsening memory.

URR

Urea Reduction Ratio. Like Kt/V, URR is a way to measure dialysis adequacy. It is based on a ratio of the predialysis BUN level to the postdialysis BUN level. (See BUN). Patients can calculate their URR themselves using a formula contained in the AAKP Advisory: Inadequate Hemodialysis Increases the Risk of Premature Death, listed in the Resources section at the back of this booklet. The URR value should be 65% or higher.

Venous Line

In hemodialysis, the tubing that returns the clean blood from the dialyzer back to the patient through the access.

symptoms of kidney disease

Symptom 1: Changes in Urination

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

• You may have to get up at night to urinate.
• Urine may be foamy or bubbly.
• You may urinate more often, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine.
• You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual, with dark-colored urine.
• Your urine may contain blood.
• You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.

Types of cancer

For many types of cancer, a portion of those cancers are linked to a family history. Breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon are some of these cancers. Some of these are discussed briefly here, but only to help explain heredity and cancer. Please refer to the American Cancer Society specific cancer site documents for more information about a particular type of cancer and its genetic components, diagnosis, and treatment.

Heredity and Cancer

Cancer is such a common disease that it is no surprise that many families have at least a few members who have had cancer. Sometimes, certain types of cancer seem to run in some families. This can be caused by a number of factors. It can be because family members have certain risk factors in common, such as smoking, which can cause many types of cancer. It can also be due in part to some other factors, like obesity, that tend to run in families and influence cancer risk.

But in some cases the cancer is caused by an abnormal gene that is being passed along from generation to generation. Although this is often referred to as inherited cancer, what is inherited is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer, not the cancer itself. Only about 5% to 10% of all cancers are inherited – resulting directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent. This document focuses on those cancers. 

Breast Cancer Survival Rates

 

Breast Cancer

    

how to remove black spots on face

Many black spots or dark patches can be easily lightened or eliminated to restore a glowing facial complexion. Dark spots, patches and other marks on the face may be due to excess secretion of melanin on the skin. Some factors that can lead to this condition include over exposure to the sun, hormone imbalance, pregnancy, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, lack of sleep and too much stress.
Spots and patches on the face can be embarrassing and even lead to low self-esteem. Luckily, there are many possible treatments, such as acid peels and laser surgeries. Simple, natural homemade remedies also may reduce the appearance of spots and other blemishes on your face.

How to Treat a Vaginal Infection

Pros and Cons of Pubic Hair Removal

10 Pubic Hair Removal Tips

Tips to Take Good Care of Your Nails

Rubber Gloves Are Your Friends

Do not EVER do the dishes or clean your home without wearing rubber gloves. The chemicals you use for cleaning are very strong and can really damage your hands and your nails. Not only that they will make your nails weaker, they could also give you nasty burns. Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning.

 

Calcium Gels and Nail Hardeners

Calcium gels and nail hardeners can really make your nails stronger. However, you can’t expect results right away, you need to give it some time and use the product regularly. I used to have a very good nail hardener which I can’t find on the market anymore, so if you could recommend me the one you’re using, I’d be very grateful.

 

Nail Creams

Your regular hand cream is sometimes not enough. In order to take good care of your nails, you need to get special nail creams. They are usually not expensive, and there’s a bunch of them on the market. Try a couple until you find the one that suits you best.

How to Treat a Middle Ear Infection

 
Relieve pain. You will need an over the counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (eg.Tylenol) and possibly applying a warm facecloth or heating pad. If the pain is severe, your doctor might need to prescribe some special ear drops.

Clean the drainage from the ear (if any). The drainage should be thick, yellow, and foul smelling and is usually a sign that the eardrum has ruptured. The eardrum will heal in about 3 to 4 weeks on its own. Clean the outside part of the ear with a soft tipped cotton swab and remember to never stick a cotton swab deep inside an ear. 

why we exercise

benefits of regular physical activity

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise ?

Exercise for a Healthy Heart

A sedentary (inactive) lifestyle is one of the top risk factors for heart disease. Fortunately, it's a risk factor that you can do something about. Regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has many benefits. It can:

• Strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system.
• Improve your circulation and help your body use oxygen better.
• Improve your heart failure symptoms.
• Increase energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired or short of breath.
• Increase endurance.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Improve muscle tone and strength.
• Improve balance and joint flexibility.
• Strengthen bones.
• Help reduce body fat and help you reach a healthy weight.
• Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression.
• Boost self-image and self-esteem.
• Improve sleep.
• Make you feel more relaxed and rested.
• Make you look fit and feel healthy.

How Do I Get Started?

Before starting an exercise program, talk to your doctor about:

• Medication changes. New medications can greatly affect your response to exercise; your doctor can tell you if your normal exercise routine is still safe.
• Heavy lifting. Make sure that lifting or pushing heavy objects and chores such as raking, shoveling, mowing, or scrubbing aren't off limits. Chores around the house can be tiring for some people; make sure you only do what you are able to do without getting tired.
• Safe exercises. Get the doctor's approval before you lift weights, use a weight machine, jog, or swim.

What Type of Exercise Is Best?

Exercise can be divided into three basic types:

• Stretching: slow lengthening of the muscles. Stretching the arms and legs before and after exercising helps prepare the muscles for activity and helps prevent injury and muscle strain. Regular stretching also increases your range of motion and flexibility.
• Cardiovascular or aerobic: steady physical activity using large muscle groups. This type of exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body's ability to use oxygen. Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure and improve your breathing.
• Strengthening: repeated muscle contractions (tightening) until the muscle becomes tired. For people with heart failure, many strengthening exercises are not recommended. (See below)

What Are Examples of Aerobic Exercises?

Aerobic exercises include: walking, jogging, jumping rope, bicycling (stationary or outdoor), cross-country skiing, skating, rowing and low-impact aerobics or water aerobics.

Maintain Your Brain

Make brain-healthy life choicesLike other parts of your body, your brain may lose some agility as you get older. It can deteriorate even more if you don’t take care of it. Science is unlocking many of the mysteries of the brain, but we don’t have all the answers yet. You can do everything “right” and still not prevent Alzheimer’s disease. What’s offered here is the best and most up-to-date information available about brain health so you can make your own decisions about your overall health.

Tips for Healthy Ears

Everyone has heard of swimmer's ear -- but there are other "ears" you don't want this summer, such as "music-lover's ear" and "unpressurized ear." Experts gave WebMD five tips for keeping your ears healthy -- over the summer and year-round.

Foods to Boost Your Eye Health

   

Are you eating the foods that are best for your eyes? There's more to eye nutrition than just carrots. Learn which foods boost your eye health and help protect against sight-threatening diseases.

High-Protein Diets............Do They Work?

   

Heart-Healthy Foods

Your Guide to Nutrients in Heart-Healthy Foods

Phytoestrogensare substances in plants (like flaxseed) that have a weak estrogen-like action in the body. Studies suggest that flaxseed lowers the risk of blood clots, stroke, and cardiac arrhythmias. It may also help lower total and LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, and even blood pressure.

Phytosterols are plant sterols that chemically resemble cholesterol -- and seem to reduce blood cholesterol. All nuts and seeds, including wheat germ, have phytosterols.

Carotenoids are heart-protective antioxidants in many colorful fruits and veggies. Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene are carotenoids.

Polyphenols are another set of antioxidants that protect blood vessels, lower blood pressure, reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol. Flavonoid polyphenols include catechins, flavonones, flavonols, isoflavones, reservatrol, and anthocyanins. Non-flavonoid polyphenols include ellagic acid (found in all types of berries).

Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish like salmon) and alpha-linolenic fatty acids (found in plant foods like walnuts) help boost the immune system, reduce blood clots, and protect against heart attacks. They also increase good HDL levels, lower triglyceride levels, protect arteries from plaque buildup, are anti-inflammatories, and lower blood pressure.

B-complex vitamins -- like Vitamin B-12 (folate) and vitamin B-6 -- protect against blood clots and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Niacin (vitamin B-3) helps increase HDL "good" cholesterol.

Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage. Magnesium, potassium, and calcium help lower blood pressure. Fiber-rich foods help lower cholesterol levels.

Food and Drinks to Avoid , Eating with High Blood Pressure

  

Foods That Are Good For High Blood Pressure

                 

Hypertension: The Silent Killer

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health problem common among Americans. Over time, it causes blood vessel damage that can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and other problems.
Hypertension sometimes is called the silent killer because, by itself, it produces no symptoms. If you don’t get your blood pressure checked regularly, hypertension could go unnoticed, and untreated, for years.

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication 2

6. Avoid tobacco products and secondhand smoke

On top of all the other dangers of smoking, the nicotine in tobacco products can raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smoking throughout the day means your blood pressure may remain constantly high.
You should also avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling smoke from others also puts you at risk of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease.

7. Cut back on caffeine

The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is still debatable. Drinking caffeinated beverages can temporarily cause a spike in your blood pressure, but it's unclear whether the effect is temporary or long lasting.
To see if caffeine raises your blood pressure, check your pressure within 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee or another caffeinated beverage you regularly drink. If your blood pressure increases by five to 10 points, you may be sensitive to the blood pressure raising effects of caffeine.

8. Reduce your stress

Stress or anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what's causing your stress, consider how you can eliminate or reduce stress.
If you can't eliminate all of your stressors, you can at least cope with them in a healthier way. Take breaks for deep-breathing exercises. Get a massage or take up yoga or meditation. If self-help doesn't work, seek out a professional for counseling.

9. Monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor's appointments

If you have high blood pressure, you may need to monitor your blood pressure at home. Learning to self-monitor your blood pressure with an upper arm monitor can help motivate you. Talk to your doctor about home monitoring before getting started.
Regular visits to your doctor are also likely to become a part of your normal routine. These visits will help keep tabs on your blood pressure.

• Have a primary care doctor. People who don't have a primary care doctor find it harder to control their blood pressure. If you can, visit the same health care facility or professional for all of your health care needs.
• Visit your doctor regularly. If your blood pressure isn't well controlled, or if you have other medical problems, you might need to visit your doctor every month to review your treatment and make adjustments. If your blood pressure is under control, you might need to visit your doctor only every six to 12 months, depending on other conditions you might have.

10. Get support from family and friends

Supportive family and friends can help improve your health. They may encourage you to take care of yourself, drive you to the doctor's office or embark on an exercise program with you to keep your blood pressure low. Talk to your family and friends about the dangers of high blood pressure.
If you find you need support beyond your family and friends, consider joining a support group. This may put you in touch with people who can give you an emotional or morale boost and who can offer practical tips to cope with your condition.

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication

Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure and keep it down.

1. Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you're taking more effective. You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.
Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general:

• Men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters, or cm).
• Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (89 cm).
• Asian men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 36 inches (91 cm).
• Asian women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 32 inches (81 cm).

2. Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it doesn't take long to see a difference. If you haven't been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks.
If you have prehypertension — systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 — exercise can help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension. If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels.
Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program. Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help.
But avoid being a "weekend warrior." Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn't a good strategy. Those sudden bursts of activity could actually be risky.

3. Eat a healthy diet

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.
It isn't easy to change your eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet:

• Keep a food diary. Writing down what you eat, even for just a week, can shed surprising light on your true eating habits. Monitor what you eat, how much, when and why.
• Consider boosting potassium. Potassium can lessen the effects of sodium on blood pressure. The best source of potassium is food, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than supplements. Talk to your doctor about the potassium level that's best for you.
• Be a smart shopper. Make a shopping list before heading to the supermarket to avoid picking up junk food. Read food labels when you shop and stick to your healthy-eating plan when you're dining out, too.
• Cut yourself some slack. Although the DASH diet is a lifelong eating guide, it doesn't mean you have to cut out all of the foods you love. It's OK to treat yourself occasionally to foods you wouldn't find on a DASH diet menu, such as a candy bar or mashed potatoes with gravy.

4. Reduce sodium in your diet

Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. The recommendations for reducing sodium are:

• Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less.
• A lower sodium level — 1,500 mg a day or less — is appropriate for people 51 years of age or older, and individuals of any age who are African-American or who have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

To decrease sodium in your diet, consider these tips:

• Track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.
• Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.
• Eat fewer processed foods. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.
• Don't add salt. Just 1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices, rather than salt, to add more flavor to your foods.
• Ease into it. If you don't feel like you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust over time.

5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol — generally more than one drink a day for women and men older than age 65, or more than two a day for men age 65 and younger. Also, if you don't normally drink alcohol, you shouldn't start drinking as a way to lower your blood pressure. There's more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol.
If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.

• Track your drinking patterns. Along with your food diary, keep an alcohol diary to track your true drinking patterns. One drink equals 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer, 5 ounces of wine (148 mL) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor (45 mL). If you're drinking more than the suggested amounts, cut back.
• Consider tapering off. If you're a heavy drinker, suddenly eliminating all alcohol can actually trigger severe high blood pressure for several days. So when you stop drinking, do it with the supervision of your doctor or taper off slowly, over one to two weeks.
• Don't binge. Binge drinking — having four or more drinks in a row — can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure, in addition to other health problems.