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A study has been released that shows that children and teenagers are almost taking in as much sodium as adults and those who consume the most sodium have a greater risk of having high blood pressure compared to those who consume the least sodium.  One of the researchers involved in the study, Quanhe Yang, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the connection was particularly strong among overweight and obese children.

The study looked at the diets and blood pressure of 6,235 children between 8 and 18 years of age. The data shows that children in this age bracket are consuming an average of 3,387 milligrams of sodium each day, which is about the same amount that adults consume each day. The sodium intake for the children in the study ranged from 1,300 to 8,100 milligrams per day. The U.S. dietary guidelines suggests a consumption of less than 2,300 milligrams per day (less than one teaspoon of table salt) for people two years of age and up. Less than 1,500 milligrams is suggested for older Americans and people with high blood pressure.

Yang and the other researchers involved in the study found that for every 1,000 mg of extra sodium in the children’s diets, there was a one-point rise increase in blood pressure. They found that among overweight and obese children, each 1,000 mg of sodium led to a blood pressure increase of 1.5 points. With these types of numbers, we need to educate ourselves on the risks of cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Reducing the amounts of sodium in children’s diets is not an easy task for parents. It takes time to figure out what foods contain salt and how much it contains. When dining out at restaurants, much of the food we consume contains high levels of sodium so it is difficult to manage our intakes when on the go. It is important to know that if the foods do not taste salty it does not mean it doesn’t contain salt. Many foods simply contain salt in order to preserve it. Also, we need to pay attention to food labels when grocery shopping. Below is a helpful chart from the CDC that shows the top food sources of sodium.

Top Sources of Sodium in the Diet

1. Bread and rolls
2. Cold cuts and cured meats
3. Pizza
4. Poultry
5. Soups
6. Sandwiches
7. Cheese
8. Pasta dishes
9. Meat dishes
10. Snacks

Chart: CDC Vital Signs – Where’s the Sodium

Click here to review the full research article released in the Pediatrics journal online 9/17/2012.

Many of us know people that snore and we know that it can be a bit disturbing when we are trying to sleep, but more importantly, it can be very dangerous to those who are the ones snoring. The article below from the American Heart Association discusses sleep apnea and the health issues caused by this condition as well as the warning signs of it.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease, Stroke

Plain old snoring can get a little annoying, especially for someone listening to it. But when a snorer repeatedly stops breathing for brief moments, it can lead to cardiovascular problems and potentially be life-threatening.

It’s a condition known as sleep apnea, in which the person may experience pauses in breathing five to 30 times per hour or more during sleep. These episodes wake the sleeper as he or she gasps for air. It prevents restful sleep and is associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and stroke is the No. 4 cause and a leading cause of disability. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both. 

“The evidence is very strong for the relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension and cardiovascular disease generally, so people really need to know that,” said Donna Arnett, Ph.D., chair and professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the incoming president of the American Heart Association.

A Common Problem
One in five adults suffers from at least mild sleep apnea, and it afflicts more men than women, Dr. Arnett said. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea in which weight on the upper chest and neck contributes to blocking the flow of air. (Another type, called central sleep apnea, is far less prevalent.)

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with obesity, which is also a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Besides obesity contributing to sleep apnea, sleep deprivation caused by sleep apnea can, in an ongoing unhealthy cycle, lead to further obesity, Dr. Arnett explained. (continue reading…)

A recent study, published in The Lancet, shows that in order to get an accurate blood pressure reading, doctors should take the patient’s blood pressure in both the right and left arm. The findings showed that there was a difference in systolic blood pressure between the two arms – about 15 milimeters of mercury (mm Hg). This difference in the blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) which is a condition where there is a narrowing of the arteries, especially in the legs and feet. The 15 millimeters difference of mercury in the two arms means the individual is 2.5 times more likely to have PAD and the risk of cerebrovasular disease is 1.6 times higher. It was also associated with a 70% greater risk of dying from heart disease.

The Lancet study brings out the fact that there already is an existing guideline for doctors showing that they should always take blood pressure readings from both arms. Dr. Christopher Clark, the lead author in the study said,  ”Recommendations to measure both arms exist in both British and American blood pressure managment guidelines.” He goes on to say, “This is out there as guidance, but it’s guidance that isn’t regularly followed.” A difference of just 10 millimeters was enough to raise the risk of peripheral vasular disease so having the difference of 15 millimeters should be enough to make more doctors pay attention to the guidelines.

Why would there be a difference in readings between the two arms? The authors of the study hypothesized that it could be the narrowing or hardening of a person’s arteries, especially on one side of their body.

Dr. Clark said, “If we don’t know to measure both arms, we’re not going to make the right diagnosis and the right treatment choices for our patients.” Since many doctors only measure one arm, the next time you visit your doctor, make sure to remind them to take your blood pressure readings in both arms. By doing this you are ensuring that you will receive the most accurate readings and more likely a correct diagnosis.

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The following information is from the American Heart Association and explains how to understand blood pressure readings which is very important if we are to monitor our health. It is especially important to understand these numbers if we suffer from high or low blood pressure as well as other health conditions.

Step 1:  About High Blood Pressure – Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

What do the blood pressure numbers mean?

Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio like this: 117/76 mm Hg (read as “117 over 76 millimeters of mercury”.

Systolic

The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).

Diastolic

The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood).

What is the AHA recommendation for healthy blood pressure?

This chart reflects blood pressure categories defined by the American Heart Association.

* Your doctor should evaluate unusually low blood pressure readings.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Your healthcare providers will want to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure and chart what happens over time. Starting at age 20, the American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure screening at your regular healthcare visit or once every 2 years, if your blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.

Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. While BP can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep, it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg (less than 120 systolic AND less than 80 diastolic) for an adult age 20 or over. About one in three (33.5%) U.S. adults has high blood pressure.

If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, your doctor may take several readings over time and/or have you monitor your blood pressure at home before diagnosing you with high blood pressure.

A single high reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. However, if readings stay at 140/90 mm Hg or above (systolic 140 or above OR diastolic 90 or above) over time, your doctor will likely want you to begin a treatment program. Such a program almost always includes lifestyle changes and often prescription medication for those with readings of 140/90 or higher.

If, while monitoring your blood pressure, you get a systolic reading of 180 mm Hg or higher OR a diastolic reading of 110 mm HG or higher, wait a couple of minutes and take it again. If the reading is still at or above that level, you should seek immediate emergency medical treatment for a hypertensive crisis.

Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development of HBP and improve your heart health.

Which number is more important, top (systolic) or bottom (diastolic)?

Typically more attention is given to the top number (the systolic blood pressure) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50 years old. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term build-up of plaque, and increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.

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The following information is from the American Heart Association and it explains what high blood pressure is and helps us to understand how our body works and how we can take care of ourselves no matter what our blood pressure levels are. Since 76.4 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important that we take the time to learn about this disease and know how to help prevent and treat it.

Over the next few weeks we will provide further information regarding blood pressure conditions that can help us to be more aware of the symptoms, the precautions we can take and solutions to fight the disease.

What is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is a widely misunderstood medical condition. Some people think that those with hypertension are tense, nervous or hyperactive, but hypertension has nothing to do with personality traits. The truth is, you can be a calm, relaxed person and still have HBP.

Let’s look at the facts about blood pressure so you can better understand how your body works and why it is smart to start protecting yourself now, no matter what your blood pressure numbers are.

By keeping your blood pressure in the healthy range, you are:

• Reducing your risk of your vascular walls becoming overstretched and injured
• Reducing your risk of your heart having to pump harder to compensate for blockages
• Protecting your entire body so that your tissue receives regular supplies of blood that is rich in the oxygen it needs

Blood pressure measures the force pushing outwards on your arterial walls.

The organs in your body need oxygen to survive. Oxygen is carried through the body by the blood. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped arteries and veins, also known as blood vessels and capillaries. The pressure — blood pressure — is the result of two forces. The first force occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system. The second force is created as the heart rests between heart beats. (These two forces are each represented by numbers in a blood pressure reading.)

The problems from too much force.

Healthy arteries are made of muscle and a semi-flexible tissue that stretches like elastic when the heart pumps blood through them. The more forcefully that blood pumps, the more the arteries stretch to allow blood to easily flow. Over time, if the force of the blood flow is often high, the tissue that makes up the walls of arteries gets stretched beyond its healthy limit. This creates problems in several ways.

• Vascular weaknesses
  First, the overstretching creates weak places in the vessels, making them more prone to rupture. Problems such as strokes and aneurysms are caused by ruptures in the blood vessels.
• Vascular scarring
  Second, the overstretching can cause tiny tears in the blood vessels that leave scar tissue on the walls of arteries and veins. These tears and the scar tissue are like nets, and can catch debris such as cholesterol, plaque or blood cells traveling in the bloodstream.
• Increased risk of blood clots
  Trapped blood can form clots that can narrow (and sometimes block) the arteries. These clots sometimes break off and block vessels and the blood supply to different parts of the body. When this happens, heart attacks or strokes are often the result.
• Increased plaque build-up
  The same principle applies to our blood flow. Cholesterol and plaque build-up in the arteries and veins cause the blood flow to become limited or even cut off altogether. As this happens, pressure is increased on the rest of the system, forcing the heart to work harder to deliver blood to your body. Additionally, if pieces of plaque break off and travel to other parts of the body, or if the build-up completely blocks the vessel, then heart attacks and strokes occur.
• Tissue and organ damage from narrowed and blocked arteries
  Ultimately, the arteries and veins on the other side of the blockage do not receive enough freshly oxygenated blood, which results in tissue damage.
• Increased workload on the circulatory system
  Think of it this way: In a home where several faucets are open and running, the water pressure flowing out of any one faucet is lower. But when pipes get clogged and therefore narrow, the pressure is much greater. And if all the household water is flowing through only one faucet, the pressure is higher still.

When the arteries are not as elastic because of the build-up of cholesterol or plaque or because of scarring, the heart pumps harder to get blood into the arteries. Over time, this increased work can result in damage to the heart itself. The muscles and valves in the heart can become damaged and heart failure can result.

Damage to the vessels that supply blood to your kidneys and brain may negatively affect these organs.

You may not feel that anything is wrong, but high blood pressure can permanently damage your heart, brain, eyes and kidneys before you feel anything. High blood pressure can often lead to heart attack and heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health consequences.

Take the time to learn about what the numbers in your blood pressure reading mean.

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