Lower Blood Pressure

What is a Stroke?

A stroke - also known as a cerebrovascular accident, is defined as the result of an acute deprivation of blood to part of the brain by the narrowing or thrombosis of an artery. This causes damage to, or death of, brain cells which are starved of oxygen. Alternatively it may be a result of physical damage to the brain caused by bleeding or a haemorrhage. Where the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted for more than 24 hours - a stroke has occurred.

Stroke Symptoms

Strokes usually occur suddenly, and are unique to the individual, each one affecting a person in different ways, as different parts of the brain control different parts of the body. The main areas which may be affected are speaking, memory, swallowing and moving.

* weakness or paralysis down one side of the body
* numbness in the arms or legs
* loss of vision on one side
* weakness in the facial muscles & droop in the mouth
* slurred speech or speech difficult to understand
* involuntary turning of the eyes to one side
* difficulty swallowing
* loss of muscle coordination or balance
* Epileptic fit
* sudden onset of mental confusion

Different Types of Stroke

The most common form of Stroke is known as an Ischaemic Stroke. This is when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries carrying blood to the brain, and accounts for approximately 80% of all strokes.

Other types of Stroke are :-

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Drugs used to treat high blood pressure may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers Disease, or slow it’s development in existing sufferers,  according to a study which was revealed at the 2008 Chicago conference on Alzheimers Disease.

Alzheimers is a terminal brain disease which was discovered early last century by the German Physician Alois Alzheimer. This devastating illness currently affects over 5 million people in the United States, and costs the national economy nearly $150 billion per year. It is now the sixth leading cause of death in the US.

Alzheimers causes the death of brain cells which leads to loss of memory and intellect, dementia, and eventually death. The progressive nature of Alzheimers causes a distressing deterioration in quality of life, as problems with memory, cognition and behaviour accelerate.

Dementia is defined as a loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, of which Alzheimers is the primary cause. Another common form of dementia - Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to parts of the brain. When the two types occur together this is known as mixed dementia.

As there is currently no cure for Alzheimers, any news such as that from the conference is to be welcomed, as a potential new weapon in the fight against this devastating condition.

The connection between Alzheimers and High Blood Pressure was highlighted by Professor Clive Ballard of the Alzheimers Society who said that ‘high blood pressure doubles the risk of developing Alzheimers, and also increases the risk of stroke‘. It is known that Alzheimers is linked to damaged arteries, and the presence of a type of protein deposit in the brain.

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What is Pericarditis?

Pericarditis is a condition where the Pericardium, which is a double layered thin sac or membrane which surrounds the heart, becomes inflamed or irritated. This causes a certain type of chest pain.

The purpose of the Pericardium is to lubricate and surround the heart, keeping it secure and preventing sudden movements from damaging it. It is a double layered membrane, with fluid between the two layers, which acts as a shock absorber to the heart structure. It also helps to prevent infection or disease from adjacent tissue.

Different types of Pericarditis

Acute Pericarditis

Acute Pericarditis indicates that the condition occurs quickly, and usually does not last long.

Chronic pericarditis

Chronic Pericarditis means that it develops over time and may take longer to treat.

Constrictive Pericarditis

This is a condition where the Pericardium becomes very thick and scarred.

Who is likely to suffer from Pericarditis?

Anyone can potentially suffer from pericarditis, but the condition is most often experienced by young or middle aged men, typically in the 20-50 year old age range.

What causes Pericarditis?

The pain of pericarditis is caused by a constriction of the heart muscle. This is due to an increase in the amount of fluid which is contained between the inner and outer membrane of the Pericardium.

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If you love Spaghetti Bolgnese but you are concerned about your heart health, then why not check out this authentic Italian Recipe which we at Lower Blood Pressure have modified to be especially nutritious, and heart healthy without losing any of the taste!

Why is this Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe so Heart friendly?

When you go to a restaurant you usually don’t have a clue as to what goes into your food. Many restaurant meals are high in salt, fat and sugar. That’s fine for some folks, but if you want to know what you’re eating then our advice is to make it yourself, and then you know exactly what’s in it - and you can enjoy it knowing you’re not clogging your arteries with loads of saturated fat. This recipe wins healthy points for people concerned about their heart because:-

• It uses fresh natural ingredients
• The minced steak has all the excess fat removed and so is extremely low in fat
• The cooking oil used is Cholesterol free - Red Palm and Canola Oil
• The cheese used is a special type of mature flavoured cheddar which actually reduces cholesterol
• It uses fresh chili peppers and garlic which are reputed to have beneficial effects on heart health   

Ingredients

If you assemble the following ingredients, you will have enough Spaghetti Bolognaise for 4 servings:-

• 10 cloves of Garlic, chopped
• 4 Tablespoons of Red Palm and Canola Oil 
• 4 medium red onions, chopped
• 1 pound of sirloin steak, all fat removed, then ground in meat grinder 
• 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
• 10 Fresh tomatoes, chopped
• 400 gram can of chopped tomatoes (100% tomatoes, no additives)
• 10 medium sized mushrooms, chopped
• 1 red chili pepper, chopped
• 1 green chili pepper, chopped
• 1 or 2 low sodium Beef Stock Cubes
• 2 Tablespoons of mixed herbs (Thyme, Marjoram, Sage, Parsley and Oregano)
• Fresh Basil leaves for garnish 
• 65 grams per person of ‘Minicol’ cholesterol reducing cheese 

Cooking Instructions

It makes cooking a lot easier if you prepare all the ingredients first and line them up next to the stove. You can see in the photo that all the excess fat on the steak has been removed, for the leanest minced steak possible

The steak is then put through the meat grinder, to make the perfect home made minced steak.

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What is Angina?

Angina is a common condition which, according to the British Heart Foundation affects about two percent of the UK population. It is important to note that angina is not a heart attack. Angina, or Angina Pectoris to give it it’s proper title is a specific type of chest pain, discomfort or tightness in the chest that is caused by a lack of oxygen being supplied to the heart, due to a reduction in the flow of blood to the heart. It may also be accompanied by shortage of breath or even a feeling of choking. It is usually a symptom of coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, and may indicate an increased risk of heart attack.

Difference between Angina and Heart Attack

A Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction (MI) occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, and the heart muscle supplied by that artery will die unless the blockage is quickly removed. The pain of a heart attack is more severe and prolonged than angina and cannot be relieved by the usual angina treatments. If you are having a heart attack, you may also feel sick, breathless and sweaty, and may vomit. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms at all.

Causes of Angina

Angina is caused by a shortfall in the demand by the heart for blood supplied from the coronary arteries. These are the two main arteries by which oxygen and nutrient rich blood enters the heart to supply the requirements of the beating heart muscle. When a person suffers from coronary artery disease or Atherosclerosis, the arteries become narrowed over time by fatty deposits known as plaques or Atheroma. This narrowing of the arteries restricts the flow of incoming blood, and the reaction of the heart is to cause a pain in the chest. Angina pain tends to manifest itself when an extra load is placed on the heart, for example by climbing stairs, running, or other strenuous exercise. It is also sometimes experienced after eating a heavy meal.

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Definition of Heart Failure

Heart failure, also known as Cardiac failure is a serious condition which is caused by the heart’s inability to pump sufficient blood around the body. The reduced efficiency is usually a result of other factors which have caused damage to the heart, rather than a disease of the heart itself. It should not be confused with Acute Heart Failure which is the instant failure of the heart due to a heart attack.

Causes of Heart Failure

There are various causes for the condition, the most common being damage to the heart muscle, possibly due to a previous heart attack. Other causes may be :-

• Coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Excessive Alcohol consumption
• Disorders of the heart valves
• Cardiomyopathy
• Pericarditis
• Viral infections
• Other conditions which may place an excessive workload on the heart

The problem is that because the heart has to work harder to compensate for it’s lack of efficiency, its pumping ability is further damaged, which leads to a vicious cycle of failure, and increased likelihood of complete pumping failure and death.

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What are the different types of Heart Disease Medications?

If you have coronary heart disease (CHD) or are at risk of developing it, your health care professional may prescribe medication to treat your condition, lower your blood cholesterol, or help you to lower your blood pressure.

But have you wondered why there are so many different types of heart medication available, and what the differences between them are? This article briefly lists the main categories and what types of treatment they are used for.

It is important to understand that whilst heart medications can reduce the risk of having a first or repeat heart attack, you should always look for the underlying causes, with a view to changing your lifestyle if this is a causative factor.
 
You should also make sure that any medication is taken strictly according to the instructions, as directed by your Physician.

Categories of Drugs used to treat CHD include:

• ACE Inhibitors
• Aspirin
• Beta Blockers
• Blood Cholesterol Lowering (LDL)
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Digitalis
• Diuretics
• Nitrates
• Thrombolytic Agents

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea (or Apnoea as it is spelt in the United Kingdom) is a breathing disorder associated with sleeping and more specifically snoring. It is also known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This condition is caused by the relaxation of the respiratory muscles and the subsequent blockage of the airway at the back of the throat, which is sucked to the closed position by the action of breathing whilst asleep.

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Curry with a difference - it’s packed with superfoods AND extremely low in fat 

Serves 4 people - Time required - approximately 2 hours

Heart healthy food doesn’t have to be bland and boring. Spice up your life and your taste buds with this extremely nutritious and heart health friendly exotic South Asian dish, tailored for maximum health giving and immune system boosting properties! 

This is an ‘authentic’ South Asian Curry dish with a difference. It is totally unique - you will not find it quite like this anywhere else!

Indian food is now the favourite food of the British. It has even outstripped the famous British Fish and Chips in popularity!

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The hectic pace of modern life often dictates the type of food that we consume. And with the wealth of information about healthy eating bombarding us every day from all directions, most of us probably feel pretty guilty about the seemingly impossible trade-off between getting through our daily schedule, and eating a healthy balanced diet.

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