Posts Tagged ‘high blood pressure treatment’

Australia suffers from obesity and high blood pressure

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Cardiovascular medications account for almost a third of all drugs doled out in Australia, and a majority of them are meant for lowering blood pressure, a new report released today stated.

According to the report, physical inactivity, obesity and high cholesterol affects over 50 per cent of adults, while smoking and high BP affect 20-35 per cent of adults, which was approved by Lynelle Moon, Head of the AIHW’s Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Kidney Unit.

In some cases the occurrence of risk factors was on a rise, following obesity prevalence rising from 11 per cent of adults in 1995 to 24 per cent in 2007-08.

Dr*gs for blood pressure alone accounted for 20 per cent of all drugs dispensed, with four off patent blood pressure-lowering medications like ramipril, perindopril, irbesartan and frusemide. These were in the top 10 most commonly supplied drugs of 2007.

Between 1995 and 2005 there was a 13-fold rise in the use of statins, with atorvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin being the most common in 2007.

Risk factors are being tackled through population level interventions such as awareness campaigns and school programs, but there is little data available on these activities.

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Cholesterol dependant heart failure

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Abnormal cholesterol levels can significantly increase the risk of heart failure, a new study has found.

U.S. researchers analyzed data on 6,860 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study. None of the participants, average age 44, had coronary heart disease at the start of the study. After about 26 years of follow-up, 680 people had developed heart failure.
The incidence of heart failure was:

12.8 percent in participants with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol. Low HDL is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in men and less than 50 mg/dL in women.
6.1 percent among participants with desirable HDL levels (at least 55 mg/dL in men and 65 mg/dL in women).
13.8 percent in participants with high levels (at least 190 mg/dL) of non-HDL cholesterol, which includes triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol.
7.9 percent in those with desirable levels (less than 160 mg/dL) of non-HDL cholesterol.
When the researchers factored in age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking, the risk of heart failure was 29 percent higher in participants with high non-HDL cholesterol than in those with lower levels, and 40 percent lower in those with high HDL-cholesterol than in those with lower levels.

Further analysis showed that the risk of heart attack was 13 percent higher in participants with high non-HDL cholesterol and 25 percent lower in those with high HDL cholesterol.

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Blood Pressure issues

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

• More than 40 percent of those with high blood pressure don’t have it adequately treated or controlled.

• High blood pressure is a common cause of kidney failure, heart attack and stroke.

• Untreated high blood pressure is a particularly dangerous condition because it is a “silent killer,” often occurring without any symptoms.

Here are 3 questions you might have about this common health problem:

1. So if high blood pressure is often a “silent killer,” how can I recognize if I have it?

It’s easy — simply measure your blood pressure, at home with your own blood pressure machine (available for purchase in stores and on the internet), in your healthcare provider’s office or at your local fire station. If your blood pressure is above 140/90, you may have high blood pressure and should seek advice from your primary healthcare provider.

2. If I have high blood pressure, is there a way for me to reverse it or treat it?

Yes, there are ways to treat or even reverse high blood pressure and reduce its health risks. While many people with high blood pressure require medications to control it, about half of those who have mild to moderate elevation in blood pressure can reverse their blood pressure to the normal range through lifestyle-related changes, including the following:

• Sweat daily: A daily physical activity program helps control blood pressure.

• Eat healthy foods: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and health proteins that are low in saturated fats (beans, unsalted nuts, low fat dairy products, etc.) can help reduce blood pressure.

• Hold the salt: Avoid adding salt to your foods, and choose low-sodium options when using processed foods, such as canned soups and vegetables.

• Limit alcohol: Alcohol, generally more than 2 drinks per day, can elevate blood pressure.

• Trim the waistline: Even modest weight loss (5-10 pounds) can help reduce blood pressure.

• Manage the stress in your life: Take time every day to relax and recharge your physical and emotional batteries. Even brief stress -reduction exercises, like deep breathing, can help reduce blood pressure.

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