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6313. Magoseph - 9/20/2004 1:44:35 PM I'm confused about what brings on high blood pressure other than heredity. Is it simply that the flow of blood through the arteries becomes restricted and therefore more pressure is required to move the blood through? Or is it more complex than that? 6314. thoughtful - 9/20/2004 10:46:04 PM it is more complex than that
Some people have shown to be sensitive to salt. Salt causes water retention and that seems to impact blood pressure.
as you get older, you can get the situation where the systolic pressure (the high number goes up) and the diastolic pressure (the low one) goes down. This is a result of arteries losing elasticity as one ages. Normally the arteries flex better with the pressure on (heart beats) and the pressure off (between beats), but as one gets older they lose that flexibility and don't respond as quickly and thus that result. As a result, I think almost all elderly people have bp issues.
blood pressure is controlled by the kidneys. kidney is quite an amazing organ containing a filter so fine that it filters blood down into individual cells, yet that filter is so strong it takes the full force of one's blood pressure. The kidney filters the blood to remove excess salts and other things and then puts the blood back together with the appropriate chemical balance. (I can't remember what all, as I had my kidney disease several years ago and have since forgotten a lot.) The kidney contains a chemical that is extraordinarily powerful at controlling blood pressure and releases it in a controlled fashion, when it's working properly. When it's not working properly, all kinds of things can happen. In my case, nephrotic syndrome, which includes large buildup of fluid in the body and protein accumulating in the urine. There are things they look at like creatinine and BUN and especially the BUN/creatinine ratio, all of which are indicators of kidney function available in std bloodwork.
6315. thoughtful - 9/20/2004 10:46:11 PM For controlling blood pressure, besides the obvious one of losing weight and exercising, there have been some studies pointing to the success of the DASH diet. Though, it's certainly not one I would recommend. Lower sodium intake for high bp though is a good idea, as would be balancing your intake of fats if it's very high in saturated fats.
I've also had issues with high bp as a result of my graves disease. The thyroid controls your metabolism speed, and graves causes the metabolism to speed up. As a result, all body systems get shifted to high gear including pulse rate and bp.
So my point is, if you have high bp, it's important to learn the cause so it can be treated properly. 6316. Magoseph - 9/20/2004 10:54:59 PM It is certainly more complex that I ever imagined, thoughtful. Thank you very much for giving me a lot to think about and make further inquiries.
6317. judithathome - 9/23/2004 12:12:54 AM My favorite aunt died this morning. She was a vital woman until late last month when she started having trouble breathing and they put her in the hospital for suspected pneumonia. No response to treatment and soon she was on a ventilator and after that, into a coma. Biopsy revealed metastesized cancer in the lining of her lung and they have no clue from where it came... 6318. arkymalarky - 9/23/2004 12:20:03 AM I'm so sorry, Judith. 6319. SnowOwl - 9/23/2004 12:32:32 AM I'm very sorry, Judith. 6320. wonkers2 - 9/23/2004 1:22:05 AM Condolences from wonkers and the Cap'n. 6321. Jenerator - 9/23/2004 2:17:27 AM Judith,
My deepest sympathies to you. I am so sorry for your loss. 6322. concerned - 9/23/2004 4:32:40 AM JAH -
I'm sorry to hear that. 6323. concerned - 9/23/2004 4:56:33 AM Actually, the reason I came to this thread was to post that I was hauling barbells again this evening (after a couple beers - probably not the smartest move, but I work 50 plus hours a week and maybe I need something to forget my tiredness:))
IAC, I was able to 'clean' (that is lift from the ground to my shoulders in a single movement) 225 lbs this evening, and very nearly was able to put it over my head.
This is nearly 90% of my body weight, and not too shabby for somebody going on 50, IMO. It seems that the greatest deficit I have at the moment relates to upper body strength, or at least a lack of 'snap' -my legs seem to be good for more because I came up out of a fairly deep squat without problems with the 225lb racked at my shoulders.
I'm seriously considering getting back into regular free weight training with the goal of lifting my own weight or better over my head by age 50 (a tougher task than for most, because of my 6' 6" height). I can't think of a better investment as far as staying mobile as long as possible than this, if I can keep it up. 6324. wonkers2 - 9/23/2004 5:05:53 AM Are you an "angry white male?" 6325. concerned - 9/23/2004 5:32:46 AM You seem to be. 6326. concerned - 9/23/2004 5:36:45 AM wonkers -
You seem to be making some very wrong assumptions here.
You may not be aware that I haven't worked out with free weights for 21 years now until just recently. 6327. concerned - 9/23/2004 5:58:01 AM I'm sorry if my lack of ill health is in bad taste around here, but I don't know where else to post what I think is good news related to health in the Mote. I'm sure I'll get sick and die, maybe sooner than I expect. Maybe I'll suffer horribly. After all, I'm already half a century old.
Feel better, wonkers? 6328. alistairconnor - 9/23/2004 8:33:05 AM Hey I sympathise. I'm a healthy white middle-aged male too.
I have a theory that the best way to look after myself, in the long term, is to avoid regular, sustained exertion in any form -- just about anything that involves breaking a sweat.
This does not preclude putting in a weekend of hard physical labour, which I do fairly often, or running up a hill if I'm in a hurry, which happens too. Just nothing regular, ritualised, and fundamentally pointless in itself -- what I think of as endorphin-addiction behaviour.
Yes, I believe in avoiding regular exercise. Wears the body out. 6329. neato - 9/23/2004 10:42:04 AM Alistair, you're a hoot! 6330. Jenerator - 9/23/2004 1:50:43 PM Concerned,
That's wonderful! I would be excited if I were you, too! 6331. thoughtful - 9/23/2004 2:35:26 PM Good for you concerned, though be careful. It's unfortunately easy to hurt oneself with free weights as, unlike the machines, they require a great deal of control to maintain proper form and work the proper muscles.
Hubby is in better shape now that he's retired than he was even as a much younger guy. He spends 1 1/2 - 2 hrs a day at the Y. Though i think some of it is bs'ing as this has also become his daily social event as well. Still he's in great shape and looks terrific. 6332. concerned - 9/23/2004 3:20:25 PM Thanks for the responses, even yours, Wonkers. You have a good point, thoughtful. This morning, I felt like somebody had beat me with sticks, so I need to be more careful than I used to be and probably shouldn't try to go at it at the same rate I did when I was half my current age. And I agree that controlling the free weights is an important factor for both good and potentially bad that doesn't really exist with most machine exercises. Finding the time and concentration for a maximum exercise effort seems to be harder now than then, also:)
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