Blood Pressure

Following Foods should be avoided if you have High blood pressure: 1. Alcohol The association between alcohol and high blood pressure is well documented both in population and clinical studies. An Alcohol intake of about 80 g/day (Equivalent to four pints of beer) has been shown to raise Blood pressure particularly in patients of hypertension. Blood pressure tends to fall when alcohol is stopped or reduced and remains low in patients who continue to abstain. Patients with hypertension should avoid Alcohol. As alcohol can raise blood pressure directly, is also an important factor in damaging walls of blood vessels, which can elevate the blood pressure further and make it more difficult to treat, while at the same time increasing the risk of complications. Limit consumption of Alcohol to no more than two drinks per day in most men and one drink per day in women and lightweight men. 2. Salt A restriction in dietary sodium intake can reduce the incidence of hypertension. Studies have shown that there is a clear relationship between dietary salt intake and Blood pressure and people who consume less salt have a smaller rise in Blood pressure with advancing age. Salt restriction to about 100mmol/day (2.4 gm sodium or 6 gm sodium chloride) has been shown to produce a significant reduction in systolic Blood pressure to about 8-14 mm Hg in several randomized placebocontrolled studies. In some people, eating too much salt can make blood pressure much worse and In other cases the same salt consumption may have no effect. More salt intake will result in more retention of fluid by kidneys and this will lead to more preload on heart, that will result in more blood pressure. You should avoid salt in your diet if you really want to control your blood pressure. If you are already a patient of hypertension, then reduce salt in your diet as it just accentuates the problem. You can lower your blood pressure to a great extent if you reduce salt consumption in your diet. You should not have more than 6 grams (100mmol/day) of salt per day. Pizza, canned foods, frozen diners, broths, canned soups and salad dressings have high sodium so try to avoid these foods. If you are non-vegetarian then make sure you are including white meat like chicken and fish rather than red meat in your diet. 3. Fats Food that is rich in fats should be avoided. Foods High in Fat are as follows Fats and oils (like margarine, vegetable oils, butter, lard, salt pork, meat drippings, gravy, and fat back) Cream, ice cream, Whole milk, 2% milk. Most pies, pastries, cakes. Most cheeses (like cream cheese, cheddar, American) Many snack foods (like nuts and chips) Fatty meats (like corned beef, regular ground beef, ribs, sausage, hot dogs, bacon, bologna, salami,) Fried foods (like French fries and fried chicken) Most cookies contain high fat content Many fast foods are also rich in fats Saturated fats are not good for heart and blood vessels. Low density lipoprotein LDL is main factor which causes thickening of blood vessels so causing extra strain on

blood vessels in patients of high blood pressure. The balanced high blood pressure diet should include mild amounts of saturated and trans-fats (red meat, fast food), and moderate amounts of other fats (olive oil and canola oil). 4- Caffeine Intake: The evidence from the literature is rather conflicting and the effects of caffeine seem to depend on multiple variables such as daily dose, preexisting Blood pressure and coffee drinking habits. The ingestion of 250mg of caffeine has been shown to cause an increase in systolic blood pressure ranging from 6mm of hg in normal individuals to 10 mm hg in patients with hypertension and an increase in diastolic blood pressure of 5 mm hg in normal individuals to 8.5 mm Hg in patients of hypertension. Avoid these drugs when you have high blood pressure When you take medication for high blood pressure (hypertension) you must be sure that your medication is working effectively to lower your blood pressure. You can get this goal by avoiding some medicines. What kinds of side effects might medicine cause? What are drug Interactions for high blood pressure medicine? Some medicines can make blood pressure rise. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) to begin with, it can rise to dangerous levels even if you are taking some antihypertensive drugs as well. Some medications may interact with your blood pressure medicine. This can prevent either medicine from working properly, these may enhance or reduce funtion of high blood pressure medicine. Here are common types of medicines that can make your high blood pressure (hypertension) worse. Migraine Headache Medications Some migraine drugs work by tightening blood vessels in your head. This relieves migraine pain. However, the medication also constricts blood vessels throughout your body. This may increase your blood pressure.If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or any other type of heart disease, talk with your physician before taking drugs for migraines or severe headaches. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs, They are often used to relieve pain or reduce inflammation from conditions such as arthritis. How these drugs increase blood pressure,NSAIDs can make your body retain fluid and decrease the function of your kidneys. This may cause your blood pressure to rise even higher, putting greater stress on your heart and kidneys. Common NSAIDs include: Ibuprofen (Brufen) Naproxen Na (Synflex) NSAIDs may also be included in over-the-counter medication for other health problems. Medicine for cold and flu, for example, often contains NSAIDs. It's a good idea whenever you purchase an over-the-counter medicine to check the label for

NSAIDs. Ask your doctor if any NSAID is okay for you to use. Your doctor may be able to recommend alternatives instead of ibuprofen, such as using acetaminophen. Similarly many cough medications specially syrps contain NSAIDs to relieve pain. NSAIDs may increase your blood pressure. Decongestants Decongestants can also increase blood pressure Decongestants may make your blood pressure as they cause vasoconstriction and heart rate rise. So you should avoid using cough and cold medicine that contains NSAIDs or decongestants. Ask your doctor for suggestions about other ways to ease symptoms of cold, flu, or sinus problems like steam inhalation, nebulization etc. Weight Loss Medicine: Weight loss medications may make blood pressure worse: Meridia (sibutramine) can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Although it usually rises only a little, this can be dangerous if you already have high blood pressure (hypertension) or other heart disease. Appetite suppressants can make blood pressure rise and put more stress on your heart. Before using any weight loss medication or Appetite suppressants, be sure to check with your doctor or physician. These medications may cause you more harm than good. Here are some more tips for Avoiding Medication Problems When you visit your doctor, Give a list of every medicine you use, both prescription and over-the-counter, to every doctor you visit. Make sure the medicine doesn't contain ingredients that could make your high blood pressure worse, such as NSAIDs or decongestants. Read medication labels before buying over-the-counter preparations Talk to your doctor before using any over-the-counter medication, nutritional supplements, herbal preparation, vitamins etc Ask for alternatives to potentially harmful medicine and drugs.

Foods good for high blood pressure Potassium helps to prevent and control blood pressure. Be sure to get enough potassium in the foods you eat. Some good sources are various fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, and fish. Foods High in Potassium Serving Size

Potassium (mg)

Apricots, dried

10 halves

407

Avocados, raw

1 ounce

180

Bananas, raw

1 cup

594

Beets, cooked

1 cup

519

Brussel sprouts, cooked

1 cup

504

Cantaloupe

1 cup

494

Dates, dry

5 dates

271

Figs, dry

2 figs

271

1 medium

252

Lima beans

1 cup

955

Melons, honeydew

1 cup

461

Milk, fat free or skim

1 cup

407

1 nectarine

288

1 cup

496

1 orange

237

1 pear

208

Peanuts dry roasted, without salt

1 ounce

187

Potatoes, baked, flesh and skin

1 potato

1081

Prune juice

1 cup

707

Prunes, dried

1 cup

828

Raisins

1 cup

1089

Spinach, cooked

1 cup

839

Tomato products, canned, sauce

1 cup

909

Winter squash

1 cup

896

8 ounces

579

Food

Kiwi fruit, raw

Nectarines Orange juice Oranges Pears (fresh)

Yogurt plain, skim milk

Calcium and Magnesium. These nutrients have not been consistently shown to prevent high blood pressure, but are important nutrients for overall good health. Good sources of calcium are diary foods such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Be sure to choose skim or lowfat varieties. Lowfat and nonfat dairy products have more calcium than the high fat versions. Foods High in Calcium Food

Serving Size

Calcium (mg)

Broccoli, raw

1 cup

42

Cheese, cheddar

1 oz

204

Milk, fat free or skim

1 cup

301

Perch

3 oz

116

Salmon

3 oz

181

Sardine

3 oz

325

Spinach, cooked

1 cup

245

Turnip greens, cooked

1 cup

197

1 piece

133

8 oz container

452

Tofu, soft Yogurt plain, skim milk