High Blood Pressure: Salt or Insulin? Exercise? Two New Studies

Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Nowhere in medicine is there more confusion than the issue of salt as a cause of high blood pressure. At the 2006 meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Dr. Abdul-Rahman of Newark, Delaware reported that people who lowered blood insulin levels had a significant reduction in high blood pressure even though they also markedly increased their salt intake (Endocrinology Practice, Volume 12, 2006).

These obese patients increased their daily salt intake from less than two grams a day to more than 20 grams a day. They avoided starchy and sugary foods and lost around 12 pounds in six weeks. They did not count calories. Their average blood sugars dropped from 106 to 98, average fasting insulin from 21 to 14 mu/ml and average systolic blood pressure from 96 to 88. Some of the patients were able to stop their blood pressure drugs. This study and others show that high blood insulin levels are an important cause of high blood pressure, and that these people can lower insulin levels by avoiding refined carbohydrates and losing weight.

If humans are like rats, those with high blood pressure will live longer when they exercise, even if their blood pressures do not return to normal. Rats can be bred to develop a genetic trait in which they develop high blood pressure, but when they exercise, they live much longer than the rats that do not exercise (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, May 2006).

Having high blood pressure can kill you. It increases your chances of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. Exercise usually lowers high blood pressure because high blood pressure usually is determined by blood volume. Anything that reduces blood volume also reduces high blood pressure. That's why diuretics are the most effective drugs to lower high blood pressure. Exercising for a few minutes usually does not lower high blood pressure, but exercising for several hours dehydrates you and usually does lower high blood pressure. This study shows that even if exercise does not lower high blood pressure in rats, it still helps them to live longer, and the same may apply to you.

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports -- and the FREE Good Food Book -- at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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What are Your Nail Fungus Treatment Options?

By David Bloom
If you’ve got a fungal nail infection, you’ll no doubt be searching for a nail fungus treatment. Among your options, you will find prescription drugs, over the counter medications, and various natural or home remedies. Whatever you choose, resign yourself to a long period of treatment – some of these remedies take quite a long time to work, if they work at all.

Before you buy, however, make sure that you really need a nail fungus treatment: abnormal nails can have other causes, such as bruising, bacterial growth, or psoriasis. A nail that is infected with fungus is typically thickened, and becomes yellow or brown. It may be crumbly, and it may lift away from the nail bed (the soft tender tissue under the nail). A proper diagnosis is important and can save you money, so see your physician.

Fungal infections usually appear in the toenails first, but can spread to the fingernails later, so unless you have been putting off treatment for a while, it’s likely to be a toenail fungus treatment that you need. First, you should learn how to make conditions inhospitable for the fungus, to hasten its departure and discourage it from returning after the treatment is finished. Fungi flourish on dead tissue – dead skin cells and the keratin in nails – and will settle in and cause fungal nail infections when conditions are moist. So keep your feet clean and dry. Towel your feet carefully after bathing, making sure you dry between your toes. You can even use a hair dryer to make sure your feet are completely dry.

Next, you must choose between prescription drugs, over-the-counter treatments, and home remedies for nail fungus. The most commonly prescribed antifungal drugs for toe nail fungus treatment are terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). These oral medications are the most effective drugs because they attack the fungus from within, but they are expensive and all of them come with the possibility of side effects. There is a topical nail fungus treatment, a nail lacquer called ciclopirox (Penlac), which can only be used if the infection is not too advanced.

Over the counter nail fungus treatment usually consists of oils, creams or lotions that are applied topically to the infected nail. Because nails are very thick and resistant to the penetration of these substances, these treatments do not tend to work very well, especially as toenail fungus treatment – they simply do not reach the fungus where it is growing under the nail.
Home remedies for toenail fungus treatment tend to have the same disadvantages as the over the counter treatments but some people swear by them. Topical home remedies will probably work best if the nail is thin and soft, or if the nail has been soaked to soften it, and possibly filed down. Popular home remedies include vinegar, Vicks Vaporub, Tee Tree Oil, DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), PineSol, and oregano oil. There is even an exotic acidophilius beer soak toenail fungus treatment in which acidophilus bacteria are added to a mixture of dark beer and vinegar, and the feet are soaked for 30 minutes daily for at least a month. Some people also recommend a natural remedy imported from the Czech Republic: Saprox Natural Antifungal Treatment.

One of the most promising new nail fungus treatments is a product called Leucatin, which is an internal and topical solution that can effectively destroy nail fungus and prevent it from reoccurring by naturally boosting your body's anti-inflammatory and anti-infection abilities.
Although people will see different results from different toenail fungus treatments, you are bound to find one that works for you. Talk to your doctor to see what he or she recommends. And if nothing works, you may have to choose the most extreme nail fungus treatment of all – surgical removal of the nail and infected tissue. Ouch.




David Bloom is an avid health enthusiast and a regular contributor to a variety of health websites. He is the author of Nail Fungus Treatment, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.
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Blood Pressure - An Overview

By Michael Russell
What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the measure of the force of the blood on the walls of the arteries, as it travels from the heart through the body. A person's blood pressure doesn't remain at a constant level. It can fluctuate as daily activities change. Exercise, stress, rest and sleep are all activities that can cause these changes.

How is blood pressure measured? Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a Sphygmomanometer and is measured by comparing the pressure of the blood in the artery - usually in the arm - against a column of air or mercury in a calibrated tube. The pressure is measured in two steps. The first is when the heart is pumping or contracting - so the artery will be filled with blood, this is called Systolic Pressure. The second is when the heart is released between beats - so the artery will be slack, this is called Diastolic Pressure.

What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure is also called Hypertension. This does not mean that a person is agitated or very tense. It simply means that taking into account the persons details, the blood pressure is greater than accepted normal levels for that person. Higher than normal blood pressure levels can put an individual into a high risk-factor group of suffering a stroke or heart attack. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk.

What is normal blood pressure? Normal blood pressure might be anywhere in the range between 100/60 to 150/90. Ideally, normal blood pressure should fall about half way between these readings, with variations either way being age related.

What are the dangers of high blood pressures? Prolonged high blood pressure can cause not only stroke and heart attack, but can also cause heart failure, eye damage and kidney disease. It also damages the arteries. High blood pressure contributes to the development of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries, called atherosclerosis. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it is uncontrolled, the greater the amount of fatty deposits within the arteries. Atherosclerosis causes the arteries to narrow, restricting the blood supply to the heart, brain and other major organs. This lack of blood supply is what can cause a person to have a stroke, heart attack or other organ failure.

What can influence high blood pressure?

1. Family history - a history of high blood pressure in your family can put you into a high risk group of having high blood pressure. It is common for high blood pressure to be passed down from generation to generation.

2. Age - it is common for high blood pressure to increase with age. Therefore older people are more at risk of high blood pressure than those who are younger.

3. Activity - people who lead active lives are much less likely to develop high blood pressure or heart and artery disease.

4. Weight - people who are overweight are more at risk of high blood pressure than those who are of normal weight. Blood pressure tends to rise as body weight increases.

5. Diet - a diet high in fat and sugar can cause blood pressure to rise. The healthier the diet, the less risk there is of high blood pressure and of blood pressure related disease.

6. Alcohol - studies have shown that people who drink the equivalent of three or more glasses of alcohol a day are three times more likely to have high blood pressure than non drinkers.

7. Smoking - cigarette smoking does not cause high blood pressure. Smoking reduces the oxygen supply to the heart and increases the heart's demand for oxygen. Smoking is an independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke and gangrene of the legs.

In conclusion: Blood pressure is the measure of the force of the blood on the walls of the arteries. It is measure with an instrument called a Sphygmomanometer. Normal blood pressure is between 100/60 to 150/90. High blood pressure is a blood pressure of more than the upper limits of normal. Prolonged periods of high blood pressure can cause permanent damages to the eye, brain, kidney, heart and artery. Factors that can influence high blood pressure include family history of high blood pressure, age, the types of activity you do, weight, diet, alcohol and cigarette smoking.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Blood Pressure Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Why Doctors Struggle to Treat High Blood Pressure

By Janice Elizabeth Small

Although a lot of research has been done on high blood pressure, the best way to treat it medically remains a mystery to doctors. The medical profession continue to perform studies, test drugs and try different treatments on individuals while patients have to go through the process of finding out with their doctor what works best for them.

Why is that? Surely with all the research which has been done, they have found the medication which will cure the problem?

What is being shown in all the studies is that hypertensive disease (high blood pressure) is not a simple phenomenon with one cause and one cure. It is brought about by a number of different processes - metabolic, genetic and environmental, which together create the condition. Working out which factors are at play in any one individual (and finding out how to treat them) is therefore a complex business and difficult for doctors to pin down. And new drugs are being frequently released onto the market for this condition too – so this all adds to the complexity..
So you can't expect to be given a one drug fits all solution on your first visit to the doctor after finding out you have the condition. Some exploration about what is best for you is likely to be necessary. You may be given one blood pressure drug for a few weeks to see if it is right for you and then something else to try if it does not suit you.

And while you should always consult your doctor if you have hypertension (or any other health issue) many doctors now believe that lifestyle changes are the best way to treat it, especially if you have a mild case. So don't be surprised if your doctor simply wants you to lose weight, take more exercise and change your diet a bit rather than have you take a hypertensive drug.


Copyright 2006 Janice Elizabeth Small
Janice Elizabeth is a health writer and weight loss coach. For more information about Treatment for High Blood Pressure and a FREE 30 part course How to Lower your High Blood Pressure Naturally see her site at http://www.SimplyBloodPressure.com
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