Blood Pressure Part 2: Accuracy counts

How to measure blood pressure accurately

Take your BP regularly at home and you have a reliable and useful record of a major index of your cardiovascular and dementia risk [1], [2].

• It is the only way to identify correct levels of medication for high BP.
• It controls the anxiety and ‘white coat’ effect that increases BP in the surgery or hospital.
• It allows taking 3 measurements to get a more reliable indicator.

Here are the key messages:

• Get the right device
• Be in the right position when you take it
• Always use the same arm
• Have the correct cuff size
• Rest 5 minutes before and measure 3 times at 1-Minute intervals
• Establish a baseline including your BP lying down
• Measure on the first day of every month and record.

Blood Pressure Part 1 - Don’t blow your top

Blood Pressure - Know the risk and check at home

What is your blood pressure today – Yes, what is it right now? Well you don’t know, how could you… unless you measured it today or let’s say within the last 7-10 days.

This is really important: you can only know if you are in trouble if you measure your blood pressure [BP] and find it raised. This is why they call BP ‘the silent killer’. In other words, you get life threatening illness that could have been prevented if only you knew your BP was dangerously raised.

In one recent US study of 7328 individuals 54% had BP above the safe zone, half of those were completely unaware of their problem [1].

Actually 8/10 of the hypertensives had ‘uncontrolled’ BP ie a level that is seriously damaging. Looking at those 8 - there were 5 out of 10 uncontrolled because they didn’t check their BP and had no idea they were ill and 3 out of 10 because they were inadequately treated or not taking their meds.

Most were in the 50+ range and that is my focus, but 12.5% were under 44 so have your adult children get their pressure checked regularly, too, say once a year.

Why do you need to know?

High BP causes heart attack, stroke, dementia and kidney failure and therefore contributes to early death. Treating the BP reduces the risks and prevents the disease[2]. More importantly treating the BP intensively improves the outcome.[3] [4]

The Dirty Dozen

The 'Dirty Dozen' and EDC's

Cancer causing pesticides, perfumes & preservatives. Cancer prevention? Here is an easy win.

Avoid known chemical cancer-causing dangers: choose your food intake and manage your environment. This is important for you but very much more important for your children and grandchildren because action now can prevent them ever getting certain cancers.

The key take home message is: 

1. Minimize your pesticide exposure.
2. Avoid EDC's [endocrine disrupting chemicals].

Nutrition, supplements and cancer

Nutrition is not the cure for cancer – but ….

Nutrition cannot eliminate your cancer; neither is homeopathy an alternative to proper chemotherapy. The Bristol Cancer Help Centre Scandal in the 1990's made that clear to the whole UK. [1]

BUT if you DO have a cancer diagnosis or as in my case, your spouse has, or a close family relative is affected, then naturally you are asking – "Does anything we do at home make a difference?"

How to walk

Walk as nature intended

In pre-history when we began walking on two legs, we walked barefoot. A walk with a shortish stride and midfoot/ forefoot strike. Walking this way, the muscles propelling you forward are the muscles of the foot and ankle, the hip flexors and the buttocks [but not the quadriceps on the front of the thigh]. This involves a high degree of ankle and midfoot flexibility. Much of the time the knee is slightly bent. This method is stable, the risk of falling is small and legs soak up the impact, rather than joints. When this transitions into a run it tends to become a pure forefoot strike, depending on speed. As you will see watching any competitive sprinter; they don't put their heels on the ground at any point.

Update your vaccinations. And teach your children well!

Your vaccine cover may be waning or there may be new options you have missed

 Vaccination saves lives, prevents damaging illness and can eradicate diseases altogether [eg smallpox]. It really is the cleverest aspect of our medical progress and is now being used as a regular part of some cancer treatments, too.

Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil

Why MCT oil can be beneficial

There is proven value in weight control, migraine and cluster headache, Minimal Cognitive Impairment [MCI], and in achieving muscle gain in frailty management.

Although there are many internet claims of sleep improvement there are no human studies of value to prove this.