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Women’s Blood Pressure on the Rise – Tips to Keep You Healthy

Posted March 4, 2008 at 03:00 PM by Kathleen Blanchard

Section: Her Health, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Her News

We’re seeing an increase in the incidence of high blood pressure among women. Recent studies show that that one in four women in Washington DC and in the Southern states suffers from hypertension. The reasons for this increase are not exactly known, but health care access for women and lack of education from family physicians’ regarding hypertension may be part of the problem. For other women, we may be seeing the long term effect of workplace stress, combined with greater financial and social responsibilities – roles that decades ago were reserved for men.

It is never too soon to take note of what we do know about women and hypertension. Though there are many treatment options available, prevention is always preferred over costly medications that may have adverse side effects.

A recent study from researchers at Harvard University shows that women who consume greater amounts of non fat dairy products and diets rich in Vitamin D and calcium have a ten percent lower risk of hypertension. Intake of high fat dairy products with Vitamin D or calcium supplements did not yield the same results. The study involved 30,000 middle aged and older women. The women drank two or more servings of fat free milk per day.

Another recent study showed that drinking 500ml of beet juice daily provides the body with higher levels of nitric oxide, thus lowering blood pressure. The effect lasted for twenty four hours and was comparable to taking blood pressure lowering medication. Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels and promotes cardiovascular health. Now nitrogen rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables are seen as more valuable than ever for cardiovascular health. In addition, foods rich in Vitamin C, eaten throughout the day, can actually lower your risk of stroke by 42%.

Soy nuts have shown benefit for lowering blood pressure in women also. Eating ½ cup of roasted, unsalted soy nuts daily has been proven to reduce blood pressure significantly. In fact, eating soy nuts had the same as blood pressure lowering medication. It appears that soy is as cardioprotective as estrogen for women due to the isoflavin content found in soy.

Through diet, exercise, and by limiting salt intake to 2000mg per day, you should be able to reduce your risk of high blood pressure significantly.  A note worth mentioning – even if your blood pressure is normal at age 55, women still run a 90% lifetime risk of developing high blood pressure.  It’s time to turn the tables on this alarming trend.

Kathleen Blanchard is a Registered Nurse with a background in preventative health and nutrition. Read more from Kathleen by visiting her blog.

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Tags: high blood pressure, high blood pressure in women on the rise, hypertension, one in four women have high blood pressure in some areas, women and high blood pressure, women and hypertension

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