Can I Bring My Blood Pressure Down Naturally?

Question:

I've just been prescribed a drug for high blood pressure but I don't really want to take it because hair loss is listed as one of the side effects. Can you suggest an alternative course of treatment?

Answer:

I explain high blood pressure to my patients like this: when you water your garden, you can increase the water pressure by putting a powerful pump on it or by squeezing the nozzle. Similarly, blood pressure increases when the heart (a powerful pump) beats faster or when the arteries are constricted.

Blood pressure varies continuously, rising with exercise or anxiety and falling as you relax. The problem comes with persistent high blood pressure (hypertension), which affects 'about one adult in six in this country and may damage the heart and other organs. Blood pressure measurements are given as two numbers: a resting healthy young adult should reach no more than 120/80 mmHg (units of millimetres of mercury). Generally, hypertension is diagnosed with a reading persistently higher than 140/90 mmHg, even at rest.

The mai factors that cause the heart to beat faster are stress; abnormal production of hormones (mainly adrenalin and thyroxin); chemicals including caffeine, prescription and recreational drugs; excess salt, and lack of oxygen to the brain or tissues, which makes the body try to compensate by increasing blood flow. Blood vessels( particularly arteries) constrict because of stress, muscle spasm (due to tension or fatigue), cholesterol, excess salt coffee, monosodium glutamate or recreational drugs.

There are various states of blood pressure. Stage one is when blood pressure rises when stress is combined with a stimulus such as drinking coffee, consuming excess salt, taking drugs, exercising or being at a high altitude. As soon as the effect of the stimulus passes and/or you relax, blood pressure returns to normal.

In stage two, the body is conditioned to stress so is continuously in a state of high alert, and blood pressure must be controlled with drugs or other means such as acupuncture and herbal remedies.

In stage three, the arteries are narrowed internally With plaque, and blood pressure is even higher, permanently. Strong drugs and diuretics are prescribed.

Stage four spells danger: permanently constricted arteries mean the organs are starved of oxygen and they begin to change in structure and function. The heart beats very fast and begins to get enlarged.

High blood pressure can't be neglected: the many complications include heart attacks, stroke and coronary artery disease, headaches, irritability, insomnia, dizziness, brain haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage and kidney damage. Pregnant women may suffer from pre-eclampsia (raised blood pressure coupled with kidney problems).

lf your high blood pressure is recently diagnosed and is not too worrying the chances are that the following programme will help regularise it, and you may never need medication.

These are my suggestions

Diet

• Fast once weekly for l6 weeks on non-citrus fruits raw salad and water - the body will relax, so blood pressure will drop. lf you are able to take rest, do a water fast six times in 24 hours drink a 250mltumbler of water with three drops of lime juice and one teaspoon of honey in it. This has a powerful effect in lowering blood pressure and keeping it low.
• Avoid excess salt, coffee, smoking, red meat, fried food, cheese, rich curries, monosodium glutamate, bacon, sausages, contraceptive pills, HRT tablets and steroids. Drink no more than four units of alcohol weekly.

Treatments

Rasagandha (Rasashala tablets) is an ayurvedic supplement that helps to calm the mind, relax muscles, lower blood pressure and induce good sleep. Take one tablet at bedtime for two months.

Therapies

Acupuncture has a good effect in lowering blood pressure.

Relaxation

* Listen to a relaxation/meditation CD at bedtime or in the evening after work every day for two months, such as Dr Ali's Relaxation CD ( Integrated Health Group).

*Practise therapeutic iyenger yoga (particularly the corpse pose) and breathing exercises (particularly 'retention' breathing). Details are in my book Theropeutic Yoga, co-written with Jiwan Brar.

Massage

Have a full body massage as often as possible to de-stress. muscles. Massage your neck, or ask someone to do it for you, for l5 to 20 minutes twice weekly to improve oxygen supply to the brain so the heart is not beating so hard. Details on how to do the massages are on my Lifestyle DVD (Integrated Health Group).

Exercise

Walk briskly in the fresh air for at least 30 to 60 minutes daily.

How To Get A Mortgage With Bad Credit

Getting a mortgage loan with decent credit can be challenging in of itself, but even more so with bad credit. So, it is of utmost importance to protect one's credit at all cost because one will never know when a good credit history is going to be the difference between owning a home and not owning one. So, how would one go about getting a mortgage with bad credit? It is very difficult, yet very possible.

Providing that one already has a job, the first step is to get a copy of one's credit history from not one or two but from all three credit bureaus'”Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. The loan officer looking over the credit history will see that it is in dire need of repair. They will then inform the applicant of exactly how to go about repairing the credit report.

Calling creditors and setting up payment settlements is the next major step toward getting a mortgage with bad credit. Most times creditors will work out settlements requiring borrower to only pay a fraction of the original loan. By law, a borrower is required to pay at least 65 percent of the original loan. However, it depends on the creditor. Some will settle for more and some will settle for less, depending on their individual company policies. Always negotiate to payback as close to 65 percent of the original loan as possible.

After most of the delinquencies are cleared up on the credit report, the loan officer will make sure that payment arrangements are made for unpaid debts. Once a payment arrangement is made, the loan officer will use the middle score of the credit report to present to the loan underwriter of the bank or mortgage company for approval. The three credit scores from all three credit bureaus are compared and the one with the second lowest score will be chosen. It is called the middle score. For example, if a person has scores of 547, 588, and 512 from Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian respectively, the Trans Union score of 588 will be chosen.

The way the credit reporting agencies come up with individual scores is by using the FICO scoring system, which is an acronym from the name Fair Isaac and Company. It measures individual activities on a person's credit report or credit history. The score measures from a range of 400 to 700 plus, with 400 being poor credit and 700 being excellent credit.

The individual activities are measured in percentages: 35% of the score being based on payment history'”any late payments will reduce this score; 30% of the score relates to the amount of credit a person owes'”too much credit cards will reduce this score; 15% of the score pertains to the amount of time a person has had established credit'”one could have no debt, but still have poor credit; and 20% relates to whether or not a person is taking on new debt'”numerous credit applications will reduce this score. Therefore, the best way to qualify for a mortgage with bad credit is learning how the FICO scoring system works and using it to one's advantage.

Another avenue that one could use in getting a mortgage with bad credit is employing a cosigner, a person with great credit and one who will be willing to cosign a mortgage loan. Some people will charge a fee for cosigning.

While paying back loans, one should pay back more than the minimum balance. For example, if the minimum balance is $20, one should pay at least $21. This will show creditors that one is making an effort to eliminate his or her debt as fast as possible. Moreover, paying off more than is owed will help reduce overall interest paid on the loan.

Having a little money saved up in the bank will increase the chances of one getting a mortgage with bad credit. This money does not have to be used toward the mortgage, but the bank will want to see that one will have the means of making payments on the loan for a while if there is an unforeseen illness and one is not able to work for a while'”say, six month or so!

Lastly, it is a good idea to search for lenders who specialize in giving mortgages to people with bad credit. They will be better able and equipped to offer the most appropriate services.

Getting a mortgage with bad credit is challenging but is still very possible, once the correct approach is followed. The credit report is the first thing a creditor looks at; so if people understand how the FICO scoring system works and are able to use it to their advantage, they will be able to get mortgages with bad credit, no matter how difficult the task may seem. Having a cosigner assist in the signing process of the mortgage can make it possible in owning a home. Paying a little more on minimum balances can make a big difference in the amount of interest paid on loans as well as improve the chance of receiving a mortgage with bad credit, and putting some money away in a savings account can make the overall mortgage application process a bit simpler for anyone with bad credit.

Massage Therapy To Help For Anxiety- Tips From One Professional To Another

When I first started as a massage therapist and people would walk into my clinic complaining of anxiety, I simply thought they were really stressed and would give them a simple relaxation massage.

Being disappointed with my treatments, I started to do more research on the subject since I believe to really treat somebody well you really need to understand how they feel. I went on the internet and read a variety of books to get a basic idea but quickly decided to go right to source and ask my clients how they felt and what bothered them.

Today, when somebody says they have anxiety, I follow up with a series of questions. The first being: - How do you feel your anxiety'? The answers can vary from - I feel I can't breathe, like I have a pressure on my chest.?, or - out of nowhere my heart starts beating weird and it makes me panic'I also hear about stomach complaints with phrases like - My stomach feels all twisted and in knots and I seem to have indigestion' and - my brain feels really foggy and I'm having a hard time staying focused'All these answers lead me to believe that some very important points to work on should be the stomach, the head as well as taking some time to focus on breathing techniques.

This all made perfect sense to me. Anxiety, being a psychological disorder affects our mind making us unable to think properly and clearly( foggy head and unable to concentrate). Also, we all know that psychological disturbance can affect our stomach. For example, being nervous to put on a presentation can give us butterflies ( cramps ) in our stomachs, and when we live a stress out heart beat elevates and our breaths get shorter.

From this point on my simple relaxation massage became much more complex and the feedback from my clients has been extremely good.

How I do it:

Breathing:

At the very beginning of the treatment, I take a few minutes to get my clients to be conscious of their breathing and to take deeper and fuller breaths. After a few respirations I put a pressure on their on their upper chest, just enough to get them to work their breathing muscles and ask them to continue with their breathing. After, I move on to put a pressure on the sides of the rib cage using the same technique. When I stop applying the pressure, they are able to take bigger breaths with a lot less effort and their heart rate is slower. Taking the time to do this allows me to start the massage with a calmer and more receptive client.

The Head:

To relax the head I was inspired by Indian head massage techniques. This specialty offers a wide variety of manoeuvres that focus on the head, scalp, face, neck and shoulders and with a little touch of lavender it works wonders.To finish off this area, I like to go work the points at the base of the skull which are important pressure points in Asian techniques to help with anxiety and stress.

The stomach:

I massage the stomach as usual with the help of essential oils. I use peppermint for the intestines and rosemary for the liver to encourage digestion. I also like to use ylang ylang on the lower part of the stomach to stimulate the hormones which can put us in a better mood and relieve the anxiety. And last but not least, I take a bit of time to work the solar plexus with some lavender. This is where most people feel 'knoted' and they enjoy the relief that it offers.

Taking the time to focus on these few points has made a tremendous difference on my clients. They feel like they got a relaxation massage with the added benefits of working targeted areas that really bothered them. I hope this article has been informative for other massage therapists and if your experience has thought you any tricks I would love to hear them. You can do so by leaving me at http://www.essencielproducts.com/Massage-Therapy-to-Help-for-Anxiety-Tips-from-one-professional-to-another

Treatment for gout pain

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis that usually affects the toe joints. Middle age men those who consume large amounts of meat, eggs and other purine rich foods are more prone to gout. Women are less prone to gout because of their female hormone estrogen. There are many factors, responsible for gout.

More likely to have gout, if you are -

- A middle aged man aged between 40 to 50 years

- A post-menopausal woman.

- Consuming high purine foods such red meat and seafood (see Prevention)

- Drinking excess alcohol

- Taking certain diuretic medication.

- Having a family history of gout

- Suffering from kidney disease.

- Overweight

- Suffering from high blood pressure

Certain medicines are also known for causing gout such as diuretics, niacin, low doses of aspirin, cyclosporine and some drugs used to treat cancer.

An attack of gout often starts at night usually in the big toe. Some other joints may also be affected. Some common symptoms of gout are pain and swelling, fever, red and shiny skin around your joint. Frequent gout attacks can also lead to kidney troubles and tophi, which are soft tissue swellings caused by uric acid crystals. Gout sufferers are also at risk for kidney disease or kidney stones.

In addition to visiting your doctor for treatment, follow some tips on treatment for gout pain:

- Try to avoid high purine foods that stimulate the production of uric acid. Some well known high purine foods are meat and meat stock, shellfish, fatty fish, anchovies, eggs, and caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate).

-'''''? Eat moderate purine foods no more than 1 serving a day: Some common moderate purine foods are spinach, dry beans, yeast, whole-grain cereals, breads, asparagus, cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal and dry peas.

-'''''? Say low or not to alcohol.

-'''''? In order to eliminate excess uric acid from your body, try to drink eight to ten glasses of water on daily basis.

-'''''? Drinking herbal teas, rosehip and peppermint are also beneficial in the treatment of gout pain.

-'''''? Eat vitamin C and phosphorous rich fruits for your good. Natural source of phosphorous is banana and vitamin C is found abundantly in citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, cherries and berries.

-'''''? Eating a bowl full of cherries is an effective treatment for gout pain. According to the experts cherries are loaded with natural enzyme that helps break down and promote the excretion of uric acid.

-'''''? Don't wear tight-fitting shoes.

-'''''? Try to eat a well-balanced diet and exercise to lose excess weight.

Introducing the first porn made for the blind!

Introducing the first porn made for the blind!

Meet a magazine called ¡°Tactile Minds,¡± retailing for approximately $230. It¡¯s being billed as the first pornographic magazine made just for the enjoyment of the blind.
Apparently, it¡¯s a known fact that blind people prefer their pornography to have no facial features or hands.
According to Business Insider:
It¡¯s called ¡°Tactile Minds¡± and the publication features 17 raised images and ¡°explicit text¡± in braille.
Despite the hefty price tag, ¡°Tactile Minds¡± could be successful. Porn is a multi-billion dollar industry, and according to creator Lisa Murphy, the blind are an ignored market.
For the record, the picture above is from the first issue of ¡°Tactile Minds.¡± I get the readers are blind, but could that be any less hunky of a braille man? I know maybe the blind don¡¯t have the greatest reference points to physical attractiveness, but asking them to try to get off to a disembodied man who looks like the Gimp from ¡°Pulp Fiction¡± just seems insulting.

Saddest picture OF The Century {Vulture waiting child to die}

In March 1993 Kevin Carter made a trip to southern Sudan and took this photograph. The picture would later bring him the Pulitzer prize, but also death. The girl had stopped to rest while struggling to reach the refugee camp, nearby a vulture is waiting her to die. It is a horrific picture that gave people a true look at the dire condition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kevin then came under a lot of scrutiny for spending over 20 minutes setting up the photo instead of helping the child. Three months after taking the photo, he committed suicide.

Customer Care In 2020

Customer Care In 2020


Operator: "Thank you for calling Pizza Hut. May I have your..."

Customer: "Heloo, can I order.."

Operator : "Can I have your multi purpose card number first, Sir?"
Customer: "It's eh..., hold.......... on......889861356102049998-45-
54610"

Operator : "OK... you're... Mr Singh and you're calling from 17
Jalan
Kayu. Your home number is 4094! 2366, your office 76452302 and your
mobile
is 0142662566. Which number are you calling from now Sir?"

Customer: "Home! How did you get all my phone numbers?

Operator : "We are connected to the system Sir"

Customer: "May I order your Seafood Pizza..."

Operator : "That's not a good idea Sir"

Customer: "How come?"

Operator : "According to your medical records, you have high blood
pressure and even higher cholesterol level Sir"

Customer: "What?... What do you recommend then?"

Operator : "Try our Low Fat Hokkien Mee Pizza. You'll like it"

Customer: "How do you know for sure?"

Operator : "You borrowed a book entitled "Popular Hokkien Dishes"
from
the National Library last week Sir"

Customer: "OK I give up... Give me three family size ones then, how
much
will that cost?"

Operator : "That should be enough for your family of 10, Sir. The
total
is $49.9! 9"

Customer: "Can I pay by! credit card?"

Operator : "I'm afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit
card is
over the limit and you owe your bank $3,720.55 since October last
year.
That's not including the late payment charges on your housing loan,
Sir."

Customer: "I guess I have to run to the neighbourhood ATM and
withdraw
some cash before your guy arrives"

Operator : "You can't Sir. Based on the records,you've reached your
daily limit on machine withdrawal today"

Customer: "Never mind just send the pizzas, I'll have the cash ready.
How long is it gonna take anyway?"

Operator : "About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can't wait you can always
come and collect it on your motorcycle..."

Customer: " What!"

Operator : "According to the details in system ,you own a
Scooter,...registration number 1123..."

Customer: " ????"

Operator : "Is there anything else Sir?"

Customer: "Nothing.! .. by the way... aren't you giving me that 3
free
bottles of cola as advertised?"

Operator : "We normally would Sir, but based on your records you're
also

diabetic....... "

Customer: Sale G***u, M****c**d

Operator "Better watch your language Sir. Remember on 15th July 1987
you
were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman...?"