We often forget to take note of things that could cause a spike in blood pressure levels like sleep apnea, ;high sugar intake, among others.

What Are The Things That Could Spike Your Blood Pressure Levels?

Atherosclerosis refers to a medical condition in which the arteries become hardened and narrowed due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaque in the walls of the artery, obstructing the flow of blood.

What are the causes?

Atherosclerosis is a slow but progressive disorder that starts with the damage of endothelium   cells lining the interior surface of lymphatic and blood vessels. This allows bad ldl cholesterol to build up in the artery walls. Over time, a plaque made of calcium, macrophages, and cholesterol grows to a certain size to clog up arteries, disrupting blood flow around the body.

Other factors leading to atherosclerosis to include  

High blood pressure

High levels of triglyceride in the blood

High cholesterol levels

Certain medical conditions   diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance

Smoking/use of tobacco

Inflammatory conditions like lupus and arthritis

Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis may develop in childhood or during adolescence. Mild conditions may not reveal observable symptoms unless the arteries are clogged, and blood supply to the tissues and organs are restricted.

Signs of moderate to severe atherosclerosis depend on the affected arteries   it could be the arteries leading to your brain, your heart, legs and arms, or the kidney. The symptoms of atherosclerosis include  

Weakness and fatigue

Difficulty breathing/concentrating

Headaches

Facial numbness

Paralysis

Vomiting

Chest pain

Anxiety

Loss of appetite

Swelling in the feet and hands

If any of the above symptoms seem familiar to you, consult a doctor right away for treatment.

Can atherosclerosis be prevented?

The best way to avoid cholesterol plaque from building up in the artery walls is to prevent the onset of atherosclerosis with these preventive measures.

Eat healthy   avoid eating foods that are rich in saturated fats   red meat, butter and cheese. These increase your cholesterol levels drastically. Instead, include foods that contain unsaturated fats, like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts and seeds because these help to keep ldl or bad cholesterol levels down.

Stay active   exercising and staying active can help regulate your cholesterol levels and prevent certain conditions that might put you at risk for atherosclerosis.

Quit smoking   people who smoke should quit smoking because it is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis   it increases blood pressure, which in turn, affects your cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis can lead to complications. With precautionary measures and proper treatment, the condition can be avoided.

Know All About Atherosclerosis Here

International yoga day or international day of yoga is celebrated on 21 june annually. It took a shape in the united nations general assembly in 2014 when indian prime minister narendra modi proposed a day for yoga. The mental, physical, and spiritually enticing practice of yoga started being celebrated in 2015.

 

Yoga and its importance

The term'yoga' is derived from sanskrit which means to reunite or join. It is symbolic of the union of mind and body. Yoga originated some 5000 years ago in india. It was developed as a process to interconnect the mind, soul, and body. As it started gaining popularity in the west, it became an exercise and a method to relax. Through yoga, you can easily calm down your nerves, alleviate any physical concerns, get relieved of any chronic pain, and attain bodily well-being.

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Significance of 21 june

June 21 is also called the summer solstice. It is considered the longest day of the year when the sun is out for most parts of the day. From yoga's perspective, the summer solstice allows the transition to dakshinayana. Hence, it was chosen as an ideal day to celebrate a healthy mind and body.

 

Un declaration

After the draft resolution was presented in the un general assembly, it received support from 177 member countries. Pm modi in his statement emphasized yoga's invaluable importance. He also stressed the fact that how yoga connects us to nature.

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Benefits of yoga


	
	Yoga and fitness
	


Yoga ensures that a person is healthy in its true sense. The different postures of yoga encourage overall fitness and balance of the body. In addition, an enhanced mental strength, physical power, stamina, and detoxification of the body.


	
	Yoga and stress relief
	


Some precious moments of yoga each day is a good way to eliminate everyday stress. Be it physical or mental, certain practices like meditation and pranayama are perfect for preventing stress.


	
	Yoga and inner peace
	


There is a serious need for peace in this robust world. Yoga done regularly gives you extensive inner peace. It is vital to calm your disturbed peace. Moreover, breathing exercises in yoga are very helpful against unwanted stress. Immune system enhancement and protection from frequent diseases is another one of yoga s benefits.



 

International Yoga Day: All You Need To Know!

To save life and the planet, it is important to follow an eco-friendly lifestyle. This will not only elongate your life span but also helps in sustainable development. Breathing in better air, living in a cleaner atmosphere, eating better food, drinking purer water - all ensure a healthier body. Moreover, the improved aesthetics of a clean environment has positive psychological effects on your brain! protecting your environment is of utmost importance in ensuring your good health. Following are the key health benefits of having an eco-friendly lifestyle,


	
	An eco-friendly human would automatically engage in more physical activity, as they d attempt to choose walking or cycling over driving or using public transports whenever possible. Increased physical activity is directly correlated to one s health and fitness.
	
	
	An eco-friendly lifestyle entails the consumption of more organic food which allows more nutrition and fewer pesticides or chemicals to enter your body. Hence, one becomes less exposed to carcinogenic compounds and other diseases causing or immunity hampering chemicals. Moreover, when one is producing their own vegetables, they end up consuming more seasonal items, which ensures a better diet.
	
	
	City air has multiple pollutants even in the absence of smog that can cause diseases. Fresh or pure air not only contains more oxygen but also lacks harmful pollutants and microparticles that adversely affect one s health. Hence, an environment-friendly lifestyle allows one to improve the quality of the air they breathe and thus, avoid life-threatening diseases. We can do this by replacing our regular vehicles with eco-friendly ones. Also, try carpooling to reduce the emission of pollutants.
	
	
	Cholera, diarrhea, typhoid are just a few waterborne diseases that are transmitted via unclean drinking water. Hence, an improved environment ensures the supply of cleaner water, allowing one to consume its minerals while avoiding its pollutants.
	


Protecting the environment by adopting eco-friendly habits not only improves our own health but also helps us ensure the healthy life for our future generation!

 

Ways To Make Your Lifestyle Eco-friendly

Headaches are extremely common   we all are familiar with mild or persistent throbbing ;pain. A number of conditions can result in headaches. Some of these include  


	
	Fatigue
	
	
	Lack of sleep
	
	
	Stress/tension
	
	
	An underlying condition, like migraine ;or sinusitis
	


Recent studies have revealed a lesser-known cause for headaches   ;hypertension, or what is commonly referred to as high blood pressure.

The connection between hypertension and headaches

Hypertension occurs when the force of the blood circulation in the arteries is elevated   this particular condition can lead to steady pain throughout the head, particularly at the back of the head or in forehead.

Hypertension-induced headaches usually affect both sides of the head, particularly the temple regions. However, a person may not even realize that the headaches he/she is experiencing are induced by high blood pressure.

Since hypertension is an asymptotic condition, it is often referred to as  the silent killer . When blood pressure rises above 180/110, the condition is known as  hypertensive emergency .

Different types of hypertension leading to headaches

There are three types of hypertension conditions that are followed by mild to severe headaches:


	
	Malignant hypertension- this refers to a sudden, rapid increase in blood pressure that calls for medical attention. This is more common among young adults and women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
	
	
	Idiopathic ;intracranial hypertension- it is characterized by elevated blood pressure around the brain. Symptoms include vision problems, nausea, ;shoulder pain, thumping noise in the ears, and severe headaches.
	
	
	Hypertensive encephalopathy- this is an extreme condition of high blood pressure, which leads to swelling in the brain. A person with this condition experiences severe headache that becomes worse.
	


Uncontrolled hypertension can be dangerous   headaches induced by such a condition could also become frequent or worsen over time. However, with proper medications and certain lifestyle changes, high blood pressure can be kept under the normal measure. Once your blood pressure normalizes, the headaches will disappear in no time.

How Are Hypertension And Headaches Related?

World sickle cell day is observed annually on the 19th of june to raise awareness of sickle cell-related diseases. It is observed to increase people's knowledge and the understanding required to face the challenges posed by the disease.


 

What is sickle cell disorder (scd)?

Sickle cell disorders or sickle cell diseases are genetic blood disorders that cause an abnormality in the red blood cells. The rbcs turn into sickle-shaped cells that stick together and block the blood flow in the body.


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Types

There are four major classifications of sickle cell diseases-


	
	Hemoglobin ss disease
	
	
	Hemoglobin sc disease
	
	
	Hemoglobin sb+ thalassemia
	
	
	Hemoglobin sb 0 thalassemia
	



 

Symptoms

One can start noticing symptoms of sickle cell in a patient at around 6 years of age. However, they can differ from person to person. Some of the most typical symptoms are-

 ;


	
	Anemia
	


A shortage of red blood cells occurs due to the excessive early dying in 10-20 days. It leads to an oxygen shortage in the body.


	
	Excessive pain
	


Blockage of blood flow due to the change in shape leads to periodic cycles of pain in the body.


	
	Swelling in the body
	


As the blood circulation becomes irregular, swelling becomes a regular phenomenon.


	
	Infections
	


Sickle cell can be damaging to the spleen. It increases the risk of ailments in the body that can be prevented only by antibiotics.


	
	Delayed puberty
	


Oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood are required for growth. As a reason, irregular blood flow can lead to slow growth or delay in puberty.


	
	Vision issues
	


Infected blood vessels carrying blood to the eyes can cause damage to the retina. It can lead to visual problems.


 

Traits and treatment

As sickle cell is genetic, it is suggested to take a test that can detect any trait of the disease. It can prevent any life-threatening risks to the newborn. However, we don't have a complete cure for sickle cell disorders. There are preventive measures that reduce the adversity of the disease to an extent. Procedures like blood transfusions help greatly in minimizing the effects of the disorder.

World Sickle Cell Day: Know All About Sickle Cell Disease

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