Hypertension Tips

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of chronic lung disease characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function. Symptoms typically include gradual onset of shortness of breath and a dry cough. Other changes may include feeling tired and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism.

Tips To Avoid Hypertension!

'Light exercise' is one of the first things every doctor prescribes for hypertension patients. Hypertension is a condition where blood exerts a very high force against the walls of the blood vessels. While a normal person's blood pressure is usually around 120 over 80, a hypertension patient's blood pressure is higher than 140 over 90. Regular exercise helps regulate this blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health. It also improves blood circulation, thus giving you more energy and easing stress.

So, what types of exercises are best for treating hypertension?

Aerobics

Aerobic activities are activities that increase your heart and breathing rate. Simple household chores like mowing the lawn or swabbing the floor can also count as aerobic activities. Other such exercises include brisk walking, jogging and swimming. Alternatively you could join a group sport such as basketball or football to increase your aerobic activity. This will make your heart stronger and reduce stress, both of which will in turn lower your blood pressure.

Strength training

Lifting weights may cause a temporary spike in blood pressure at the time of exercising, but it has a number of long term benefits. It improves your overall cardiovascular health and helps build strong muscles. Instead of doing a few sets of lifting heavy weights, it is better for a hypertension patient to lift lighter weights more number of times. Light weights challenge the muscles by increasing the number of sets.

Yoga

Practicing yoga asanas and pranayam can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress induced hypertension. While asanas are yogic positions, pranayam refers to breathing techniques. Some asanas that are beneficial for hypertension are shavasana, sukhasan and shishuasan. Yoga benefits hypertension patients by relaxing the body and calming the nervous system.

How much exercise do you need?

With hypertension, you should be very careful to not overdo any exercise. Brisk walking for 30 minutes or jogging for 20 minutes on a daily basis is ideal. A five minute warm up and cooling down period at the beginning and end of your exercise routine is essential. If you cannot put aside half an hour each day, you could even break it up into smaller periods of 10 or 15 minutes each. When exercising, it is important to listen to your body. The moment you feel out of breath or dizzy, you must stop your exercise.

If you are a regular gym enthusiast, lifting light weights won't be an issue. However, if you live a sedentary lifestyle and are only starting a fitness routine now, it is advisable to consult your doctor before adding weight training to your schedule. You should also consult your doctor if you are above the age of 45 or if you are overweight.

Cardiac problems are very scary and what is more scary is choosing the top cardiologist in Delhi. There are so many cardiologist in Delhi and there are so many type of cardiologist depending on their area of specialization. Clinical cardiologists, adult cardiologist, paediatric cardiologist.

There are few cardiologist who specialize in procedures like electrophysiology, echocardiography, and interventional procedures such as stent placement and balloon angioplasty. Cardiologist are specialized in diagnosing any kind of disorder or dysfunctioning of heart and can perform minimally invasive surgeries like pacemaker implantation.

Here is the list of top 10 cardiologist in Delhi, who are specialized and experts at treating all kind of heart problems:

1. Dr. Anupam Goel

MBBS, MD (Gen. Medicine), DM (Cardiology)

Consultation fees: ₹1000

Dr. Anupam Goel is a senior Interventional Cardiologist. She is currently associated with Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. She has an experience of 25 years in this field. She has done several fellowships in cardiology and is engaged in the academic training, CMEs and as principal clinical investigator at various national and international levels. Her areas of expertise are: Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty and Stent Implantation, Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Acute Coronary Care, Clinical Cardiology and Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty via Radial Artery Route.

2. Dr. Nitin Kumar

CCT - Cardiology (UK), MRCP (UK), FHEA (UK), MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹800

Dr Nitin Kumar is a consultant cardiologist with 16 years of national and international experience. He is currently affiliated with Express clinic, Delhi and CREDENCE Super specialty Clinic in Gurgaon. His area of specialisation are transradial interventions (angiography and angioplasty through the wrist), treating acute heart attacks by Primary Angioplasty, management of acute coronary syndromes, complex angioplasty including bifurcation lesions, Intravascular imaging including IVUS and OCT, Fractional Flow Reserve assessment (FFR study) and Rotablation.

3. Dr. Rajiv Agarwal

MBBS, MD - Medicine, DM - Cardiology, Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹500

Dr Rajiv Agarwal is a Senior Interventional Cardiologist and currently works at Max Smart Super Speciality hospital as Senior Director and Unit Head, Department of Cardiology. He has 33 years of experience. His areas of interest are Coronary Interventions & Valvuloplasty, Electrophysiology Study, Device Implantation (including Combo device), Device closures and Peripheral Interventions and also including Bronchial and Renal Artery Embolization. He has been awarded several national and international awards for his contribution in the field of cardiology.

4. Dr. R. R. Mantri

DNB (Cardiology), DM - Cardiology, MD - General Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000- 1500

Dr. RR Mantri is a very reputed name in his fraternity. He is currently working as Director Cath Lab & Cardiac Arrhythmia Services, Department of Cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. He has experience of more than 35 years as Interventional Cardiologist, Diabetologist and Electrophysiologist. His areas of clinical interest are treating patients suffering from congenital heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cardiac valve diseases, hypertension, artery blockages, heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes due to obesity. He is a pioneer in Transradial Angiography in India.

5. Dr. Anil Saxena

DNB Cardiology, MD - Internal Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000 

Dr. Anil is currently practicing as Director, Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology at Fortis Hospital, Okhla. His areas of clinical interest are Electrophysiologic Study, Catheter RF Ablation of complex arrhythmias, 3D Mapping of Cardiac Arrhythmias with CARTO and Ensite, Implantation of Permanent Pacemakers, Implantation of ICD, Implantation of Biventricular pacemakers (CRT). Implantation of CRT-D (Combo Device), Lead Extraction and Coronary Angiography. He is not only member of some reputed national and international organisations, but also recipetents of many awards. 

6. Dr. Viveka Kumar

DM - Cardiology, MD - General Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000 

Dr. Viveka Kumar has 29 years of practice in the field of Cardiac interventions and Electrophysiology. In years of his practice he has done more than 7500 angioplasties and 2500 balloon valvotomy. He has also handled some complex cases of angioplasties. He is considered to be a pioneer of using advanced technologies like bifurcation and left main angioplasties with Rota Ablation. He has special interest in clinical research and has been associated with principal investigator or a sub-investigator in more than 14 national and international trials.

7. Dr. Ripen Gupta

MBBS, MD - Medicine, DM - Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹1000 -1200

Dr. Gupta has 26 years of experience and is considered to be one of the most reputed cardiologists of Delhi. He was the first cardiologist to be awarded the Postdoctoral Fellowship of National Board in Interventional Cardiology instituted by National Board of Examinations. His areas of specializations are treatment of arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia. He currently practices at Max super speciality, Saket and Dr Ripen Gupta's Clinic, Vasant Kunj, Delhi.

8. Dr. Rajneesh Jain

DM - Cardiology, MD - Internal Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1500 -2000

Dr. Rajneesh Jain is amongst the most experienced and best cardiologist in Delhi. In 35 years of practice he has handled and treated some very complicated cases of adult cardiac catheterization, angiography, and acute coronary emergencies. Some of other specializations are peripheral angiograms and angioplasty, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of all valves, permanent pacemaker implantation. He is currently associated with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.

9. Dr. Nishith Chandra

DM Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹1000 -1500

Dr. Chandra, is currently working as a director interventional cardiology, at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi. In his 21 years of practice he is a famous and reputed name in the field. His areas of core interest and specialization are complex coronary interventions including Rotablation, Carotid Interventions, Balloon Valvotomies and Peripheral Vascular Interventions. One of his greatest accomplishment is setting up the Air Ambulance Unit of Escorts Heart Institute that has helped in treating more than 300 critically cases.

10. Dr. Rajiv Bajaj

MBBS, MD - Internal Medicine, DM - Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹500

Dr. Rajiv Bajaj is currently associated with Batra Hospital, Delhi. He has experience of 38 years and is amongst the eminent doctors in the field of cardiology. He has performed numerous coronary angioplasties, more than 200 electrophysiology studies and 100 ablations including VT and flutter ablations in adults and pediatric population. His areas of interest are Coronary angioplasty, cardiac catheterization in permanent pacemaker implantations, electrophysiology, echocardiography.

As you know the kidney failure is a very common problem nowadays. The cases are increasing day by day and treatment is very costly, you know the transplantation, dialysis or clpd is very costly. So we should know about the kidney failure. Kidney failure is when we say the urea creatinine is high, urine is less in amount. There is swelling, loss of appetite. All these things are there then we say you are suffering from kidney failure.

There are few causes of kidney failure which are very important to know, for example,

One is diabetes. One of the top most causes of kidney failure is if you are having diabetes then chances of kidney failure are there. So you will have to control it.

The second is hypertension.

Third is painkillers, the painkillers are also very important cause so we are having a habit of self-medication. We go the chemist and we take medicines, that is also an important cause of kidney failure.

Other causes as we know there are stones, cysts and other obstructions in the passage of urine from the kidney to the urethra to the bladder and to outside.

So these are the few important causes of kidney failure.

Homeopathy works marvelously by increasing immunity of the person and thus revive kidneys naturally

 

Can beer be a healthy drink? Despite the common myths surrounding alcohol consumption and the adverse effects that it has on a person in the long run, a controlled and well-balanced intake of beer is not as bad as it would seem.

Here are a few reasons proving that beer can be healthy for you if taken in the right amount and quantity:

1. In comparison to other alcoholic beverages, beer is relatively healthier for your kidneys. As a matter of fact, studies show that a bottle of beer can actually reduce the risk of acquiring kidney stones by up to 40%.

2. Fiber, as we all know, plays a vital role in digestion. The presence of up to one gram of soluble fiber in just a 30 ml glass of beer (dark beer, in particular) makes the beverage very beneficial for digestion.

3. Fiber present in beer can also help reduce the level of LDL cholesterol (a harmful proponent of cholesterol).

4. It has been proved that beer is a rich source of various B vitamins like vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.

5. The presence of both nicotinic acid and Lactoflavin in beer makes it an effective cure for insomnia.

6. Beer is also helpful in the prevention of blood clots.

7. The presence of high levels of silicon in beer is responsible for bestowing a stronger bone density.

8. Studies have concluded that beer can also reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack.

9. Unlike their non-drinking counterparts, beer drinkers are less vulnerable of experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

10. Because of the presence of certain vitamins, beer has a ton healthy nourishing benefits for the skin.

11. Beer is also useful in fighting against stress.

What are the recommended safe limits of beer?

- Men should drink no more than 14 units of Beer per week, these units should be spread out through the week and they should have at least two alcohol-free days a week.

- Women should drink no more than 14 units of Beer per week, these units should be spread out through the week and they should have at least two alcohol-free days a week.

- Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should not drink alcohol at all. If they do choose to drink, to minimise the risk to the baby, they should not drink more than 1-2 units of beer once or twice a week and should not get drunk.

Despite the above people with increased Triglyceride, Uric Acid should be restricted for consumption of alcohol. People with fatty liver patient with other medication for hypertension, etc. also should refrain from drinking.

People with diabetes who drink should follow these alcohol consumption guidelines:

1. Do not drink more than two drinks of alcohol in a one-day period if you are a man, or one drink if you are a woman.

2. Drink beer only with food.

3. Drink slowly.

4. Avoid "sugary" mixed drinks, sweet wines, or cordials.

Pulmonary hypertension is a medical condition that arises when the blood pressure remains consistently high in the vessels of the lungs. This condition can develop from a completely unrelated medical condition and is more prevalent among women. 

Pulmonary Hypertension can be a hard disease to diagnose. While it has no permanent cure, the medication depends on how far the disease has advanced. From group 1 PAH to group 5 PAH, pulmonary hypertension has 5 stages of advancement. 

Here is a list of 10 ways by which this disease can be kept under control along with the prescribed medication:

1. Quit smoking: Smoking aggravates pulmonary hypertension. It has adverse effects on both the heart and the lung. It is therefore of utmost importance to quit smoking. If you fail to control your urge of smoking, contact your doctor who can suggest a quitting plan.
2. Avoid high altitude: Patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension should avoid flying and living at high altitude. An altitude of 8000 feet and above can worsen the symptoms. It is therefore suggested that you do not take flights for travelling or come down below the altitude of 2428 meters if you are living in hilly areas.
3. A healthy diet: A healthy diet consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and whole grains should be consumed on a daily basis. A nutritious diet goes a long way in keeping pulmonary hypertension in check.
4. Adequate rest: A minimum of 8 hours of sleep is recommended for patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension. A good night’s sleep and frequent naps keeps fatigue at bay. 
5. Pregnancy and birth control pills: Avoiding pregnancy is a must for patients suffering from this disease. Pregnancy can be life threatening for the both the baby and the mother. Birth control pills should be avoided as well. It greatly increases the chance of blood clots. 
6. Maintain a steady blood pressure: Any activities that lower the blood pressure should be avoided by all means. Spending too much time in a bathtub or prolonged stress increases the chances fainting.
7. Become more active: Patients of pulmonary hypertension often run out of breath with little to no activity. While activities such as weight lifting should be strictly avoided, some exercise or daily jogging can fetch good result in keeping a patient healthy.
8. Get vaccine on time: Doctors often suggest vaccines if the patient suffers from pneumonia or influenza. It should be ensured that such vaccines are taken on time. For patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension, prolonged exposure to diseases such as pneumonia can wreak havoc.
9. Regular checkup: Regular follow up with the doctor is of prime importance. Any possible side effects or deterioration can be arrested with constant supervision.
10. On time medication: Patients of pulmonary hypertension should ensure that all the medicines suggested by the doctor are taken at regular intervals as per prescribed dosage.

Are you suffering from hypertension? This medical condition occurs when your blood pressure level increases rapidly. Hypertension may occur because of several reasons and it can interfere with the overall functioning of the body affecting different parts. It may lead to severe health hazards, such as stroke, heart failure and heart diseases. 

Other body parts like kidneys, eyes and limbs may also be affected by hypertension. Here are the various effects of hypertension on different parts of the body:

1. Circulatory system: High blood pressure may cause arteries to stretch too much, which leads to damage. A scar tissue may develop within the arteries over a period of time. This is a condition known as atherosclerosis, which traps cholesterol and plaque, leading to coronary artery disease. When the heart’s left ventricle gets thickened, the ability to pump blood gets disrupted. Trapped blood may result in blood clots, which block and narrow the arteries, causing a stroke or heart attack. Chest pain and arrhythmias are also likely to occur from high blood pressure.
2. Central nervous system: An unsteady supply of oxygen in the blood leads to the dysfunction of the brain. Narrowed arteries and blood clot block the flow of blood to the brain and this is referred to as a transient ischemic attack or a mini stroke. People with this condition are more likely to experience a full stroke, if the blood supply to the brain shuts off completely. Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for strokes. Mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia are other effects on the central nervous system due to hypertension. Retinopathy occurs when there is some damage in the blood vessels, which carry blood to the eyes. It causes bleeding and builds fluid in the retina.
3. Excretory system: The kidneys too are affected when there is a lack of oxygenated blood supply and they cannot function normally. Due to restricted blood supply, the kidneys may become inefficient at removing toxins for which you may need a kidney transplant or dialysis.  
4. Sexual dysfunction: Hypertension may lead to certain sexual dysfunctions in men and women. In men, the insufficient supply of blood to the penis will prevent him from achieving a proper erection during sex. Chronic high blood pressure may affect arteries and blood vessels, which lead to the penis and result in erectile dysfunction. In women, the blood flow to the vagina is affected due to hypertension. This leads to vaginal dryness, decreased libido, painful intercourse and pain during intercourse. 

Hypertension affects all the vital organs of the body. Hence, it is important for everyone to keep their blood pressure under check and in case of hypertension, proper management is required to reduce the various risks associated. 

Diabetes is not an isolated disease but a syndrome. It brings with it a host of issues, affecting almost all organs, and that is the reason it is a dreaded issue. Diabetes is the result of chronic inflammation and this inflammation gradually spreads to all other organs. One of the main organs adversely affected is the kidneys. The kidneys are essential filtration agents, and impaired kidney function can have a series of bad effects on the body.

The good news is that not everybody with diabetes will have diabetic nephropathy. However, risk factors for developing diabetic nephropathy are:

1. Severe, uncontrolled diabetes
2. Family history
3. Prior kidney disease, even chronic infection
4. Race or ethnicity (native Americans, African Americans, etc.)
5. Preexisting hypertension or high cholesterol levels
6. Obesity

If you have these risk factors, then all efforts should be aimed at keeping blood sugar at highly optimal level. Once it reaches beyond a certain level, it is very difficult to get it under control.

Symptoms

There would be no symptoms in the initial stages

1. If you suspect that increased sugar levels could be damaging the kidneys, it is imperative to do renal functions annually to test for onset of kidney malfunction
2. There could be swelling of the feet and ankles
3. Urine tests may indicate increased levels of protein in the body (serum albumin in particular)

Management

The idea is to arrest or stop damage to the kidneys.

1. Reduce and maintain blood pressure within the recommended levels. This will depend on the age and overall health status. Using angiotensin converting enzymes or angiotensin receptor blockers is the most effective way to control hypertension and related kidney damage
2. Keeping blood sugar within the recommended levels helps reduce or stop damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys and thereby, prevent progression
3. Maintain optimal levels of cholesterol, as this only adds to hypertension, which further worsens kidney function.
4. Eat a heart-healthy diet and exercise regularly. It is a vicious cycle with components including hypertension, high sugar levels, increased heart disease, which all only continues in a circle nonstop. Breaking this cyclical trend is very important.
5. Diet should not be too rich in protein, as the kidney function is impaired and may not be able to handle too much protein. Talk to a nutritionist as to how much protein is required and follow it strictly.
6. Reduce salt levels in the diet, and strictly do not add extra salt onto your plate
7. If you are a smoker, this is a great reason to quit, as it affects all the above conditions.
8. Maintain weight under optimal levels.

Causes and Symptoms of Renal Hypertension

High blood pressure is characterized by an increased force that the blood exerts on the blood vessels when it moves through the body. Renal hypertension is a blood pressure disorder where the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys become narrow, as a result of which the blood pressure through these vessels increases.

Causes

It is caused when the arteries that supply blood to the kidney get narrow or get blocked. This can cause the kidney to release specific hormones that signal the body to retain water and sodium. This can put additional pressure on the blood vessels which leads to increased blood pressure. It can also be caused by atherosclerosis which is characterized by hardening of the arteries. Improper development of the arteries can also lead to renal hypertension.

Symptoms

The symptoms of renal hypertension are:

• Feeling confused
• Blurred vision
• Regular headaches
• Bleeding from the nose
• Gradual decline in kidney function
• Possible long-term damage to the kidney
• Feeling lethargic and drowsy
• Loss of appetite
• Dryness in skin
• Muscle cramps
• Breathing difficulties

Treatments

The diagnostic procedure for this disorder consists of blood, urine, doppler ultrasound and CT angiography or MR angiography tests. Treatments for this disorder usually include medications to ease blood pressure. Preventive measures include modifications in lifestyle such as following a proper diet, limiting smoking, restricting sodium or salt in the diet and following an exercise regimen. Steps should also be taken to reduce stress. Yoga and meditation are highly beneficial to control the condition. Sometimes intervention is needed in the form of PTRA and stenting.