Focusing on Blood Pressure

The incidence of high blood pressure among American women is on the rise. The following excerpt is borrowed from an article on Medline Plus.

The persistent incidence of hypertension is "principally a failure of our health-care delivery system," said Dr. Dan Jones, president of the American Heart Association. "Certainly physicians have some fault, patients have some fault, and biology plays a role. But in our current health-care system, high blood pressure is treated as part of a visit with a primary-care physician that may take only five to 15 minutes. It may be one of five or six problems that the patient has and may be the least symptomatic of those problems, so it doesn't get the attention it should."

Aletris naturopaths spend 1.5 hours with each patient during an initial visit, and 30 minutes to 1 hour for follow-up visits. Although we do not accept insurance as a means of payment, we generally see far fewer patients in order to serve their individual medical needs. This includes follow-up on chief and secondary complaints as well as educating patients on the importance of the prevention of future disturbances in health including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Seeing fewer patients allows us to spend sufficient time with each patient while staying current with medical research. We understand the underlying causes of physiological imbalances and hold our patients accountable for engaging in their own health care.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment

Hypertension and Cognitive Decline

A new study finds an association between high blood pressure and declining cognitive function in adults over the age of 60. Researchers found that adults between the ages of 60-69 with normal blood pressure (less than 120/80) had the best cognitive function, while people aged 75-79 with “pre-hypertension” (up to 140/90) and people 80 or older with moderate hypertension had the poorest cognitive function.

Those with stage 1 hypertension (top number between 140 and 149, bottom number between 90 and 99) were more likely to show cognitive decline, most notably found in individuals over 70. Investigators concluded that control of blood pressure was shown to reduce hypertension-associated cognitive decline.

The best way to treat high blood pressure is to eat a healthy diet consisting of an abundance of fresh vegetables and lean animal or vegetable proteins while abstaining from processed foods and simple carbohydrate-rich foods. Daily exercise (cardiovascular and weight bearing) also combats hypertension, as well as enhancing healthy moods and energy. Avoid sugary drinks and empty-calorie foods such as white rice and replace them with water, herbal teas and nutrient-rich foods. For more information on preventing or reducing high blood pressure and the negative effects from this condition, call the Aletris Center of Integrative Medicine to explore your path towards optimal health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.