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  I have high blood pressure and have been checking my blood pressure more often since my doctor added another drug. But lately, my readings have been all over the place. For example, one morning it was 127/70, but then it was 170/100 in the late afternoon. What’s going on?  You may have a condition known as labile hypertension, which refers to blood pressure that fluctuates far more than usual. Everyone’s blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes. Many factors contribute to these changes, including physical activity, emotion, body position, diet (especially salt and alcohol intake), and sleep deprivation. However, there is no clear definition or standard criteria to distinguish between normal and abnormal fluctuations. One common but underappreciated cause of labile hypertension is taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and the prescr...

  Eating a cup of blueberries every day may help your blood pressure, suggests a new study. The results, published online Feb. 16, 2019, by The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, found that consuming 200 grams of blueberries (about one cup) daily can improve blood vessel function and decrease systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading). Researchers recruited 40 healthy men and randomly gave them either a drink containing 200 grams of whole wild blueberries or a control drink (which looked and tasted much the same) every day for a month. The team also monitored the men’s blood pressure as well as the flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in their upper arms. This measures how the artery widens when blood flow increases and is a marker of reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Afterward, the researchers found that flow-mediated dilation improved by about 2% within two hours of consuming the blueberry drink and t...

  In December 2018, the FDA issued a warning about certain antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, a drug class that includes ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin). The drugs are associated with rare ruptures or tears in the body’s main artery, the aorta, which can cause serious, sometimes fatal bleeding. Cases were reported in people taking these antibiotics orally or by injection. Because of this risk, the FDA is advising doctors to try to avoid prescribing these antibiotics to people who are at higher risk for problems with the aorta, unless there are no other antibiotics available to treat the infection.  This includes people who have high blood pressure, certain genetic disorders (such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), or a history of arterial blockages or aneurysms. The FDA issued a separate warning in July 2018, alerting people that this same category of antibiotics could raise the risk of rapid drops in blood sugar and certain mental health si...

  About one in 10 people has eczema , a chronic inflammatory condition that leaves skin dry and itchy. People with more severe forms may experience a scaly rash or skin that cracks and oozes. These people may also be at greater risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a study in the May 23 issue of The BMJ. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 385,000 adults with eczema, which was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Each was matched with up to five people of similar age and sex who didn’t have eczema. After a five-year follow-up, the researchers found that people with severe eczema had a 40% to 50% increased risk of heart attack, atrial fibrillation, and death from heart disease, as well as a 20% higher risk of stroke. The risks remained even after the researchers accounted for confounding factors such as weight, smoking, and alcohol use. The study authors suggested that people with severe eczema should be screened for risk factors for heart disease, s...

How the trillions of bacteria in your intestinal tract play a role in your cardiovascular health. If you ask most medical experts about the hottest trends in health research, chances are they’ll mention the microbiome. The term refers to the trillions of microbes living inside our bodies, known as the human microbiota. The vast majority of these bacteria, viruses, and fungi dwell deep within our intestines. These microbes help with digestion, make certain nutrients, and release substances that have wide-ranging health effects. “There’s a complex interplay between the microbes in our intestines and most of the systems in our bodies, including the vascular, nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. All of these relationships are highly relevant to cardiovascular health,” says Dr. JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Microbe metabolites As you’d expect, what we eat plays a major role in the compositio...

  Last month, Harvard Women’s Health Watch talked about how high blood pressure can cause a series of tiny strokes that damage your brain, increasing your risk of dementia and cognitive changes. A study in the August 8 issue of Circulation shows that this might not be the only concern when it comes to blood pressure and your mind. Researchers in Japan found that large and frequent fluctuations in blood pressure — not just high blood pressure — was associated with an increased risk of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The study authors asked 1,674 dementia-free participants ages 60 and older to measure their blood pressure at home, three times every morning, for about four weeks. They followed up about five years later to see who went on to develop dementia. People in the study who developed vascular dementia, a type of dementia caused by impaired blood flow to the brain, typically had high blood pressure and were also more likely to have blood pressure fluctuations. B...

Lower doses of a combination of drugs may be effective. Approximately one in three Americans has high blood pressure, but only about half of those who do have the condition under control. One common reason: they stop taking their medications, often because of troublesome side effects such as weakness, fatigue, or a dry cough. However, taking smaller doses of several different blood pressure drugs may be a good way to address these issues, a new analysis suggests. Researchers pooled findings from 42 studies involving more than 20,000 people with high blood pressure. All had been randomly assigned to take a placebo or one or more blood pressure drugs in varying combinations and dosages. (For the American Heart Association’s list of common blood pressure drugs, including their possible side effects. Researchers found that taking a quarter-dose of a two-drug combination was just as effective at lowering blood pressure as taking a full dose of one drug. Taking a quarter-dose of a four-drug ...

  Protein is a cornerstone of healthy eating and weight loss and is readily available in many of the foods you eat, including poultry, meat, dairy, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy and even whole grains. Research shows higher-protein meals or snacks can also help reduce hunger and extend the feeling of satiety. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for men ages 19–50 is 56 grams per day, and it’s 46 grams per day for women. To get a more specific recommendation for what you need, you can calculate it based on your body weight, says Lindsey Kane, RD. “Generally speaking, you need .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (which is about .4 grams per pound of body weight).” This translates to about 56 grams of protein for someone who weighs 154 pounds. YOU’RE LOSING MUSCLE MASS Protein is made up of amino acids, which are essential for building muscle. This means that if you’re not getting adequate protein, your muscle mass could suffer. “You might notice this as decreased...

  Running is best when you enjoy it and can do it long term. Whether you prefer treadmill or outdoor running, you’ll experience many benefits, such as a lower risk of chronic disease and improved mental health. Choosing which type of running best suits you depends on your budget, environment, and overall preferences. If you’re unsure, give both outdoor and treadmill running a try, or alternate between the two. Either way, running is extremely beneficial for your health and well-being. Treadmill running A treadmill is an exercise machine with a controllable rotating belt that you can walk or run on. Treadmills are available in most workout facilities, or you can purchase one yourself in stores or online. Pros One of the biggest advantages of using a treadmill is its accessibility. Since most treadmills are indoors, you can use it day or night and in any climate. This can make running more accessible for those who exercise at night or live in places with ever-changing weather. Most ...

  ondering what’s bad, eating a whole pint of ice cream at once or a small bit each night? worse luck , the response isn’t clear-cut. Some research advise that every-so-often binges can increase your metabolism slightly so that you may gain less weight than if you were to circulation those calories out over a handful of meals. However, it isn’t guaranteed that everyone’s body will react the same way, and for some (like people with type 2 diabetes), a steep blood sugar spike might really be hazardous. Another capacity snag is that these types of feeding frenzies have the capacity to device  future cravings. That’s because the more sugar we applied, the more likely it is that our taste Interest could become desensitized to sweets. As a result, we may  requirement more and more sugar to satisfaction a sweet tooth over time. One other thing to think: Chances are you possibly won’t feel stellar after polishing off an overall pint and might even experience some bloating and abd...