Showing posts with label Hypertension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hypertension. Show all posts

Monday, March 14, 2011

Some Common Herbal Remedies for High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Herbal remediesImage by bwaters23 via FlickrNowadays the best cure for high BP is herbal remedies. High blood pressure or hypertension is when BP of someone crosses 140/90. The major reason behind high blood pressure is clogging of blood vessels combined with extravagant bottleneck. It may become a cause of heart attack, any strike or even failure of kidney.
BP reading is given by two numbers one shows as higher pulse and another is for lower pulse.
1. The higher number is known as systolic pressure. If it crosses 140 then it will be treated as high blood pressure.
2. The lower number is knows as diastolic pressure. If it crosses 90 then it will be treated as high blood pressure in most case.
But the good thing over all given danger is that there are numerous of common herbal remedies for high blood pressure.
1. Garlic: The most common treatment among herbal remedies for high blood pressure is garlic. Garlic is best resource for human digestive system and it helps to stimulate blood circulation too. Clinical trials and various researches have shown that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, stimulate blood circulation, and destroy plaque. One or two piece of garlic daily mixed with raisin is icing on the cake for treatment of high blood pressure.
2. Guggul: It helps to lower cholesterol level. Actually guggul decreases the blood-fat level in body by 14-27% and can lower triglycerides by 22-30%. This is a good herbal remedy and much safer product for high blood pressure comparing to prescription medication.
3. Celery: No wonder about the celery because it's using from earlier age of human being as a remedy. Celery has a unique place among herbal remedies for BP. It lowers the cholesterol level, also helps to keep good digestive system. This herb helps to increase the flow of urine. Mostly Indians count celery among herbal remedies for high BP and they use it their every daily life.
4. Ginger: Regular use of a little quantity of ginger in everyday life may lower BP and it works as an anti coagulant herb also. It reduces stroke and prevent to growth of unwanted fat in body. Ginger may be use in tea or food or with honey too. It is a wonderful herb in hypertension.
5. Cocoa: This is an amazing herb among herbal remedies for high BP. It has been shown to lower BP and it works fine as antioxidants comparing to tea or red wine in body. Researchers have found that a daily dose of 3.5 ounce of cocoa is equally effective as taking daily dose of high blood pressure.
6. Valerian: It helps to relax the smooth muscles that line the artery walls by preventing them from constricting.
7. Broccoli and dark leafy greens: Sodium and other minerals are basic need in high BP. Broccoli, dark leafy greens, and processed foods are good herbs among herbal remedies for high BP. Processed foods cover at least 80% of sodium in most diets. Broccoli and dark leafy greens are full of vitamin and minerals like magnesium and calcium.
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Natural Hypertension Remedies in Today's Modern World

Hypertension is a condition wherein pressure is exerted on the major arteries and veins in the body. When the nervous system is not able to handle this stress and tension, a more serious consequence like heart attack or stroke may result. Although there are a lot of medications that are available on the market right now, it is always safer to look for natural hypertension remedies first. In this way, you can avoid any long term side effects that may be induced by some drug-related chemicals.

It is understandable that in today's modern world people are always in a hurry to accomplish a lot of things; everything is done in a fast-paced manner and 24 hours a day don't seem to be enough to do all the things that you want to achieve. For this reason, people with such ailments as hypertension simply turn to pills and medications which can be conveniently taken in easily. However, there are actually several natural means of handling this problem wherein you will not be exposing yourself to harmful side effects.

The first thing that you can do is to look into your dieting plans. This is very important as proper food intake and nutrition is helpful in maintaining the right levels of blood pressure; likewise, the wrong methods of dieting can increase the risk of triggering the detrimental effects of hypertension. You should avoid high-cholesterol foods like fried stuff as well as high-caffeinated drinks like coffee as these are two of the most common contributors of having high blood pressure. You should instead include fruits and vegetables in your diet and drink a lot of water everyday as these sources are the some of the body's best ways of cleansing the system from toxic build-up that could clog your veins and arteries.

Another easy and safe natural hypertension remedy is exercising; by maintaining proper weight for your age and built, your body's system will not have any difficulty in balancing the correct levels of your blood pressure. The simple method of breathing exercises can actually help your immune system because breathing in fresh air can stimulate oxygen production that are carried by the blood vessels to all the major organs in your body. And if you do some other basic exercises like brisk walking and jogging, even the unwanted fats and cholesterol build-up in your body can be melted away naturally.

You must never neglect to have the right amount of sleep and rest too; this is of utmost importance to good health as these are two of nature's most powerful healing methods. Resting let's you recover from all the stress effects that you have accumulated during the day; while sleeping is the time for your body to recuperate and build new and healthy cells for an increased body resistance from all types of diseases.

So think twice before settling for harsh and extreme medications for your high blood pressure complaints. When you go for natural hypertension remedies instead, you will feel more vibrant and energetic as natural sources are always received by the body more effectively.

Angela Zalameda is a health and beauty enthusiast. Her interests include perfumes, beauty devices, vitamins and minerals. She loves sharing her knowledge to an audience that will benefit from her useful tips and honest reviews about various health and beauty products.

Visit the official HealthandBeautyBlog.net site for more in-depth features on other products and services that may be beneficial to you. You can also leave comments, suggestions or questions and all these will be addressed accordingly.

http://www.healthandbeautyblog.net/

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Angela Zalameda - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Hyperaldosteronism As a Cause of Hypertension

The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys on both sides, and are retroperitoneal organs. They have several functions, and among these is the production of several steroid compounds used by the body to control various aspects of metabolism and homeostasis. One of these is aldosterone, which is produced in the adrenal cortex.

Aldosterone is what is called a mineralocorticoid, meaning it helps control the homeostasis of sodium and potassium in the body. Over production of aldosterone can be from a tumor of one or both adrenal glands that over-secretes aldosterone, or from a condition called primary hyperaldosteronism where the adrenal glands just over-produce the steroid.

Hyperaldosteronism is fairly common, being the most common cause of secondary hypertension in adults age 40-64. Secondary hypertension is hypertension caused by an underlying problem and not essential hypertension that occurs as a problem without an apparent cause.

In medical school most physicians were taught to screen for hyperaldosteronism by ordering a serum potassium level, which if low on patients not taking a diuretic or other medication known to cause low potassium levels was a clue to do further evaluation for hyperaldosteronism. It is now known that a low serum potassium is noted in only about 30% of patients with hyperaldosteronism. The best screening test at this time is a serum aldosterone/renin ratio. If the ratio is >20 and the aldosterone level is >15 then hyperaldosteronism is likely and further evaluation, usually by an endocrine specialist is indicated.

This condition is common, required specific treatment, and is likely under diagnosed. In the US we are doing a poor job of diagnosing and treating hypertension with 30% of hypertensive adults unaware of their diagnosis, and over 50% of patients not at goal levels of blood pressure control. Finding and treating the minority of hypertensive patients with hyperaldosteronism will be a big step in the right direction to help improve our overall success in diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.


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Primary Care Physicians Treat Hypertension

Hopedale primary care physicians see and treat many patients with hypertension. High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. It can dramatically shorten lives.

These physicians tell their patients with this condition many things to help them. If they're overweight, they'll inform them that their blood pressure can be lowered if they lose some weight. This is due to the fact that the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood through the entire body when a person is obese.

Staying off salt or sodium is another treatment suggestion. A high salt diet has been proven to raise blood pressure in both men and women. Blood pressure lowering drugs are another way to go for the primary care physician in treating hypertensive patients.

Most of these drugs dilate the arteries to allow the blood to flow with less pressure on the inside of the arterial walls. Other drugs are diuretics or water pills. This type of medication forces water out of the body via urine output, which in turn lowers bodily fluid volume.

Providers of this type of health care also often recommend lifestyle changes to decrease high blood pressure. These include changing to a more healthy diet, exercising more, and cutting down or quitting smoking.

The dietary improvements would focus on eating low fat diary products, lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain fiber, beans, seeds, and nuts. Cooking in olive oil also helps the arteries with blood flow as does taking omega 3 fish oil or flaxseed pills.

The doctor's exercise recommendations would include starting a plan of working out at least three times per week for up to thirty minutes at a time. Then progress should be made up to daily workouts of around an hour each day. These workouts can include cardiovascular training, weight training, stretching for flexibility improvement, and yoga to relax the muscles, including the heart muscle.

Hopedale primary care physicians are expertly trained in treating the very common condition of hypertension. They have decades of combined experience helping a wide range of patients of all ages. When high blood pressure is successfully treated, it can invariably lengthen both the span of an individual's life as well as improve the quality of a person's life for the long run.

It's essential that the condition is diagnosed and treated as early as possible, using all of the aforementioned helpful methods. Patients can rest assured that Hopedale primary care physicians will use their vast knowledge to benefit them in this area for many years to come.


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Hypertension: A Preventive Lifestyle

The cause of hypertension varies from person to person. Some people have a family history of high blood pressure making it more likely that they too will suffer from the condition. For most people, the cause is usually ascribed to stress and or to being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle. You cannot do anything about a genetic predisposition to the condition, but the good news is that you can do something about these other contributing factors.

There is no cure for hypertension; the only thing we can do is to manage our condition with a preventative lifestyle. Our goal must be to keep our readings as close to normal levels for our age as possible. Here are five practical tips for doing just that:

# 1. Take regular exercise:

The key to a successful exercise regime is to build it into our daily routine. As little as 20 to 30 minutes of exercise in which your heart rate is elevated is all that we need to do each day. Brisk walking, swimming, cycling and jogging are all good forms of exercise.

Taking daily exercise is a triple win situation for us. Exercise is one of the best antidotes to stress. Combined with a healthy, calorie-controlled diet, it can help you lose weight, which in turn has a beneficial effect on our condition. Exercise reduces our blood pressure levels for almost 24 hours.

# 2. Stop smoking tobacco products:

Smoking tobacco products does not directly cause hypertension. However, the damage it causes to our cardiovascular system is a major risk factor in our condition as well as being a leading cause of other life threatening conditions.

# 3. Take time out each day to relax:

We need to discover what really relaxes us and make it a part of our daily routine. It could be watching an old movie, listening to certain types of music, getting away to the country or taking up drawing or painting. Relaxing has an immediate beneficial effect on our condition. We should also do something positive about our work/life balance and take at least one day each week off work..

# 4.Heart-Healthy Food Choices:

The foods we eat play an important role in how our bodies deals with both high blood pressure and stress. Salt and some herbs will cause our blood pressure levels to skyrocket. A major cause of our hypertension is our high fat, high sodium, processed food rich modern diet. Link that to our modern sedentary lifestyle and there should be little wonder why so may of us are overweight.

We should try to eat at least five portions of fresh, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fruits each day to help manage your condition making sure that we include at least one portion of leafy green vegetables in our daily diet. Soybeans, potatoes and nuts are superior to animal meat as a source of protein, but that does not mean we should become vegetarian. Choose lean, low-fat white meat such as chicken in preference to the more fatty red meats. Ideally, we should eat one portion of white fish and one portion of oily fish each week.

Calcium and magnesium deficiency can also be a cause of high blood pressure. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in calcium. Almonds and cashews are excellent sources of magnesium. Nuts and seeds are also a source of essential fatty acids, which produce hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that expand the veins and arteries. Foods rich in B vitamins, such as whole grains, green vegetables and eggs, help build resistance to stress.

# 5. A little of what you fancy does you good:

A little wine (especially red wine made from certain grape varieties) or even a tot of whiskey or brandy each day is good for the cardiovascular system. Be warned! The beneficial effects are quickly lost and harm caused if we have too much.

We cannot live without some blood pressure. Serious and even life threatening health issues can arise if our readings become too high for too long. There is no cure for this, only management. The best way to manage our hypertension is by following a preventative lifestyle.


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Going Natural: Cheaper, Safer, and Healthier Way to Deal With Hypertension

Among the many forms of treatment for hypertension, herbal high blood pressure cure is steadily gaining its popularity. As high blood pressure is considered to be a lifelong problem, the conventional approach for the condition includes taking the tablets of prescribed pharmaceutical drugs every day for the rest of one's life. Due to the many drawbacks of this treatment, many patients try to leave taking the tablets after a short time of compliance. Then, the problem recurs and patients are forced to return back to the tablet regimen once again. Because of this, other courses of hypertension treatment such as those methods closest to the living and eating habits of the people are gaining popularity. As a result, the research in herbal treatment for high blood pressure has sparked great interest nowadays.

Many commonly used hypertension medications involve certain unpleasant side effects, but still many patients need to use them. Failure to do so can be fatal and result in stroke, heart attack, and various forms of coronary heart disease and vascular disease. Often, a single hypertension medication is not sufficient to have the desired effects. In such cases, doctors prescribe a combination of these. A combination of hypertensive medications translates to more side effects for the patient, more tablets to take, and a heavier burden on their wallets. In addition, the use of more than one medication tends to interact with the other drugs that the patient might also be taking. There are also many considerations when patients take anti-hypertensive drugs, which include the other drugs they are taking, their co-morbidities, and the side effects. This is because all these drugs interact within the body, which may have a detrimental effect on the system if not assessed properly.

Looking for more natural high blood pressure cures through herbology is the answer to this dilemma. Herbal treatment is a traditional medicine practice that makes use of herbs and spices for their therapeutic or medicinal value to overcome the problem. Background knowledge on the method of preparing and using them are taken from ancient times and traditional sources. The cultural ways of these traditional people contain several references to the use of herbs and spices, including the potency and cures that can be obtained from them. Basing on these sources of information, a set of herbs have been researched, processed, and proven in modern times to have some positive effects in the treatment and control of high blood pressure.

There are a number of options from which people can choose to deal with their elevated blood pressure. Aside from adapting to a healthy lifestyle, physical exercise and adequate nutrition, they, too need to maintain intake of medication. If they are looking for natural high blood pressure cures, herbal medicines are the best choice for their health. Out on the market, there are more herbal medicines to choose from that are proven safe and effective. They don't cause any of the side effects associated with pharmaceutical medicines. Prescriptions are not needed to avail of these herbal medicines, but it is best to consult with the physician when people have decided to turn to them. Lastly, the relative costs of these herbal medications are far cheaper compared to the many pharmaceutical agents that are prescribed to patients.

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Article Submitted On: February 04, 2011


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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Dealing With Hypertension And High Blood Pressure

Middle-aged men and women often tend to put on a lot of weight as they become more lethargic and do not exercise as regularly. Unlike during the younger days, our bodies may not respond to all the stress and strain. The metabolic system may not be strong enough to handle all the problems caused by us.

Since our metabolism slows down with age and our workload becomes comparatively less burdensome, the extra calories start to accumulate around the waist and thigh areas. But this situation can be avoided if we pay more attention and exercise regularly while maintaining a healthy diet regime. If we neglect our body, there is every possibility that we may develop the dreaded condition known as hypertension or blood pressure.

If blood pressure is not treated with a lot of care, you might become a chronic patient who will have to remain on medication for the rest of your life. There are many people who do not mind taking pills regularly to combat hypertension but for those who do not like taking tablets regularly and looking for a way out of this condition, I have listed a few points to counter this disease.

The first step in the right direction is to bring down your weight to the appropriate level. A dietitian or your GP can explain what this means. Most of your actions should be health based and result in making you healthy. Hence it becomes essential for overweight or fat people to exercise more regularly, and this is the best method of reducing the blood pressure.

If you happen to be a person who does not physically exert yourself, you should try walking. It is a great form of exercise and if you can walk for thirty minutes, twice a day, you will realize and experience the immense pleasure and relief. Apart from helping you lose weight, your blood pressure will be brought down and your internal organs will be nicely massaged. Swimming regularly has similar effects and can be as effective. Reducing salt intake is a very effective method of losing weight.

But salt is essential to human body and hence you may seek the advice of a dietitian in this regard. Regular consumption of excess salt can be altered by using herbs and spices instead. Some other factors that may escalate your blood pressure are smoking and drinking excessively.

You need to give up these potentially dangerous habits in order to bring down your blood pressure. Any or all of the above mentioned points will certainly help you bring down your blood pressure.

But if you are a chronic blood pressure patient or suffering from very high blood pressure, you may need to combine all the above mentioned points after consulting your doctor.


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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

High Blood Pressure: Hypertension - The Silent Killer

High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension is known as the silent killer because most people who have these conditions don't even know they have it. Most people have no clue. Hypertension usually develops first and if not corrected usually leads to a chronic condition known as high blood pressure.

These conditions are normally diagnosed by your doctor or self testing at home. A couple of numbers you'll hear your doctor or nurse mention when testing you is systolic and diastolic pressures. In other words the first number the nurse reads out to you is the systolic and the second number is the diastolic. 110 over 70 he or she might say. The first number (systolic) is the blood pressure during the heart beat. The second number (diastolic) is the blood pressure between the heart beats.

The American Heart Association states that the ideal pressure is below 120 over 80. Your pressure will fluctuate throughout the day depending on your activity level. Ideally you'll want to take your pressure reading first thing in the morning after a good nights rest and before you eat or drink anything.

Sometimes there is no identifiable cause for these conditions. This is known as essential hypertension or high blood pressure. The American Heart Association defines HBP as a reading consistently elevated at 140 and or above for the systolic reading and 90 or above for the diastolic reading. A reading of 140 over 90 would put you in the category of having HBP.

Many factors will affect your pressure such as the amount of water in your body, salt, hormone levels as well as the condition of your blood vessels, kidneys and your nervous system. Usually the condition has no symptoms at all and that's exactly why it's been called the silent killer. You may experience a headache now and then with elevated blood pressure. It's very important to check your blood pressure often to catch a high blood pressure condition.

If you experience any of these symptoms get seen by a doctor right away to find out what's going on.
tired all the time after getting enough sleepAnxietyPale or red skinpain in your chest or a heavy crushing feeling

Usually no symptoms present themselves so get yourself checked regularly.

Treatment normally consists of lifestyle changes such as weight loss if you're overweight, eating a diet rich in fish, chicken, fruits and veggies along with regular exercise. Simply walking is a great exercise for the heart. Many times this will be enough but if it's not then you'll have to take a medication or two to keep this very serious condition in check. There are over 200 medicines available to treat this condition. If you don't have insurance or a prescription benefit then buying medicine on a regular basis can present some problems.


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Hypertension - Can Kill

There are two forms of hypertension, the Primary form, also known as Essential Hypertension, and the Malignant form. Essential hypertension is the type that can be inherited; however there can be other factors involved, such as environmental, vascular, nutritional, and the stresses of daily living. When left untreated essential hypertension can develop into the malignant form. The malignant form of hypertension is due to malfunctioning or diseased kidneys; however there can be other causes.

It is estimated that there can be more than 50 million people suffering from hypertension in the United States. The aging of the population can guarantee that these numbers will be rising steadily. Nearly 25% of whites and 50% of blacks over age 65 have high blood pressure. Many of these people are not aware that they have high blood pressure. If left untreated, these are the people that are seriously at risk for heart attack or stroke.

Normal range for blood pressure is 120mm Hg systolic and 80mm Hg diastolic. There is an allowable 10mm Hg plus (+) or minus (-) from these numbers. Over the age of 60 a systolic somewhat higher is acceptable. A systolic over 140mm Hg is considered a stage 1 high blood pressure.

Having a sustained high blood pressure can lead to heart attack or stroke. The importance of knowing your blood pressure is paramount. Many people have no idea what their pressure is. It is recommended that an individual check their blood pressure on a weekly basis. Many Drug Stores have blood pressure machines so that anyone can check their blood pressure for free. There are also very sophisticated blood pressure monitors that can be purchased so that the individual can keep track of their own pressure at home.

The easiest of such units is the wrist monitor, with which you can check your pressure in about a minute. With this monitor you can check your pressure, once or more daily if need be. It is also very helpful to keep a log of your daily pressure, taking it in the morning and then again in the evening. If you find a sustained elevation of blood pressure above the normal after 2-3 readings on 3 separate days, you should see your doctor for an evaluation. Showing him/her your log will prove very helpful.

Knowing what your blood pressure is will motivate you in making the necessary changes to correct whatever the causes are. Read more about changes that are absolutely needed in the health hints below.

Health Hints: Correcting high blood pressure must start with correcting your lifestyle. First look to your nutrition. What you eat plays a very significant part in controlling blood pressure. Reducing your salt intake is of prime importance. Try to limit salt to 2-3 grams per day. Do not use the saltshaker and be sure to read the labels on the foods you eat. Frozen meals generally contain more salt than is allowed in your daily requirement. Canned vegetables are also generally high in salt content. Limit your intake of red meats to once weekly. A portion should consist of 3 ounces or about the size of the palm of your hand.

Limit the use of dairy products and cut them out as much as possible. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Try to have at least five or more servings per day. Instead of eating 3 large meals per day, you may find it more satisfying in eating 5 smaller meals during the day. Next, you must look to your weight. Anyone 10 to 20 lbs or more over- weight must make every effort to lose that weight. Losing this weight can significantly impact your blood pressure, and very possibly return it to a normal level.

Anyone who drinks alcohol must reduce his or her alcohol intake. Men should have no more than two drinks per day. Women should have no more than one drink per day. If you smoke, you must stop by any means possible. There are nutritional supplements that may prove helpful as well. Garlic has been shown to be helpful in reducing blood pressure. Calcium and magnesium supplementation can be of value. Flaxseed oil and Coenzyme Q10 are other supplements that can be of great value. Flax Seed used two to three times daily can be added to cereal, shakes, etc. Flax seed contains alpha-linolenic acid, which is an essential fatty acid that is necessary for blood pressure regulation. Flax seed also contains lignans, which are compounds with antioxidant-like properties. PLEASE NOTE: you should discuss with your healthcare provider before using any of the above supplements, or making changes in your diet.

Next and most important, is starting an exercise program. That too should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Being a "couch potato" is the most detrimental thing that impacts all facets of your life. Find an exercise program that suits your lifestyle, one that you can dedicate yourself too. Being happy and at ease with the program is extremely important, because the average individual who starts an exercise program will give up sometime within 3 months. If you can remain with the program for over 3 months, chances are, you will stick with the program. This can change your entire lifestyle, keeping you vigorous and vital throughout your senior years.


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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Vitamin D Deficiency - Is Your Blood Pressure High?








blood pressure vitamin

Only recently have doctors started to recommend vitamin d supplements to their patients. Generally many family physicians are not in favor of supplementation; however with some recent research on high blood pressure and heart health there is a trend toward supplementing vitamin d in your diet.

So what exactly does vitamin d do to prevent high blood pressure and take care of your heart?

Apparently this vitamin act acts as hormone.

It causes the "smooth" muscles in your body to relax and stay flexible. This is important because both your heart and arteries are made with smooth muscle.

This is different to "skeletal" muscle that makes up the muscles in your arms and legs.

In your arteries the smooth muscle is the middle layer. It controls blood flow by contracting and relaxing. If there is a vitamin d deficiency the artery stays contracted and this leads to high blood pressure.

As you and I age, one of the natural processes in the body is for the arteries to harden. This is a degenerative change. Lack of vitamin d in the diet speeds this process up and leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

Now that being said, if you do have high blood pressure, this is something you want to address with your family doctor.

Now family doctors are testing for vitamin d deficiency in your yearly blood tests along with blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. If you are low, DO NOT WORRY, there are several nutritional solutions.

Supplementation:

Vitamin d supplementation is one solution. The general recommendations:

-Younger than 50: 5 micrograms / 200IU (International Units)
-50-70 years old: 10 micrograms / 400IU
-More than 70 Years old: 15 micrograms / 600IU

Nutritional Solutions:

-Salmon 4oz: 400IU
-Milk 1cup: 50-75IU
-Tuna 3oz: 200IU
-Eggs: 20IU each

Also try to get in the sun for at least 10 minutes a day. If you are elderly, overweight (obese) and are limited to sun exposure, you "may" be at risk. It is important to take a good look at the foods you eat and get your vitamin d levels checked.
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