Can you tell me the symptoms of low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure is blood pressure that is so low to supply adequate blood to the organs of the body.

The common causes of low blood pressure include:

• Heart disease
• Reduced volume of blood
• Medications

The symptoms of low blood pressure include:

• Insufficient blood flow to the brain can cause lightheadedness, dizziness or even fainting. These symptoms are mostly experienced when a person go from the lying or sitting position to the standing position. This is because standing can make the blood to stay in the lower part of the body and this can make blood pressure to go further low. Persons with normal blood pressure can compensate this quickly and this is not possible if you have low blood pressure.
• When there is low blood pressure the caronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscles cannot deliver enough blood. This means the heart muscles get less oxygen and nutrients. One can develop chest pain or heart attack or even a stroke.
• Insufficient blood flow to the kidneys fail to eliminate wastes from the body. The amount of urea, creatinine and other wastes are increased in the blood.
• Shock is a life-threatening condition where continuous low blood pressure causes organs such as kidneys, heart, brain, lung and liver fail rapidly.

Low blood pressure alone without symptoms usually is not unhealthy.

With blood and other test your doctor can find out the cause for low blood pressure and treat it properly.

I am a chain smoker. What is the connection between smoking and heart disease?

Smoking plays an important role in heart disease deaths. It is about 30% in USA and may be more in the poor and developing countries.

The adverse effects of nicotine include:

• Decreased oxygen in the blood, this less to the heart
• Too much of carbon monoxide
• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Blood clotting risk is increased
• Trigger of atherosclerosis, thus heart disease

Do not forget the cancer risk from tobacco. There are no healthy tobacco products.

What are the foods good to the health of my heart?

There are many foods which are good for our heart health. Healthy food along with enough physical activity is the best. Your lifestyle plays also a vital role here.

The good foods are as follows:

Fish – fatty fish is very good because it contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. It has preventive and also therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease. Fish decreases the chances of heart attack at least to 50%. If you are a non-eater of fish, eat fish after a heart attack or at least tablets of fish oil. The effects of fish eating are the following:

It blocks clotting
It reduces blood vessel constriction and increases blood flow.
Blocks cell damage from oxygen free radicals.
It raises the good HDL cholesterol and also lowers triglycerides.
It also lowers blood pressure

Garlic – It reduces or prevents artery-clogging. The several antioxidants present in garlic are being responsible for this positive effect.

Nuts, pulses, beans and seeds – These are good food for persons having heart problems. Groundnuts, almonds and walnuts are commonly consumed and they reduce the risk at least 25%. Nuts have monounsaturated fatty acids, rich in fibre and several antioxidants. Eating nuts mean that one puts on weight and you must be careful with the amount.

Fruits and vegetables – Vegetarians have less heart attack and I am sure their arteries are much cleaner. Fruits and vegetables are good to prevent as well as post heart attack food.

Oils – Olive oil and sesame oil are good food for heart’s health. They lower bad LDL cholesterol and have antioxidants also. Sesame oil is as good as olive oil and the difference is only the composition of the fatty acids.

Alcohol – Alcohol is not necessary for our metabolism. But one or two drinks or a glass of wine or a glass of beer per day is healthy. Alcohol helps to expand the arteries. Two glasses of wine or four drinks per day are harmful to health. Addiction is also a big danger and so it is better to avoid alcohol. Only the resveratrol present in red wine could lower cholesterol. It also only one glass (180 ml) is enough and than one glass is advisable. Excess alcohol narrows the arteries and this is very bad to your health.

Whole grains products are better than milled ones.

What types of food you have to avoid? Animal food should be taken less, lean meat may be taken and the saturated animal fat must be below 10% of the total calories intake.

Skinless poultry meat is good in limited amount.

You must avoid also excess intake of carbohydrates. Excess sugar is converted the lives as blood fat, triglycerides which is a risk factor for heart disease.

Avoid heavy meals.

Avoid excess salt.

Drink 3 to 4 litres of water (unless you are fluid restricted).

I am 41 year old woman. What are the risks for heart disease?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years old. After menopause this risk increases dramatically..

In recent years there many heart attacks in younger women over 30 years are also reported. Early menopause is a risk factor in young women.

The common risk factors include:

• Early menopause
• Diabetes
• High LDL-cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol
• Obesity
• Family history of heart disease
• Less or no physical activity

Several things are in your hands to change. Healthy food and enough physical activity can do a lot for your heart health.