Are green tea and black tea good for your health?
Green tea is often praised for its health benefits, such as supporting digestion, reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure.
No brand – Lifestyle
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have issued their first new set of guidelines to minimize hypertension since 2017.
New guidelines used by clinicians across the country recommend limiting the amount of alcohol consumed by Americans. While it is desirable to acquire full alcohol consumption, the group found that men should limit their intake to less than two drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to less than one drink per day.
According to a report released on August 14th, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases over time with alcohol intake. Data found that those who avoid drinking alcohol had the lowest risk of hypertension, while those who reduced their intake by at least 50% experienced healthy blood pressure levels.
Updated guidelines instruct doctors to recommend treatment for people with stage 1 hypertension rather than stage 2.
The 2017 guidelines prescribe lifestyle changes and medications to people with systolic blood pressure levels of 140 mm Hg or higher, but clinicians recommend that you recommend lifestyle changes in the 130-139 mm Hg range. Blood pressure gauge measures blood vessel pressure using a unit of measurement called millimeters of mercury (MM Hg).
“By addressing individual risks first and providing a more customized strategy over the course of a lifetime, the 2025 guidelines aim to help clinicians manage their blood pressure and reduce the casualties of kidney disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia,” Dr. Daniel Jones, PhD of the Guidelines Writing Committee, said in a news release.
Guidelines still encourage people to reduce their salt intake
Experts continue to emphasize that lowering sodium intake is essential to minimizing hypertension. According to health guidelines, individuals recommend limiting their sodium consumption to 2,300 mg per day with an ideal goal of 1,500 mg per day.
The report highlights that most adults get their sodium intake from eating packages and restaurant foods rather than adding salt to the food they prepare. The new guidelines are encouraging people to look at the sodium content of foods they eat and use alternatives to potassium concentrated salts where possible.
The guidelines recommend that people adopt a dash diet that prioritizes diets that include lean meat and chicken, fish and non-vegetable oils, while prioritizing diets that contain vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and low-fat or non-fat dairy products.
Exercise is also recommended. Experts encourage at least 75-150 minutes of physical activity each week, from aerobic exercise to weight training.
Is heart disease still a major cause of death?
Yes, heart disease continues to be a major cause of death in the US and around the world despite many ways to avoid high blood pressure and maintain healthy blood pressure.
Almost half (46.7%) of US adults have higher than normal blood pressure, referring to stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension.
Stage 1 hypertension refers to patients with diastolic blood pressure of 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension, on the other hand, refers to patients with diastolic blood pressure of systolic blood pressure below 140 mm Hg or above 90 mm Hg.
What factors make blood pressure?
The new guidelines list a variety of factors that affect blood pressure, including:
- Behavior, environment, hormones, and genetic effects.
- Food quality
- Dietary factors such as sodium intake (low), potassium intake (higher is recommended), and alcohol consumption (almost nothing recommended).
- Intake of fiber, calcium, magnesium and plant protein
- Weight and related metabolic issues
- Age, obesity, insulin resistance
- Sleep disorders and psychosocial stressors
- Physical activity and fitness
- Environmental exposure and chemical toxins including air pollution and heavy metals
