Holistic Health and Natural Healing Articles ~
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Holistic Health and Natural Healing Articles ~ |
Suggested Reading: Symptoms of Stroke Improving Cardio Health EFA's May Save Your Life Magnesium May Save Your Life Blood Pressure - Optimal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mm Hg. However, if you have several risk factors for heart disease and stroke or other problems related to high blood pressure (such as kidney disease), you may need to treat your blood pressure. There are both prescription drugs and natural remedies to address the issue of blood pressure problems. Here at Holistic Health Tools, we like the natural approach. Hopefully, your doctor is willing to talk about supplements, lifestyle changes and diet changes that can help you keep a healthy heart. Body Mass Index (BMI) - Healthy body mass index ranges between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2. If your BMI is higher than 25, you should strive to achieve a healthy weight. Your doctor may be able to suggest an exercise and nutrition program for shifting you BMI if it isn't where it should be for healthy heart function. Cholesterol Numbers - If you have any risk factors for heart disease and stroke, you may need to have your cholesterol tested at an earlier age. Establish a target level for you based on your personal risk factors, taking into account your age, total cholesterol level, smoking status, and systolic blood pressure, among other factors. Undertanding healthy cholesterol numbers, as set by you and your doctor, helps monitoring easier. To get what's called your "cholesterol ratio" you divide the HDL number into the total cholesterol number. Or just ask your doctor. The American Heart Association recommends a 5 to 1 ratio. If you search for high blood cholesterol on the Mayo Clinic site, they have some excellent information as well as tips on managing high cholesterol. |