There Are Fish and then There Are Healthy Fish; Which Are You Eating?

The McDonalds and Wendy's commercials hit home. In one you see 3 fishermen looking into a barrel asking, "What is it?"

Fish may be yummy to some (not my daughter-in-law!) but how healthy is it really?

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish helps improve blood pressure, keeps blood vessels healthy and reduces the risk of stroke. That's why the American Heart Association recommends that we should be eating fish like salmon and mackerel that are high in omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week.

Most fried fish is not high in omega-3 fatty acids. The process of frying removes the fatty acids and replaces them with cooking oil.

Measure Blood Pressure With Affordable Solar-Powered Device

Research recently published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association announced that a new, accurate, easy-to-use, solar-powered device used to measure blood pressure "may help slow the worldwide increase in cardiovascular disease by providing affordable and reliable blood pressure testing in low income countries."

The device is being tested in Uganda and Zambia, Africa. 97% of the healthcare professionals there favored the device over traditional methods, especially for testing systolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart contracts). They hope that soon the device will be equally as precise for diastolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart relaxes).

Blood Pressure Meds: When to Take Them

Results of a five-year study of 2,156 (average age of 56) men and women with high blood pressure have shown that those people who have taken their blood-pressure medications at bedtime fared better than others who took their medications in the morning.

The key here is the importance of sleep-time blood pressure, "the most sensitive predictor of a person's risk of death from cardiovascular disease."

Taking blood pressure medicine at night encourages blood pressure to dip at night--like in healthy people. "This effect of the proper timing for dosing seems to be directly related to the documented reduction in cardiovascular events."

The study proves that researchers and physicians need to reevaluate the way hypertension is diagnosed and treated.

"However, those who now take their pills in the morning should not begin taking them at night without their doctor's knowledge."

High Blood Pressure Shouldn't Be Ignored By Aging Americans

Two-thirds of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure or hypertension. And 90% of those who live past 60 will eventually develop it.

Hypertension is a serious problem. It can damage the heart, kidneys and brain. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart and kidney failure and dementia.

Take measures NOW to lower your risk by:

1. Reducing your stress

2. Cutting back on sodium

3. Losing weight

4. Exercising

5. Being aware that just about all over-the-counter pain relievers can cause blood pressure to rise

6. Eating 3 servings of whole grains a day (A Harvard Study reported that men who included whole grains in their diet were 19% less likely to develop hypertension over an 18 year span than those who ate the least amount of whole grains).

There are also many safe and effective drugs to lower your blood pressure.