The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, "Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time." In addition, the CDC says, "Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. In 2020, more than 670,000 deaths in the United States had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause."

Getting high blood pressure under control is essential for your overall health and literally could be a matter of life or death. However, most people with hypertension don't know they have it.  According to the CDC, "About 1 in 3 U.S. adults with high blood pressure aren't even aware they have it and are not being treated to control their blood pressure." Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to determine you have the condition, so keeping routine doctor visits is always recommended. While the statistics are grim, there are ways to help prevent the common condition and Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with doctors who share what to know about high blood pressure and ways to help avoid the condition. 

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health and Saint Mary's Hospital tells us, "Hypertension, also referred to as elevated blood pressure can affect anyone at any age. There are several factors that can increase your risk for developing the disease including age, family history, smoking, and living a non-active lifestyle. It is important to mention, race is a social construct that does not increase or decrease the risks of developing hypertension."

The CDC says, "High blood pressure doesn't just happen to older adults. Nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 44 have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, a condition that is on the rise among younger people. Experts think the increased risk for stroke in this age group is a direct result of the rising rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes—conditions that are preventable and treatable."

In addition, high blood pressure has been linked to dementia, according to the CDC. "Recent studies show that high blood pressure is linked to a higher risk for dementia, a loss of cognitive function.Timing seems to matter. Evidence suggests that having uncontrolled high blood pressure during midlife (ages 44 to 66) creates a higher risk for dementia later in life. The takeaway? It's never too early to start thinking about your blood pressure and taking steps to manage your high blood pressure."

Dr. Curry-Winchell says, "The CDC says, a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher is considered hypertension. It's important to know, some people will not experience any warning signs or classic symptoms such as chest pain, and difficulty breathing until the disease has progressed. In my practice, I share with my patients that vision changes, headache, and frequent nose bleeds are also hidden signs of high blood pressure."

Dr. Evelyn Huang, an emergency medicine resident physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital adds, "Often, people will not have symptoms from high blood pressure. However, some people may have symptoms. Symptoms can include chest pain, difficulty, breathing, and dizziness. This can be a sign of an emergency, so if anyone is having these symptoms, they should be contacting a healthcare provider. I always recommend that someone follow a primary care provider so that they are getting their blood pressure checked regularly and so that someone is following them long term."

According to Dr. Curry-Winchell, "High blood pressure develops over time, and is especially common because of unhealthy lifestyle choices including poor diet, lack of exercise, etc. Most recently, the CDC says, nearly half of adults in the U.S. (47% or 116 million have hypertension related symptoms." Dr. Huang states, "Hypertension often develops over time and can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or genetics. People with medical conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol, are often at risk of developing high blood pressure. There are also other factors that can cause high blood pressure, such as pregnancy."

The CDC says, "High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also happen during pregnancy."

Dr. Curry-Winchell says, "Hypertension increases your risks for developing heart disease which can lead to complications such as a heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Over time elevated blood pressure will damage the arteries carrying oxygen and blood to the heart. If not treated, arteries can become stiff, reducing the amount of blood and oxygen to the heart and the rest of the body."

The Mayo Clinic says, "High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. This causes the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to thicken. A thickened left ventricle increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden cardiac death."

The CDC says, "High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you…Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these conditions."

Dr. Curry-Winchell emphasizes, "Fortunately, there are several things you can do. Most importantly, get a check-up with your doctor in the books. They will be able to run tests and discuss your risks for developing the disease. Also, try to invest in healthier food such as spinach, carrots, and bananas – as it's been well documented they can lower your blood pressure. Keep moving! Staying active keeps your heart strong and allows your blood to pump better throughout the body, which can help lower your overall blood pressure."

The CDC says, "Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes. Talk with your health care team about

• Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
• Not smoking
• Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Managing stress"

The post Doctors Say These are Signs of Hypertension, Including Chest Pain appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Dizziness may result from standing up too fast or being a little dehydrated. But vertigo — the sensation of the room spinning — or lightheadedness may also be a sign of a brain problem, something wrong with your gastrointestinal system or a condition that affects your vision or inner ear. 

"Many medical conditions can lead to dizziness, or any simple condition like anxiety can also cause dizziness," says Dr. Sharat Honnatti, a physician in Bangalore, India. "Low hemoglobin content, called anemia, also causes dizziness."

A viral infection of the inner ear could cause temporary vertigo. "High blood pressure, low blood pressure and very low levels of pressure also cause dizziness, fatigue and generalized weakness," Honnatti adds.

Dizziness could also result from high or low blood sugar, diabetes, thyroid disease or cardiovascular conditions. Consult a doctor if the dizziness persists or is accompanied by nausea or vomiting.                                                                         

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, may result from menopause, obesity, too much exercise, anxiety or stress, and even eating food that's too spicy, the AARP says. 

But heavy sweating may also indicate thyroid problems, diabetes or heart issues. 

"Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating," says Dr. Adam Friedman, professor and interim chair of dermatology, at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. 

"It is four to five times more what your body needs for controlling body temperature. … It could be hot, cold," Friedman adds. "You could be stressed or anxious or just relaxing and watching TV, doesn't matter: You will sweat excessively. Because the nerves that send the signals to sweat are on overdrive."

He adds: "Now with secondary hyperhidrosis, this is typically associated with an underlying medical condition. It could be diabetes, hyperthyroidism, certain infections or even cancers, as well as certain medications like high blood pressure medicines or even antidepressants." 

Feeling cold may mean you need to turn up the thermostat. But a persistent feeling of chilliness could indicate a number of health problems, including hypothyroidism, anemia, poor blood circulation or low body fat, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland produces too few hormones to regulate your metabolism and body temperature. "It's part of thermoregulation, the process by which your body adjusts your temperature to stay in a normal range," says Dr. Janet Morgan, an internal medicine specialist at Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center in Ohio. "For instance, when you sleep, your body slows itself down to conserve energy, and your body cools."  

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, may also be the culprit, says Dr. Eric Berg, a doctor of chiropractic in Alexandria, Virginia. "The way to fix it is not to consume six meals a day or eat sugar when your blood sugars are low." Other causes include low iron or certain vitamin deficiencies, he adds.

Inexplicable weight loss is usually a sign of something more serious than simply skipping a meal or two.

It can be a symptom of stomach cancer, a thyroid problem, Crohn's disease, a cardiovascular problem, Addison's disease, Parkinson's disease, AIDS, gastrointestinal problems, dental problems, depression or anxiety, side effects of prescription medications, celiac disease, diabetes, a parasitic infection, drug abuse, undiagnosed eating disorders, swelling of the pancreas, alcohol abuse, swallowing problems or dementia, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

To determine which it is, you and your doctor will check to see if you have other symptoms that indicate a specific disease or condition.

Unusual moles or spots on your skin may or may not be a sign of skin cancer.

If moles or freckles are round, symmetrical or don't change, you're probably fine.

But if the spots are new, growing, asymmetrical or don't have clear borders, they may be a sign of melanoma, a lethal type of skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

"Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. In the United States," says Dr. Keira L. Barr, a dermatologist and chief wellness officer at Resilient Health Institute. "There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined. By simply 'partying' in your birthday suit every single month and looking for any 'uninvited guests,' you have the ability to save your own life."

Even noncancerous moles that are irregular may be a sign that you are at increased risk of skin cancer, the foundation says. 

Know your skin, keep track of your moles and check regularly for any changes, the foundation advises.

The post 5 Warning Signs Your Body is Trying to Tell You About Your Health appeared first on Eat This Not That.

"I was bulimic and anorexic" during her rise as a Hollywood star in her 20s and 30s, said Fonda, now an active 85, in an interview with podcast Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper. She added: "I'm becoming a starlet, and there's so much emphasis on how you look, and it was a … constant trigger for me."

"It seems so innocent in the beginning," Fonda said, adding: "You don't realize … it becomes a terrible addiction that takes over your life."

It wasn't until her 40s that Fonda realized the toll her addiction was taking. "It becomes impossible to have an authentic relationship," she said. "When you're doing this secretly, your day becomes organized around getting food and then eating it, which requires that you're by yourself and that no one knows what you're doing. … And it happens when your life is inauthentic: When what you should be doing and who you should be or who you really are, those things are being betrayed."

"As you get older, the toll that it takes on you, it becomes worse and worse," she said, adding: "It got to a point in my 40s when I just thought, … 'If I keep on like this, I'm going to die." 

Fonda quit cold turkey in an era when eating disorders were not discussed or treated widely. "I didn't realize that they were groups that you could join," Fonda said. "I didn't know anything about that yet, and nobody talked about it. I didn't even know there was a word for it."

"And so I just went cold turkey, and it was really hard," Fonda said. "But the fact is that the more distance you can put between you and the last binge, then the better it is. It becomes easier and easier."

Health care professionals now know a lot more about eating disorders, how to diagnose them and how to overcome them. Here's what you need to know.

"Eating disorders are serious, complex and potentially life-threatening mental illnesses," according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration in Australia. "They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape. Eating disorders have detrimental impacts upon a person's life and result in serious medical, psychiatric and psychosocial consequences."

They include such specific conditions as binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and other disorders "where there is some sort of behavioral disturbance," says Dr. Deborah Glasofer, an associate professor of clinical medical psychology in Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry.

Bulimia is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of overeating, called bingeing, followed by purging through vomiting or misuse of laxatives, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. "The binge-purge cycles can happen from many times a day to several times a week," the school says. "Often, people with bulimia keep a normal or above normal body weight. This lets them hide their problem for years. Many people with bulimia don't seek help until they reach the ages of 30 or 50. By this time, their eating behavior is deeply ingrained and harder to change."

Eating disorders typically affect women and girls, starting during the teenage years, Johns Hopkins says. But boys and men may also have them.

As many as 60 percent of teens show behaviors associated with disordered eating, says Jocelyn Lebow, a Mayo Clinic child psychologist who specializes in treating eating disorders. "They're either not eating enough to allow them to grow, to allow them to have energy to do what they need to do, so that is impacting their mood," Lebow says. "That's a problem."

"People with bulimia are more likely to come from families with a history of eating disorders, physical illness, and other mental health problems," Johns Hopkins says. "Other illnesses, such as substance use disorder, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders are common in people with bulimia."

"Although there are recognizable warning signs, what you're really looking for is change," says Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, a psychiatrist at the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. "Change in attitudes or behaviors related to food, size, weight, really about their self-perception."

Emotional and behavioral symptoms include focusing on weight loss, dieting and food control, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. 

Five signs of an eating disorder include excessive dieting or pickiness about food; excessive exercise; withdrawal from friends, family and activities a person normally enjoys; fasting; and hiding food or eating only when nobody is around, Lebow says.

A person may also display fluctuations in weight, gastrointestinal symptoms, menstrual irregularities, sleep problems, dental problems and immunity issues, the association says.

Treatment should help a person make behavioral changes, Glasofer says. If it doesn't, "then it's not hitting the target that it needs to hit to help you recover," she says. 

That includes changing symptoms such as eating less restrictively, improving patterns of eating and reducing purging or overexercise or binge-eating frequency in measurable ways, she says.

"The strongest evidence-based treatment for eating disorders are behaviorally-focused treatments," Glasofer says. "So these include family-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders, individual cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. And behaviorally based treatments will spend a lot of time really talking about normalizing eating, normalizing weight for people who need to improve their weight to a physically healthy spot."

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, consult a physician, psychiatrist or the National Eating Disorders Helpline (800-931-2237).

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders also has a list of groups, resources and other services to seek help.

The post Jane Fonda Reveals Struggle With Bulimia: Here Are the Signs appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Kutcher previously explained the illness left him bedridden. "I had this weird, super rare form of vasculitis that knocked out my vision, it knocked out my hearing, it knocked out like all my equilibrium," Kutcher, 45, says. "It took me about a year to build it all back up. You don't really appreciate it until it's gone. Until you go, 'I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to see again, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to hear again, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to walk again.' I'm lucky to be alive."  

Vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder where inflammation of blood vessels causes them to narrow and restrict oxygenated blood supply, resulting in pain and tissue damage, and possible organ malfunction. "[People with vasculitis] often have fevers, weight loss, fatigue, a rapid pulse, and diffuse aches and pains that are difficult to pinpoint," according to Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center. "It has been said that vasculitis is a 'hurting disease', because it is so commonly associated with pain of one type or another: pain from a nerve infarction, pain from insufficient blood to the gastrointestinal tract, pain from skin ulcers."

Hearing loss can happen for many reasons—understanding the warning signs can be key to effective treatment. Here are five signs to be aware of, according to experts.

Difficulty following speech (especially consonants) is one of the earliest signs of hearing loss. 

"When you lose enough hair cells, it begins to affect your hearing," says Sujana Chandrasekhar, MD, a partner at ENT and Allergy Associates in New York and New Jersey. "For men, hearing loss often starts in the mid-50s. Women, whose hearing may get some protection from female hormones, are usually affected by their early to mid-60s."

Losing the ability to hear high-frequency sounds is a warning sign, according to Dr. Chandrasekhar. "When you can hear vowels but not consonants, it sounds like people aren't speaking clearly, so it's easy to blame them." This includes talking on the phone. "Usually, sound is going in both ears, but when you're talking on the phone it's only going in one, which makes it more difficult — especially if you hold the phone to the ear that has more hearing loss."

Short-term memory issues are another sign.

"It's difficult to remember things you don't hear clearly," says Angela Shoup, a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and chief of the Division of Communicative and Vestibular Disorders at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. 

"And when you're struggling to understand what someone is saying, it taxes your short-term memory. Our minds clump information together to make it easier to remember. But people with hearing loss miss lots of sounds, so they have to hold all these random bits and pieces in their short-term memory until they can fill in the blanks to make sense of a sentence." 

Needing high volume on the TV could be a sign of hearing loss. "Whether you're watching TV, listening to music or talking on the phone, you might think the noise level is perfectly normal until others inform you the volume is too high," says Dr. Hilary Steele, Au.D. "Obviously, some people are bound to have more sensitive hearing, but when several people tell you the same thing in a variety of situations, there's a good chance that you could be struggling to hear. If your family, friends and coworkers have voiced the opinion that you talk too loudly and your music and television habits follow suit, it may be time for a hearing test."

If the TV is on and someone is trying to speak to you, or you're in a crowd and struggling to follow a conversation, it may be a warning sign of hearing loss. "One of the first signs that you're suffering from hearing loss is when you have difficulty following a conversation in crowds," says Dr. Steele. "If you often have trouble differentiating between who's speaking to you in a noisy environment, you could be in the early stages of hearing loss."

Tinnitus and hearing loss are linked, experts say. "In truth, tinnitus is not necessarily a symptom of hearing loss, but the two often go hand in hand, especially if hearing loss is related to noise damage," says Dr. Steele. "If you notice ringing in your ears, you'll want to get it checked out by a hearing care professional. You should also take the opportunity to get a hearing test, just in case you have both conditions."

"Ninety percent of those with tinnitus have hearing loss," says audiology researcher Gayla Poling, PhD. "Those little hair cells in our inner ear are really delicate structures. That's what is actually damaged with noise exposure."

Our hearing and balance are directly linked—so any unexplained clumsiness or lack of balance could be a sign of hearing loss. "Your hearing health is an important part of your overall health," says Dr. Meryl Miller, Au.D., Director of Clinical Audiology at the Ear, Nose & Throat Institute. "One of the many ways your hearing health affects your overall health is balance.  According to a study out of Johns Hopkins, individuals aged 40-69 that had a mild hearing loss were three times as likely to report falling in the past year. And, that risk increased with poorer hearing."

"A major focus of physical therapy when treating anyone with a balance disorder is to directly stimulate the patient's visual system, muscular system, and the balance system located within their inner ear," says Jose Crespo, PT. "These three systems provide simultaneous sources of information to your brain that then helps your body stay upright and control itself well without feeling disoriented, dizzy, or nauseous. The smallest of challenges placed on these three systems can result in strong balance reactions if any one of these systems are weak." 

The post Ashton Kutcher Reveals He's "Hard of Hearing"—Here are the Warning Signs of Hearing Loss appeared first on Eat This Not That.

The 5-year survival rate for people with bladder cancer is 77%, the 10-year survival rate is 70%, and the 15-year survival rate is 65%. Individual factors such as overall health and risk factors—such as smoking—make a significant impact on outcomes.

"The type of bladder cancer that most patients are diagnosed with is urothelial carcinoma," says Dr. Tyson. "There are other types of cancers of the bladder, like adenocarcinomas and small cell carcinomas, but urothelial carcinoma is the most common. Some urothelial carcinomas have what's called variant histology, and these can be plasmacytoid, micropapillary, microcystic. These are tumors that generally increase the aggressiveness of the urothelial carcinoma. But in addition to the cell type, you'd also need to know the grade and the stage of your tumor. These tumors are generally graded as low grade and high grade, with high-grade cancers being more aggressive. The grade, the stage, and the type of cancer are all used to determine the type of treatment that you will receive."

Here are the most common symptoms of bladder cancer, according to experts. 

The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria). "Usually, it's bleeding," Dr. Tyson says. "So, patients will usually either be told that they have blood in the urine on a test done by a primary care physician or otherwise, or they'll see blood in their urine. And those types of situations require immediate urologic evaluation. This is one of the big problems with delays in diagnosis. We think that there's something else that's causing the bleeding and we delay urologic evaluation which can lead to delays in care. So, if bleeding occurs, it does require immediate attention." 

Other common symptoms are painful urination and constant urination (especially at night). "There are other sorts of things that patients will sometimes notice when they're first diagnosed, and that might be a change in their urinary symptoms. This isn't a common presentation, but frequency and urgency and nocturia, particularly those irritative voiding symptoms, are a little more common with pretty aggressive disease. We'll see this more commonly with some of the variants, not necessarily the routine urothelial carcinomas, but some of the more esoteric types of the disease. Those can sometimes present with dramatic changes in voiding function. But generally, it's bleeding."

A simple urine DNA test could detect mutations up to ten years before clinical diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. "A simple urine test has recently been developed, and these new results are another exciting step towards the validation of a non-invasive early detection tool," says Florence Le Calvez-Kelm, IARC scientist and principal investigator of the study published in The Lancet. "This test could significantly improve and simplify the way in which bladder cancer is detected."

"Our results provide the first evidence from a prospective population-based cohort study of the potential of urinary TERT promoter mutations as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of bladder cancer," study's co-first author Ismail Hosen says. "If the findings are validated, large trials conducted in individuals at high risk of developing bladder cancer should be designed to address the health and cost benefits of screening for TERT promoter mutations for the global bladder cancer burden," says Mahdi Sheikh, a postdoctoral scientist at IARC and the co-first author of the study.

"We think that about 50% of all bladder cancers are caused by smoking, it comes to most patients as a surprise to learn that because they usually think of smoking as a disease

that affects the lungs," says Dr. Tyson. "But indeed, the chemicals that are inhaled are excreted into the bladder and held into the bladder and before they're voided, and that causes changes to the urothelium, which really occurs anywhere along the urinary tract from the kidneys all the way down to the tip of the urethra. 

"And so, bladder cancer itself tends to be the most common site of urothelial carcinoma, which is, you know, urothelium is the inner lining of the bladder. But urothelium, like I said, is anywhere along that tract, and so you can develop a urothelial carcinoma, much like a bladder cancer in the kidneys or the ureters, which is the tube that drains the kidneys, or the urethra. So, the smoking is the most important risk factor, but there are others too. We think that particularly patients that were raised in rural communities where there are pesticides in the groundwater, arsenic based pesticides, lots of folks live on wells, they tap those wells, like my parents live on a well in a farming community." 

There are several different methods for treating bladder cancer, depending on the stage of detection. Surgery to remove tumor cells, chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells, immunotherapy to help bolster the immune system, and radiation therapy using high-energy waves to kill cancer cells are all typical methods of treatment. Promising new research shows treatment using antibody-drug conjugates and checkpoint inhibitors could be a highly effective alternative for people who cannot have chemotherapy. 

"Although bladder cancer cases are going down, the death rates haven't changed significantly," says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) genitourinary oncologist Jonathan Rosenberg. "Having these new treatment options available brightens the outlook considerably for many bladder cancer patients. While immunotherapy has gotten more attention in recent years, antibody-drug conjugates might end up making the bigger positive impact, at least in the near future.

"The emergence of checkpoint inhibitors has been a revolution for some people who have highly aggressive, life-threatening bladder cancer. But immunotherapy still doesn't work in enough patients. We have to find better ways to improve response rates and survival. Even if checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates don't represent a cure for bladder cancer, anything that could help people live longer or delay progression of the disease — in some cases, allowing them to avoid bladder removal or chemotherapy after surgery — will improve their quality of life."

Certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of bladder cancer. "Elderly age is a significant risk factor for cancer in general. Repeated exposures to risk factors, including smoking, may result in an accumulation of genetic changes that can contribute to bladder cancer development," says oncologist Petros Grivas, MD, PhD. "A man has about a 1 in 26 chance of developing bladder cancer during his lifetime, while a woman's risk is about 1 in 90," says Dr. Grivas, adding that the risk is higher for men as they are more likely to smoke tobacco or be exposed to dangerous chemicals. 

"Certain professions, such as firefighting, machining and truck driving may increase risk because people in these professions have more exposure to toxins and chemicals; smoking can further increase this risk. A higher level of awareness and community involvement may contribute to more effective research with new meaningful treatments and life-saving drugs." Dr. Grivas recommends not smoking, staying adequately hydrated, eating a healthy diet, and protecting against chemical exposure to help prevent bladder cancer.

The post Bladder Cancer Can be Diagnosed Early—Here are the Signs appeared first on Eat This Not That.

"It was progressively getting worse. My vital signs were getting worse, … and in the end I had to be air evacuated," Twain, 57, told the U.K. tabloid The Mirror. "It was like science fiction, I felt like I was going to another planet or something," she says. "It all kind of happened in slow motion."

Her second husband, Frédéric "Fred" Thiébaud, had to call for the airlift, Twain said. "My husband was freaking out, to be honest," she said. "He was really panicking because he was the one having to pull it all together. He spent hours and hours every day on the phone, trying to get an air evacuation coordinated, trying to get a bed lined up, as there were none, checking my vital signs. It was just a real nightmare for him."

Twain eventually wound up in a hospital and was put into isolation and treated with plasma therapy, she said. "It took several days to start building up any antibodies at all, so it was a very dangerous time and very scary," she said. "I made it through, and I'm just so grateful."

The experience made it into Twain's music in a song, Inhale/Exhale Air. "It's a song of ­gratitude and appreciation," she said. "I was inspired that I still had air in my lungs."

COVID-19 pneumonia is a serious condition with symptoms that are similar to but different from other types of pneumonia. Here's what you need to look out for.

"One of the common complications of COVID 19 infection is pneumonia," says Dr. Susan Wilcox, chief of the Division of Critical Care in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "When we say pneumonia, we mean infection of the lungs, specifically infection of the small airways and the air sacs or the alveoli."

COVID-19 pneumonia is caused when a person's immune system responds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the lungs, causing the alveoli toi swell and leak fluid, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

COVID-19 pneumonia is just one type of the lung disease, which can also be caused by bacterial, fungal or viral infection or as a result of diseases such as influenza.

"The World Health Organization estimates that between 250,000 to 5 million people die of pneumonia from influenza annually," says Dr. Chen Yiming, a family physician in Singapore. "In fact, pneumonia accounts for about 15 percent of all deaths of children under 5 years old."

Risk factors for pneumonia include include being younger than 5 or older than 65;  chronic lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease; heart disease; or a weakened immune system, as in HIV patients or people who are on chemotherapy or are post-organ transplant, Yiming says.

The symptoms of COVID pneumonia can resemble those of an initial COVID-19 infection, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Those include shortness of breath, trouble breathing, confusion, extreme fatigue or tiredness, cough, fever, chest pain or tightness or bluish lips, skin or nails, the clinic says.

"Symptoms of pneumonia may vary from individual to individual," Yiming says. "They include cough, phlegm production, shortness of breath, fever with chills, chest pain. In severe cases or in elderly patients, even confusion and drowsiness."

Less common symptoms include sore throat, headache, aches and pains, diarrhea, a rash on skin or discolouration of fingers or toes, or red or irritated eyes, according to the World Health Organization.

You can't tell the difference between COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses by symptoms alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Some PCR tests can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Both COVID-19 and flu take a few days from infection to symptoms. It is also possible not to have symptoms if you are infected with either virus.

But a person with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms than a person with the flu. COVID-19 also spreads more easily than the flu, the CDC says. COVID-19 can also cause more serious illness than the flu.

Guang-Hong Chen, professor of medical physics and radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, is developing an algorithm to tell the difference between COVID-19-related pneumonia and other pneumonias, he says. 

"And we think that will help our expert thoracic radiologists, at least provide them a second opinion to better … differentiate the COVID-related pneumonia from the other type of pneumonia," he says.

To prevent COVID-19 pneumonia, stay up to date on your vaccinations. If you qualify for additional boosters, you should get those as soon as you can as well.

If you believe you have contracted COVID-19, get tested at your doctor's office or at a pharmacy and follow your doctor's instructions.

"Pneumonia from COVID-19 in and of itself does not mandate medical care; however, patients with COVID-19 pneumonia can develop respiratory failure and may need to be hospitalized," Wilcox says.

"If you start to have significant shortness of breath — meaning that you're having difficulty getting about your house, going to the bathroom, taking care of yourself — this is a reason to go to the hospital and be evaluated for COVID-19 pneumonia," she adds.

The biggest indicator that a COVID-19 infection has worsened is having trouble breathing, the Cleveland Clinic says. "If you have shortness of breath, and it's getting worse, or if you feel like you can't get air, go to the nearest ER," the clinic says.

"It's important to go to the ER if you have symptoms of COVID pneumonia, as it can get worse quickly," the clinic adds. Just ask Shania Twain.

The post Shania Twain Airlifted to Hospital With COVID-19 Pneumonia: Here Are the Signs appeared first on Eat This Not That.

But it's not just adults. Kids are also affected by the disease and the report says, the national youth obesity rate from 2017–2020: is at 19.7 percent. "The continued increase in rates of obesity across all population groups is alarming," said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America's Health. "Policies and programs to reduce obesity need to be implemented at a systems level. We must advance policies that address the community, institutional, and structural factors that are barriers to healthy eating and physical activity and that exacerbate health inequities."

Obesity is a deadly disease and anyone is at risk, although certain communities are affected greater. "Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with at least 2.8 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese," WHO states. "Once associated with high-income countries, obesity is now also prevalent in low- and middle-income countries." Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with experts who share what to know about obesity and how to help prevent it. 

Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies states, "Obesity is on the rise in many populations worldwide, and people should be aware of the consequences of this chronic disease. It increases a person's risk for various health concerns such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and joint pain. (The World Health Organization, 2021) Excessive weight gain can also affect a person's mental well-being; those who suffer from obesity are more likely to develop depression and anxiety.  To reduce these risks associated with obesity, people should follow a healthy diet with balanced meals, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats. In addition to this nutritional guidance, physical activity is key; those looking to keep their weight in check should strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Taking control of one's lifestyle choices can go a long way in preventing the chronic effects of obesity."

Dr. Ilan Shapiro, chief health correspondent and medical affairs officer of AltaMed Health Services tells us, 'Obesity is something that is a mirror of many difficult things the community has to deal with and suffer from. It comes from mental health and opportunity. The more barriers we have and toxic stress related things around the community, there will be more obesity. Obesity is one of the worst things that we have to contend with. Before obesity was a sign that you were healthy and had enough food to actually have extra pounds. But right now we know that actually creates a ramification of stress, depression, conducive to cancer, problems with asthma, and many other things that are not just weight related. That's why it's important to know that obesity is a sign of change. It's an opportunity for our community to make a difference and have a healthier lifestyle and of course create bridges to improve social dynamics of health in our communities."

Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA tells us, "The reason for the rise in obesity is multifactorial and cannot be easily explained; biology, genetics, environment and socio-economic status all play a role; more sedentary lifestyle, easy availability of unhealthy foods, lack of education on proper nutrition, all contribute to the obesity epidemic."

Dr. Mitchell explains, "Obesity rates have been increasing steadily and have nearly doubled since the 1980s and are currently at an all-time high. At least 4 million individuals die each year because of being obese according to the World Health Organization. (Emily Laurence, 2023) Many causes contribute to this phenomenon, primarily lifestyle choices such as poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. With fast food and sugar-filled snacks being more accessible than ever before, it's easy to see why many people might lose sight of what healthy eating looks like. Likewise, in a modern world filled with jobs requiring sitting for long periods or requiring no exercise, regularly getting in some form of physical activity has become quite challenging despite its obvious benefits. As a result, obesity is on the rise–a problem we must tackle head-on if we want to ensure better health outcomes for our population."

Dr. Mitchell says, "Obese populations disproportionately affect certain communities more than others due to socioeconomic disadvantage and access to healthy lifestyle choices. When an individual is unable to afford healthy food, they are more likely to rely on cheap fast-food that can lead to obesity.

According to the CDC, U.S. adults who live in rural areas are more likely to have obesity than U.S. adults living in urban areas.  Those in disadvantaged communities often lack access to the basic infrastructure necessary for physical activity such as community parks or a safe environment for running or biking. Socioeconomic disparities then combine with environmental factors to put members of certain communities at higher risk for obesity. With all this considered, it is clear why obesity so disproportionately affects certain communities in our society."

Dr. Mitchell says, "Obesity is a serious and growing health concern with many causes behind it. Unhealthy eating habits, such as overconsumption of junk food, processed foods, and refined sugars, are significant factors in obesity. Additionally, decreased physical activity due to more sedentary jobs and lifestyles contribute to this epidemic. Furthermore, certain medications can cause weight gain in some people, notably those experiencing long-term conditions or taking steroid treatments. 

Poor sleep routines are also linked to becoming obese; not getting enough sleep affects the hormones that regulate hunger and can lead to consuming more calories than necessary when trying to replenish energy stores. A combination of these factors can cause significant weight gain for many individuals and communities if left unchecked. We must be aware of possible contributors to unexplained weight gain so that preventative measures can be taken before putting one's health at risk."

Dr. Ali says, "Signs of obesity, besides the obvious physical changes, include the onset of obesity-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes; calculating a patient's body mass index (BMI) is a place to start.  A normal BMI is in the range of 18-25. Someone with a BMI over 30 is defined as obese."

Dr. Mitchell emphasizes, "It is important to recognize any potential signs of obesity early, as this condition can put people at risk for serious health complications. Some standard signals include a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30; an inability to lose weight or gain weight quickly; feeling out of breath after minimal physical activity; excess abdominal fat and skin folds; sleep apnea followed by daytime fatigue; difficulty moving limbs or joints from strain on the body's Musculoskeletal system; and aches and pains in the lower back, knees, and hips caused by excess fat. If you experience any combination of these symptoms, it is recommended that you seek a medical professional's help in developing a treatment plan tailored to your needs."

To help prevent obesity, Dr. Shapiro says, families need to work together. "As parents we were never taught how to eat or behave. We need to create healthier generations and the best example is us adults. Kids actually learn by what they see, rather than what we tell them. It's important to always be moving, eating better, avoiding sugary drinks and making sure our mental health is on the healthy side. We need to share with our kids that diet, sports, sleeping well and mental health are cornerstones of having a vast amazing and well life." 

Dr. Mitchell says, "One of the best ways to help prevent obesity is to increase physical activity. Spending time outdoors exercising or even taking a brisk walk regularly are great ways to help you maintain a healthy weight. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that children aged 3-5 years must be physically active throughout the day. Children aged 6-17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day and adults need 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. 

Additionally, eating nutritious, whole foods like fruits and vegetables can provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals that reduce your risk of becoming overweight or obese. Staying hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water is another great way to help your body better regulate its calorie intake. Lastly, taking the time out of each day to practice mindfulness exercises like yoga or meditation can help reduce stress levels and lead to more mindful eating habits, reducing cravings for unhealthy foods. By making these small lifestyle changes, it's possible to help you stay away from obesity and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

As a doctor, I understand that lifestyle choices are not always the leading cause of obesity. Many cases in my practice have been due to hormone imbalances, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and thyroid conditions or disabilities that limit mobility. This doesn't mean it's an issue of bad habits, but it is something beyond their control – and in some cases, even knowledge. Obesity is far bigger than physical effects, bringing emotional burdens and social pressures. The impact of this can be devastating at an economic level too. As healthcare professionals, we are responsible for ensuring sensitive levels of understanding while treating such conditions and promoting healthy lifestyles where possible."

The post Obesity Rising America—Signs You Have the Disease appeared first on Eat This Not That.

"I can't give up," Sigler says. "I don't want to give up on life. I have beautiful children. I have my own dreams and aspirations." 

Sigler, 41, was diagnosed with the central nervous system disease at the age of 20.

"I think it would be really cool for my kids to witness miraculous healing, too, how they could take that throughout their life," Sigler says. "I have like my vision that I always hold onto that I try to see when I meditate or anything, and it's always just me running with them."

Sigler has two sons with husband Cutter Dykstra. She earlier said her doctor told her it was possible to become pregnant even with MS. "You can absolutely carry and you can absolutely have a very healthy pregnancy, healthy delivery," she says. "And in fact, a lot of people feel better during pregnancy. And during my first pregnancy, that was the case."

Sigler is an example of how a person can live a full life with the incurable condition. Here's what you need to know about multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"Multiple sclerosis is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerve cells in the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord, called the myelin sheath," says Dr. W. Oliver Tobin, a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic.

"This sheath is often compared to the insulation on an electrical wire," Tobin adds. "When that covering is damaged, it exposes the actual nerve fiber, which can slow or block the signal that's being transmitted within it. The nerve fibers themselves might also be damaged."

The body can repair damage to the myelin sheath, but it's not perfect, Tobin says. "The resulting damage leaves lesions or scars, and this is where the name comes from, multiple sclerosis, multiple scars."

"Women are up to three times as likely as men to have relapsing-remitting MS," Tobin says. "The risk for MS in the general population is about 0.5 percent. If a parent or sibling has it, your risk is about twice that, or about 1 percent."

MS can occur at any age, but usually appears in people between 20 and 40, he adds.

"Multiple sclerosis was thought to be a condition that primarily affected Northern Europeans, and then it was found that the further away you move from the equator, the higher is your chance of developing multiple sclerosis," says Dr. Ram Narayan, a neurologist in the multiple sclerosis program of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

"Now that's not always true. There are some pockets around the equator that is also a higher incidence of multiple sclerosis. But in general, we think that the farther away you move from the equator, the higher is a chance of developing MS."

The risk of developing MS increases in people with low levels of vitamin D and low exposure to sunlight, who are overweight, who smoke and who have had viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus.

Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely among patients and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nervous system, the Mayo Clinic says.

Typical symptoms of multiple sclerosis include "loss of vision in an eye, loss of power in an arm or leg, or sensory disturbance in an arm or leg lasting for more than 24 hours," Tobin says.

"Sometimes it can be really confusing when you have a patient, especially a young female patient, that comes in with tingling or numbness," says Dr. Kiren Kresa-Reahl, senior medical director of Clinical Sciences (Neurology) at Atara Biotherapeutics, a pharma company in South San Francisco, California. She adds: "If it has to do with the central nervous system, brain or spinal cord, … it'll typically affect a patient from the top down, maybe from their waist down."

People with severe MS may not be able to walk independently or at all. Others may see long periods of remission without any new symptoms, depending on which type of MS they have.

Other symptoms can include vertigo; problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function; fatigue; slurred speech; and cognitive problems and mood disturbances, the Mayo Clinic says.

There is no cure for MS but there are treatments to manage the disease.

"Symptoms of a relapse usually come on over 24 to 48 hours, last for a few days to a few weeks, and then improve, in the region of 80 to 100 percent," Tobin says.

"If you have an MS attack or relapse, your doctor may prescribe you corticosteroids to reduce or improve your symptoms," Tobin adds. "And if your attack symptoms do not respond to steroids, another option is plasmapheresis or plasma exchange, which is a treatment similar to dialysis. About 50 percent of people who do not respond to steroids have a significant improvement with a short course of plasma exchange."

Tobin says there are more than 20 medications to treat MS. "As learning to function with MS can be challenging, there are medical experts ready to work with you, to help you manage it, so you can still live a full life," he adds.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns. In the meantime, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help manage the symptoms of MS. That includes remaining physically active and eating a healthy diet. 

"Mental health is also an important consideration, so keeping up personal connections with friends and family and trying to stay involved with your hobbies is important, but also be kind to yourself and realistic about what you're up for," Tobin says. "This can change from day to day, so it's OK to give yourself permission if something seems like too much or if you need to cancel plans." 

There are also support groups for people living with MS.

The post Jamie-Lynn Sigler Has Multiple Sclerosis—Here Are the Symptoms appeared first on Eat This Not That.

In an emotional Instagram post, Osbourne, 74, cited the effects of an old spinal injury as the reason he was hanging up his mic. 

"This is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to share with my loyal fans," Osbourne posted. "As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak."

Osbourne fell in 2019 when he got up to go to the bathroom, aggravating an old injury to his neck and back from an ATV accident more than a decade earlier, People magazine reports. He has since undergone surgeries and was also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He now walks with a cane.

"I am honestly humbled by the way you've all patiently held onto your tickets for all this time, but in all good conscience, I have now come to the realization that I'm not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates, as I know I couldn't deal with the travel required," Osbourne said.

Osbourne's announcement underscores the gravity of spinal injuries. Here's what you need to know about them.

"Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an insult to the spinal cord resulting in a change, either temporary or permanent, in its normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function," says Dr. Lawrence Chin, professor of neurosurgery and medical director of the Neuro Oncology Program and dean of the College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Between 265,000 and 316,000 people in the United States live with spinal cord injury, he adds.

"Patients with spinal cord injury usually have permanent and often devastating neurologic deficits and disability," Chin adds. According to the National Institutes of Health, "among neurological disorders, the cost to society of automotive SCI is exceeded only by the cost of" mental disability, he says.

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete, meaning an absence of sensory and motor functions, or incomplete, meaning some sensory or motor function remain below the level of injury.

The National Spinal Cord Injury database records about 40 cases of spinal injury per million in the U.S., or about 12,000 patients, based on data from the 1990s, Chin says. About 66.5 percent of people with spinal cord injuries are white; 26.8 percent are Black; 8.3 percent are Latino, and 2 percent are Asian, he adds. 

Men are about four times more likely than women to have spinal cord injuries, accounting for nearly 81 percent of the injuries.

Motor vehicle accidents account for about 56 percent of spinal cord injuries; accidental falls 14 percent, firearm injuries 9 percent and sports injuries 7 percent.

Spinal cord injuries can cause loss of movement; loss of or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch; loss of bowel or bladder control; exaggerated reflex activities or spasms; changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility; pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your spinal cord; and difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from the lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Immediately after an accident, the following symptoms indicate a spinal cord injury: pain or pressure in the neck, head or back; weakness, lack of coordination or paralysis in parts of the body; numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in hands, fingers, feet or toes; loss of bladder or bowel control; difficulty with balance and walking; impaired breathing, or an oddly positioned or twisted neck or back, the clinic says. 

Spinal injury can result in tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, in which the arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected, or paraplegia, in which all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs are affected, the clinic says.

"There's been a dramatic shift over the last 20 to 25 years in how patients with spinal cord injury are managed and the outcomes," says Dr. Michael Fehlings, a neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto. "So the abiding concept really is: time is spine. And spinal cord injury is a time-critical event."

Emergency room treatment involves airway management, dealing with a drop in blood pressure, and replacing fluids and oxygen and perfusion of the spinal cord to prevent neurogenic shock, Chin says. ER doctors must also attend to head or intercranial injuries.

"The role of early decompression has had a dramatic impact on the outcomes in the management of people with spinal cord injuries," Fehlings adds. "And so the odds of an individual having a substantial recovery is about threefold higher if surgery's undertaken within the first 24 hours." 

"Patients with a complete spinal cord injury have a less than 5 percent chance of recovery," Chin says. "if complete paralysis persists at 72 hours after injury, recovery is essentially zero." But, he adds, "ultimately, 90 percent of patients with spinal cord injury return to their homes and regain independence."

Assume that anyone who experiences major trauma to the head or neck needs immediate medical evaluation for a spinal injury, the Mayo Clinic says. Assume that trauma victims have a spinal injury until proved otherwise; spinal injury isn't immediately obvious, and the time between injury and treatment can be critical.

 In the meantime, if you have a spinal cord injury, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggests taking part in clinical trials. "Clinical research uses human volunteers to help researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease," the institute says.

The post Signs You May Have a Spinal Injury as Ozzy Osbourne Cancels Tour appeared first on Eat This Not That.

And new research suggests lowering your hypertension might even extend your life. A new hypertension drug called rilmenidine could be repurposed to help increase a person's lifespan, according to the new study from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Institute of Translational Medicine in Switzerland and Harvard Medical School.

The study in the journal Aging Cell looked at roundworms and found that treating them with rilmenidine resulted in their living about 20 percent longer, with benefits in both young and old specimens. More research is needed to determine whether the effect would translate to humans. In the meantime, here's what you need to know about hypertension.

Simply put, hypertension is blood pressure that is higher than optimal in your veins and arteries. 

More than 70 million Americans have it, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Hypertension is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and other issues that can lead to death.

Hypertension is expressed in two numbers: The numbers represent measures of the pumping action of the heart, says Dr. Leslie Thomas, a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic. The higher number, called systolic blood pressure, is the pressure from the contraction of the heart's left ventricle. The lower number, diastolic blood pressure, measures the relaxation of the heart's left ventricle.

The numbers are expressed in millimeters of mercury, or mm Hg, a reference to the device used to measure blood pressure (the cuff that your doctor places around your arm to measure your blood pressure).

Normal blood pressure is a systolic pressure of less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg, says Dr. Raoul Hermanns, a physician in the Netherlands. It is expressed like this: 120/80 or "one twenty over eighty." Elevated blood pressure — not quite high blood pressure — is systolic pressure of 120 to 129 and diastolic pressure less than 80. High blood pressure or hypertension is systolic pressure equal to or greater than 130 or diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 80.

Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered a hypertensive emergency; if you have this measurement, you should call for medical help immediately.

The only way to know if you have hypertension is to measure your blood pressure regularly.

The Mayo Clinic advises checking your blood pressure at least every two years, starting at age 18, and more frequently if you have risk factors such as smoking, inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity or other conditions.

People who are 40 or older should check their blood pressure at least annually, the clinic adds. If you have hypertension, your doctor may advise even more frequent checks.

You can get a free blood pressure screening at health fairs or community clinics, at some pharmacies or other places with public blood pressure machines. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are looking for a list of symptoms and signs of hypertension, you're in for a surprise. 

There aren't any, according to the American Heart Association. It's a myth that people with hypertension show symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing.

"The best evidence indicates that high blood pressure does not cause headaches or nosebleeds, except in the case of hypertensive crisis, a medical emergency when blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher," the association says. "If your blood pressure is unusually high AND you have headache or nosebleed and are feeling unwell, wait five minutes and retest. If your reading remains at 180/120 mm Hg or higher, call 911."

"Risks for the development of primary hypertension include family history, advancing age, obesity, high sodium diet, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity," Thomas says.

You should also check for hypertension if you are taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications, have kidney disease or certain endocrine disorders or have a significant narrowing of the aorta or a kidney artery, he adds.

"There are several important changes you can make in your daily habits to lower your blood pressure reading," says Dr. Leigh Simmons, general Internist at Massachusetts General Hospital and medical director of the Mass General Health Decisions Sciences Center. "Adding regular physical activity that gets your heart rate up and that you can do for at least 150 minutes a week can make a big difference in lowering your blood pressure. 

"Also, reducing the amount of salt you eat on a daily basis can make a difference as well, and I recommend not adding salt to foods as well as avoiding processed foods and eating out too often," he adds. "Finally, reducing or completely eliminating alcohol can make a difference in lowering one's blood pressure."

Uncontrolled high blood pressure thickens the walls of your arteries and makes it harder for blood to get down to your legs and toes and up to your brain, Simmons says. "We need good blood flow to those parts of the body," he says.

High blood pressure can also weaken the walls of arterial blood vessels and cause aneurysms, which are bulges in the blood vessels that can burst and cause damage to the organs, in the chest, in the abdomen and in the brain, he adds.

In addition, "hypertension can cause heart disease, including heart failure and coronary artery disease; stroke; vision loss; kidney disease; and aneurysmal disease," he says. 

The post Doctors Say These Are the Signs of Hypertension, Including High Blood Pressure appeared first on Eat This Not That.