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High Blood Pressure Q&A Index

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

Look for Dr. Sinatra's answers to specific high blood pressure questions

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Postural Hypotension

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/04/2012

Postural hypotension is a sudden, transient drop in blood pressure that happens when rising from sitting or lying down, and it causes dizziness. Learn how to prevent or reduce this dizziness.

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Filed Under: Blood Pressure

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Treating High Blood Pressure With Calcium-Channel Blockers

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

Calcium-channel blockers are commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure. Learn how this type of prescription high blood pressure medication works in the body and discover its possible side effects.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Does Salt in the Diet Cause High Blood Pressure?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 12/20/2012

To lower high blood pressure, you need to watch your salt intake, because salt promotes water retention, and excess water in the body drives up blood pressure readings.

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High Blood Pressure Question: What Treatment Options Exist for Stubborn High Blood Pressure?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 03/25/2013

Treating high blood pressure often requires a multifaceted approach. To lower blood pressure, you may need to adjust the nutrients you take, begin a weight loss program, avoid excess salt, or any combination of these options.

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High Blood Pressure and Exercise: The Extra Nutrients You Need

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

To lower high blood pressure naturally, you should exercise regularly. But you should also take a few key antioxidant nutrients to counter the free-radical damage that can occur when you exercise.

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High Blood Pressure and Salt

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 05/15/2012

One of the ways you can lower high blood pressure is by limiting how much salt you eat. Specifically, says Dr. Stephen Sinatra, you must be mindful of the “hidden” salt in prepared and packaged foods.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Lower High Blood Pressure With Exercise

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

To lower high blood pressure naturally, you should exercise regularly. Physical activity can lower blood pressure by helping you maintain a healthy weight and by reducing the levels of stress hormones circulating in the body.

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How Hawthorn Lowers Blood Pressure

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/04/2012

Hawthorn lowers blood pressure because it has ACE inhibitor qualities.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Lower High Blood Pressure by Limiting Your Sugar Intake

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/19/2012

To lower high blood pressure naturally, limit your sugar intake. Studies have shown that cutting back on sugar in the diet helps to bring blood pressure back into the healthy range.

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Treating High Blood Pressure With Diuretics

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

Diuretics are commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure. Learn how this type of prescription high blood pressure medication works in the body and discover its possible side effects.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Blood Sodium Levels and High Blood Pressure

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/04/2012

Blood sodium levels can be normal, yet you can still have high blood pressure.

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High Blood Pressure in the Morning

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 12/21/2012

A high blood pressure reading in the morning could be caused by excessive cortisol levels.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Lower High Blood Pressure by Reducing Stress

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

Chronic emotional and mental stress is a big contributor to high blood pressure, because stress causes a sustained increase in the activity in the sympathetic nervous system—the part of your nervous system associated with the fight-or-flight response.

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High Blood Pressure Question: Can a Cough Be a High Blood Pressure Drug Side Effect?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 03/25/2013

Treating high blood pressure with prescription drugs is sometimes necessary. But if you are on a drug to lower your blood pressure, you need to be aware of how it works in the body and what common side effects you may experience.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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What Causes High Blood Pressure?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 12/20/2012

Learn what high blood pressure is and discover what makes your blood pressure reading rise. Many factors, including your weight, diet, stress levels, and genetics, may be the cause of high blood pressure.

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Filed Under: Heart Health

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Anxiety and High Blood Pressure Readings

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/04/2012

Anxiety (white coat hypertension) can cause high blood pressure readings. So it's best to throw out your first blood pressure reading, then average the second two blood pressure readings.

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High Blood Pressure Question: How Much Salt Can You Eat?

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 03/25/2013

High blood pressure can be caused by too much salt in the diet. But even if you have high blood pressure, you need a minimum amount of sodium in your system to maintain proper electrolyte balance.

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Filed Under: Q&As

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High Blood Pressure and Women

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

Like heart disease, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) has always been thought of as a man’s problem—but it just isn’t so. High blood pressure affects one out of every four women and kills significantly more women than men.

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Different Arms, Different Blood Pressure Readings

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 12/21/2012

Blood pressure readings can differ between arms for some people.

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Filed Under: Q&As

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Treating High Blood Pressure With Conventional Medications: Know the Side Effects

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/22/2012

High blood pressure can be treated naturally, but there are times when conventional high blood pressure medications may be necessary. Learn how they work to lower blood pressure and what types of side effects you may experience.

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Lower High Blood Pressure With These Tasty Seasonings

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 09/24/2012

To lower high blood pressure, there are a number of seasonings you can regularly include in your diet, including curcumin, ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

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Tapering Off High Blood Pressure Medications

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 10/04/2012

To taper off high blood pressure medications, you must work closely with a doctor. Learn what to talk to your doctor about when reducing your high blood pressure medication.

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Proper Position For Blood Pressure Reading

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Last Reviewed 12/26/2012

Your blood pressure reading can be affected if your blood pressure is taken while you're sitting on an exam table without arm or back support. Learn the proper position to get an accurate blood pressure reading.

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Filed Under: Heart Health