Make
your exercise aerobic, not isometric.
While regular exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure,
it must be done properly and the correct type of exercise in order
to be useful. Isometric exercises, in which you clench and hold,
such as weight lifting, should be avoided, says David Spodick, M.D.,
director of clinical cardiology at St. Vincent Hospital at the University
of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. That's because heavy
weight lifting can cause blood pressure to temporarily skyrocket,
especially if you hold your breath while lifting (as most people
do). Correct exercises are low impact cardio workouts where the
heart level doesn’t drastically change. If you have high blood
pressure, make sure you consult with your doctor and trainer before
proceeding.
Have a few laughs.
Laughter is the best medicine. Just because it is a cliché,
doesn’t make it false. The truth is that laughter is as good
as relaxation therapy, exercise or other methods used to combat
stress, says Steven Allen, Jr., M.D., son of the famous comedian
and clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the State
University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse College
of Medicine.
"When you laugh, you decrease adrenaline and cortisone production,"
says Dr. Allen, who specializes in laughter therapy. (Adrenaline
and cortisone are both hormonal compounds that have an adverse effect
on blood pressure.) "My prescription is that you should do
something silly at least twice a day or as needed."
Research High and Low.
Researchers now have evidence, in the largest survey to date, that
high blood pressure not only affects ejaculation power, but also
depresses sexual response. The possibility that not only high blood
pressure contributes to sexual problems, but the drugs that treat
it also do, need to be studied further. “Both these areas
have received little attention in research and requires further
study,” said Laurie Duncan, M.D., who presented the study's
findings at Bassett Healthcare and the Mary Imogene Bassett Research
Institute in Cooperstown, NY.
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