A lot of factors contribute to high blood pressure, none more so than stress. In stressful situations, our blood pressure shoots up temporarily. Though these temporary spikes in blood pressure are not dangerous, prolonged stress can lead to the condition of high blood pressure, which doctors warn is a potential hazardous health condition.

Stress is a result of the body’s instinctive fight-or-flight response to certain situations. The fight-or-flight response is our body’s innate response to life threatening situations. Although we don’t face situations that classify as ‘life-and-death’ situations every day, our body reacts the same way to modern-life stressors.

Stress leads to the production of hormones that assist the body in preparing for the flight-or-fight moments. Although researchers are yet to establish a direct connection between extended stress and the condition of high blood pressure, it is accepted that the hormones produced under stressful situations may cause harm to the arteries–the carriers of blood in human body. Another thing that needs to be understood is that extended stress can lead to certain harmful behavioral patterns, such as overeating, lack of sleep, and depression, all of which over a period of time can cause more than normal blood pressure.

More high blood pressure patients are using natural remedies to control high blood pressure. This behavior is not surprising, and the two biggest reasons behind this newly-gained popularity of natural treatment approaches are:

• Blood pressure medications have side-effects such as cramps, aches, and dizziness. In fact, some high blood pressure medications may even lead to heart attacks and strokes.
• Natural remedies are very safe and effective in controlling high blood pressure. Natural remedies are less costly than allopathic treatment too and are devoid of side-effects.

One natural way of controlling high blood pressure is by consuming beet.

Come Thanksgiving, come heart diseases.

At first glance, many of you may think this is a hyperbole or an unnecessary warning aimed to prevent you from enjoying the much-awaited holiday season; sadly, this is not so.

Researches have shown without doubt that the onset of the holiday season leads to an increase in cardiovascular diseases. These findings may be distributing, but they are not at all surprising – overindulgence when it comes to greasy and fatty foods and alcohol during the festive season is an open invitation to cardiovascular diseases. And they seldom disappoint.