防治高血压的良好建议

Hypertension is one of the major medical problems of our modern age.  Hypertension is divided into two main categories--primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension.  Currently, 94% of all diagnosed hypertension is termed essential meaning that the underlying mechanism is unknown.  However, there is considerable research showing that a variety of genetic, nutritional and environmental factors are responsible for the condition.  In the other 6% the hypertension is secondary to another disease.  The number of individuals with hypertension (blood pressure over 160/95 mm Hg) in the U.S.A. is estimated at 20% in the adult white population and 30% in black adults.  These values are nearly doubled if the  blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg is considered the upper limit of normal.   Although behavior patterns and stress play an important part, hypertension is most closely related to dietary factors.  Hypertension is another of the many diseases or syndromes associated with the western diet, and is found almost entirely in developed countries.  People living in remote areas of China, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Panama, Brazil and Africa show virtually no evidence of essential hypertension, nor do they experience a rise in blood pressure with advancing age.  Furthermore, when racially identical members of these societies migrate to less remote areas and adopt a more "civilized" diet the incidence of hypertension increases dramatically.   While many factors influence blood pressure including weight, diet, lifestyle, caffeine use, alcohol use, tobacco use, stress levels, and exercise, I'd like to focus on herbs and natural supplements that can be helpful for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.   HAWTHORN BERRY Hawthorn berries are commonly used throughout Europe to their cardiovascular activity--they provide a combination of effects that are beneficial for angina and other heart problems.  Specifically, hawthorn berries reduce blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels, improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart, and offer significant protection against the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).  In addition, hawthorn berries may be beneficial, either alone or in conjunction with Coenzyme Q-10, in the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure.   OLIVE LEAF Olive leaf extract has been shown in numerous studies to provide hypotensive (blood pressure-lowering) properties and inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which helps to prevent the formation of plaque that can clog arteries and cause heart disease.  Clinical trials have confirmed that olive leaf extract lowers blood pressure, normalizes heart beat irregularities (arrhythmias), relieves angina pain, and enhances circulatory system function, improving blood flow in cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disorders.  In addition, researchers have determined that a bitter glucoside known as oleuropein is a powerful antioxidant and the compound responsible for olive leaf extract's ability to successfully inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol.   GRAPE SEED Grape seed extract is a rich source of plant flavonoids called proanthocyanidins.  The powerful antioxidant activity of these proanthocyanidins can cross the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells and nerve endings against free radical damage caused by exposure to air pollution, certain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals, tobacco smoke and ultraviolet light.  In addition, double-blind research conducted in France has shown that grape seed extract strengthens capillaries and has shown good effects in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.   GOLDEN ROD Golden rod contains flavonoids and saponins that provide a diuretic action on the kidneys, promoting fluid elimination.  This action is achieved without stimulating the loss of sodium and chloride, thus golden rod is considered safer than many synthetic diuretics (prescription and over-the-counter) which promote the loss of electrolytes.  Golden rod has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity and is approved by the German Commission E for use as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and mild anti-spasmodic.  In addition, golden rod is widely used in Europe to treat inflammation of the urinary tract, as well as to help prevent formation of and promote the elimination of kidney stones.   COLEUS FORSKOHLII Coleus Forskohlii has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as a natural remedy for heart disease.  Coleus forskohlii contains a substance known as forskolin that appears to be responsible for the herb's ability to reduce blood pressure.  Today, physicians in India use forskolin to treat angina, heart failure and hypertension.  Research shows forskolin has the potential to not only reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but also to strengthen the heart muscle, thus improving its function and enhancing blood flow throughout the body.   L-ARGININE L-arginine (an amino acid) has been shown in animal studies to help reduce high plasma cholesterol levels and aid in the treatment of atherosclerosis.  Arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide, which is needed by the body to keep blood vessels dilated, thus allowing the heart to receive adequate oxygen.  Arginine also appears to function as a natural blood thinner by decreasing platelet aggregation.   VITAMIN E Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation, which may reduce the risk of heart disease.  Studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have shown that vitamin E supplementation can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 41%.  Research has also found that vitamin E can reduce the risk of nonfatal heart attacks by up to 77%, according to a double-blind study published in Lancet.    This information is not intended to prescribe or diagnose in any way.  Please consult a QUALIFIED health care professional before using any of the herbs or natural supplements mentioned above.  This information is for educational purposes only.

(This column is authored by Carol Koenigsknecht, Herbal Practitioner and owner of Terra Ken Herbals.  She is available for consultations, classes and lectures, and can be reached via her website athttp://www.TerraKenHerbals.net or by phone, (706) 797-0091.  She also owns and operates Carol’s Critter Care, a pet-sitting service.)

腹型肥胖增加妇女偏头痛的风险

Belly Fat Linked to Risk of Migraines

Study Shows Excess Belly Fat May Increase Risk of Migraines for Men and Women Under 55

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 13, 2009 -- Belly fat has been linked to increased risks for heart disease and diabetes. Now new research suggests it may also be linked to an increased risk for migraines, at least until middle age.

Waist circumference was found to be a better predictor of migraine activity than general obesity in both men and women up until age 55.

Earlier research has linked obesity with an increase in the frequency of migraines in people who already have them. But the new study is one of the few to suggest that obesity raises the overall risk for migraines.

And it is the first to examine whether belly fat may play a specific role in migraines and severe frequent headaches.

The findings will be presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Seattle.

Belly Fat and Migraines

Researchers from Philadelphia's Drexel University College of Medicine examined data collected from more than 22,000 participants in the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The survey included measurements of both abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference, and overall obesity, as determined by body mass index (BMI). The data also include self-reported estimates of migraine and severe headache frequency.

Women are three times as likely as men to suffer from migraines. Researcher B. Lee Peterlin, DO, tells WebMD that the findings may help researchers understand this gender difference.

"This may be one piece of the puzzle," she says. "This does not suggest that if you lose your extra abdominal fat it will cure your migraines. But it may be a clue to help explain the sexual dimorphism in migraine."

Even after controlling for overall obesity, excess belly fat was associated with a significant increase in migraine activity in both men and women between the ages of 20 and 55.

"This is the age when migraine is most prevalent," she says. "Our findings suggest that both general obesity and abdominal obesity are associated with an increased prevalence of migraine in this age group."

Women with extra belly fat were 30% more likely to experience migraines than women without excess belly fat, even after accounting for overall obesity, risk factors for heart disease, and demographic characteristics. The link between belly fat and migraines in men in this age group was not significant when accounting for these factors.

Migraines in Women

The findings suggest that belly fat is an important risk factor for migraine, but it may be more important in women than in men, Peterlin says.

After age 55, carrying extra weight around the middle appeared to be associated with a slight decrease in migraine risk in women, but the reasons for this are not clear.

"That was a surprise," Peterlin says. "It appears that there is an impact at every age, but it changes. In women under 55, belly fat is bad. But over 55, having belly fat may actually be mildly protective against migraine."

Migraine researcher Stephen Silberstein, MD, tells WebMD that the new research raises more questions than it answers.

Silberstein is a spokesman for the American Academy of Neurology and a professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

"The large population-based studies indicate that obesity correlates with the frequency, but not the presence of migraines," he says. "This is the first time anyone has looked at abdominal girth and they found that it predicts the presence of migraines. This is an interesting observation, but these findings would definitely need to be duplicated."

植物病毒提供智能炸弹炸死癌细胞

Washington, Feb 13 (ANI): In a major step towards better chemotherapy treatments, scientists have created tiny “smart bombs” by modifying a common plant virus, which can deliver drugs only to specific cells inside the human body without affecting surrounding tissue.

The researchers have revealed that each of these smart bombs is thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair.

They say that the new approach may lead to more effective chemotherapy treatments with greatly reduced, or even eliminated, side effects.

In a collaborative effort, Drs. Stefan Franzen, professor of chemistry, and Steven Lommel, professor of plant pathology and genetics, used the special properties of a fairly common and non-toxic plant virus as a means to convey drugs to the target cells.

According to the researchers, the virus is appealing in both its ability to survive outside of a plant host and its built-in “cargo space” of 17 nano-meters, which can be used to carry chemotherapy drugs directly to tumour cells.

They deployed the virus by attaching small proteins, called signal peptides, to its exterior that cause the virus to “seek out” particular cells, such as cancer cells.

The same signal peptides serve as “passwords” that allow the virus to enter the cancer cell, where it releases its cargo.

“We had tried a number of different nanoparticles as cell-targeting vectorsThe plant virus is superior in terms of stability, ease of manufacture, ability to target cells and ability to carry therapeutic cargo,” said Franzen.

Calcium is the key to keeping the virus” cargo enclosed. When the virus is in the bloodstream, calcium is also abundant.

However, inside individual cells, calcium levels are much lower, which allows the virus to open, delivering the cancer drugs only to the targeted cells.

“Another factor that makes the virus unique is the toughness of its shell. When the virus is in a closed state, nothing will leak out of the interior, and when it does open, it opens slowly, which means that the virus has time to enter the cell nucleus before deploying its cargo, which increases the drug’’s efficacy,” said Lommel.

The researchers are hoping that their method will alleviate the side effects of common chemotherapy treatments, while maximizing the effectiveness of the treatment