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Decrease Your Blood Pressure, Increase Your Brain Power

By Bobby Buys

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 01Jul2010 Word count: 707 Viewed: 218 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Several recent studies found a close link between blood pressure and brain power. A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people with high blood pressure made more errors on their mental status tests than those with normal pressure. Another study proved that on average people with high blood pressure performed 10% slower on mental tests and were less capable of remembering words, facts or numbers.

High blood pressure can also cause white matter lesions that affect the brain's ability to transmit information. Clearly, high blood pressure means reduced mental and cognitive skills - all the more reason to ensure your blood pressure levels remain under control. These steps will minimise your risk of high blood pressure:

- Watch your weight. Blood pressure often increases as the kilograms pile up. Carrying too much weight around your waist can significantly increase your risks of hypertension.

- Limit sodium intake and boost your potassium intake. In fact, increasing potassium in your diet can reduce the effects of sodium on blood pressure.

- Give in to your chocolate cravings - but opt for dark chocolate. It contains substances that can improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. Do exercise restraint: too much of a good thing is eventually bad for you!

- Limit alcohol consumption. Moderate consumption of alcohol can keep heart diseases at bay; it can also bring down your blood pressure. On the other hand, overindulgence can drastically increase blood pressure. So what is the right amount? Doctors suggest one drink a day for women and two for men.

- Avoid tobacco products. Even an hour after your last smoke, nicotine can significantly raise your blood pressure. Puffing all through the day means that your blood pressure remains high. Tobacco also damages arteries, causes fluid retention, and interferes with the efficacy of blood pressure medications.

- Reduce stress. A lifestyle of constant stress can increase your chances of high blood pressure. If you lead a stressful life, take conscious efforts to de-stress through deep-breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, meditation or counselling.

Here are some more proven techniques to keep your brain alert:

- Physical exercise: Researchers say that the areas of the brain most influenced by exercise are those that are associated with learning and memory.

- Mental stimulation: As the saying goes, use it or lose it! The best way to keep your mind shipshape is through consistent mental stimulation. Start a new hobby, learn a new skill, or solve a crossword puzzle. The idea is to challenge your brain and give it opportunities to stretch and grow.

- Sleep: There's a wealth of truth in the proverbial wisdom of "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!" The healing power of sleep comes from the fact that a good night's rest can stimulate the formation of new brain cells.

- Socialising: Time spent with friends and family is far from being time wasted. When you are in a social situation, there are unexpected turns in conversation, an exchange of ideas and a sense of relaxation, all of which are beneficial to the brain.

- Laughter: It's true, laughter is the best medicine. Medical science now acknowledges the health benefits induced by laughter .Apparently, humour stimulates the areas of your brain that use dopamine, a "feel good" chemical. It also improves the memory by reducing stress, relaxing your muscles and increasing the flow of blood to your brain.

- Diet: Good eating habits play an important role in boosting brain power and improving cognitive functions. Eat breakfast every day; incorporate Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet; consume whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Don't take too much caffeine as this can make you mentally dull over the years and elevate blood pressure. A safe limit would be about 200 milligrams. Don't binge on junk food as the empty calories only make you physically and mentally sluggish. Moreover, the saturated fat and cholesterol present in junk food can increase blood pressure.

Blood pressure and brain power are so closely associated that it is hard to take care of one while ignoring the other. So, go ahead and get blood pressure and brain power conscious!

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