Shortly after consumption, your systolic rate increases by over 7.5% and diastolic raises 7% and heart rate is up 7-10 beats per minute. And why is this? Here ya go…

Most energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and taurine, an amino acid also found in protein-containing foods such as meats and fish. Both have had effects on heart function and blood pressure in some studies. In contrast, “sports drinks” in general contain various mixtures of water, sugars and salts alone, without chemicals aimed at increasing “energy” or alertness.

The study also concluded that the effectiveness of medication could also be decreased. That’s not good! Don’t even get me started on the whole Red Bull and Vodka thing! Haha.

via Science Daily

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Popular Energy Drinks Like Red Bull Can Cause Cardiac Complications

A five-year study found people treated in the summer were on average 8% more likely to see their blood pressure come down to healthy levels.

These same findings were reported from 15 VA hospitals across the US. Not only are blood pressure’s elevated in the winter months but the incidence of stroke and heart attacks are also higher. Is it the slowed activity, the colder weather and thus vasoconstriction or the salty “winter”type hot foods that we consume? Maybe it is all of the above.

via BBC 

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The Winter Season Affects Blood Pressure

Let’s get real, your heart definitely gets a workout during the horizontal hokie pokie. Not enough to cancel your gym membership, but enough to mention. Here is a peek at how your heart reacts during the 4 stages of your “hot and heavy”…

Arousal- Your heart rate and respiratory rate go up. Your blood pressure quickly follows suit and you get a flushed feeling from head to toe. Just imagine walking the mall briskly, but only way more enjoyable!

Plateau- All of the above changes are magnified. This would be the second heaviest workload right before orgasm. Yes, once again I have use one of those funny, uncomfortable and clinical words. Think of this phase as walking up a few flights of stairs. But once again, a heck of a lot more fun.

Orgasm- This would obviously be your greatest increase in blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Maximum workload for the ol’ ticker. This lasts about 15-30 seconds. All that work for just 15 seconds! I’m not sure what to compare this to. I will just say it is a very happy place to be and leave it at that!

Resolution- Your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing very quickly returns to normal. This is the heaviest workload after you orgasm. Let’s see, I will compare this to the end of a soccer game when you are sucking down your water and catching your breath. You are so sad to see the game end but so darn glad you played!

I am sad to report that this whole process on the average takes 10-20 minutes. Yes, that is all. If you have angina during the warm up, feel that your heart is “beating out of your chest” or have trouble regaining your breath after sex, you need to make an appointment with your cardiologist. Don’t be embarrassed, anxious or ashamed! Isn’t it better to discuss the problems rather than ignore them and have a heart attack in the throws of passion? Personally, I think that it would be more embarrassing, but not uncommon! But we will save that discussion for another time.

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From Arousal To Resolution… This Is How Your Heart Reacts During Sex

After the walk they provided a breakfast and health screenings for us, ie. blood pressure, body fat, BMI, and cholesterol. Love having that body fat done, you know? It wasn’t that bad. At least when you know, you can do something about it. We also had a holistic physician as a guest speaker.

Most of what she was referring to didn’t apply to me, but she had some very valid points. Exercise and nutrition are of course the key factors in the prevention of heart disease. She gave the obvious pointers we all know too well. That is not too say that we carry through with them!

But the one topic that she touched on really made me think. “So many of us take blood pressure and cholesterol medication for years and years, but do we stop and evaluate if our situation has changed enough to warrant discontinuing the medications?”

This is something that I don’t touch upon when speaking with patients. Things have to change with our bodies over time, right? Especially if you have made positive lifestyle changes!

You could be taking medications that are not even needed. Could you be doing more harm than good? Have you reevaluated your heart medications recently?

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Have You Reevaluated Your Heart Medication Recently?

First of all, I we will be welcoming a guest blogger over the next few weeks. I am excited to say that Mark, from Mark’s Daily Apple will be joining us for a few fitness tips and give us ways to squeeze in our very needed cardio gym time. He is an ex-professional endurance athlete (Ironman) and all around healthy guy! Look forward to reading his words of wisdom next week some time.

Why do people just assume that a diet pill will make you lose weight with no ramifications? I mean, come on! I can’t tell you how many people I hear say, “I’m getting that diet pill prescribed this week, I am going to lose 20 pounds. Ugh, I hate dieting and don’t ask me to enter a gym, it’s just not me”. Do you think that your insides are heart healthy by taking a pill. Isn’t the idea of losing weight to create a healthier you by proper nutrition and some sort of exercise? Boy am I fired up!

Why is it that I observe my fellow healthcare professionals smoking their little hearts out every chance they get? First of all, didn’t you just preach a sermon to room 210 about heart disease and smoking? You told him he needed to quit before he was a permanent resident of our facility. And second, why do you get to take a break to go smoke while I cover your patients and answer all of you calls? Because I am a non smoker, I am punished and don’t get to leave the floor for 12 hours? Whatever!

And Finally, how many of you keep track of your blood pressure? Just a little question. Once again, my kids listen to all that I say, and boy do I have a lot to say. They hear me preach about salt, fatty foods and how it affects blood pressure. They also observe my hubby and myself checking our BP at Target once a week. So they ask Mom Mom and Pop Pop, “what is your blood pressure”? Yeah, how cute, right? Mom mom and Pop Pop don’t think so but it proves my point. Listen and learn. Education and knowledge is power. Teach what you know, you never know who might be listening and how it could affect them.

Have a great Friday! Let me know what you think. Do you agree with my gripes and opinions? Do you have something to offer myself and other readers? Come on, don’t be shy!

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Friday’s Hearty News and Gripes…