Normal blood pressure at age 50 means more life ahead

A study published online on June 27, 2005 in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension (http://hyper.ahajournals.org) found that having normal blood pressure in one's fifties can be predictive of a life span that is up to five years longer than that which individuals with hypertension can expect, and that the onset of cardiovascular disease is also delayed. The study is the first conducted in a large group of people to demonstrate the association between blood pressure and overall life expectancy, and life expectancy among individuals with cardiovascular disease.

Data from 3,128 subjects in the Framingham Heart Study who had their 50th birthday as participants was analyzed for the current investigation. When subjects with hypertension were compared to those with normal blood pressure, they had a shorter life expectancy as well as a shorter life expectancy without cardiovascular disease or events. Total life expectancy for those with normal blood pressure was an average of 5 years longer than that of hypertensive individuals. Twenty-two percent of the men in the study had normal blood pressure at the age of 50, and this group survived on average 7.2 years longer without cardiovascular disease, and experienced fewer years with the disease than those who had hypertension. Similar findings were observed among women.

Research collaborator Dr Anna Peeters, of the Monash University Central and Eastern Clinical School in Melbourne, Australia summarized, "What is really surprising is the unexpectedly large number of years difference in life expectancy between those with hypertension and those without. And while those with lower blood pressure lived longer, they also lived healthier lives. So, by preventing hypertension you would have a much higher life expectancy and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease."

Soy helps lower blood pressure

A study reported in the July 5 2005 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (http://www.annals.org) found that supplementing with soy protein helped lower the blood pressure of individuals with high-normal blood pressure, which is considered to be indicative of prehypertension, or mildly elevated (stage 1) hypertension.

Hypertension

Nutritional Recommendations:

• Avoid sodium (salt) intake. One-third to one-half of the people with hypertension are significantly benefited by lowering salt intake. Many respond better to their medications when on a low salt diet. Avoid foods containing salt like potato chips, salted nuts and seeds, ham, and other mostly canned prepared foods. Too much salt is typically added to many foods and menu items.
• Take coenzyme Q10, 200 to 300 mg per day to lower blood pressure, prevent oxidation, and stabilize cellular membranes.
• Take essential fatty acids, especially GLA and DHA, ideally in a 2:1 ratio.
• Take vitamin E, 200-400 IU, as a mixture of gamma- and alpha-tocopherols and tocotrienols to prevent peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Take vitamin C, 2000 mg, three times a day as an antioxidant.
• Take potassium, through the use of No-Salt or Lite-Salt, and confer with your doctor. (The DASH diet recommends 500 mg per day.)
• Take arginine in doses of 4500 mg, three times per day.
• Take Super MiraForte to effectively increase free testosterone levels, thus lowering blood pressure. One to two capsules per day.

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Questions? Comments? Send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 1-800-678-8989.

For longer life,

Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
LifeExtension.com
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