Tag Archives: blood flow

Get a great blood pressure reading at your next checkup!

05 Wednesday May 2021

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Here are a couple of tips for a better blood pressure reading at your next doctor’s appointment: 

First: Relax and keep quiet while the cuff is on. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found talking can increase blood flow… and make it seem your blood pressure is 5 to 10 points higher than it actually is. 

Next: Watch your posture! Crossing your legs can temporarily increase your blood pressure. 

And your arm position matters, too. For the most accurate reading, keep the cuffed arm at roughly the same level as your heart. 

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It’s true. Women tend to have colder hands than men.

15 Friday Jan 2021

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Specifically, 3 degrees colder. According to the University of Utah, women naturally store more fat in their torsos than men. That boosts blood flow and protects a woman’s vital and reproductive organs – so they don’t freeze to death, and she can carry on the human race. But it leaves a woman’s hands and feet chilly. So, next time you hold hands with your partner and he says, “Your hands are always freezing,” now you know why. 

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Want to boost your heart health?

16 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Avoid listening to music you don’t like! Researchers from the University of Maryland found people forced to listen to songs they disliked saw their blood vessels constrict about 6% within 30 minutes, which reduced blood flow, strained their heart, and raised the risk for clogged arteries. While people listening to their favorite songs saw their blood vessels expand by 26%, making them wider and more relaxed. And their bodies were pumping out nitric oxide, a compound that helps prevent the clots that can trigger a heart attack.

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Why take a pill for a headache…

11 Wednesday Mar 2020

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…when you can blast away pain with PEPPERMINT?

That’s from a new study in the journal Phytomedicine – which found that peppermint oil can soothe headaches as effectively as taking 3 extra-strength Tylenol.

Researchers say it’s down to the menthol in peppermint. Think of the way chewing minty gum makes you feel like you’re inhaling cool, winter air. Well, that same sensation from menthol is proven to also stimulate blood flow, relax muscles, and calm nerves in a way that relieves pain within 15 minutes!

So, how exactly does one “take” peppermint oil? Researchers recommend mixing 6 drops of oil with your favorite body lotion. Then, firmly massage the lotion into areas where you feel pain – like your forehead, temples, and neck.

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The benefits of a scalp massage

18 Tuesday Feb 2020

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One of the best parts about getting your hair cut is the head massage in the shampoo bowl, right? Well, here’s why you may want to get a scalp massage more often. It could help your hair grow thicker!

Dr. Robert Dorin is a hair-restoration specialist and he says a vigorous head massage can boost blood flow to the scalp, which nourishes follicles. It can also counteract stress. And Mayo Clinic studies have shown that chronic stress can send follicles into a dormant state – also known as the resting phase – which is when hair falls out.

But by reducing stress, follicles can be revived and go back into a growth phase. But you don’t need to schedule extra hair salon appointments. You can get the benefits from giving yourself regular scalp massages – or using one of those flexible wire hand-held scalp massagers.

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Blood clots don’t just happen on long airplane flights.

17 Friday Jan 2020

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They can happen if you spend a lazy afternoon on the couch, binge-watching your favorite show! That’s the conclusion of a new study in the journal Circulation. The researchers found people who watched more than five hours of TV a day were two-and-a-half times more likely to have died from a pulmonary embolism. But even watching two-hours of TV a day raised the risk of a pulmonary embolism by 70%. That’s a clot that breaks free, travels to the lungs and causes a heart attack or sudden death. Basically, any time spent sedentary can slow your blood flow way down – leading to clots.

Dr. Elain Hylek is an expert in blood clots – and she says anyone who watches a lot of TV should take steps to reduce their risk.

Like after every half-hour of watching, stand up, stretch, walk around. Or while you’re watching, tense and relax your leg muscles for 5 minutes. Also, drink water while you’re watching, which helps blood flow more smoothly. Dr. Hylek says even if that extra water makes you want to get up and go to the bathroom, THAT alone could reduce your risk.

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What can harm your heart almost as much as smoking a cigarette?

05 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Dehydration! That’s according to a report from the University of Arkansas where they found even MILD dehydration makes our blood thicker, which means the heart has to work harder to pump it around the body. And that’s not all. The researchers found that being dehydrated increases levels of a certain hormone that damages the tissue lining of our blood vessels, and that tissue also plays a part in regulating blood flow. So the researchers say a good plan is to drink enough liquid so you’re using the bathroom 6 times a day, at least.

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Can’t take a walk? Move your feet!

08 Tuesday Oct 2019

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Medical experts call sitting the new smoking – that’s how bad it is for our health. So, do this if you’ve been seated for hours – and can’t get up and take a walk: Move your feet. It instantly wakes up your body, according to kinesiology experts. Spread your toes, rotate your ankles, and spell out the alphabet with your big toe. It’ll get your blood flowing and make you more alert.

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Have you ever wondered why our fingernails grow faster than our toenails?

28 Tuesday May 2019

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It’s not your imagination… research shows that fingernails tend to grow about three times faster than toenails. Scientists say it’s because our fingers are closer to our heart than our toes… which means they receive greater blood flow and get more of the nutrients they need to grow – including protein, calcium, and vitamin D.

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What you watch at the gym matters!

24 Thursday Jan 2019

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What we watch while doing cardio at the gym can impact our workout, according to Australia’s University of Western Sydney. For example, skip news or game shows, because whatever triggers deep thinking can tank your workout intensity. Instead watch shows with a physical component that’ll inspire you to work up a sweat, like “The Amazing Race,” or a sporting event. Because research shows when people watch a video of someone else being active, it increases blood flow, heart rate, sweat and respiration.

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