Herbal Extracts Plus Blog

Given the serious health risks chronically elevated blood-pressure levels pose, as well as the fact that high blood pressure often goes undiagnosed, it’s important that you be proactive in knowing your blood pressure. This means not simply relying on your doctor to check your blood pressure during office visits. In fact, such check-ups can fail to provide an accurate indication of your blood pressure due to the fact that blood pressure can spike during the day. Such spikes, if ongoing, pose similar health risks as those of chronically elevated blood pressure. To more accurately determine blood-pressure levels, a growing number of physicians are advising their patients to use a home blood-pressure-monitoring device. Such devices are now widely available at drug stores and allow anyone to monitor their blood- pressure levels regularly throughout the day. Knowing the symptoms can also help alert you to whether or not you have high blood pressure. Common symptoms range from difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness or fatigue, headache, insomnia and intestinal complaints, as well as emotional instability. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor right away to rule out high blood pressure as a contributing factor.

It’s Still February and National Heart Month: According to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Hospital health care providers' advice, we can manage heart failure by following a healthy lifestyle and to try these tips: Avoid salt: It causes your body to retain fluid, which can cause swelling in your legs and feet. Weigh yourself daily: Weight gain of three or more pounds is a warning sign and a reason to call your doctor. See your doctor regularly: Routine tests help ensure your heart is working to its potential. Take blood pressure medication as prescribed: Controlling blood pressure and preventing fluid buildup helps your heart function the best it can. Stay active: Exercise strengthens your heart and helps it beat more efficiently.

During the winter months, many people experience a dip in mood. It can range from feeling a touch of the "winter blues" to full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can be more serious (any prolonged depression needs professional help). Whatever your experience, it helps to have activities that can brighten your outlook and boost your mood this time of year. Find resources to bolster your mood at whatever level you need, and put at least one of them to use - starting now. Check these out: Many people find yoga, meditation, happy music, massage or aroma-therapy uplifting. Getting exercise, certain vitamins and increasing your exposure to light can all help. Certain foods can be helpful too: Think oatmeal, lentils, beans, barley, apples and strawberries. Don’t forget foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids like walnuts, salmon, sardines and flaxseeds.

This week, try something new:  If you’re getting bored with your exercise routine, switch it up! Varying your activity means you will challenge your body to work new muscle groups. Try something different every once in awhile to keep up your interest while your body gets fitter all over, plus you’ll be more likely to stick with doing your workouts if you’re having fun.

Evidence suggests that psychological factors are “heartfelt” and can contribute to cardiac risk. Stress plays a significant role in cardio-vascular symptoms, particularly heart attack risk. Depression, anxiety, anger, hostility and social isolation also affect cardiovascular health and heighten your chances of developing heart problems. But emotional issues are often intertwined: People who have one commonly have another. While you can’t change the world around you, Harvard Medical School advises some lifestyle changes to help minimize stress: Get enough sleep. Lack of sound sleep can affect your mood, alertness, energy levels and physical health. Exercise. Physical activity alleviates stress and reduces your risk of becoming depressed - and is good for your all-around health. Learn relaxation techniques. Meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are mainstays of stress relief. Local hospitals or community centers may offer meditation or yoga classes, or you can learn from books or videos. Learn time-management skills. These skills can help you juggle work and family demands. Confront stressful situations head-on. Don’t let stressful situations fester. Hold family problem-solving sessions and use negotiation skills at work. Nurture yourself. Treat yourself to a massage. Truly savor an experience: eat slowly, focusing on each bite of that orange, or soak up the warm rays of the sun or the scent of blooming flowers during a walk outdoors. Take a nap. Enjoy the sounds of music you find calming.  Need extra help?  Talk to your doctor about natural herbal therapy.

When you're admitted to the hospital, your health care team works together to help protect you from infection. The Lehigh Valley Hospital health care providers advise that after leaving the hospital, you can prevent infection at home by following these tips: Rest as much as possible and take a break from strenuous activities such as yard work or fitness routines. Watch for signs, and call your doctor if you develop a fever, chills or redness or tenderness around an incision, catheter or IV needle site. Stay healthy - Wash your hands frequently; keep incisions and wounds clean; wipe down phones, TV remotes and keyboards after use; and avoid large crowds and anyone you suspect is sick.

According to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Hospital, the occasional cough is normal and helpful; it helps clear foreign substances and secretions from your lungs and prevents infection. If your cough lasts only a few days or weeks, it could be caused by allergies, a cold or other lung infection. To ease your cough, use cough drops or hard candies to soothe your throat, use a vaporizer to moisten the air, drink plenty of fluids and think about an expectorant to loosen phlegm. If your cough lasts longer than a few weeks, there may be an underlying problem or more serious infection. If you have symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, your cough gets worse when you lie down, or fever over 100.5, particularly lasting more than 48 hours, call your doctor. Did you know that herbalists tell us Elderberry may be helpful for colds and flu? It’s said to help reduce the course of infection when taken at the very first sign of cold or flu, and symptoms may pass within seventy-two hours. Elderberry has long been used for coughs, common colds and runny nose. As an expectorant, it may help loosen mucus and expel phlegm. Taking Elderberry may also usually induce heavy sweating; and following a soothing sleep, it may also help with fever. Speak with your doctor for guidance.

Forbidding certain foods is a common diet strategy, but studies have shown that this can actually lead to overeating. Food restrictors often satiate their cravings by eating other high-calorie items, which can lead to weight gain. Learning how to effectively cope with trigger foods will leave you feeling in control and can improve your chances of maintaining your weight. If you have some leftover Valentine’s chocolate, enjoy a piece from time to time – just not all at once. Instead of fearing your favorite foods, figure out how to budget a small portion into your week. Simply removing the mental “forbidden” label from a food can greatly reduce cravings for it!  Give in to temptation occasionally; you can look forward to the treat – and still be in control of your weight and your healthy life.

Valentine’s Day is here, and, for many, it’s a special day full of love. We think of chocolate, gifts, greeting cards, fancy dinners, and yes, perhaps even romance!  Did you know that the herb, Catuaba, has an almost legendary reputation as an aphrodisiac in Brazil?  It’s true, and it is said to safely enhance libido, desire and drive in both women and men, as well as a act as tonic for healthy circulation. Read about this ancient botanical; this may be a more interesting Valentine’s option than a fattening box of chocolates.

Raw fruits and vegetables usually provide more vitamins than their cooked counterparts, but there are ways to prevent nutrient loss while still savoring prepared foods! Careful cooking with minimized heat and water may result only in a 5-15% nutrient loss (compared to processed foods, which can lose 50-to-80 percent!).  This week, try steaming or quick sautéing vegetables and cooking meat over low heat to preserve as many nutrients as possible. You might even discover a new favorite recipe!