Potassium good for hypertension provided you are not on ACE Inhibitors or AR blockers

Potassium good for hypertension provided you are not on ACE Inhibitors or AR blockers Dr KK Aggarwal President CMAAO and HCFI Potassium regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper function of the muscles and nerves, and is vital for synthesizing protein and metabolizing carbohydrates. Earlier the so-called Paleolithic diet delivered about 16 times more potassium than sodium. Today, most people get barely half of the recommended amount of potassium in their diets. The average diet contains about twice as much sodium as potassium, because of the preponderance of salt hidden in processed or prepared foods. This imbalance, is  a major contributor to high blood pressure. The adequate intake recommendation for potassium is 4,700 mg. Bananas are often touted as a good source of potassium, but other fruits (such as apricots, prunes, and orange juice) and vegetables (such as squash and potatoes) also are a good source. Diets ( DASH) that emphasize greater potassium intake can help keep blood pressure in a healthy range, compared with potassium-poor diets. Higher potassium in diet is also associated with a lower stroke incidence.

Take home message: All should take high potassium in diet. But if you are hypertensive check before you take K if you are on ACE inhibitors or AR blockers, both can raise potassium.

Diet for high uric acid: Focus shifts to healthy diets

Patients with high uric acid levels were earlier advised by their doctors to avoid eating foods high in purine. By itself, it has not been shown to be very helpful; hence, this approach is changing.  The focus is shifting to following a healthy diet instead of making a list of foods to be avoided along with maintaining a healthy body weight. Losing weight can lower uric acid levels.

·         Drink plenty of fluids but limit intake of sweetened drinks and alcohol, which can increase uric acid levels.

·         A healthy diet emphasizes plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits and legumes. Whole grains are preferred over processed grains. Reduce intake of fat, especially saturated fat (found in red meat). Lean sources of protein, including chicken, turkey, fish and tofu, are better choices than beef or pork.

·         A study published in 2016 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology in 2016 found that people who followed the DASH diet for 30 days lowered their uric acid levels 0.35 mg/dL on average. The higher the starting uric acid level, the greater the decline.

·         Fish are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is healthy but some seafood also contains high amounts of purines. However, gout patients do not need to totally avoid eating fish. They should limit their intake of shellfish, sardines, and anchovies as they have the highest amounts of purines. They should instead choose flaky white fish, such as cod, tilapia, or flounder.

·         Consume low-fat dairy products. These products, which contain calcium, may help lessen gout attacks as well as protect your bones

·         Vitamin C may lower uric acid levels. Gout patients may add citrus fruits and other foods rich in vitamin C (such as strawberries and peppers) to their diet.

·         Eating cherries can reduce gout attacks and improve pain.

(Source: Harvard Health)

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania   (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA

The four keys to prevent cardiovascular disease

An estimated 80% of all CVD cases — heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke — can be prevented. The key is to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol and to maintain healthy habits, such as exercising regularly, eating a plant-based diet, getting enough sleep, and not smoking.

Exercise: Guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five times a week. "Doing more is better.

·         Walk for 5 minutes every 2 hours. Do a set or two of push-ups either on the floor or against the kitchen counter.

·         Perform up to 10 repetitions of stand-and-sit exercises, where you rise from a chair not using your arms and then sit down again.

·         Find opportunities to do extra movements. For example, park farther away from the grocery store, take the stairs, and do simple yard work like weeding, planting, and raking. Every bit of everyday movement can count toward your overall exercise requirements.

Diet: Focus on plant foods; minimize intake of red meat, especially processed meat.

Sleep: Guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend adults get at least 7 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis. Studies have found that getting less than this amount is associated with heart disease risk factors like higher stress, increased inflammation, high blood pressure, and weight gain. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk. According to a study published online Feb. 12, 2018 in the Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy, people with sleep apnea are more likely to also have heart failure, an irregular heartbeat and diabetes

Numbers: Keep the lower BP, LDL cholesterol, abdominal circumference and fasting sugar < 80

(Source: Harvard Health Watch)

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania   (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA