Lowering Blood Pressure with a Surprising Exercise

by Laura

Reducing high blood pressure can involve a whole complex of dietary and lifestyle changes. In addition you might want to incorporate something as simple as squeezing a ball to bring down your readings.

Studies at the University of Michigan by Dr. Robert D. Brook found that just four weeks of isometric hand exercises produced a 10 percent drop in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings. This would include squeezing a ball or an athletic gripper.

Lesser improvements were noted with traditional exercise such as aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, swimming, even gardening), or with strength training.

This study reviewed over 1,000 other studies to glean the best of the best. The findings were published in “Hypertension” medical journal.

I can also add that another effective gambit was to add plenty of fresh celery to the diet. Yes, the studies are out there to support this veggie as part of a good diet plan to fight hypertension.  

Sports Fitness: Get Buff in 6 Min./Day?

Read an interesting article in the New York Times about a study done on rats regarding changes in muscle tissue with two groups of rats. One group was worked in lengthy swimming sessions, two sessions of three hours each. Another group was worked more intensely for shorter bouts: each session was about twenty seconds with a ten-second rest, but while carrying a weight. The two groups of rats had very similar changes in muscle tissue despite the very different training regimens.
Rats have similar muscle tissue to that of humans, so the researchers extrapolated that humans did not necessarily have to exercise for hours in order to develop endurance.
You can read the story about the study at http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/can-you-get-fit-in-six-minutes-a-week/?em
My concern is that athletes who go full bore into an intense weight-training session are probably more likely to get injured. Start with those stretching and limbering exercises first before intense bouts. Muscles need to be warmed up adequately before you stress them with anything that intense.