Participants: James Marcum & Charles Mills
Series Code: UP
Program Code: UP00019B
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00:01 Welcome back to the program.
00:02 I'm Charles Mills here with Dr. James Marcum 00:04 We're talking about hypertension on today's program. 00:06 And Dr. Marcum, there's a question from 00:09 heartwiseministries. org web site here 00:11 that I would like to know too. 00:12 I sort of talked about it earlier... 00:14 HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT? 00:16 I mean, you don't FEEL it... Okay - right 00:20 Sometimes it's called a hidden killer, 00:22 but sometimes you can have symptoms. 00:25 One of the symptoms of high blood pressure might 00:27 be a headache. Okay 00:29 I have had some people that their faces 00:31 always turn red when they have high blood pressure. 00:34 But most people don't know they have it. 00:36 But one way they can find out IF THEY HAVE IT 00:38 is take this device here, 00:40 and this is called our "sphygmomanometer" 00:42 Now I would normally take your 00:44 coat off Charles, but I'm not going to do this. 00:45 I'm just going to show people how painless it is. Okay 00:48 You just wrap it around here, 00:50 and then you put it here and this puts pressure 00:53 on your upper arm, and then I would take 00:56 this stethoscope... can you hold that for me - I sure can. 00:58 I take this stethoscope - that way I can hear the blood moving 01:02 within your vessels. 01:03 Okay, now this might cause you - 01:05 Now see all these numbers here? I do 01:07 20, 40- that tells me the pressure... 01:09 So I'm going to inflate it above your systolic pressure 01:12 And it's a little bit harder when you're wearing your coat, 01:14 but I didn't want to mess up 01:16 the microphone you have underneath it. 01:18 So I'm going to puff it up really high... Okay there we go! 01:21 Can you feel it getting tighter? 01:23 Yeah, I can see it getting tighter. 01:24 So I'm going to take it up to 200... okay 01:28 And I'm going to listen to your artery, 01:30 and I'm going to listen very closely, 01:33 and I probably can't hear through your coat here... 01:43 Ahh - I saw it jump right there. Yes 01:45 I got it right here, Charles Okay 01:51 And your blood pressure, the top number was 100, 01:53 and the bottom number was 78, 01:56 and that is a very good blood pressure 01:58 considering you're in front of a television camera! 02:00 Now what that means is the pressure that the heart 02:04 pumps out was about 100, which is good, 02:06 the vessels can handle that. 02:08 The lower was 78 and that's excellent, 02:09 that's when the heart relaxes. 02:11 So based on this, I would say, Charles, 02:13 you DO NOT have high blood pressure. 02:16 Charles, you probably aren't going to have bad headaches 02:19 due to high blood pressure. 02:20 You're kidneys aren't going to be damaged by blood pressure 02:23 Charles, you probably will not suffer a weak heart 02:25 because of high blood pressure, 02:27 and one of these causes of death that we've 02:29 been talking about - you probably don't have 02:30 that risk factor. 02:32 So you're going to be at a lower risk of stroke, 02:34 lower risk of heart attack, 02:35 lower risk of renal disease, 02:37 lower risk of aneurysms just because 02:38 your blood pressure is good. 02:40 So you can go to a Wal-Mart, you can go some place 02:42 and put your arm in this thing and pump it up... 02:44 it gives you a pretty good idea. 02:46 And here's what I want to let our viewers know... 02:48 The ones that work around the wrist - they have some risk 02:51 and those aren't nearly as accurate. 02:53 They usually read high. 02:55 So if you have a wrist and it's normal, it's probably good. 02:57 But to buy the automated ones that go around upper here, 03:01 and if you carry extra weight, 03:03 you might need what we call the "big cuff. " 03:05 But if you measure this and it's pretty good... 03:08 These cost about $40- you can get them for $40. 03:09 Anybody can buy them... Anyone can get those, 03:12 and the ones that they have in the store, you just hit a button 03:15 and it does all this for you... 03:17 But, of course, in the doctor's office, we like to listen 03:20 to the pressure there. 03:21 And you can take the pressure in the arms, 03:23 and also, I can even take pressures 03:25 in your leg if I wanted to, 03:26 and I could listen to pressures in your leg and compare 03:28 the arms and the legs, 03:30 and that's actually how we tell if you have 03:32 good circulation in your leg is we can compare 03:34 the pressure down here which is called... 03:36 the ankle - we call it the "ankle-brachial index" 03:39 We compare the pressures there with the pressures up here 03:41 and if they're about the same, 03:43 we know you probably don't have bad disease 03:44 in your blood vessels. That makes sense 03:46 So that's called the "ankle-brachial index" 03:48 So blood pressure can damage numerous blood vessels 03:50 so that's how you know if you have high blood pressure. 03:52 Your blood pressure... Does it stay pretty consistent 03:54 throughout the day, or different... Nope 03:56 That's a good question! It fluctuates. 03:58 It's usually highest the first thing in the morning 04:00 because that's when the cortisol is the highest. 04:02 That's a wake-up-and-get-going, you feel that WOOO, I feel good! 04:06 It's usually lowest in the night when you're asleep and relaxed. 04:09 And apparently after naps the same thing happens - 04:11 Yeah it does but now some people, 04:14 you know as we get older, you know you jump up real quick 04:17 and you get lightheaded! whooo-whooo! 04:18 That's because the arteries haven't pushed the 04:20 blood pressure to the brain as quick. 04:23 And that happens very frequently, 04:24 so I want to tell our older listeners to make sure 04:27 if you change positions, if you are getting dizzy, 04:29 do it very slowly. 04:31 Another cause of that blood pressure fluctuation when you 04:33 sit up is if you're dehydrated, so you'll want to drink a lot 04:37 of water if you're getting dizzy too. 04:38 So blood pressure can change based on the elasticity 04:42 and the volume of what's in the blood vessels. 04:43 Question from heartwiseministries. org 04:49 What is the best treatment for high blood pressure? 04:53 Now, I'm thinking that if we are in a stressful situation, 04:59 the best treatment would be to reduce the stress... 05:01 But what about those of us who are sitting 05:03 in our easy chair and we take our pressure and it's elevated. 05:07 What do we do there? 05:08 Well first thing I would want to do is... 05:10 You know, one way to naturally lower your blood pressure 05:12 and I want all of our audience to try this... 05:14 Take a deep breath... 05:16 Hold it for 5 seconds... 05:20 Blow it out slow... 05:23 Do that 10 times. 05:25 That actually turns on nerves 05:27 that helps lower the blood pressure in the body. 05:30 Naturally! Yes - Have you ever heard, 05:32 you know, if you're stressed-out "Son, take a deep-breath" 05:35 Take a deep breath. It actually works! 05:37 Yes! There's actually chemistry behind that deep breath 05:40 that lowers your blood pressure. 05:41 Now if you take some deep breaths and your 05:43 blood pressure is STILL high, 05:44 you want to know WHY is your blood pressure high? 05:47 And that's where you would be an 05:49 investigative scientist, and you go to your doctor... 05:50 He's going to ask you about sleep apnea, 05:52 see if you carry extra weight, check your thyroid, 05:55 check all the other things that could cause it, 05:57 and to see if he could figure out why you have 05:59 high blood pressure. 06:00 And if he can't figure out why, 06:01 sometimes you have genetic high blood pressure. 06:03 And he's also going to do... 06:05 Oh, you want to see my blood pressure tools, Charles? 06:06 I do want to see these. okay 06:08 This is the one that we see if blood pressure 06:09 has damaged the eyes. 06:11 So you can look this way, 06:14 and I look in your eyes and I could see the 06:16 blood vessels in the back of the eye to see if they 06:18 have been narrowed. 06:20 Other things we can do to see if there has been damage is 06:22 the stethoscope because I can listen to your heart 06:24 to see if there are extra heart sounds. 06:26 And you know what this is? 06:27 I would rather not do that. 06:29 I don't blame you! 06:30 This is a tongue depressor. Yes 06:32 And does this have anything to do with blood pressure? 06:34 I'm afraid it probably does? 06:37 No it doesn't... I was just giving you a hard time. 06:39 But it can raise your blood pressure 06:41 if you think I'm going to jam it in your mouth. It worked! 06:43 What about this? 06:44 Do you think this has anything to do with blood pressure? 06:46 You're going to have to tell me... 06:47 No, it doesn't... this is a reflex hammer... 06:49 it has nothing to do with blood pressure. 06:51 But, I thought I would get your blood pressure to go up 06:53 because if I pounded on you like that, 06:55 your blood pressure might go up a little bit... It's working 06:57 So - our question... we're getting diverted here. 07:02 So back to our question, as far as blood pressure... 07:05 Naturally - how to bring it down naturally. 07:06 First you have to find out what is causing it and deal with that 07:09 If you want to bring it down naturally, 07:11 a couple of things that we can do... 07:12 #1 is exercise - regular exercise makes endorphins, 07:16 dilates the blood vessels. 07:18 Regular exercise lowers the blood pressure... Good rest 07:22 But when you're doing the exercise, 07:23 your blood pressure might go up a little bit. Right 07:24 But then it will come down afterwards, 07:26 makes these endorphins... 07:27 Getting adequate sleep lowers the blood pressure. 07:30 Adequate hydration - water can lower the blood pressure. 07:34 Staying away from things like caffeine 07:36 can lower the blood pressure. 07:37 Alcohol RAISES the blood pressure. 07:40 Getting enough rest at night. 07:42 Staying away from PROCESSED FOODS 07:44 can lower your blood pressure. 07:45 Eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains 07:48 can lower blood pressure. 07:49 And I don't have a scientific study that proves this, 07:52 but I know that when you have a relationship with your Creator 07:55 ...the One that loves you the most, 07:57 that can give you a big HUG every day, 07:59 that HAS to lower your blood pressure as well 08:01 because it makes your body have peace and relaxation, 08:04 and that helps give you peace of mind 08:06 that has to bring down your blood pressure too. 08:10 Now, a question here from heartwiseministries. org 08:13 I think you've answered part of this... 08:15 What do you do if your blood pressure fluctuates? 08:18 Now you say it naturally fluctuates throughout the day 08:21 when you get up and so... 08:22 I guess from that, we'd have to say - you might want to 08:25 check your blood pressure several times during the day 08:27 to find an average or something? 08:29 That is great because I have some people that are sitting 08:32 in our audience that worry all the time about their health. 08:35 They're just worried... you know 08:37 "Do I have cancer or am I having a heart attack?" 08:39 They live in a state of anxiety. 08:41 And I have some people that start checking their 08:43 blood pressure and they check it so much, 08:46 that they worry their blood pressure up. 08:47 So they get so concerned that they check it all the time... 08:50 every 5 minutes and it's HIGH! 08:52 So, for those people, I'd say - we have a condition called 08:55 "white coat high blood pressure" 08:57 That's when they come to the doctor's office, 08:59 they find out that their blood pressure is high, 09:01 and then they go home and it's really low. 09:03 Now some doctors will see that and say... 09:04 "Oh Mrs. Smith, you have high blood pressure, 09:06 take this medicine. " 09:07 So they go home and their blood pressure is really normal; 09:09 they take that medicine, then their blood pressure 09:11 goes TOO low and they're passing out, banging their head 09:14 almost killing themselves. 09:15 So remember, medicines can kill... Yes 09:18 So THAT person really doesn't have high blood pressure. 09:21 So I ask them to take it at home when they are 09:23 nice and relaxed, feeling well and see what the 09:25 blood pressure is - do it 2 or 3 times, 09:28 but don't get so paranoid that you 09:30 check your blood pressure all the time. 09:31 In some countries, they don't even treat blood pressure 09:34 until it's high for long periods of time because they think 09:37 the blood pressure medication is riskier than actually 09:40 having the blood pressure. 09:42 And they work on lifestyle changes for 6 or 8 months 09:44 even with high blood pressure. 09:46 So... so, what was our question I forgot what it was... 09:49 Yeah - if the blood pressure fluctuates, 09:52 do you need a medication? 09:53 Yes. If you're dehydrated, sometimes that can cause your 09:57 blood pressure to go up and down. 09:58 If you're an anxious worrier, that's the point I was giving... 10:01 If you're an anxious worrier, it can go up and down, 10:03 and the real treatment for that is to quit being anxious 10:05 and worried... Not medicines! If you have PAIN... 10:07 You know if I took this thing and whacked you a few times 10:10 Guess what... Your blood pressure would go up too! 10:12 So if a person is having pain, 10:13 I wouldn't want to give them a blood pressure medicine, 10:16 I'd want to treat their pain. 10:18 So you want to try to find the cause, 10:19 ask the reason why they have high blood pressure. 10:22 Now if a person is going through a hard time in his or her life 10:26 and they are maybe going through a divorce, 10:28 or they've lost their job, 10:29 or their house has been foreclosed, 10:31 and they know their blood pressure is going to go up 10:33 because of the stress they're under, 10:35 should they take some medication just to 10:38 help with that blood pressure during that temporary time? 10:40 Only if it's causing an extreme symptom - like a bad headache 10:46 or only if they cannot get their blood pressure down with natural 10:50 I would say - Go take a walk... 10:52 Take some deep-breathing - lower it that way. 10:55 Take a VACATION! 10:57 Get in the Scriptures! READ the Psalms 11:00 ...That can be very peaceful too. 11:02 Do other things that we think can lower your blood pressure 11:04 so you don't have to take the RISK of a 11:06 blood pressure medication. 11:08 You are one of the few cardiologists in this world 11:09 that prescribes Bible reading and church attendance 11:12 as a medicine to help people... 11:16 But doesn't it make sense to do these things? 11:18 Yeah... It DOES! 11:19 Hey, can I check your tongue? No, okay - Good 11:21 All right, here we go to the next question... 11:22 I think we have time for this one... 11:24 I am on a beta blocker for blood pressure, 11:26 and it makes me tired - Is this is a common side effect? 11:29 Yes, beta blockers block adrenalin. 11:32 You know, we talked about epinephrine and stress. 11:35 Beta blockers block that effect on the heart, 11:37 and a very frequent side effect of beta blockers is it 11:40 slows down the heart. 11:42 And it's very good if we want to put the heart in a cast... 11:45 like if we break your arm and you want to put a cast 11:47 so it doesn't work as hard. 11:48 It's great after surgery to keep the funny heart rhythms 11:50 and it's a good blood pressure medicine for some people; 11:53 however, it can make a person feel tired and fatigued. 11:57 All blood pressure medicines have at least some side effects. 12:01 If you want to have a question answered on this program, 12:04 visit... heartwiseministries. org 12:06 There is a place there you can put the question, 12:07 and will bring it in to Dr. Marcum's attention 12:10 on a future broadcast. 12:12 We'll be right back after we have a break 12:15 and when we come back let's talk to the 12:16 Master Physician Stay tuned... 12:19 Years ago we used to talk about high blood pressure 12:24 as a cause of death very frequently 12:27 in medical health programs. 12:29 It just doesn't seem to be as trendy anymore, 12:32 but it's still very important. 12:33 We've talked about the importance of getting 12:35 your blood pressure measured. 12:37 And no matter what your age, 12:38 you need to have your blood pressure measured. 12:40 If it is high; find out why it's high... 12:43 If you can understand the reasons why it's high, 12:45 then hopefully, you can get it under good control 12:48 with lifestyle changes, and in some instances 12:51 you might need a medication. 12:52 In thinking about high blood pressure, we think about all the 12:56 stress that this world is under. 12:58 When your body is under stress, 12:59 it makes a lot of adrenalin; that raises blood pressure. 13:03 Well I know one way to help lower some of that stress, 13:06 and some of that stress can be lowered by going to the 13:08 Ultimate Physician - a relationship with our 13:11 Great Creator. 13:13 God can give us peace inside. 13:15 The peace that knows that He is always there with us, 13:18 taking care of us, willing to heal us in His time. 13:21 Willing to give us that love that we all search for, 13:24 and to show us what His will is for our lives. 13:27 If you would like that peace today, 13:29 let's bow our heads together. 13:31 Heavenly Father... We want to thank you for being a God that 13:35 loves us and wants to take care of us and give 13:37 peace in our life, Father; 13:38 and if those out there that need this peace, 13:40 to help lower their blood pressure, 13:42 we pray that just by praying this prayer 13:44 that You come into their live, help change them, 13:47 and give them the power to have GOOD health 13:49 and to have that love relationship with You 13:51 that can give them peace and ultimate healing 13:53 is our prayer. Amen 13:56 So don't forget, go out and get your blood pressure checked 14:01 It might be at a drugstore, 14:02 it might be at your doctor's office, 14:04 and we hope that you have the greatest health EVER 14:07 as we seek to have a relationship with the 14:10 Ultimate Prescription - a relationship 14:13 with our Lord and Savior. |
Revised 2014-12-17