Latest High Blood Pressure News

WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.

"This study confirms many people's feelings that exercise may be useful in the control of hypertension," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Weintraub was not connected to the new study.

Based on the new findings, "yoga would be a useful adjunct in the lowering of blood pressure in certain populations," he said.

In the study, researchers led by Dr. Debbie Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania tracked 58 women and men, aged 38 to 62, for six months.

Although the study couldn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, doing yoga two to three times a week was associated with an average drop in blood pressure readings from 133/80 to 130/77, the researchers said.

In comparison, the average decrease in blood pressure was smaller (134/83 to 132/82) among people who ate a special diet but did not do yoga.

In a bit of a surprise, doing yoga in tandem with a special diet did not outperform doing yoga alone -- blood pressure numbers fell only slightly (135/83 to 134/81) among people who ate a special diet and also did yoga, the researchers said.

The small decline in blood pressure among people who ate a special diet and did yoga may be because doing both required a greater amount of time, making it more difficult for participants to stick with their regimens, the authors said.

Weintraub said the study shows that "yoga can have a favorable effect" on hypertension. Although the amount of change was small, he said, "some large population studies have suggested that changes of this magnitude could have very significant long-term benefits."

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Yoga May Help Ease High Blood Pressure, Study Finds

Smithsonian Launching Worlds 1st Yoga History Exhibit

Yoga: The Art of Transformation, termed as worlds first exhibition of the visual history of yoga, will be held at Smithsonian in Washington DC (USA), world's largest museum and research complex, from October 19 to January 26 next.

Through over 130 stone and bronze sculptures, devotional icons, illustrated manuscripts, court paintings, photographs, books, missionary postcards, magic posters, medical illustrations and films borrowed from 25 museums and collections worldwide; some as old as 3rd century; it will reportedly explore over 2,000 years yogas goals, manifestations, meanings, down-to-earth aspects, central tenets, obscured histories, importance, means of transforming body and consciousness, profound philosophical foundations, visual culture and varied roles yogis/yoginis played in society.

Applauding Smithsonian for exhibition highlighting yoga, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, yoga was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted that yoga was referred as a living fossil whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical. Zed added.

Rajan Zed pointed out that yoga had become a global phenomenon and there were splendid yoga studios all over the world. About 20-million Americans practice yoga and about $11-billion goes into yoga gear and classes annually, reports suggest. According to National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress.

This exhibition will reportedly include stone yogini goddesses from Chola temple, folios from the first illustrated compilation of asanas from 1602, watercolor Visnu Vishvarupa, sandstone Yogini on Owl sculpture, first movie ever produced about India Hindoo Fakir (a Thomas Edison film, 1906), 12-foot scroll of the chakra body and earliest illustrated Yoga Vasishta. Public programs, symposium, concerts and family activities will accompany this presentation. It will later travel to the San Francisco Asian Art Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2014.

Founded in 1846, Smithsonian, whose tagline is "seriously amazing", has 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, nine research centers and over 177 affiliate museums around the world; about 137 million objects; and over 30 million annual visitors. France A. Cordova and G. Wayne Clough are Board Chair and Secretary respectively, while Debra Diamond is Curator of this exhibition.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three-million Hindus in USA.

ENDS

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Smithsonian Launching World’s 1st Yoga History Exhibit

Washington, May 16 (ANI): Mobile phone calls may cause a rise in blood pressure; yoga may lower it; and despite the need to cut back on sodium to lower blood pressure, hypertensive individuals may have an increased desire for saltier foods.

These are the findings of new studies to be discussed at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) in San Francisco, starting May 15 - 18, 2013.

Members of the medical community from across the globe will discuss the about high blood pressure, considered as the "silent killer," and which affects approximately one billion people worldwide.

During the conference, more than 200 new studies about hypertension will be shared, with the goal of increasing the understanding of hypertension and one day curing it altogether.

William B. White, MD, ASH President and 2013 Scientific Program Committee Chair added, "The ASH meeting brings together the country's top scientists in clinical hypertension to give numerous state-of-the-art lectures on a wide variety of topics in hypertension and related clinical concerns."

According to a recent study from doctors G. Crippa; D. Zabzuni; A. Cassi; and E. Bravi of Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, talking on mobile phones causes a significant rise in blood pressure. During a phone call, blood pressure readings jumped significantly from 121/77 to 129/82.

Systolic blood pressure rise was less drastic in patients who were used to participating in more than 30 phone calls per day. While the reason behind this is not known, Dr. Crippa speculates two possible reasons: "The subset of patients who were more accustomed to phone use were younger, which could show that younger people are less prone to be disturbed by telephone intrusions. Another possibility is that people who make more than 30 calls per day may feel more reassured if the mobile phone is activated since they are not running the risk of missing an opportunity."

Yoga calms the mind and works out the body, but now, a study on the effects of yoga on hypertension concluded that yoga could significantly lower blood pressure.

The 24-week study, conducted by Debbie L. Cohen, MD; Anne Bowler, BA and Raymond R. Townsend, MD of the University of Pennsylvania, showed that people who practiced yoga 2 - 3 times per week saw their blood pressure decrease significantly: an average of three points for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, from 133/80 to 130/77.

Participants who only followed a controlled diet-and did not practice yoga-saw only a decrease of one point, from 134/83 to 132/82.

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Yoga lowers blood pressure while cell phone use raises it

Gisele Bndchen is the type of person who looks good wearing yoga pants.

Clearly Tom Brady's wife looks phenomenal in the garment, which can often be unflattering on mere mortals.

And on Tuesday, the 32-year-old mom of two showed just how hot finding your zen can be.

PHOTO: Gisele and baby Vivian hit NYC

In an Instagram shot, Gisele and her yoga guru pal look serene and focused in a twisting lunge position, aka a variation of the Twisted Warrior pose. " A beautiful way to start the morning practicing with my friend Cristina Kalyani Paes." the supermodel writes. "Wishing you a joyful day!"

OK, universe: If we could all look and feel like Gisele after a yoga sesh, that'd be great. Namaste.

PHOTOS: Take a look back at Gisele's model pregnancy

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Gisele Bündchen Does Yoga, Looks Amazing—See the Pic

Van Tieu | 5/14/2013 If you have trouble with balance or stretching, you may want to consider yoga. It doesn`t matter if you are pregnant, have a physical disability, or are recovering from an injury, anyone can do yoga with a little help.

Even if you can`t hold a yoga pose, let alone balance, yoga instructor Brenda Stone says you can still get the benefits with adaptive yoga. "Adaptive Yoga is pretty much using chairs for balance and support"

It basically brings the floor up to you. This is especially important for people who can`t get down on the floor for a variety of reasons. "We have people who are pregnant, people who have special needs. We have people with knee replacements, MS. Parkinsons.... "

Susan Hoefs discovered chair yoga three years ago. "I have MS and it helps keep me balanced."

Though impressive, yoga isn`t all about turning yourself into a pretzel.

"Yoga means union between mind, body and spirit," Stone said.

It is more about making sure bodies are in proper alignment and using the breath.

"The breath is what yoga is all about. That is the foundation of yoga. The more you breathe, the deeper you breathe in, the more oxygen you get into the body, into the blood stream, the more your body will heal from the inside out," Stone said.

By incorporating the chairs for support, it helps get the body moving.

"Stretch the shoulders. Be able to move and twist a little bit, as they`re sitting in their chairs."

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Yoga For You | Video

Demi Moore sure loves to get her yoga on!

The 50-year-old stunner was snapped with rumored boyfriend Will Hannigan in Los Angeles, where the twosome participated in a three-day class to get certified as Kundalini yoga teachers.

The G.I. Jane actress looks relaxed and serene as she meditates with her hunky Australian man, clearly enjoying her quiet afternoon yoga session.

PHOTO: Demi Moore and Rumor Willis all smiles at yoga together

The former commercial pearl diver and the brunette beauty ignited the romance rumor mill with the latest workout shots, although it's unclear whether the pair are actually a couple.

In April, Demi was spotted on a dinner date with Pink Taco owner Harry Morton, and a source told E! the twosome had been dating for five or six months at the time.

The mother of three was also recently snapped at yoga with her daughter, Rumor Willisthe first time the mother-daughter duo has been pictured since Moore's split from Ashton Kutcherwhere the pair were all smiles at the studio together.

PHOTOS: Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher: Romance Recap

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Demi Moore Does Yoga With Rumored Beau Will Hannigan—See the Pic!