Women and High Blood Pressure

Women's issues image.

Besides reducing the risk of having a baby born with spina bifida, new research suggests that women who increase their daily intake of folic acid can also reduce their risk of high blood pressure.

The results of two studies presented at a hypertension conference of the American Heart Association examined the health consequences of over 150,000 female nurses. At the start of the 8-year study, none of the women had high blood pressure.

As in many studies, the women first completed detailed questionnaires about their health habits, physical activity levels and diet (including folic acid intake). Their blood pressure was recorded every 2 years.

Bottom line? Those who consumed 800 micrograms of folic acid per day (or more) had a significantly lower risk of hypertension.

How can you be sure that you get enough folic acid?

While folic acid supplements can be helpful, several foods are known to be high in folate, including citrus fruits, asparagus, brussels sprouts, spinach, baked beans, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils. Items rarely featured at your local fast food establishment or the frozen food aisle at your supermarket!

Dr. Erica Asks some important questions of interest to North Houston residents - Chiropractor North Houston Dr. Erica Asks...

What's the difference between sick care and health care?
Sick care is largely about relieving or suppressing symptoms. Health care is about improving performance. While sick care is about how you feel, health care is about how you function. Sick care is what you do to treat an obvious problem, and health care is what you do to avoid the problem and advance your well-being.
What is the purpose of pain?
Pain prompts many North Houston folks to begin chiropractic care. But pain isn't the problem! Pain is just how your body alerts you that a limit has been reached (or exceeded), that something isn't working right and that some type of change is needed. As a chiropractor, my job is finding the underlying cause and recommending the changes needed to bring your body back into balance.