The bodies that God miraculously gave us are very complex. Regardless of all of the advances in technology, we can’t create a substitute for many parts of our bodies.

Doctors are dependent on donations from individuals for items such as blood, organs and tissue to help save lives. Consider the following ways you can donate a portion of yourself to help save and improve the lives of others:

Give your blood.

Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. That comes out to 86,400 people needing blood today just in America. Are you aware that you are saving as many as three lives for each pint of blood that you donate? That is the amount of blood donated in one visit. You will be saving multiple lives by being a blood donor. In addition, your body is designed to remanufacture new blood to replace the amount you donated. You haven’t given up anything except a small amount of time. Contact Red Cross at .givelife.org or 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543) to learn about giving blood and schedule a time to donate.

Give your hair.

There are thousands of financially disadvantaged children that suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Something as simple as wearing a hairpiece can help increase their self-esteem and confidence. If you have long hair, consider donating locks of it to make these needed hairpieces available. This is something children can do as well. Contact Locks of Love at .locksoflove.org or 1-888-896-1588 to learn about how you can participate.

Give your marrow.

Did you know there are as many as 35,000 children and adults that have life threatening diseases each year that could benefit from a marrow or blood cell transplant? Many of these individuals suffer from leukemia, lymphomas, and other blood cancers. Although being a marrow or blood cell donor is not as quick and simple as donating blood, it is another critically needed way that you can help save lives. Contact the National Marrow Donor Program at .marrow.org or 1-800-MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692) to learn about how to register as a potential donor.

Give your organs and tissue.

How would you like to continue to save lives even after you die? An average of 17 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant. You can help save up to 7 people’s lives when you donate your organs and improve up to 50 lives as a tissue donor. We are all going to die someday and what better way to leave this planet than to continue to help others with what we leave behind. Contact the Coalition on Donation at .shareyourlife.org or 1-804-782-4920 to learn more about organ and tissue donations.

Start saving lives now!

Many people think you have to be a doctor or firefighter to save lives on a regular basis. We need to start thinking differently. You can save lives on a regular basis and it will cost you almost nothing. It takes so little time it can be done during your lunch break. Get started today!

When you (or loved ones) are taking prescription or over the counter medications…there is a lot you should be worried about, and a lot that your pharmacist may not be telling you.

Most people are aware, for example, that several medications taken together can sometimes cause harmful interactions. Most also know that drug allergies can pose significant hazards. (These are topics of other articles in this series). And, many people know that young children, elderly adults, pregnant women, nursing women, and severely debilitated people may all be at higher risk for adverse drug events.

But what most people don’t know is that a simple blood test can be one of the most important pieces of information in determining the correct dose of many medications…and the results of that test are almost never available to your pharmacist, especially if your pharmacist fills your prescription in a retail drugstore. (And, that’s a bummer.)

The test I’m talking about, of course, is the ’serum creatinine test’ (’SEAR-’em cree-AT-tuh-neen tehst’. It’s a difficult name to pronounce and a difficult test to understand…but one that you NEED to know about if you or loved ones are taking over-the-counter or prescription medications.)

A serum creatinine test gives a physician or pharmacist an estimate of kidney function.

Serum creatinine is the ‘bean counter’ of modern medicine… letting folks know if the beans (the kidneys) are working as well as they should.

Why is that important?

Well, kidney function is extremely important in determining the correct doses of many medications since the kidneys (along with the liver) assist in the removal of medications from the body.

Almost all medications (and/or their chemical by-products) are either removed by the liver, by the kidneys, or, in many cases, by both the kidneys and liver working together.

So, simply put, when the beans are not working well, many medications will accumulate in the body and increase the risk of drug side effects. And that’s an even bigger bummer. (The same is true for liver problems, and we will talk about that in another article in this series.)

As a result, patients with reduced kidney function often need LOWER doses of many medications.

So how does this all work?

Well, creatinine is a chemical that occurs and circulates naturally in the human body. It is the result of normal protein break-down. And, like many medications, creatinine is normally removed from the blood by the beans. So, when the kidneys are not working well, the level of creatinine circulating in the bloodstream will start to go up…just like the blood level of many medications.

Physicians and pharmacists are routinely and easily able to determine how much creatinine is in the blood with the results of a serum creatinine test. (This test is part of a very common panel of blood tests. And, if the serum creatinine is high, many drugs need to have a lower dose.) The normal value for serum creatinine is about 0.4 to 1.5 mg/dl…but that can vary a bit from lab to lab.

So remember: ‘kidneys no work…serum creatinine go UP’.

Now, serum creatinine is not the best measure of kidney function (there are other tests that are much more accurate), but results of the serum creatinine test are usually the most readily available…and cheapest…and are generally accurate enough for most purposes…so serum creatinine is the de facto standard for estimating kidney function…most of the time.

The gold standard test that doctors use for measuring kidney function is called ‘creatinine clearance’ (cree-AT-tuh-neeeen CLEAR-uhhh-nce) However, not many patients get this particular test because it is pretty darn inconvenient…and smelly. You have to collect all of your urine for 24 hours and keep it in the fridge. Not a lot of volunteers for this test…

Creatinine clearance is the volume of blood that the kidneys clear of creatinine in a given amount of time (and it is usually reported as milliliters per minute).

So, when kidney function decreases, creatinine clearance (the amount of blood that the kidneys are successfully ‘cleaning’) also decreases.

So remember: ‘kidneys no work…creatinine clearance go DOWN’. (Note: this is easy to remember because it is the exact opposite of what you were initially thinking, and the opposite of what happens with serum creatinine. Most of medicine is like this.)

Now for the super tricky part just for those gunning for an A. There is a way to ‘guestimate’ creatinine clearance using serum creatinine…isn’t that neat. And, that’s probably the best way to determine renal function if a measured creatinine clearance is not available.

What you do is run the serum creatinine value through a fancy equation that will give you an estimated creatinine clearance, which is itself an estimate of kidney function. (Estimates of estimates of estimates…that’s the kind of exacting science I live for.)

For adults, that equation is the famous ‘Cockcroft-Gault equation corrected for ideal body weight and gender’…the equation everyone loves to hate. The Cockcroft-Gault equation (presumably named after Drs. Cockcroft and Gault…or maybe just Dr. Cockroft-Gault, or maybe Lara Croft), is generally considered very reliable since it has never been well validated in young patients, old patients, thin patients, fat patients…basically all the patients it gets used on. So go figure. Double bonus points if you can remember this:

For men, creatinine clearance =

((140- Age) ‘ IBW) / (72 ‘ SCr)

For women, creatinine clearance =

((140- Age) ‘ IBW ‘ 0.85) / (72 ‘ SCr)

Where Age is in years, IBW is ideal body weight in kilograms, and SCr is serum creatinine in mg/dl.

Now once you run this a few times, you’ll find that creatinine clearance for young healthy people is about 100 ml/min (we’ll just leave off the ‘ml/min’ part from now on).

And, dead people have a creatinine clearance of about 0, depending on how healthy they are.

Everyone else falls somewhere in between.

(Now someone in the back of the room is saying, ‘I just ran this on myself and I have a creatinine clearance of 150′. Well aren’t you special? In fact, young good-looking people can have creatinine clearances of 130, 140, or more…but it doesn’t do a whole lot of good since 100 is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it’s just another case of overachiever overkill.)

Now, if someone has a creatinine clearance of 80, that means that they have about…80% kidney function.

And, if someone has a creatinine clearance of 50, that means that they have about…50% kidney function. (Are you following all of this?)

Many drugs that are eliminated by the kidney will require moderate dosage reductions once a patient’s renal function is in the 40-60 range.

Patients in the 20-40 range will typically require very large reductions in dose.

And, patients who are in the ‘less than 20′ range will often need HUGE dosage reductions for medications eliminated by the kidney (or better yet, they’ll need to take medications that are removed by some other organ altogether…if such an alternative is available).

One last tidbit to consider. Renal function declines as people age. No getting around that. But, the rate of decline is different for different people. By the time you’re 50 years old, there is a reasonable chance you’ll have moderate renal function (or worse)…by the time you’re 80, you’ll almost certainly have some important degree of renal impairment… and you probably won’t even know it or feel it.

Now that you know more renal physiology than you ever, EVER wanted to know…let’s get back to the main thread of this article…medication safety.

If you (or a loved one) are at risk for having decreased kidney function (and I’ll tell you who such folks are in just a second), you need to step up to the plate and get a handle on this issue (because there is a very good chance that your physician and pharmacist either didn’t have renal function data or didn’t consider it when coming up with a dosage for you).

Here are the steps I recommend for everyone taking prescription or over-the-counter medications:

1) For everyone: If you have access to the results of a recent serum creatinine test (it is probably part of your annual physical and you may have gotten a copy), memorize it or write it down and then say to your physician or pharmacist when you get a medication, ‘Say, I think my serum creatinine is about X. So, does this medication need any dosage adjustment in order to be safe for me?

2) If you are in one of the following categories, you should expect your physician and pharmacist to have considered your renal function before dosing a medication:

• known kidney disease;
• age greater than 50;
• history or heart attack, angina, stroke, or other artery blockages;
• history of diabetes (any type);
• history of high blood pressure;
• prior exposure to chemotherapy drugs;
• prior prolonged exposure to IV antibiotics;
• frequent use of pain medications (especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but others as well).

So you might say to your physician or pharmacist, ‘Is this drug removed by the kidney, because I have condition X that could decrease kidney function and I just want to be safe.’ If the drug is removed by the kidney, you might also ask the physician or pharmacist to tell you what your serum creatinine is…and if he or she does not have this information, a big red flag should be going up in your head.

3) If you are not in one of the categories in question 2 and you don’t have a serum creatinine available, don’t worry. You’re probably safe. But you may want to ask your physician if there is a serum creatinine in your chart and if so, what it is.

4) If you are on dialysis of any sort, serum creatinine is not all that useful for dosing medications. Just make sure your physician and pharmacist are aware that you are on dialysis and perhaps ask, ‘Now is this the usual dose for someone on dialysis?’

These are some of the steps I hope you will consider the next time you get a prescription or over-the-counter medication so you can be sure that that you (or your loved one) are getting the right dose.

With the recent front-page news about the possible hazards of pain medications, you may be taking a look at your over-the-counter (or OTC) pain medications with a wary eye. While all drugs, including those you don’t need a prescription for, can be dangerous, some basic knowledge can help you avoid the pitfalls for the pain relief you need.

Types of OTC pain medication:

The pain-relief aisle of any drug store can make it seem like there’s an infinite number of pain-relief medications. But there are really only three types. Each type works in a different way and can cause different types of problems.

Aspirin: Aspirin blocks the activity of pain hormones called prostaglandins, which would otherwise send pain information to the brain. In addition, by blocking prostaglandins you reduce the pain and discomfort of inflammation (swelling and heat indicating immune function).

Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is found in drugs like Tylenol, as well as some generic OTC medications and in prescription pain-relief products. Acetaminophen travels through your bloodstream to the brain, reducing pain-related brain activity and fever. Because it doesn’t work through the hormonal system, it doesn’t do as good a job of reducing swelling and inflammation as the other two types of pain medication.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories: These are sometimes called NSAIDs (pronounced N-Saidz). This isn’t a single chemical, like acetaminophen, but a group of chemicals including ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen, all of which block the production of prostaglandins, and thus pain and swelling. A number of NSAIDs are available over-the-counter, including brands like Aleve, Ibuprofen (generic) and Motrin; some newer NSAIDs, like Celebrex and Vioxx , need a prescription.

How To Take Aspirin Safely

In addition to blocking pain signals, aspirin blocks the production of blood clots. Strokes can be caused by blood clots blocking the brain’s blood vessels and aspirin reduces the chance that such clots will form, so physicians will sometimes recommend a low dose of daily aspirin to prevent strokes in high-risk patients.

However, this also means that it’s harder to stop bleeding if you’re taking aspirin. People who are already on blood thinners (like Coumadin) should not take. Similarly, pregnant women have an increased risk of bleeding if they take aspirin, so if you need pain relief while pregnant, speak with your healthcare worker for a better options.

Aspirin can quickly lead to ulcer formation and potentially-dangerous gastric (stomach) bleeding. Enteric coating reduces the likelihood of harm, but even so, aspirin should not be taken for long periods of time without consulting a physician.

Some people are allergic to aspirin, and may experience a variety of symptoms (potentially serious) on taking it. If you’re allergic to aspirin, you shouldn’t take aspirin or NSAIDs without consulting a physician.

Lastly, children and teens with chicken pox, flu, or other viral illness should not be given aspirin (even children’s aspirin) without first consulting a physician, as the combination of certain illnesses and aspirin can lead to a potentially fatal complication called Reye’s syndrome.

How To Take Acetaminophen Safely:

Acetaminophen, taken in high doses or over long periods of time, can cause liver damage and, eventually, liver failure. If you think you may have taken too much, call a healthcare provider or poison control center right away.

Alcohol consumption can magnify the effect of acetaminophen on the liver. If you regularly have three or more alcoholic drinks per day, you should check with your healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen (or any other pain reliever).

Because of the potential for overdose, children should never be given “extra strength” acetaminophen products. Regular strength ones should be given at the stated doses for children or after speaking with a healthcare professional or pharmacist.

How To Take Over The Counter NSAIDs Safely:

NSAIDs slightly increase the risk of bleeding. People on blood thinners, pregnant or nursing women, and people at risk for internal bleeding should not take these products. They can also affect your liver’s function and health and lead to gastrointestinal bleeding.

In order to avoid these effects, you shouldn’t take more than one NSAID at a time or an NSAID with aspirin without first consulting a physician. If you’re taking a multi-drug medication (for example, pills for relief of menstrual symptoms may include several different medications), make sure it doesn’t already contain an NSAID if you’re taking an NSAID separately. Lastly, pregnant and nursing women should speak with their healthcare provider before using an OTC NSAID.

In the case of Cerebral Palsy there is no one cause of this severe condition. There are many things that may increase the risk of this condition but will not cause cerebral palsy all the time. In the majority of cases and average of seventy percent, it results from brain injury before the child is even born this is known as congenital cerebral palsy this would be present from birth but may take months even years to diagnose depending on how severe it illness is. There is also a chance of acquired cerebral palsy which could happen through there being a case of meningitis or brain injuries.

Below are some factors that can increase the chances of cerebral palsy. None of the above will definitely lead to cerebral palsy. Before birth: Prematurely, long difficult labor, lack of oxygen to the child, Bacterial infection of the mother during birth, low birth weight, severe jaundice, viral, diseases in early pregnancy, attack of the child’s central nervous system, lack of oxygen / nutrients from the placenta to the fetus and incompatible blood types between the mother and child. After birth: Viral encephalitis, brain tumors, head injuries and Meningitis

Cerebral palsy is broken down into three main types: Ataxic cp, Athetoid cp, Spastic cp.

Ataxic CP - this is the rarest of the three and occurs when the cerebellum has been damaged this part of the brain controls balance. It will be difficult fop the child to coordinate their movements and they will have problems below with balancing.

Along with the three types of cp some children will have a combination of them all.

Athetiod CP - This type of cp occurs when the basal ganglion has been damaged and as a result causes involuntary, uncoordinated and uncontrolled movements of the muscles. This causing uncontrolled and jerky movements as well as twisting of the fingers and wrists may affect all limbs. When walking, it will tend to cause the child to stumble with poor coordination.

Spastic CP - This type of CP is the most common of the three it occurs when there has been damage to the cortex, which is the part of the brain controlling thought movement and sensation. Causes mainly tightness of the muscles, in both the arms and legs of the inflicted. The arms will tend to be flat against the side of the body with the hands bent up against the forearm. Depending on the damage the legs will either be greatly effected or only mildly it may be only slightly obvious that there is a problem when the child walks or in worse cases both legs are affected and they will be crossed with the toes pointing. If the muscles are not exercised often enough this can cause the child to become wheelchair bound.

A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself (the myocardium) is severely reduced or even stopped entirely.

If you know the symptoms and the risk factors of a heart attack, you can avoid having one and live a safer, healthier, longer and happier life

Heart attack has been reported to be the number one killer disease among adult Americans aged 50 yrs and older.

Typical symptoms of a heart attack include a crushing pain in the chest, sweating, difficulty breathing, weakness and pain in the arms, particularly the left.

Here are some family healthcare insights on how to prevent heart attacks.

Symptoms one could attribute to something else can cause devastating delays in seeking treatment.

These include feelings of indigestion, back shoulder and neck pain and nausea.

Early signs of trouble may appear during physical activity and disappear with rest.

Any numbness or tingling of the fingers or toes, dizziness, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing should not be ignored.

It is not enough to know the symptoms of a heart attack, which can be wide-ranging and confusing.

It appears that most Americans are oblivious of the risk factors of a heart attack.

It is very important also to know the risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and family history.

Clinical studies, laboratory investigations and a number of surveys show that certain personal characteristics and lifestyles can lead to increased danger of a heart attack.

These danger signs are called “risk factors.”

These well established risk factors are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus.

Attempts at modifying risk factors most certainly have contributed to the declining death rate from heart attacks in the United States.

While a few decades ago, U.S. death rates from heart attacks were on the rise, but today’s figures show that incidents of heart attacks have comparatively fallen dramatically.

And, overall, heart-related problems have declined about 25 percent in the last decade.

This decrease undoubtedly is due to better medical care of heart attack victims, but it is likely that a sizable percentage is related to modification of risk factors.

New drugs can stop or limit the damage of a heart attack, but only if the patient gets help immediately, experts say.

Once the flow of blood to a portion of the heart is blocked for several hours, the damage is irreversible.

Medical technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate. More drugs and medical technology are available than ever before and the entire population is now more aware of the seriousness of heart attacks.

There has been an increased interest in learning CPR and many community organizations now offer this valuable training.

Of particular concern by doctors and researchers is the role that the American diet plays in the health of one’s heart.

Obesity predisposes individuals to coronary heart disease. Some of the reasons for this are known, but others are not.

The major causes of obesity in Americans are excessive intake of calories and inadequate exercise.

When caloric intake is excessive, some of the excess frequently is saturated fat, which further raises the blood cholesterol.

Thus, obesity contributes to higher coronary risk in a variety of ways.

Many of the major risk factors for a heart attack are silent and much of the responsibility for their detection lies with each of us as individuals.

Regular checkups are particularly necessary if there is a family history of heart attacks of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or diabetes.

May these family healthcare insights help you live a healthy and happy life.

What is a coronary heart attack?

Are you at the risk of a coronary heart attack?

Here are some insights to help you…

A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself (the myocardium) is severely reduced or even stopped entirely.

The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.

The reduction or stoppage of blood supply happens when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle is blocked.

This may be caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances), also known as atherosclerosis.

The plaque may eventually burst, tear or rupture, creating a “situation” where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery.

This may lead to a heart attack.

A heart attack is also sometimes known as a coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion.

It is a medical fact that heart disease is among the most dangerous health hazards facing people 50 yrs and older in America.

Clinical studies, laboratory investigations and a number of surveys show that certain personal characteristics and lifestyles can lead to increased dangers of a heart attack (coronary heart disease).

These danger signs are called “risk factors”. The well established risk factors are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus.

Other risk factors that may increase or lead to the risk of having a heart attack are obesity, a sedentary life-style, an aggressive response to stress, and certain drugs.

In the past two decades, millions of Americans have learned about these risk factors and have tried to decrease them by seeking medical attention and by changing their lifestyles.

Many adults have stopped smoking. The medical control of high blood pressure has greatly improved.

The average cholesterol level of the population has decreased continually over the last two decades, probably due to changes in dietary habits and increased exercise.

This attempt to modify risk factors almost certainly has contributed to the declining death rate from heart disease in the United States.

Overall, heart-related problems have declined about 25 percent in the last decade.

Some of this decrease undoubtedly is due to better medical care of heart attack victims, but it is likely that a sizable percentage is related to modification of risk factors.

The entire population has become more aware of the seriousness of heart disease and coronary heart problems.

CPR training is offered in schools, places of business, and church and community functions, and everyone seems to recognize that prevention of coronary heart disease is a partnership between the public and the medical community.

There are a number of factors implicated in coronary heart disease. Some of these may raise coronary risk by accentuating the major risk factors already discussed.

Others may act in ways not understood. Still others may be linked mistakenly to coronary risk.

Obesity predisposes individuals to coronary heart disease. Some of the reasons for this are known, but others are not.

The major causes of obesity in Americans are excessive intake of calories and inadequate exercise.

When caloric intake is excessive, some of the excess frequently is saturated fat, which further raises the blood cholesterol. Thus, obesity contributes to higher coronary risk in a variety of ways.

Most of the major risk factors are silent. They must be sought actively, and much of the responsibility for their detection lies with each of us as individuals.

Regular checkups are particularly necessary if there is a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or diabetes.

May these health insights into heart disease help you to live a healthier and happier life.

Hi Rusty. A few days ago, I slightly injured a finger on my hand. Now my hand is swelling with severe joint pain in the fingers. At first I thought this was a possible sprain in that region, but now my other hand is showing the same swelling of the fingers and pain of the joints. Should I go check this out right away? It doesn’t seem to be getting worse today, but the pain and swelling are persistent. Could this be a sudden arthritis attack? I’m 38 years old and in good health (I just had a check-up at the doctor last week and the blood work came back okay).

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer

Ouch, a little sprain is not supposed to do that. Unfortunately some times it does. I am sorry to hear about this. It is not unusual for arthritis to begin in an effected joint. It is not the norm for it to set in so quickly. There are different kinds of arthritis that can effect the hands and feet that can cause swelling. It is possible that arthritis was already beginning but not showing symptoms yet but this triggered a symptomatic response.

I am concerned that the pain is bilateral, effecting both sides. I doubt it is anything extremely serious but it would be good to see your doctor. The sooner the better. If nothing else, your doctor will be able to treat the pain and swelling. But if it is arthritis or one of the other conditions that can cause this type of swelling in the fingers the earlier the diagnosis the better.

I wish you good health.

Many people today realize the importance of keeping their blood pressure under control. Blood pressure monitors are now available for home use.

It’s a piece of medical equipment that can provide both you and your health care provider with an accurate measure of how your blood pressure is responding to diet, exercise and medication.

Many medical supplies outlets offer blood pressure monitors that are simple and easy to use.

For some people the thought of going to their Dr.’s office for a blood pressure reading is enough to send their pressure through the roof. That’s one of the advantages of having your own blood pressure cuff right in their own home. They can use the blood pressure cuff at their own convenience and get a more accurate reading.

High blood pressure can be caused by many different factors such as weight, diet and heredity. If you have an elevated pressure then having your own blood pressure monitors available can be very important.

Why is your blood pressure low?

As a doctor with an interest in the subject, I’m often asked if a low blood pressure is normal or if such a reading indicates some abnormal process in the body? In fact ? it can be difficult to precisely define what we mean by low blood pressure. It all really depends on what’s normal for you as an individual.

If 1000 people had their blood pressure measured then we might expect to find a spread of readings. These might range from as high as 200 / 120 down to 80 / 50 with most people clustering around a level of around 130 / 85. Most of these people would have no symptoms of any kind ? no matter what their blood pressure reading actually was. Even those with obviously low blood pressure would be free of any symptoms in most cases.

The answer to whether it is normal or abnormal to have a low blood pressure depends on what your own typical or average blood pressure reading is.

Here’s an example of when it’s normal to have low blood pressure.

If, for the whole of your life, you’ve always had blood pressure readings of around 90 / 50 - then without doubt you have “low blood pressure” but there is truly nothing wrong with you or with your blood pressure reading. You should be pleased that your risk of stroke or heart attack will be much less than many others. You’re not likely to experience any symptoms from your “low blood pressure.” Putting it simply - your blood pressure is normal for you and needs no investigation or treatment. This kind of “normal low blood pressure” will not cause you any symptoms and will need no treatment. It’s just part of you and how your system works.

So, when might low blood pressure be an abnormal finding?

If your blood pressure is usually around 130 / 80 and suddenly or gradually drops to a level around 90 / 50 then it’s very likely that you’ll become aware of symptoms related to this change. As in the above example you have “low blood pressure” but in this instance it is not normal for you to have readings this low. You may need to see your doctor for tests because it’s quite likely that some other disease or perhaps a medication has caused your blood pressure to drop. Someone who develops low blood pressure like this will often experience symptoms such as those listed below.

The symptoms of an abnormally low blood pressure can include:

Feeling light headed, feeling dizzy, being tired or feeling fatigue on exertion, fainting, transient blurring of vision, or transient confusion. All of these low blood pressure symptoms will resolve if the blood pressure returns to normal.

The following are among the many possible causes of low blood pressure when it is abnormally low:

Medications for anxiety, medications for blood pressure, heart medications, diuretics or “water tablets” and some anti-depressant medications. Other medication related causes are painkillers and alcohol ? particularly if these two are mixed together!

Non medication causes of include dehydration, heart disease and heart valve disease, recent heart attack, changes in heart rhythm, bacterial infection in the system, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus and haemorrhage or bleeding.

As you can see, the above list of the causes of low blood pressure is extensive and you should consult with your doctor if you are concerned in any way. Above all ? don’t try to diagnose your own condition ? seek help if you are worried. Low blood pressure is not likely to do you any serious harm but it can leave you feeling pretty miserable.

Resperate is natural and powerful and it puts you in control of your blood pressure.

Resperate is a new device and is revolutionising the nature of blood pressure treatment. Blood pressure sufferers throughout the world are catching on to the amazing potential of Resperate and their lives are changing because of it. Those with high blood pressure are able to reduce or stop their blood pressure medication and some with low blood pressure are able to get rid of low blood pressure symptoms.

Resperate uses biofeedback to control your blood pressure and the idea behind the Resperate device is not new.

Biofeedback has been used for decades to change internal body functions such as heart rate, bowel speed and adrenaline release. Yoga students and martial arts experts say they can control blood pressure by focus and medidation. Resperate brings that ability to us all. If you learn to use Resperate then you might not need drugs or blood pressure medications. At the least, you will be able to reduce the number of tablets you need to take each day.

So how does Resperate work?

Well, in very simple terms, the Resperate device teaches you to control your own blood pressure. If you devote about twenty minutes a day to practicing with the machine you’ll quickly notice a big difference. And it really does work - not just in lowering blood pressure but in reducing overall stress and tension levels. High blood pressure isn’t known as “Hyper - Tension” for nothing!

The makers say that Resperate takes around eight weeks to have its effect, but some research studies show that it acts more quickly than that. It works by bringing blood pressure control to a conscious level and, because of that, you can use Resperate to reduce high blood pressure or to treat low blood pressure.

If you have low blood pressure problems then Resperate can truly be a godsend because there are few other effective treatments available.

Research studies have shown that Resperate can reduce blood pressure by about twenty points on the scale. For most patients this is very significant and will benefit their health enormously. Reducing medication will also make most blood pressure patients feel better because many effective blood pressure tablets have problematic side effects.

Resperate retails for around three hundred dollars. As a one off cost it’s not cheap but in the longer term it may save you many times that amount.

Resperate works. If you have high blood pressure or low blood pressure then you really ought to take a close look at what it has to offer.