Walking

I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am
already doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do
you recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

Do that 1/2 hour or so most days. Do more if you feel like it, but don't
push yourself so hard you get sick of it, or injured. This is a *permanent*
lifestyle change, not a fix-it-&-forget-it temporary routine.

Be sure to wear good, supportive, properly fitted shoes!
Don't take blisters & hot spots lightly! Treat them promptly, & put bandaids
or tape over any sore spots until they heal & toughen up. See a podiatrist
if things look icky & don't heal soon.

And don't be too disappointed if exercise (along with any dietary changes)
doesn't do all you hope for in lowering those numbers. I still have high bp,
& I've been a regular walker & runner for several years. My lipid #s are
only ok -- but as a diabetic "ok" is stricter for me.

You don't say if you are also overweight. If so, the high bp & lipids, along
with extra pounds, may be a red-flag of metabolic syndrom -- and possibly
pre-cursor to diabetes.

The one thing about lipids that you can't do anything about is genetics --
some people can't get their #s in line no matter what they do or eat.

Do a search at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ for cholesterol education & at
http://health.nih.gov/ for hypertension. Lots of good info & links at those
places.
bj

"thunderbird" <NativeResistance.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1115888542.964543.316080@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
> cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
> lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am
> already doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do
> you recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
> pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
>
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

In article <1115888542.964543.316080.RemoveThis@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, thunderbird
says...
>
>I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
>cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
>lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am
>already doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do
>you recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
>pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
>
Since I'm neither a medical professional or a physical trainer I won't
directly answer your questions. But here is my story. Feel free to
use whatever part you want to. After having diligently walked for two
years (2.5-3.5 miles a day, 60 minutes, 5 days a week) I was diagnosed
with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. At the time (BP 191/109,
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL 203, LDL 134, HDL 32, TRIGLICERIDES 183)I am currently
doing my same walking routine and have been put on medication and a low
salt/semi-vegetarian diet. I also incorporate "THE MEDITARANEAN DIET" into
my regimen (google it and find out what it's about). When I walk I pretend
that I'm 10 minutes late for a meeting, to give you an idea of my speed.
No two people are alike, but you may find out that your lifestyle changes
alone are not enough, and you need to take medication. There are different
combinations for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. In my situation
I had been doing some things right before my diagnosis so it wasn't a
complete lifestyle change and some of my problems were attributed to
heredity. Hope some of this helps.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

On 12 May 2005 16:58:52 -0700, snapp44 <snapp44_member.TakeThisOut@newsguy.com>
wrote:

>In article <1115888542.964543.316080.TakeThisOut@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, thunderbird
>says...
>>
>>I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
>>cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
>>lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am
>>already doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do
>>you recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
>>pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
>>
>Since I'm neither a medical professional or a physical trainer I won't
>directly answer your questions. But here is my story. Feel free to
>use whatever part you want to. After having diligently walked for two
>years (2.5-3.5 miles a day, 60 minutes, 5 days a week) I was diagnosed
>with high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
just goes to show anecdotally that walking and exercise
have nothing to do with BP. they might help with LDL.
might not. but you can only do what you can do.
think about your true goal. it isn't to walk. it is to
reduce BP and fix up cholesterol. the advice i see
is to reduce sat fats and Body fat. if you are male
are you 10%? female 16%?
probably not. there's a goal. walking may help.
eating less may help. try whatever you can.
like the last poster said, you may need meds.
apparently 90% of B.P. problems have an "unknown"
cause. just is. genetics.

i run 20 to 30 miles a week. lacto veggie. low fat. 15% B.F
my B.P is high sometimes and cholesterol is not good
enough. Sometimes there's nothing you can do.
i'm still trying. i'll lose somemore fat. i'll up the milage.
i just stopped drinking milk and have cut cookies
down to zero. ice cream down to zero also.
i'll test again in september. if the numbers have improved
i'll continue. if not, i'll fix a few more things. i could
always be slimmer. might look better too.
....thehick
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

Thanks for all the advice that eveyone has shared. I'm trying to cut
salt out am wondering if thats a prescribed path to take?
Has anyone tried using herbs to help their condition? Someone
mentioned to me that parsley was good for high blood pressure.
I'm not overweight at all, and I've been trying to move myself into a
healthier diet by cutting out red meat and eggs, i'm still eating fish
and some chicken. I've heard some scary stories about how chickens are
massed produced these days and have been advised to try to purchase
'free-range' raised chickens.....that plus more vegggies and fruits.
Well, back to walking. I've managed to walk in different routes to
keep from getting bored and it's working. I've included walking up to
nine flights of stairs in an old nine story building and try to include
some slight inclines in my routes if possible. Any other advice on
high blood pressure and cholesterol, lipids etc, will be greatly
appreciated.
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

"thunderbird" <NativeResistance DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1116323600.290502.4570@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Any other advice on high blood pressure and cholesterol, lipids etc,
> will be greatly appreciated.
>

Well, you could pick different parents, but it's a bit late for that.

Sometimes there isn't anything "more" you can do, high b.p. is just in your
genes; ditto with high cholesterol. Once you've done what you can w/
lifestyle, meds are the only other options. But w/ good lifestyle habits you
may be able to minimize the meds even if you can't cut them out. I've
preferred to compromise somewhat -- good general lifestyle habits, but not
cutting out as much of <various things> as I possibly could, but taking meds
to complement/supplement the efforts. Quality & enjoyment is also a factor I
consider.

My mom exercises often (walking, bicycling), eats healthy (always has), is
thin (always has been) etc.-- but she still has high bp that she takes meds
for.
bj
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

In article <CLmie.899$yc.622@trnddc07>, bj says...
>
>"thunderbird" <NativeResistance RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1116323600.290502.4570@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>> Any other advice on high blood pressure and cholesterol, lipids etc,
>> will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>
>Well, you could pick different parents, but it's a bit late for that.
>
>Sometimes there isn't anything "more" you can do, high b.p. is just in your
>genes; ditto with high cholesterol. Once you've done what you can w/
>lifestyle, meds are the only other options. But w/ good lifestyle habits you
>may be able to minimize the meds even if you can't cut them out. I've
>preferred to compromise somewhat -- good general lifestyle habits, but not
>cutting out as much of <various things> as I possibly could, but taking meds
>to complement/supplement the efforts. Quality & enjoyment is also a factor I
>consider.
>
>My mom exercises often (walking, bicycling), eats healthy (always has), is
>thin (always has been) etc.-- but she still has high bp that she takes meds
>for.
>bj
>
>
>
And minimizing the dosage/strength of the meds you have to take may eliminate
their side effects or lower their discomfort to you.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

Hi Dave

I do agree with you on ideas about walking. Physical health and mental
health are equally important to us. Walking can help us in both ways.

I enjoy walking along the seaside. Wind from the sea can blow away your
worries and make you stronger both physically and spiritually.

Rong
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

Chloesterol levels are controversial! But try eating oatmeal... it does
work
for lowering cholesterol levels.

"thunderbird" <NativeResistance RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1115888542.964543.316080@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
> cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
> lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am
> already doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do
> you recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
> pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
>
 >> Stay informed about: Walking 

"thunderbird" <NativeResistance.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1115888542.964543.316080@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I recently found out that my blood pressure is high and that my
> cholesterol level and ldl levels are high and I have to make some
> lifestyle changes fast. I started walking a few days ago and am already
> doing a half an hour of walking per day. How much walking do you
> recommend for someone like me that needs to try to lower my blood
> pressure? What would help to lower my cholesterol and ldl levels?
>>

Bear in mind that walking may not solve all your bp problems -- but it will
probably help a lot of problems.

I run, I'm not overweight, and I still have to take bp meds. My lipids are
borderline overall, but my HDL is high -- how is yours?
bj
 >> Stay informed about: Walking