Dangers to heart can also affect brain
Brain health depends on unobstructed blood flow carrying oxygen, glucose (what brain cells gobble for food) and nutrients. That’s why plaque in your blood vessels, hypertension, high triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels, and elevated HSCRP (an inflammation marker), which affect your heart health, also damage your brain.
Mild cognitive impairment that causes memory lapse, interrupted thought and inattention is related to those sorts of circulatory problems. The American Academy of Neurology estimates around 8 percent of folks ages 65-69 and 37 percent of people age 85+ have MCI; 10-20 percent of cases progress to full-blown dementia. Fortunately, you can improve your circulatory health and protect your brain.
You know you can improve circulatory and brain health with these steps.
1. Sleep — not too little (less than seven hours) and not too much (more than eight).
DRS. OZ AND ROIZEN
2. Exercise — for mental and social stimulation, improved blood flow to the brain and it may also stimulate release of molecules that repair brain cells and create connections between them.
3. Learn things. Take a language course, take up knitting.
Reverse the trend of rising blood pressure in the U.S.
According to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension 2020 Scientific Sessions with the pessimistic titled “Hypertension Control in the U.S. 2009-2018: Rapidly Reversing Years of Progress,” in 1999-2000, around 32 percent of Americans were able to maintain a healthy blood pressure of 140/90mmhg or less (the guidelines that year). By 2013-14, the number had risen to 54.5 percent. But by 2015-16, there was a 6 percent drop to 48 percent. And, as of 2017-18, fewer than 44 percent of U.S. adults had a heart-healthy blood pressure.
In 2017, the measure of a healthy blood pressure was lowered from 140/90mmhg to 130/80mmhg, because research shows earlier interventions prevent heart attack and strokes. But we suggest you aim for 115/75.
So, sign on to reverse the national trend by adopting three tried-and-true interventions: 1) get 300 minutes of exercise weekly; 2) maintain a healthy weight through a plant-based diet that eliminates highly processed foods and red meats; and 3) know your numbers and talk to your doc about medication if lifestyle intervention doesn’t help enough.