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. Alexander Asks some important questions of interest to Livermore residents - Chiropractor Livermore Dr. Alexander Asks...

Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
Where do most Livermore residents get their first vertebral subluxation?
Being born in a hospital is a common source of vertebral subluxation. Trauma from forceps delivery has been replaced with drugs, vacuum extraction, Cesarean section and births that are "scheduled" to fit the workweek routines of Ob-Gyns. That's why we recommend a chiropractic checkup for every Livermore newborn.