Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 4-8-16 Edition

Health
What Are Your Lips Trying To Tell You About Your Health
Lower High Blood Pressure With These 6 Drinks
Heart failure is real, and it often begins with high blood pressure – a silent killer in the African American community. According to the American Heart Association, more than 40% of Blacks are living with high blood pressure. Blacks have the highest prevalence of the disease than any other race.
Some experts believe, however, that one vegetable is the key to pre- venting heart diseases such as high blood pressure.
The Beet
In a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, experts learned that a half a liter of beet juice can do wonders
for a young man’s diet. It improved their exercise and
performance each day. Another study found that peo-
ple ages 54-80 improved their peripheral vascular disease with beet juice.
Here are some additional drinks that can help.
Water
This is the healthiest way to manage hypertension, of course. But you already knew that. With dehydration, blood vessels can constrict and the body goes into water saving mode. Therefore, the body reduces the amount of water loss through sweat, urination and breathing. Your heart works harder, and your blood pressure goes up.
Water will help prevent chronic dehydrations and your blood ves- sels from tightening.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is packed with bioactive phytochemicals, which are natural ACE inhibitors. Studies show that this tea can be used to lower blood pressure.
Pomegranate Juice
Not only is it tasty, but it’s healthy for those with hypertension. Those ACE inhibitors can also be found in pomegranates. In one study, this juice reduced ACE – an enzyme which can raise blood pressure – by 36%.
Low-Fat Milk
Studies have long found calcium to be beneficial to lower blood pressure levels. Don’t go for the full-fat and whole milks, though. Low-fat milk has more calcium and doesn’t contain the added fat found in whole milk.
Cranberry Juice
This juice is good for more than just UTIs. Filled with anti-inflam- matory and antioxidant properties, cranberry juice can prevent any spikes in blood pressure. It can also dilate blood vessels, which in- creases blood flow. Be sure to get the unsweetened version of cran- berry juice, as the added sugar is no good for your heart.
You can tell a lot about your health from your
lips.
Chapped
Lips - Licking your lips won’t get the job done and it makes your lips even more crusty and dry. Your body needs hydration. Drink plenty of water to erase dry lips. Chapped lips can also mean that you’ve been overex- posed to the wind, sun or dry air. To remedy this issue, ex- perts recommend exfoliating and moisturizing your lips. Be sure to apply a thick lip balm on your pucker-uppers afterwards.
Swollen Lips - Swollen lips can be an indication of an aller- gic reaction from food you’ve ingested. If your lips start to tin- gle and puff up, stop what
you’re doing and see a doctor. Pale, Blue and Yellow Lips - Pale lips can be a sign that oxygenated-red blood cells aren’t getting to your lips. This causes anemia and makes the lips look pale. Blue lips are a sign of heart or lung disease. When red blood cells become de-oxygenated the blood be- comes blue and in turn makes the lips blue. If you have liver problems, the yellow, jaundice appearance of the lips can be a
sign of liver disease.
Dry, Cracked Corners of the Lips - The painful cracks at the corners of your mouth is called angular cheilitis. If you wear dentures, grind your teeth or drool, moisture forms at the corners of your mouth as you sleep. This pool of moisture can lead to a yeast infection. Try sleeping with a night guard or
propped up on a pillow and if you wear dentures that don’t fit, consult your dentist. Also, coat the corners of your mouth with Aquaphor to provide relief of the issue.
Growths - Please see your doctor if you see any growths on your lips. This could be a sign of lip cancer. Other signs of lip cancer include dry white patches, stubborn sores that won’t heal, painful lips and numbness in the lips.
Cold Sores - A cold sore on the lips is a sign that you’ve come in contact with the herpes simplex virus or Type 1 herpes. Cold sores are also called fever blisters. This virus can be spread when active, so please be aware. Doctors normally pre- scribe antiviral medication which usually clears this condi- tion up in two weeks.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016