My blood pressure has been climbing lately. I'm sure it's due to stress. I check it every week. It has gone from well within normal range to 170 something over 80 something. That's way too high. I thought maybe I was going to stroke out or something. Heart disease runs in my family. I was beginning to panic a little, which surely didn't help matters.
I knew what a trip to the doctor was going to be, "You need to lose weight and cut out salt." I already know that, I already do that. I gave up real salt for Lent years ago and have stuck to it. I'm always struggling to lose more weight. I walk for exercise.
Then about a week or so ago I saw a snippet of a news report on the evening news. It said that a medical study had shown that drinking one glass of red wine a day had proven to bring down blood pressure along with providing some other added health benefits.
I thought, "Why not?"
So, I have been enjoying one glass of red wine every evening. Really enjoying it. I sip it. I'm not a drinker, but I have found that I like red wine. I'm stepping outside of my mold.
Today, I tested my blood pressure again. It was 113 over 64. That's well within the normal range. I was so relieved. My stress hasn't really subsided, so it must be the red wine.
It was quite a pleasant surprise.
CW
CreativeWoman posted on Dec 10, 2006
| views: 639
Comments
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NotReallyAnonymousAJ said on Dec 10, 2006....
Glad you're feeling better!
Funny how doctors seem to always attribute every health problem to weight when it might be something else altogether.
You definitely CAN feed a stress problem by being stressed about it.
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moonriver said on Dec 11, 2006....
moonriver confucius say: at risk of being ethnocentric, me say rice wine better. but red wine comes close second. so when me fly to europe next year, me make sure drop by geneve to get supply good red wine from sister. one glass a day keep doctor away. toast to long life for creative woman. wan-sui!
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silverwhisper said on Dec 11, 2006....
i'm always happy when people drink some red wine. :>
seriously though: the holiday season is incredibly stressful, you've blogged no small amount about other stresses in your life...i'm glad to hear your b/p is w/in the norm.
ed -
missb said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW,
I'll drink to that ;) [raises glass]
Cheers! -
secretlife said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW: my dad drank a glass of red one every day for years and years because he heard the same thing!another little tip for healthy heart: fish oil. of course you can get that from eating alot of oily fish, but i take a couple little pills every day because i'm not a big fish eater. -
Tinkerman said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW, I'll toast to that. Bravo! -
Uocjat said on Dec 11, 2006....
my dad had a problem not unlike this with his blood being too thickand the day glass of red wine was actually recommended by our doctorits suppose to thin out your blood in somewayso it really is a good thingyou just gotta love the doctors we got here in denmark they'll recommend you any possible kind of home remedy or alternate solution to fix the problem before writeing you a shopping list for drugs to takeunlike other places where you get a a mile long list of drugs most of which are to balance out the side effects from the first onethink maybe its because danish doctors dont get sued if they screw up -
lioneljay said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW, I'm convinced that the red wine is the only thing that keeps my ticker ticking. Well, not really, but a glass a day is a marvelous prescription. Not only does the wine provide medicines that your body can use, but the care and peacefulness with which you drink the wine makes a difference in your life as well.
I've found that the act of deciding on and carrying out a self-centered routine for peacefulness is a tremendous weapon against stress. Over the years I've done transcendental meditation off and on as well as other similar practices and the one thing they all share is that they cause you to take a few minutes each day to slow down and focus on yourself in a peaceful and accepting way.
Cheers!
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gingersoul said on Dec 11, 2006....
Oh CW... we Italians know this little secret by centuries...lol....
i started to drink red wine in my water when i was 10....so drink and be happy.....red wine, remember...its like chocolate...
Yes, fish oil is great and also Flaxseed oil. A wonder.
Have this tip from the Italian doctor to my dad who had your same problem: fresh raw garlic each day. Yep, it worked.
Listen to calming and relaxing music, envision beautifulplaces, walk.....laughing is another great medicine...
Keep up with the good job. Cin cin, my dear.
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dailyachesandpains said on Dec 11, 2006....
Wtg! Sip some for me please ;-) I really can't stand the taste of red wine so I give you HUGE kudos!
Stress can cause a lot of problems, it sucks!
{{{hugs}}}
Daily
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Uocjat said on Dec 11, 2006....
i wonder if mead would have the same effect .. personally i think it tastes alot better then wine .. hence why i brew it my self i guess .. anyone up for being test subject ? (for thoses of you that dont know what mead is i'd say its best descriped as a honey based wine even though it doesnt have that much in common with wine .. and it normally - when i brew it anyway - has a alchole content of roughtly 16% but you can hardly taste it) -
secretlife said on Dec 11, 2006....
it's the red grapes that hold the secret to the health benefits of the wine.
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CreativeWoman said on Dec 11, 2006....
AJ,
Stressing about a condition caused by stress does affect me in big ways. I'm working on that though. :-)
moonriver,
I have never tried rice wine. I just might have to. Thank you.
Ed,
Stress hasn't been good on my health this year. My blood pressure and blood sugar readings rise and fall with my stress levels. Thanks for the well wishes.
Secret,
It's good to know it worked for your dad too. I will look into adding the fish oil supplements. Every little bit helps.
missb,
Cheers!
Tinker,
Cheers!
Uocjat,
I really prefer alternative healing methods anytime I can find one that works for me. The side affects of drugs really scare me.
lionel,
You make a good point. The few moments it takes me to enjoy my glass of red wine are probably the only moments of the day that I focus on me.
ginger,
I'm going to have to go to Italy someday! You make it sound so wonderful. The only thing against garlic with me is the smell. A little bit goes a long way as far as I am concerned.
daily,
Thanks and I will!
Uocjat,
I have never tried Mead. Honey is supposed to be good for you too.
secret,
I did suspect that maybe red grape juice would have the same health benefits, but the red wine is a lot more fun. :-)
CW
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gingersoul said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW.......i know...it has a pungent taste....but my dad found out that putting one clove between some bread sprinkled with oil of olive and pepper made it a lot easier .....plus, you can grate it on top of your soup or salad.....anywhere.....but it has to be fresh...no that thing in the jar...:-) Just eat a peppermint after it.....lol.... And Secret is right, only red wine works the magic... -
Uocjat said on Dec 11, 2006....
CW
i've really taken a likeing to mead after i found a recipie for it .. its suppriseingly easy and cheap to make and doesnt have the bitterness of beer or the sourness of wine that many people dislike
as for garlic remedies my dad uses one composed of garlic and snaps or what ever its called .. to the whole deal is very specific for exsample during the whole process the garlic must not come into contact with metal - something about some chemical reaction i think - but its suppose to be quite effective on a whole range of things
i can try and find the full recipie if anyway wanna try it - but i warn you it doesnt taste anything that even comes close to plesent -
rmuxagirl said on Dec 11, 2006....
I drink red wine because I heard it helps with your red blood cells, but this is another good reason to keep drinking a glass :)
<raises her glass> CHEERS!
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CreativeWoman said on Dec 11, 2006....
ginger and Uocjat,
I really have a revulsion to the smell of garlic. I can get by with a little, but too much and I can't even stay in the room with it. So, I will have to pass on the fresh garlic.
rmuxagirl,
It's a win, win situation. Cheers!
CW
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Mamie said on Dec 11, 2006....
well, CW, a glass of red a day is exactly what mr. mamie's doctor said too, so it must be true! I think I will by a round for us all, cheers to you and if you haven't had your wine yet today...I will have a glass with you...thinking of you and raising a toast at 6 PM EST! love to you!! -
Jenna said on Dec 11, 2006....
I am glad you are taking care of you CW. Continue to do so. Holidays do bring about so much stress... we will get through it.Savor your glass of wine...and think of all of your friends here who love you.Cheers!
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pixilatedcowboy said on Dec 11, 2006....
I love a glass of red wine.I usually keep filling it thouCowboy -
CreativeWoman said on Dec 11, 2006....
Mamie,
I just finished my glass of red wine. 10:13 p.m CST. Love to you too!
Jenna,
I will try to take care of myself. You do the same. Cheers!
Cowboy,
I could easily drink more, but I limit myself to one glass. :-)
CW
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purrrkitten said on Dec 11, 2006....
Hmmm... I don't like wine. Do you think Sambuca will do it??? ehhehehehe...
Glad your BP is down to normal, CW. Too bad the wine can't ease the stress too!
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CreativeWoman said on Dec 12, 2006....
purr,
Yeah, I wish there was a magic cure for stress. What is Sambuca?
CW
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silverwhisper said on Dec 12, 2006....
sambuca is a coffee-flavored liqueur. if you like coffee, you'll probably like sambuca.
ed -
Uocjat said on Dec 12, 2006....
SWsure your not thinking of kaluha ?as far as i remember sambuca is a very strong flamable clear liqueur that tastes sligthly of liquorice -
silverwhisper said on Dec 12, 2006....
gosh darn it...you're right of course. sambuca is actually anise-flavored.
[hangs head in shame]
ed -
Uocjat said on Dec 12, 2006....
SWheh chin up mateatleast now you got an excuse to have a few drinks to get to know your booze (right like im any kind expert anyway) -
silverwhisper said on Dec 12, 2006....
when you're married to a former bartender, you're expected to know these things!
cheers!
ed -
purrrkitten said on Dec 12, 2006....
ehhehehhe... ewwwwwwwwwwww coffee!! I don't DO coffee! It's definately the licorice stuff. Sorry silver! ;-)Most people have a love/hate relationship with 'buca. Either you love it or you've made yourself sick on it and hate it. Or you hate black licorice. One of the two... -
silverwhisper said on Dec 12, 2006....
hate hate hate licorice. :> unfortunately, the wife loves the stuff...
ed -
gingersoul said on Dec 12, 2006....
Ed.....i give you a little more information about the Sambuca...
well, this liquor has been invented and produced by the Molinari siblings, great friends of my father. Mafalda has been my godmother and helped me with my work.
They started to produce the liquor (that is anice based) in 1945 only for our local market and restaurant. It became so popular that Mafalda with her brother Marcello expanded the business starting to export the product. Now you can find different brand but the only, original, real sambuca is the Molinari one. For thei achievements they have been nominated honor citizens in my city and from the President of Italy recognized as Honored Chevalier of Work.
We use the sambuca as key ingredient for our local Easter pizza, that its produced only in Easter and only in my city.
I dont really like sambuca in my coffe but i love the Easter pizza....we eat it with piece of chocolate broken from our Chocolate eggs, sliced boiled eggs and slices of salame..
Divine!
I use alot of anise seeds in my cooking...especially on pork chops and honey mustard....so good. -
CreativeWoman said on Dec 12, 2006....
I like black licorice and coffee. So both sound like something I might try. Do you drink them straight or mixed with something?
I really don't know much about these things, so you'll have to help me out here. :-)
CW
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purrrkitten said on Dec 12, 2006....
I drink my sambuca straight. I sip it more than I shoot it. I think it can be mixed with stuff but I haven't the faintest idea what.
I don't drink very often and so I tend to stick to stuff I know... :-)
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silverwhisper said on Dec 12, 2006....
GS: you know the molinaris? i think my wife would like to befriend you! :D
ed -
Uocjat said on Dec 12, 2006....
CW if you want some with a creamy coffee taste i'd recomend a white russian for the kahlua white is vodka, kahlua and milk or coffee cream - ice / no ice up to you -
CreativeWoman said on Dec 12, 2006....
Uocjat,
I had a White Russian a very long time ago....actually more than one. It's the only time in my life I ever really got drunk in a bar. They tasted so good, but I didn't have a clue what was in it. It was years ago. I had forgotten about it.
:-D
CW
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gingersoul said on Dec 12, 2006....
Ed....is she so into sambuca?...lol... I knew her nieces too, Marcello's daughters...all of them used to be customers of my family clothing shop....i could tell your wife a lot of stories....:-) -
silverwhisper said on Dec 13, 2006....
GS, that calls for its own blog entry!
and yes, she really is. :>
ed -
anonymous said on Jan 15, 2007....
Don't you know the way reduce your B.P?
The usual way is to have slow smooth and piercing, ups and down movements inside your self, that brings all the calmness and lowering of B.P.
Do have it thrice a week.I challenge your pressure will be normal.Take note: smooth...slow...piercing...ups and slow down....no jerks...please...
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