Author Archives: dzadmin

07.02.21
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What Causes Vein Disease: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

vein disease safety harbor west florida vein

vein disease safety harbor west florida veinVein disease is one of those ailments that just seems to appear out of no where overnight. But that is kind of a kin to suddenly seeing an iceberg in the water. It didn’t “just form”. It has been growing silently beneath the surface for a long time. It is only finally when it becomes visible on a surface level that most people notice and begin to pay attention.

No one knows your body better than you. After all, you have lived in it your entire life. If something feels not quite right – listen to it. It’s very easy to brush minor annoyances aside and move on with life but with health when you do that they don’t just go away, they grow, subtly.

Symptoms:

  • Tired legs (especially after standing all day)
  • Swelling (edema)
  • Aching
  • Itchy legs
  • Small, trapped blood patches under the skin where a vein has leaked
  • Red patches or splotches
  • And eventually visible blue or purplish red veins that may start as a small squiggle and gradually grow larger, more twisted, and painful

Why does this happen?

Well, there are a number of factors that come into play as to why someone would develop vein disease.

Varicose/Spider veins can be brought on by genetics, obesity, pregnancy, smoking, certain types of cancer, trauma to an area, phlebitis, and even a blood clot.

While not usually a serious health threat varicose veins can be painful and even disabling. The sooner they are treated the better the outcome and the less time you waste suffering needlessly.

When a case becomes severe it can lead to ulcerations in the skin that are difficult if not impossible to heal. They can become infected and that can be life threatening. Additionally, you risk blood clots in the legs which can break free and find their way up to the heart, brain, or lungs causing heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism.

Many people avoid seeing a Vein Specialist because they hear the term “Specialist” and their brain translates that to “expensive”. The truth is most cases are considered a medical necessity and your insurance will cover the treatment. Though vein issues are often thought of as cosmetic the look of these rogue veins is simply a side effect of a serious medical issue that needs to be addressed.

Stop waiting.
Call us!
727-712-3233

www.westfloridaveincenter.com

 

 

07.01.21
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Chiropractic Beats Out Pain Killers for Long Term Pain Relief

Dr kaster fort myers florida chiropractic

Dr kaster fort myers florida chiropracticBack pain can be debilitating. It can hamper your activities, your life, your ability to work, and even make you feel less like yourself. It is difficult to remain happy and positive when you are in constant pain.

If you suffer from back pain chronically or intermittently you are far from alone. Nearly 65 million Americans reported a recent incident of back pain.  8 percent of all adult experience persistent or chronic back pain that limits everyday activities. Back pain ranks as the sixth most costly condition in the United States.

While NSAID pain relievers such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, or aspirin can help to block and dull pain they do not remove the cause, so the pain returns when the medication wears off. The same holds true for pain medications including opioids.

Studies prove that chiropractic care can help on a more permanent basis. This most recent study divided 100 patients into three groups. Group 1 received spinal adjustments and a placebo drug while Group 2 received real doses of a drug and sham adjustments. Group 3 received both the placebo and sham treatments (aka no actual treatment at all).

The Result:
Group 1 reported the biggest pain reduction. Better quality of life was also reported.

Groups 2 and 3 both reported almost no change other than when medication was currently active in their systems.

These improvements for group 1 lasted through to the 12 week follow up.

While many studies have proven the validity of chiropractic over the years this is the first study to prove its efficacy over NSAID medications.

Chiropractic simply works. If you are ready to stop dealing with back pain give the office of Kaster Chiropractic a call today at 239-332-2555. Visit www.kasterchiropractic.com to learn more. We look forward to seeing you in our office!

 

06.05.21
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Revamp Your Motivation and Zero-N

Zero-N RenovoVita brain health cellular wellness

Zero-N RenovoVita brain health cellular wellnessIt’s Time to Rise and Shine! – If that sentiment now irritates you more than motivates you, you may need some more pep in your step.

We all love coffee. The smell, the feel of the warm cup in our hands, the ritual of the brew. But is it really working for you anymore? Over time plain old coffee and caffeine tend to lose their potency and zip.

Life has gotten complicated over the past few years. It can become draining and can wear on your adrenal glands leading to adrenal fatigue. Your adrenal glands are what helps you should danger occur. They initiate the fight or flight response in reaction to stress by releasing chemicals into your body that allow you to keep going even if terrified or injured. They help you get out of dangerous situations and are part of your survival instinct.

The problem here in 2021 is that the stress isn’t subsiding. We are constantly in a state of perpetual fight or flight and our nervous systems are paying the price.

If you feel exhausted, worn out, tired, sleepy during the daytime, experience problems sleeping at night, are grouchy, groggy, and wrought with brain fog, trust us – you are far from alone. Thankfully, we have an answer.

Zero-N Brain Health Formula was created to combat brain fog, fatigue, boost mental acuity, and give you back your edge.

RenovoVita has included only the highest quality pharmaceutical grade natural ingredients in Zero-N Brain Health formula. It includes the key ingredients L-Theanine to help regulate emotion, concentration, and cognition and get those neurotransmitters fired up. Bacopa Monnieri to fight free radicals and help with sleep and anxiety, Ginko Biloba for cognition, retention, and increased brain blood flow, Soy Lecithin to help stave off deterioration of brain capacity, GABA for new cellular growth and connection, and good old-fashioned Caffeine which jolts the neurons to stimulate energy as well as a proprietary formulation of key multi-vitamins and minerals to supercharge anti-aging effects.

Just two capsules a day with or without food as needed and you can revitalize your brain health. What could be easier?

www.RenovoVita.com to learn more!

FDA & Legal Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

06.03.21
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Is Venous Ablation a Possibility for Me?

varicose-veins-west-florida-vein-center-ablation

varicose-veins-west-florida-vein-center-ablationVaricose veins, especially in the advanced stages, can become very painful. Twisting, pooling, bulging, enlarged, swollen, and even ulcerated. They distract from daily life and detract from the quality of it.

Those suffering from varicose veins often live with daily pain that does not seem to go away. It can wear you down and exhaust you. As this happens many will find us in their search for answers and solutions.

Consulting a Vein Specialist is the best course of action. Let them use their years of expertise, experience, and education to pinpoint and target the best treatment plan for your particular case. Vein treatment is not a one size fits all.

Among the procedures, one of the most popular and effective is Endovenous Ablation.  This procedure is performed in-office and takes usually less than an hour. It accomplishes the same goal as vein striping which is far more invasive.  It uses ultrasound guidance combined with a local anesthetic. A thin laser fiber is inserted via the catheter to help thread it up the vein to the desired location.

As the laser is withdrawn it shrinks and seals the enlarged and damaged veins. They will then be reabsorbed into the body and the blood re-routed. There is little to no scarring and has a 97% success rate.

Is Endovenous Ablation Painful?

It is a virtually painless procedure. You will feel the injection of anesthetic but after that will be numb. You may feel a slight pressure but there should be no pain.

The recovery time is minimal. We recommend taking the rest of the day off to rest and you should be ok to go back to work and resume normal activity the next day. Strenuous exercise should wait one full week to eliminate the risk of bruising. Mild over-the-counter pain relievers should be strong enough. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or other NSAIDs. Should you be a rare case that needs something stronger Dr. Zuzga, D.O. is happy to work with you.

Endovenous ablation is noninvasive and does not involve any incisions. Because of this, there is no scarring risk.

Ready to see if this procedure is right for you? Give the office of Dr. Mark Zuzga, D.O. a call today. The West Florida Vein Center is waiting on your call. 727-712-3233.

06.02.21
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Heart Disease and HIV Patients

HIV Aids heart disease tampa cardio

HIV Aids heart disease tampa cardioPatients are living longer as HIV treatments progress. They are also living high-quality lives.  Modern medicine has miraculously transformed a tragic terminal illness into a manageable condition that can be lived with and kept in check for years and even decades allowing for a longer fuller life.

The only downfall of this extension is that a connection seems to be forming between HIV patients with longer lives and the development of cardiovascular issues including heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

This partly stems from ramped up easily available testing and earlier treatment options. Because of this, those with HIV are not developing into full-blown AIDS. This lowers the incidences of AIDS-related complications. It does correlate though to the early onset as well as higher relative risks for chronic diseases among HIV patients.

The risk of stroke and heart disease among those HIV positive was partly linked to an antiretroviral therapy used to help suppress infections. It has been noted that those who were on these antiretroviral continually showed a lower risk than their intermittent counterparts.

Researchers believe that the elevated heart disease risk may be directly related to chronic inflammation caused by having an autoimmune issue. Chronic inflammation is linked to the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

No matter if you are HIV positive, Negative, or Don’t know your status, cardiovascular conditioning is at the very center of our health.  If you are HIV positive or have developed the more advanced Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome it is important to check in with your cardiologist on a regular basis as recommended.

There is a current large-scale trial going on right now. It is called REPRIEVE and is being funded by the National Institutes of Health. It examines whether statins can help prevent cardiovascular disease in those living with HIV.

When the results are published, we will pass them on to our readers here at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. WWW.TAMPACARDIO.COM. Give us a call at the office to schedule your consultation. 813-975-2800.

 

06.01.21
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Stress Can Cause Misalignments and Poor Health, Even Leading to Disease

stress-misalignments-chiropractic-fort-myers-dr-kaster

stress-misalignments-chiropractic-fort-myers-dr-kasterStress can cause you to have a lowered immune response which can lead to colds, flu, and illness.

Stress has a very tangible effect on your entire body, on your emotions, and on your mind. While small amounts of stress can be healthy and even a motivating factor, ongoing constant states of stress put your body into an unnatural version of the fight or flight response and can cause a world of problems.

When it comes to the world of chiropractic there are three kinds of stress that affect the skeletal system influencing alignment. They are the main reasons most basic components of human health.

CHEMICAL STRESS

Body chemistry affects muscle tone. When muscles tighten, the tension can pull on the bones that they are attached. This can cause misalignments.

Some of the most common causes of chemical imbalance or chemical stress include nutrient deficiencies (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and so on) smoking, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, and other toxins.

Nutrients affect muscles by allowing them to relax. When your body has a lack of nutrients, quickly follows is the inability to allow the muscles to relax. Chemical toxins such as processed foods, smoke, alcohol, and VOCs can affect muscles by irritating the nerves. When we eat processed food, the body reacts to the food as it is a toxin. Because of this the nerves in the stomach send signals to the brain releasing stress hormones that cause a change in muscle tonicity. All of this affects the way our body is aligned.

PHYSICAL STRESS

When any physical stress occurs, bones can be shifted out of alignment due to impact, tension, or physical force. Strangely, although physical stress is the most well-known of the three, it is actually the least common cause of misalignments.

 

EMOTIONAL STRESS

Emotional stress is one of the most common reasons that the body ends up misaligned. Financial stress, job stress, political climate stress, family stress, and health-related stress just to name a few. These stress sources can cause us to subconsciously tighten our muscles, raise our shoulders, release cortisol, and remain on high alert physically. It causes an increase in tension and pulls on the skeletal frame.

Stress: The Outcome

Most misalignments are due to a combination of all three stress categories above. The unfortunate thing is that most people don’t go see the chiropractor until they feel pain. Pain is your body’s last form of defense when it comes to correcting itself.

Chiropractic care can be used preventatively. Getting adjusted regularly can stop a person from reaching pain and needing more frequent treatments. Signs that you could have a misalignment can include loss of range of movement, a pinching feeling, changes in body function, tight muscles, a decrease in body function, headaches, and random aches and pains. Also frequent colds are a sign of misalignments as they can prevent your nervous system from working full force.

It is important to regularly get checked by your chiropractor to make sure these three stressors are kept in check. If you have any questions about how these stressors can directly affect the way you are feeling, feel free to give us a call at 239-332-2555 www.kasterchiropractic.com.

 

05.21.21
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Secure, Reliable Protection for Your Microsoft 365 SaaS Application Data

The growth of cloud infrastructure in recent years has led to a surge in popularity of Software as a Service (SaaS) packages such as Microsoft Office 365. This popularity stems from a variety of factors, including ease of use, reduced costs, and automatic updates.  In fact, we are seeing more and more the following:

  • Time spent in Microsoft Teams meetings has more than doubled globally, increasing 148%.
  • The average Teams user is sending 45% more chats per week.
  • The number of emails delivered to Microsoft 365® customers went up by 40.6 billion between Feb. 2020 and Feb. 2021.¹
  • There was a 66% increase in the number of people working on Microsoft 365 documents in the past 12 months.

So in short, we know that hybrid working is here to stay.  Recent survey showed that 73% of employees want flexible remote options to stay/be permanent and 66% of business decision-makers are thinking about redesigning physical spaces and IT networks to better accommodate hybrid work environments.  Keeping that in mind, businesses are now poised to have increase exposure and risk if the proper steps are not taken to secure this on-demand data that is being shared across many users within the network.  As a result of this surge, 77% of companies that use SaaS applications suffered a data loss incident over a 12-month period.

What oversights are commonly seen that result in this type of data loss?

Below are some real work examples of how each of these pillars can happen:

  • Employees inevitably delete the wrong email, contacts, or critical configurations.
  • Microsoft will honor your deletion request without question. They have no way of knowing if it’s a hasty (or malicious) request and they are not – responsible for any unexpected results.​  In short, Microsoft is not responsible for your data loss.  You are!
  • These powerful tools designed to streamline business processes can ruin critical data in a flash — with no undo if no measures are put in place such as automatic back ups, etc.
  • Employee action is involved in up to 23% of all electronic crime events
  • Rogue software can spread mayhem with programmatic efficiency without an active attack from a hacker. Many malware programs and viruses emerge from existing code after hibernation, making them especially hard to defend against.​

Now knowing human error and malicious attacks are major causes, who is really responsible for your data then?  You or Microsoft?

In short, its a shared responsibility.

The fact is Microsoft is only responsible for Hardware and Software failure along with any outages within their network & infrastructure.  Any other factors such as human mistakes, programmatic errors, malicious insider activity, external hackers and access & permissions control issues all come under the business’s responsibility.  As they say, read the fine print in Microsoft’s service level agreement which states:

So what steps can you do to ensure you data is always protected?

Well first and formeost is to have a robust cybersecurity IT strategy and plan in place where IT professionals, like ThirdPowerIT, can put technologies and best practices in place to prevent as much breach and human error as possible.  Secondly is to have a back up disaster plan in place that automates your back ups with a quick recovery.

Here at ThirdpowerIT, We Can Help Protect All Your Microsoft 365 Account Data With:

  • Automated Backup s
  • On-demand Data Restore & Recovery
  • Granular Point-in-time Recovery​
  • Ability To Reestore Flexibility for Admins, Users and Devices
  • Provide Transparent Reporting (Audit Logs)
  • Ensure Your Data Centers Are Located Globally

Also, depending on your industry regulations and the type of data you store, we ensure you are compliance in all aspects HIPAA, PCI, NIST & more.

How Secure Is Your Data?

Not sure?  Getting started is easy.  Give us a call or click on the button below to schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation and learn how we can put in a strategy that protects your data the way it needs to be.

Schedule Your FREE 30 Minute Consultation

The post Secure, Reliable Protection for Your Microsoft 365 SaaS Application Data appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

05.18.21
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Prevent Costly Oversights With Managed IT Services

If you are still relying exclusively on an on-site technician to take care of all your computer needs, you are not utilizing the latest technology tools to bring your IT service cost down. Nor are you resolving computer issues as quickly as possible or ensuring security threats to your network infrastructure are being met.

In fact, the #1 security risk to your business are people! Human error is a major factor in breaches. This includes:

  • Misaddressed Emails
  • Lost or stolen devices
  • Confidential data sent to unsecured home systems

So how does a business prevent this in happening? It starts with strategic IT planning and having a team of experts to manage the IT and Network infastructure. Here at ThirdpowerIT, we implement a variety of security solutions for your business.  This includes a variety of technologies and in specific to security, you can expect us to monitor, manage & implement:


1. Patch Management ( Automate System Updates) 

Patching is the process of repairing system vulnerabilities discovered after the infrastructure components have been released in the market. Patches apply to many different systems including operating systems, servers, routers, desktops, email clients, mobile devices, firewalls, etc.


2. Network Perimeter/Edge Security

This includes Next-Generation Firewalls & Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Tools.

  • DON’T rely on the modem supplied by your ISP – It is NOT a FIREWALL!
  • Consumer-grade devices DON’T provide adequate protection. There’s a reason they’re so cheap.
  • Install a business-grade firewall with Active Threat Management (ATM) Software.
  • Make certain your firewall is configured correctly.


3. Access and Permission Controls (Next-Generation Firewalls & Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Tools)

  • DON’T rely on the modem supplied by your ISP – It is NOT a FIREWALL!
  • Consumer-grade devices DON’T provide adequate protection. There’s a reason they’re so cheap.
  • Install a business-grade firewall with Active Threat Management (ATM) Software.
  • Make certain your firewall is configured correctly.


4. Identify Authentication & Password Security

  • Most passwords today are too guessable or are being sniffed or captured by hardware from software keyloggers.
  • 2FA or MFA are a combination of individual security factors required simultaneously to prove a user’s authentic identity.

5. Regular Security & Risk Assessments

  • Don’t just assume that your firewall, anti-virus, and anti-malware solutions are doing the job. Be certain.
  • Security is not a one-and-done effort.
  • The security landscape changes daily.
  • Vulnerability scans should be run at least monthly to confirm the security of your network.

6. Advanced Email Security

  • Email is often the gateway to your network.
  • Effective anti-spam software is essential to keeping malware at bay.
  • Most email providers include anti-spam software, but it needs to be carefully tuned to be effective.
  • On-premises email servers and some hosted environments need third-party software (and updates).

7. Security Awareness: Training For Your Employees

The #1 Security Risk is “the unit between the desk and the chair.” Regular education and constant vigilance will do more for your security than all the security software in the world.

And this is just touching on security for your network!! At ThirdpowerIT, you can expect our team to fully manage every aspect of your business’s IT infrastructure and needs.   Getting started is easy and we offer many custom plans that fit your business and budget.  Give us a call or click on the button below to schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation and learn how we can put in a strategy that protects you from downtime, loss in business revenue and in human capital.

Get Your FREE 30 Consultation

The post Prevent Costly Oversights With Managed IT Services appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

05.12.21
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How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect Your Small Miami Business?

How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect SMBs?

Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) usually invest less in cybersecurity, making them easier targets for cybercriminals. Close to 30% of businesses experience a cyberattack at least once per week.1

The need for constant vigilance and defense against hackers has led many SMBs to complicate cybersecurity matters. Though the percentage of businesses that have adopted formal, business-wide incident response plans has increased from 18% in 2015 to 26% in 2020, the ability to contain an actual attack dropped by 13%.2 This is because: (1) businesses do not consistently test threat-readiness of incident response plans and (2) many of them use too many security products that hamper the ability to identify and respond to a cyberattack.

It is here where a cyber resilience strategy can help organizations protect uptime and recover from incidents faster. Some people use the terms cybersecurity and cyber resilience simultaneously, but the meanings are different.

While cybersecurity primarily aims at blocking nefarious cyber players from attacking your network, cyber resilience is more about planning, defending, responding to and recovering quickly from a cyberattack. Endpoint protection, email security, network security, backup and data recovery, identity and access management and a host of other critical solutions together fuel a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy.

Claim Your Free 30 Min Consulation

Arm Your Business with Cyber Resilience

The cyberthreat landscape is evolving at lightning speed and traditional security measures cannot keep up with it. Experts have predicted that a ransomware attack will occur every 11 seconds in 2021.3 The only way forward for businesses, including yours, is to draft a cyber resilience strategy that highlights ways to move forward in the face of a cyberattack.

Your business is cyber resilient when:

  • You’ve implemented measures to guard against cyberattacks
  • Proper risk control measures for data protection get deployed
  • Hackers cannot severely disrupt business operation during or after an attack

The major components of a cyber resilience strategy are:

  • Threat protection

By deploying efficient attack surface management and risk management, you can easily take your business through the path of cyber resilience. Doing so helps you minimize first-party, third-party or fourth-party risks that arise because of data leaks, data breaches or misconfigurations. Additionally, assessment reports identify key risk areas that require attention.

  • Adaptability

Cybercriminals are shapeshifters who constantly change their devious tactics. Ensure your business can adapt to emerging cyberthreats.

  • Recoverability

To quickly bounce back after a security incident, your business must have all the necessary infrastructure, including robust data backups. Conducting mock drills that let you understand the employee readiness to counter cyberattacks is also important.

  • Durability

Your IT team can improve the business’ durability through constant system enhancements and upgrades. No matter what strategy the criminals use, prevent their actions from overwhelming you through shock and disruption.

 

5 Ways Cyber Resilience Protects SMBs

Adopting cyber resilience proves beneficial before, during and after cyberattacks. Five ways cyber resilience protects SMBs:

  1. Enhances system security, work culture and internal processes

By implementing a cyber resilience approach within your business, you can easily design and develop strategies tailor-made for your existing IT infrastructure. Additionally, cyber resilience improves security within each internal process, so you can communicate desired behavior to employees.

  1. Maintains business continuity

Cyber resilience ensures that operations are not significantly affected and business gets back to normal after a cyberattack.

  1. Reduces financial loss

The financial damage caused by a breach can be so severe that businesses go bankrupt or even close. Cyber resilience keeps threats in check, reducing the chances of business disruption as well as limiting financial liabilities.

  1. Meets regulatory and insurance requirements

Cyber resilience helps keep your business out of regulatory radars by satisfactorily following all necessary criteria. Also, complying with regulations can be beneficial to your business for cyber insurance claims.

  1. Boosts company reputation

Having cyber resilience by your side gives you better control in the event of a successful cyberattack. It helps you block attacks, bounce back quickly if an incident happens and minimize the chaotic aftereffects of a breach. This improves your business reputation among partners and customers.

Don’t worry if the concept of cyber resilience is tough to crack. We can guide your business to and through cyber resilience. Start with an assessment to check your business’ cyber resilience level. Contact us now!

Not sure where to start?

The Cybersecurity Experts at Third Power IT can help. As Miami’s premier Cybersecurity consultants, Third Power IT can help you implement a secure network that is IT compliant and safe.

Call Us Today
Claim Your Free 30 Min Consulation

 

Article curated and used by permission.

Sources:

  1. Infosecurity Magazine
  2. The 2020 Cyber Resilient Organization Study
  3. JD Supra Knowledge Center

The post How Can Cybersecurity & Resilience Protect Your Small Miami Business? appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

05.06.21
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How to Help Regulate Blood Pressure with Dietary Changes

Tampa cardio nutritional cardiology heart diet

Tampa cardio nutritional cardiology heart dietUnwanted side effects are the downside of blood pressure medication.

These potential known side effects are a major reason many patients put off taking blood pressure medications. They ignore their elevated readings and it can lead to trouble.

If you are concerned about your blood pressure but prefer not to take medications, we have some dietary suggestions to try first that may help control pressure levels naturally.

The standard recommendation is referred to as the DASH Diet. DASH stands for Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. This carefully crafted diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy.  It can help to reduce intake of saturated fats as well as cholesterol.

The DASH diet is recommended for short term or even lifelong use; however, this does not mean that followers of this diet have to completely eliminate all their favorite foods.  As long as this is the basis for your way of eating it’s okay to treat yourself once in a while.

Patients with high blood pressure are almost always told to reduce sodium levels. Even a small reduction can have a big impact. It is generally recommended that people consume no more than 2,300 mg per day. For those 50 and older that number is reduced to 1500 mg per day. The same holds true for those with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, ongoing high blood pressure, and anyone who is of African descent.

Another hot topic when it comes to blood pressure reduction is alcohol. There is a balance when it comes to choosing to imbibe. A single serving of wine or other alcoholic beverage has actually been shown to reduce blood pressure. More than one drink, however, is considered potentially harmful. Blood pressure medications should be considered as well. Many medications can be negated by drinking or have side effects.

Changing your diet and lifestyle significantly is never an easy task. Below are some tips on how to make the dietary transition a smooth one:

  1. Track your progress – Get a notebook to use as a food diary. Keeping track of what and when you’re eating can help highlight issues you might not have been aware of.
  2. Ease into it – No one expects you to change your diet overnight and easing yourself into it may be the best option to ensure success.
  3. Shop Smart – Never go to the store hungry or without a list.
  4. Try salt substitutes – Herbs and spices can add wonderful flavor to your food without adding extra sodium.
  5. Bump up the potassium – Potassium can counteract the harmful effects of sodium and is found in supplemental form as well as in certain fruits and vegetables.
  6. Nix the fast food – These foods are loaded with chemicals and salt. They tend to aggravate hypertension.

The doctors at Tampa Cardiology offer blood pressure assistance as well as the advice of an onsite nutritionist. The most important thing to remember is that changing your diet and lifestyle is a gradual process and takes a lot of hard work, but the results of a longer life and healthier body and mind are always worth the effort.

Get started right away and schedule your appointment online at: WWW.TAMPACARDIO.COM. We are also reachable by calling the office at 813-975-2800.