Stay High to Keep Blood Pressure Low

tidbits that tantalize

Life Is

...Sweet

A thousand little details careen about your cranium as life rushes at you in full assault mode. Your ears are buzzing, your eyes are bleary and your belly bemoans that midnight panic-snack of pickles and parfait. No need for a doctor to diagnose your troubles. You're stressed!

What's the best medicine to keep your blood pressure under control? According to the latest study, the best medicine is no medicine at all. A positive attitude is directly related to maintaining low blood pressure.

A group of researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston studied 2,500 adults with an average age of 72.5 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire, rating their degree of positive emotions on a scale of 0 to 12. The results were striking. Those with the most positive emotional outlooks had the lowest blood pressures. Hmmm...

It appears our elders may be on to something. Next time you feel the press of life overwhelming you, consider taking a page from their playbook. Take a deep breath, gaze out across the landscape and muse, "Slice me a piece of that cake - and pass the pickles."