Total Health Breakthroughs: Free Natural Health Newsletter and Alternative Health Articles

High blood pressure is called the silent killer for a good reason. It both strains the heart and damages delicate organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and the brain. Yet very often, it causes no symptoms at all until the damage is done.

Diagnosing high blood pressure is pretty straightforward. We’re all used to having our blood pressure checked as part of a routine exam, and now you can find screening booths in places such as pharmacies and health fairs, or even buy a machine that lets you check at home yourself.

Once diagnosed, the standard medical response is, as usual, drug therapy.

Yes, the drugs work, but at a price. They have side effects such as dizziness, electrolyte imbalance, impotence, fatigue, and more. We all would just as soon avoid any of them.

The US has become a “caffeine-dependent nation”. As if the traditional coffee, tea, and soft drinks were not enough, we have added caffeine to mints, gum, and a variety of “energy drinks.” These drinks happen to be enjoying tremendous sales not only in the US, but in other countries as well. So it caught my eye when Australian researchers recently reported that the energy drink, Red Bull, has the potential to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.¹

The study conducted on college age adults found that Red Bull not only increased blood pressure, it increased the stickiness of blood cells — after consuming only one can of the drink. It is known that increasing the stickiness of blood cells means our blood will be more prone to forming clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. The authors of the study concluded that drinking Red Bull could be dangerous, especially for anyone who may already be predisposed to heart disease.

After the study was published, a spokesperson for Red Bull stated that these effects are similar to the changes found with drinking a cup of coffee, and so the long-term risks of energy drinks could not be determined from these results alone.²

It’s true that each can of Red Bull contains about 80 mg of caffeine, the amount typically found in one cup of brewed coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, and in moderation it has been shown to have some benefits. For instance, it slightly increases the body’s rate of metabolism and enhances mental focus and clarity. However, in comparing coffee to energy drinks, are we really comparing apple to apples?

Mr. Johnson’s eyes showed his frustration as he tried to speak. What should have been words came out as meaningless sounds.

He listed to one side in his wheelchair, unable to use his weakened left side to straighten himself. The paralysis meant that he needed help with the most basic things — getting out of bed, eating, getting dressed, going to the bathroom.

But perhaps most frustrating was that inability to talk. After 79 years of living a happy and productive life, it was almost too much to bear.