And it begins......among accusations, denial and controversy, the TDF tries to move forward. I thought it was interesting that when one logs into the Official TDF website, there is no mention of the past 2 years.
It's almost as if the past 2 years didn't exist.
With the final DQ of floyd and last years winner not in the race, there was not a junior past champion in the peleton. The Astana suspension meant Alberto Contador was being punished for the actions of a team that 1) Is totally different and 2) was involved in something before he ever joined them! One more thought on Astana, Johan Bruyneel has created a totally transparent and public image of this team......If anything, they may be the CLEANEST team in cycling! What this tells me is that the TDF does not want to move forward to a time when cycling in the most openly clean sport in all of athletics, but rather they want to move backward to a time when no one talks about drugs and WADA is the final fascist dictator of the anti-doping world.
Floyd Landis: In my heart, I do not want to believe Mr. Landis broke the rules. The only thing that was ever "PROVED", was that he failed the testing. Where is the rest of the conspiracy? Was he the lone shooter in the book depository? Or was there an additional shooter behind the "Grassy Knowle" How deep did his cheating go?
However, whether he did or not, did not become clear to me from the evidence that was presented by the agencies that seemed so determined to revive the traditions of the inquisition! International standards and basic scientific principles were violated.........their scientific proceedure and integrity left room for doubt! I hope there was more to this than was presented to the public........or there is no real justice in international law!
Today's race was cool. As far as the race was concerened, I liked the idea of no time bonuses and Day 1 winner gets the jersey. Even the stage favored the type of rider that could be an overall contender. And the stage was won by an overall contender.
I am an addict......my wife is looking for 12 step Cycling program.......I will watch, no matter what. I will whine and bitch about the sport and the way it is run......but I will still follow it.......to my last breath!!!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Hypertension
Hypertenion is one of the top 3 diseases I see on a daily basis. The average American with HTN (hypertension) is on 3.2 different classes of Htn medication to maintain adequate control.
Overall, the physiology of blood pressure is simply a matter of physics.
It's a closed hydraulic system! Think brakes on cars.
You have a pump. It pumps fluid (blood) into tubes of varying sizes and it returns.
There are 4 ways to control pressure in a closed hydralic system:
1) Change the speed of the pump. This effects the amount of fluid pumped per minute.
2) Change the volume of the pump. (same effect as above)
3) Change the amount of fluid in the system. More fluid, higher pressure, less fluid, lower pressure.
4) Change the volume of the system. The greater the volume, the lower the pressure, the smaller the volume, the higher the pressure..........given the other 3 variables are not changed.
Looking at the various classes of blood pressure, or "anti-hypertensives".
Alpha blockers: dialates blood vessels.....increasing system volume.......decreasing pressure.
ACE inhibitors: These work on the Renin-Angiotension system by preventing the conversion of Renin into Angiotensin II......This critter is the most powerfull vasoconstrictor known to man. Smaller blood vessals equals higher pressure......and sometimes an annoying, dry hacky cough....not fatal, but obnoxious!
ARBS (angiotensin receptor blocker): Blocks the uptake point in the angiotension I receptors to prevent vasoconstriction. Overall, I have had better luck with ACE inhibitors than ARB's in controlling HTN. Theoretically, ARB's should be more beneficial than ACEI's due to the benefits of another receptor called the "angiotensin II receptor" (not to be confused with angiotensin II), but we don't really know what this guy does yet.
Beta-blockers: Slows heart rate and contraction strength.......decreasing fluid pumped per minute......also dilates blood vessels......increasing system volume.............decreasing blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers: Dilates blood vessels.....slows heart rate (but not as much as BB)
Diuretics: (the water pill)......decreases fluid in the system......decreasing blood pressure.
Blood pressure is a silent killer, resulting in strokes and end organ damage.....as a whole, hypertension and diabetes are the 2 worse diseases for kidney health.
Salt acts to retain fluid, thereby increasing the blood pressure (and causing the dreaded CANKLES!!!)
This is totally unnecessary as man has not needed salt since the invention of the refrigerator!!!!
There you have it, blood pressure in a nutshell, along with the basic arsonal of medications to help control it. Meds alone are not enough however!!! Blood pressure is impossible to control without addressing the other elements of metabolic syndrome, which include cholesterol levels, abdominal girth, diabetes along with a persons diet, activity level and overall fitness.
Overall, the physiology of blood pressure is simply a matter of physics.
It's a closed hydraulic system! Think brakes on cars.
You have a pump. It pumps fluid (blood) into tubes of varying sizes and it returns.
There are 4 ways to control pressure in a closed hydralic system:
1) Change the speed of the pump. This effects the amount of fluid pumped per minute.
2) Change the volume of the pump. (same effect as above)
3) Change the amount of fluid in the system. More fluid, higher pressure, less fluid, lower pressure.
4) Change the volume of the system. The greater the volume, the lower the pressure, the smaller the volume, the higher the pressure..........given the other 3 variables are not changed.
Looking at the various classes of blood pressure, or "anti-hypertensives".
Alpha blockers: dialates blood vessels.....increasing system volume.......decreasing pressure.
ACE inhibitors: These work on the Renin-Angiotension system by preventing the conversion of Renin into Angiotensin II......This critter is the most powerfull vasoconstrictor known to man. Smaller blood vessals equals higher pressure......and sometimes an annoying, dry hacky cough....not fatal, but obnoxious!
ARBS (angiotensin receptor blocker): Blocks the uptake point in the angiotension I receptors to prevent vasoconstriction. Overall, I have had better luck with ACE inhibitors than ARB's in controlling HTN. Theoretically, ARB's should be more beneficial than ACEI's due to the benefits of another receptor called the "angiotensin II receptor" (not to be confused with angiotensin II), but we don't really know what this guy does yet.
Beta-blockers: Slows heart rate and contraction strength.......decreasing fluid pumped per minute......also dilates blood vessels......increasing system volume.............decreasing blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers: Dilates blood vessels.....slows heart rate (but not as much as BB)
Diuretics: (the water pill)......decreases fluid in the system......decreasing blood pressure.
Blood pressure is a silent killer, resulting in strokes and end organ damage.....as a whole, hypertension and diabetes are the 2 worse diseases for kidney health.
Salt acts to retain fluid, thereby increasing the blood pressure (and causing the dreaded CANKLES!!!)
This is totally unnecessary as man has not needed salt since the invention of the refrigerator!!!!
There you have it, blood pressure in a nutshell, along with the basic arsonal of medications to help control it. Meds alone are not enough however!!! Blood pressure is impossible to control without addressing the other elements of metabolic syndrome, which include cholesterol levels, abdominal girth, diabetes along with a persons diet, activity level and overall fitness.
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