Simple Life

There are many different things that can put you at a greater risk for high blood pressure. If there is something in your life that makes it hard for your heart to work the right way that it should, you are going to experience high blood pressure, even if you are doing some things in the healthy way. However, one of the things that has long been felt by many in the medical community to be a factor in high blood pressure is your race. It has long been thought that there are some genetic factors that make one race more apt to have high blood pressure than another. While this might be true, there are certain things that you should try and do for yourself no matter what race you are.

First of all, a big part of high blood pressure is the foods that we eat. If you come from a racial background that richly celebrates every occasion with meals that are high in fat and cholesterol, your entire family is going to see that they might have problems with high blood pressure. This might be something that is linked to race, because different races celebrate things in different ways, and the traditional cooking is much different from place to place, as well as from race to race. If you belong to a culture that has a tendency to eat foods often that are high in fat, you might want to consider changing the way that you cook on a day to day basis. If you still want to participate in your family functions and eat the foods that everyone else is eating, it is okay as long as this is only practiced in moderation. If you can cook for yourself every single day and eat foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, you are going to have a better chance of lowering your own high blood pressure. You can also encourage your family to use low fat substitutes when they are celebrating. Exercise plays a role as well.

Certain blood pressure conditions are prevalent with certain races. If you are black or Hispanic, make sure you keep your blood pressure in check A number of more serious health conditions can occur if high blood pressure is not addressed, so if you are at risk, monitor it carefully, eat well, and exercise often. By doing these things, you can prevent high blood pressure, no matter what race you may be.

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What are the Right Numbers?

Depending on where you look, recommended blood glucose levels can vary. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) numbers differ from the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) guidelines. The ACE recommendations are more strict than the ADA’s. How do you know which to follow? Ask your healthcare provider which goals are right for you. The table below compares the two sets of guidelines for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol.

How many times a day should you check your blood glucose levels?

Checking your blood glucose levels often through out the day will help you to figure out how to keep good control. First thing in the morning before breakfast, two hours after a meal and before bed are good times to test. Other recommended times include before, during and after an exercise session, especially if it is strenuous or if you are feeling like your blood sugar may be low or high.

What is the A1C?

It’s a blood test that helps you and your doctor monitor your overall glucose control.

It gives an average of the amount of glucose in your blood over a few months’ time. It is usually ordered 2 to 4 times a year. If you are newly diagnosed or having trouble maintaining good day-to-day control, it may be ordered more often.

Sources:

“Checking Your Blood Glucose.” American Diabetes Association. ADA. 15 Dec 2006

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology, “The AACE System of Intensive Diabetes Self-Management - 2002 Update.” The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Medical Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus. Endocrine Practice Vol. 8. 2002.

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nayie Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is a tricky thing. Although it can be easily read by just about anyone, the process of finding ones blood pressure can be a little tricky. For those people looking to get the most precise reading possible, an invasive procedure must be put into play. This means a device must be inserted into a person and the blood pressure must be read in that way. However, the most common way to measure blood pressure is to use something called a sphygmomanometer. This is normally referred to as a blood pressure cuff, since that is exactly what it is: a pressurized cuff that is attached around a person’s forearm.

The cuff is usually placed around the upper left arm of a patient, at roughly the same vertical height as the person’s heart. The patient must be in an upright position for the cuff to read the blood pressure correctly, because only in this position does the blood flow through the body as it should. The cuff is then inflated until enough pressure is placed on the brachial artery there for a reading to occur. The systolic pressure is taken when the cuff begin to decrease. The doctor places a stethoscope against the elbow and listens to hear when the Korotkoff sounds begin. When they do, the systolic pressure is taken. The cuff continues to deflate until the sounds are heard no more. When this occurs, the doctor takes down the diatolic pressure.

Two types of blood pressure cuffs are in existence: digital and manual. Both of these types have their ups and downs, though most people tend to use the digital blood pressure cuffs when they are taking their blood pressure at home or in a drug store. Digital cuffs are not only easier to use, they are also more practical in a noisy environment, since you don’t have to listen for the Korotkoff sounds in order to get a blood pressure reading. These cuff types actually measure the mean arterial pulse, and then derive both the systolic and diatolic pressures from that. The only downside is that they cannot be used in certain conditions pertaining to health problems some people encounter.

Manual sphygmomanometers are much more precise than digital ones, though they take more skill to operate and therefore are normally used only by doctors. They involve having to manually pump the cuff as well as listening for the Korotkoff sounds, which some people find difficult to gauge.

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