Thoughts About High Blood Pressure

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Did You Know?

1. That high blood pressure is known as the silent killer?
   
2. That your body can suffer damage for years before you know you have the disease?
   
3. That 50% of the blood pressure medications are not taken as prescribed?
   
4. That your blood pressure may read differently depending on which arm you use for the reading?
   
5. That losing even 10 pounds can help you lower your blood pressure?
   
6. That 1 our of every 3 adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure?
   

Here is a checklist to get you ready for your doctor visit.

1. Do you need to lose weight?
   
2. Do you smoke?
   
3. Do you drink alcohol regularly?
   
4. Do you have a family history of high blood pressure?
   
5. Do you have diabetes, kidney disease or sleep apnea?
6. Do you get regular exercise?
7. Do you eat healthy?
   
8. Do you take medications or over the counter medications? List them.
   

What is hypertension, or high blood pressure?

Basically, blood pressure is the force of your blood pressing on the walls of your arteries. Every time your heart beats your blood is forced into your arteries. Your blood pressure is the highest when your heart beats. Your blood pressure is lower in between beats. At night when you are resting your blood pressure is lower. When you are excited or stressed your blood pressure will usually be higher. It is possible to have hypertension for years and never experience even one symptom. You should have regular check ups to keep a handle on what your blood pressure is doing. You cannot find out any other way.

Alzheimer's the Fastest Growing Disease

Dear Healthcare Lady,

What is Alzheimer's Disease? Is it contagious? Thanks, Bill

Dear Bill,

5.3 million people currently have Alzheimer's disease. It is the fastest growing disease right now in this country. It is expected with the increased number of Baby Boomers reaching age 65 years within the next couple of years that this number will increase to 1 million new cases per year by 2050. However, by 2010 it is expected that another 500,000 people will be diagnosed with this dreaded disease.

ALZHEIMERS is not contagious. It is a progressive brain disease that destroys the brain cells slowly causing memory loss and making the body forget how to function. Many people are unable to swallow, or eat their food.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's

• Confusion and disorientation
  
• Depression or anxiety, apathy
  
• Loss of language and math skills, lack of judgement
  
• Inappropriate behavior and personality changes
  
• Eating and sleeping disorders
  
• Delusions and paranoia as the disease progresses
  
• Loss of control of body functions as well as complete lack of self awareness

If someone in your family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's it is important to get as much information as possible to form a care plan after the initial diagnosis. Alzheimer's is an expensive disease that many times is not covered by health insurance or Medicare. The Alzheimer's patient is not the only one to suffer with this disease.

Caregivers have been shown to suffer from severe stress that brings on new onset HEART DISEASE, and hypertension. Even stress hormones begin to function differently and immunity levels have been shown to drop due to the stress involved with becoming a caregiver for the Alzheimer's patient.

Get the facts and get help as early as possible.

Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Association
How to Get the Facts About Alzheimer's