Health by dratiffarid

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps. High blood pressure is known as hypertension.

Have you been having headaches, dizzy spells or nosebleeds recently? You might be having hypertension. It’s important to know that you can have hypertension for years without any symptom. The above symptoms usually occur when hypertension has reached an advanced stage.

It is advisable to check your blood pressure every year after 20 years of age. Nowadays, it is a general practice to check your blood pressure whenever you go to the hospital. Always ask the doctor what’s the blood pressure that he recorded.

The normal blood pressure should be less than 120/80.

It’s important to know that if the upper value is between 120-139 and the lower value is between 80-89, it is a stage of pre-hypertension and not true hypertension. The difference is that you don’t need medications yet and lifestyle modifications will help.

If you have a blood pressure device at home, you can check it yourself.

Tips:

1) Avoid coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks before being tested. These are stimulants and can cause nervousness. Research has proven that it increases blood pressure by narrowing the blood pressure .

2) Don’t smoke prior to being tested. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels causing a transient increase in blood pressure.

3) Sit for at least 5 minutes before you check your blood pressure. Rest your arm at the level of your heart.

4) Go to the bathroom prior to checking your blood pressure. A full bladder can change your blood pressure reading.

5) Get two readings, taken at least 2 minutes apart, and average the results.

Tragedy could strike at any time and you never know who is going to need your help. It’s all about planning and preparing yourself in advance and working together as a team.

#1 You must be alert and be informed of disasters that are most likely to happen in your area. Read newspapers regularly, watch the news, surf news websites. You must also know about your area’s warning signals. If your kids go to school, make sure you are well informed about the security system at the school as well.

#2 Talk to your family members and inform them why you need to prepare for a disaster. Tell the kids what they’re supposed to do in case a fire breaks out or if there is an earthquake.

#3 Save the emergency telephone numbers on your cell phone or write them on a notepad accessible to you and others. It’s best to call the cops or the hospital for help. Don’t panic. Calling a friend may not be the smartest move every time. You have to be at your toes and act according to the situation.

#4 Make sure everyone in your family knows the best escape routes from your place.

#5 Train your children how to turn off the gas and the main electricity switch.

#6 If you have a fire extinguisher at your place, make sure you know how to use it.

#7 Smoke detectors always help. Test them regularly to see if they’re working. You may have to change the batteries once a year.

#8 Make your own first aid kit and keep it readily available in case of an emergency.

Have you experienced any tragedy/disaster in your family? Please share it with us in the ‘Comments’ section below. It will help other readers as well.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux is the abnormal back flow of stomach acid and juices into the esophagus. It occurs when the valve (sphincter) between the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach does not close tightly enough.

People usually complain of heartburn. It’s pain behind the breastbone which is usually burning type and increases on bending forward. It also leaves a bad taste in the mouth. It can also keep you awake at night and affect sleep in the long term.

Lifestyle modification is an integral part of prevention of GERD. It’s not the cure but it does relieve symptoms and prevent recurrences.

#1 Quit smoking. Nicotine relaxes the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. So, there’s a back flow of stomach acid and juices into the esophagus leading to heartburn.

#2 Avoid overeating. Overeating puts extra pressure on your stomach and it increases the chances of heartburn.

#3 Losing weight helps in the long run.

#4 Decrease alcohol and caffeine attack as they relax the valve.

#5 Eating smaller, more frequent meals.

#6 Certain food items aggravate symptoms. Avoid citrus fruits, chocolate, fried items like french fries, garlic and onions.

#7 Avoid spicy food.

#8 Avoid tight clothing (tight belts) over your stomach.

#9 If you need to pick something from the floor, bend your knees and pick it up.

#10 Raise the head end of your bed. Place a block below. Sitting up allows gravity to help food drain back into your stomach.

Further Reading:

25 reasons to QUIT smoking

It is a general notion that sunglasses are a fashion accessory in the summer. But, that’s not it. Sunglasses are important to keep your eyes healthy as well. They protect your eyes from bright light as well as ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun.

Ultraviolet exposure leads to eye diseases such as cataracts and skin cancers. They can eventually lead to blindness.

It’s important to know that sunglasses should be worn even when it’s not bright outside as UV radiation can filter through clouds.

Sunglasses are equally important if you are taking medications which increase sensitivity to light (called photosensitivity). Antihistamines used in cold and allergy medicines, paracetamol/aspirin used to control pain and inflammation and certain antibiotics like tetracyclines cause photosensitivity.

Obviously it is better to choose a pair of sunglasses that fit well. But also make sure you choose one with 99% protection against UV-A and UV-B. Avoid small sunglasses which do not completely protect your eyes and the surrounding skin.

Around 500,000 Americans are believed to be suffering from Crohn’s disease. It is an inflammatory condition that affects the digestive tract.

Do you have abdominal cramps a few hours after eating? Do you have frequent diarrhea associated with blood? Are you suffering from decreased appetite or recurrent fever? You may have Crohn’s disease.

People with Crohn’s disease usually lead active and productive lives. They have flare-ups when the symptoms increase followed by periods of remission. The good part is that periods of remission are longer and more frequent than the flare-ups.

Tips:

#1 Increase your intake of calories (especially in the form of proteins).

#2 Take vitamin supplements.

#3 Eating smaller, more frequent meals helps minimize stress on your digestive tract.

#4 Drink a lot of water. It prevents flare-ups as well as dehydration.

#5 During a flare-up, it’s best to avoid intake of dietary fiber such as whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables.

#6 Avoid dairy products, spicy foods as well as fat-rich food items.

#7 Always plan your activities. The flare-ups of Crohn’s disease are unpredictable. But it is important that you participate in the activities that you enjoyed before your diagnosis and maintain your daily life as normally as possible.

#8 Whenever you go outside, always note the location of bathrooms on or before arrival.

#9 Stress causes flare-ups. Prevent it by exercising regularly and yoga.

Important Aspects

#1 Researchers haven’t found a specific gene responsible for Crohn’s disase. The chances of a child having Crohn’s disease if his or her parents do is almost equal to the chances of any other child.

#2 People with Crohn’s disease have a slightly higher incidence of colon cancer than others. Regular screening is important.

Take the Crohn’s Control Quiz now