Home Health Care Professionals Newsletter - 09302003

What is hypertension?

Your blood pressure is the force that moving blood puts on your artery walls. When your blood pressure is over 140/90, you have high blood pressure also called hypertension. But hypertension generally not just shows up; it evolves gradually. You are considered at risk for high blood pressure when yours is in the range of 120/80 and 139/89: that’s pre-hypertension. A change in life style is appropriate at that time to reduce your risks.

Stages of blood pressure

Normal less than 120 over 80

Pre-Hypertension greater than 120 to 139 over 80 to 89

Stage 1 Hypertension greater than 140 to 159 over 90 to 99

Stage 2 Hypertension greater than 160 over 100

Who’s at risk?

Last year, the Joint National Committee that regroups federal agencies, associations and experts, published their 7th report on Prevention, Detection and Evaluation of High Blood Pressure. Here are some of their findings.

After 50, systolic high blood pressure is a more important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Higher blood pressure with aging is a normal thing; if your blood pressure does not change after 55, your are also at higher risk for developing more serious hypertension later
It is highly recommended that people with pre-hypertension talk to their doctor about changing their life style to help prevent hypertension and the use of medication
Keeping your weight in a healthy range is important to getting your blood pressure down
Dementia and other cognitive impairments occur more commonly in people with hypertension
Chronic high blood pressure is dangerous because it can lead to stroke, heart disease and renal disease

A 2001 study by David J. Hyman and Valory N. Pavlik featured on the American Heart Association web site shows that:

Being over the age of 65 was the strongest predictor of having undetected hypertension
It is also the strongest predictor of detected but uncontrolled hypertension
Male African-American not having visited a physician within the preceding 12 months are also more at risk
Lack of access to health care is not a significant predictor of uncontrolled hypertension

A study in the February 2004 issue of Hypertension suggests that a daily bedtime dose of melatonin can reduce the nighttime blood pressure and improve sleep quality.

For people who can’t control hypertension, a treatment with the combination of three different drugs, including a diuretic is recommended.

Also, if hypertension runs in your family, you are overweight, you eat lots of salty food, you drink alcohol regularly (Even just a little!), and smoke your risk is higher.

A Personal Thing

Hypertension is a very personal thing; even if your relatives have it, it may not be treated the same way. Your treatment should be tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Be sure that you follow your doctor’s advice and prescription, and ask him/her before you take anything else; especially over-the-counter drugs. After that, the control of your high blood pressure depends ultimately on you.

Note to Readers: The material in this article is provided for personal, non-commercial, educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or product. Home Health Care Professionals makes no representations and specifically disclaims all warranties, express, implied or statutory, regarding the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose of any material contained in this article. You should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

Editor's Note

Taking advantage of the longer and warmer days to get out for a walk will help lower your blood pressure and loose weight. It is also time for Lamb Chops! I know it goes a bit against your resolutions, but once a year you have to try it! If the spring cleaning bug has already stung you, you are ready to get rid of some stuff you’ve accumulated during winter: have a garage sale! I’ve compiled a few tips to help you make the most of the sale. Happy Cleaning!
V.B.

Recipe Corner: Lamb Chops

Ingredients	2 lamb chops per person
	1 tablespoon of olive oil
	1 tablespoon of butter
	1 cup of fresh chopped parsley
	1 cup of fresh chopped marjoram
	1 cup of red wine – preferably the one you are going to serve with this dish – for a kid’s friendly meal substitute with 100% red grape juice
	salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a skillet over medium high heat, put olive oil. Place chops that have been washed, dried, salted and peppered in the skillet. Cook on both sides until desired doneness. Set aside. Reduce heat. De-glaze skillet with wine (or juice). Add butter; let just melt not burnt. Add parsley and marjoram. Cook for a minute or two. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon over the lamb chops and serve with garlic mashed potatoes and a steamed vegetables assortment. Enjoy!

For the last part of our emergency plan series, we’ll talk about those special needs items that you are sure to forget about if you are not ready.
Infants, the elderly and persons with disabilities need particular attention while preparing for an emergency situation. Here are lists of those items by categories compiled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Infants

Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powdered milk
Medications
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment

List of pediatrician and other specialists your infant sees regularly
Copy of medical insurance cards

Seniors

List of prescription medications including dosage. Include any allergies
Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries
Extra wheelchair batteries or other special equipment
A list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers
Copy of medical insurance and Medicare cards
List of doctors and emergency contacts

Persons with Disabilities

Prescription medicines
List of medications including dosage. Include any allergies
Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries
Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen
A list of the style and serial number of medical devices
Copy of medical insurance cards
List of doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified if you are hurt

I am not a big garage sale fan, and I don’t organize one every year, but this year I do need to get rid of things. So I thought I’d register at my annual Neighborhood Garage Sale. The lady who organizes the event makes the signs and the advertisement. I thought I just had to put my stuff out on the selected date, and be done! Wrong. I’ve learnt that “You have to be prepared!” Here are a few tips.

Advertisement is key

If you have big items, it may be a good idea to invest in a newspaper ad. You can organize a Neighborhood Garage Sale or register to one. Please, make your signs big and legible! One that says: “Garage Sale 1234 S. Race this Fri. & Sat. 8AM - 3PM” on a big black on white poster board will do. Post them on the Wednesday before at each main street corner with arrows for directions.

Sort, sort, sort

A box for each type of small items is best. Label them: toys, Christmas decorations, kitchen items, etc. You can price them with color coding labels: each color would mean a different price. For example all red tags are $0.50, and all blue tags are $1.00. Don’t forget to keep a cheat sheet in your pocket!

Put a big sign on big items, but not a big price! Keep in mind that it is a garage sale and people are going to bargain: know your limits! Know also what you’ve paid for it and approximately when, and research how much it is going for these days at retails. If you need money and you are trying to sell an antique or heirloom, you may put a bigger (sentimental) price on it and not sell, or be very disappointed with the sale. Have it appraised before hand at a local antiques shop, so you know what people are ready to pay for it.

Use tables to display your items. People don’t want to have to get on their knees to look at what you have.

As a courtesy, have some grocery plastic bags on hand for the persons who purchase more than one small item.

Put clothing on a rack

For a better presentation, wash and repair clothing you want to sell. Organize them on the rack by size or type. Babies and Kids clothes are always a hit if they are stain free and well presented.

Show your hours of operation

Put your hours of operation not only on the signs around your neighborhood, but also at your garage door and front porch: some garage sale enthusiasts can be sometimes a little too eager to make a deal and catch you in your pajamas (It happened to my neighbor)!

Make change

Go to the bank the night before, and make change for about $20 to $30 (depending on your load for sale) in coins and small bills. If you are NOT going to accept checks, please make a clear sign for everybody to see. You can also put a minimum limit on accepted checks, like: “Checks only accepted for sales over $20.00—Thank you”.

Clean up your garage floor and your front porch

A more inviting front yard will surely stop more people. De-clutter you garage floor and clean it, so people don’t trip over things and you make a good impression on potential buyers

Put the kids to 'work' too

Make them clean up their junk, and sell lemonade. Make sure it is very fresh by adding ice regularly. Make it a little different from the other neighbors’ kids: Add fresh or frozen raspberries!

Invite a friend or two to help, and take them out for diner afterward!

Get rid of the leftovers

If there is anything left after your second day sale, DO NOT let it back home! Get definitely rid of it: donate or trash.

Home Health Care Professionals, Inc.

Volume 2, Issue 1

March 29, 2004

Home Health Care Professionals' Newsletter

Hypertension: Are you at risk?