Ask The Visiting Nurse ONLINE Archive
Disclaimer: All information published by "Ask The Visiting Nurse ONLINE" is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for advice by your physician. You are advised to consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations appearing here.
Yes, a person with high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol may feel fine and look great, and there are often no signs that anything is wrong until a stroke or heart attack occurs. To determine if you have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, you should be tested by a doctor, nurse or other health professional. Seniors should consult the schedule for VNSW's ongoing "Ask The Visiting Nurse" community visits, which provide free blood pressure screening to help detect developing problems.
What are some risk factors for heart disease that I can actually do something about?
High blood pressure, smoking and high blood cholesterol are the three most important risk factors for heart disease. On the average, each one doubles your chance of developing it. A person who has all three of these risk factors is eight times as likely to develop heart disease than someone who has none. Obesity increases the likelihood of developing high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, which increase your risk for heart disease. Physical activity increases your risk of heart attack. Regular exercise and good nutrition are essential to reducing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and overweight. People who exercise are also more likely to cut down or stop smoking.
What is a desirable cholesterol level for adults?
A total blood cholesterol level of under 200mg/Dl is desirable and usually puts you at a lower risk for heart disease. A level above this is high and increases your risk. If your level is high, your doctor will want to check your levels of LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). A high level of LDL increases your risk as does a low level of HDL. All adults 20 years of age or older should have their blood cholesterol level checked at least once every five years.
What is the best way to lose weight?
Weight control is a question of balance. You get calories from the food you eat and you burn off calories by exercising. Cutting down on calories, especially from fat, is key to losing weight. Combining this with regular physical activity, like walking, cycling, jogging and swimming, not only can help in losing weight but also in maintaining weight loss. A steady loss of one half to one pound a week is safe for most adults and the weight is more likely to stay off over the long run.
I've smoked now for 30 to 40 years. Is it possible for me to quit?
Older smokers are more likely to succeed at quitting smoking than younger smokers. Quitting helps relieve smoking-related symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain. Many quit to avoid further health problems and take control of their lives.
What is considered "high" blood pressure?
Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is generally classified as high. However, blood pressures that fall below 140/90 mm Hg can sometimes be a problem. If the diastolic pressure, the second or lower number, is between 85 and 89, a person is at increased risk for heart disease or stroke and should have his/her blood pressure checked at least yearly by a health professional.
I've heard that black people are more susceptible to high blood pressure than whites. Is that true?
It is true that high blood pressure is more common in blacks than in whites. It affects 29 out of every 100 black adults compared with 26 our of every 100 white adults. Also, with aging, high blood pressure is generally more severe among blacks than whites, and therefore causes more strokes, heart disease and kidney failure.
What can I do to help keep my blood pressure down?
Limit high-salt foods which may include snack foods (chips, pretzels, crackers), processed foods (canned soups) and condiments such as ketchup and soy sauce. Restrict your intake of alcohol. And, if prescribed by your doctor, it is extremely important to take blood pressure medicine.
What is the most effective dietary approach to lowering blood cholesterol?
Eating foods low in saturated fat, along with eating less total fat and cholesterol. Choose foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables; low-fat milk or skim milk and dairy products; lean cuts of meat, fish and chicken. Trim fat from meat before cooking, bake or broil meat rather than fry, and remove skin from poultry. Reducing overweight will also help lower LDL and raise HDL blood cholesterol levels.
In light of all the media coverage of smoking these days, how serious are the risk factors?
Smoking is a major risk factor for four of the five leading causes of death, including heart attack, stroke, cancer and lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. Heavy smokers are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers, and the heart attack rate among all smokers is 70% greater than that of non-smokers. Older male smokers are also nearly twice as likely to die from stroke than older men who do not smoke, and these odds are nearly as high for older female smokers. Further, the risk of dying of lung cancer is 22 times higher for male smokers than male non-smokers and 12 times higher in the case of females. Eighty percent of all deaths from emphysema and bronchitis are directly due to smoking.
Disclaimer: All information published by "Ask The Visiting Nurse ONLINE" is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for advice by your physician. You are advised to consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations appearing here.
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