Preventive Guidelines: Do Lower Medical Numbers Make Chronic Disease More Likely?

Hypertension has new numbers that are lower for normal.  To be considered normotensive your blood pressure numbers should be lower than 120/80 versus the former normal blood pressure below 140/90.  This is the new recommendation from the cardiology experts.  This may be shown to cause less morbidity and mortality, but it may cause more people to be considered hypertensive.  If your reading on three doctor visits is over 120/80, you will be considered a patient with hypertension.

This is just one of the many medical measurements or blood tests where the WNL (within normal limits) has been lowered.  Cholesterol was at one time considered normal at 300.  The normal now is under 180.  New tests can have the same effect.  The BUN and creatinine were once the basic kidney function tests.  Now the GFR is added to these.  Your BUN and creatinine can be normal while your GFR suggests kidney disease based on your sex and your ethnicity. 

Do lower medical measurements and numbers really mean that more patients will have some chronic disease sooner? Or does it mean lower numbers mean better health with less morbidity and mortality?    Good health care will help keep you and your numbers healthier.  Keeping a lifestyle of healthy food, exercise, good sleep, and minimal stress are important health care routines for better health.  These can be integrated with complementary medicine and medication treatments if necessary. 
You should know the measurements and numbers of all your health tests.  This helps you attain better understanding and control of the unhealthy abnormal.  Lower numbers can mean less chronic disease if you know what you have and how to keep it from becoming chronic disease.  Best health!
  

Blood Pressure Home Checks

Do you know your average blood pressure reading? Do you know a normal blood pressure should be? High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide.  It affects more people than any disease in the world. Untreated hypertension leads to unhealthy feelings and symptoms.  It causes heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, poor circulation, and more. 

A normal reading is 120/80 with borderline at 130/85 to 140/90.  For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it, you should do home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available in many stores on and off line. Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.

You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your primary care doctor and cardiologist.

If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt, low fat diet. One of the best is the DASH diet. Integrating healthy food. exercise, weight control, and stress reduction in your treatment plan improves the way you feel and controls blood pressure. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Be sure to take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you. Best health!

White Coat Hypertension: Is It Really High Blood Pressure?  http://bit.ly/1cGaeMj

Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health

Live healthy.  Live Simply.  “Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health” is a new book that helps you attain good health and keep it stable. http://amzn.to/2nLf1u0  This short book consists of one line health tips that promote wellness and good health.  These tips will encourage you to live a lifestyle of good health.  “Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health” is only available on Kindle.

Healthy life lines include;

·       Be literate in health.

·       Focus on prevention to avoid intervention.

·       Constantly do things to improve your health

·       Embrace healthy routines.

·       Limit and avoid multitasking.

·       Find funny and laugh daily.

·       Keep a health diary.

·       Know your family medical history.

Best health!

More Money Saving Medical Tips

Save Your Money on Your Health

Saving money is healthy and good way to promote good health and wellness. Health prices are escalating more rapidly than prices of other services right now.  There are some things you can do to help avert financial stress. This can include:

·       Shop around for best care and prices.  Your insurance company may cover a diagnostic test with partial payment. This may be higher than the actual charge if you pay yourself.  Call places in your area that offer the same test to check for prices that are cheaper and fit your budget.  If your health insurance deductible is a hefty $6,000 or more, this may fail to be attained.  Paying out of pocket may come out less expensive than $6,000.

·       Cook at home.  Home cooked meals are healthier and cheaper.  You can get more meals from unprepared and uncooked grocery items.  The average cost of one restaurant meal without drinks is about $30.  The grocery equivalent would be two or more good, healthy meals cooked to your taste and perfection.

·       Use cheaper non-prescription medication.  There are many over the counter medication that can do the same as more expensive, newer drugs.  Many of these were prescription medication at one time.  They may be safer as well since they have been in use for a longer time, and been proven effective.

·       Exercise at home.  Create your own exercise plan.  Use exercises you learned in school physical education classes.  Simple stretching, arm rolls, jumping jacks, deep knee bends, sit-ups, and more.  Walking and running on land or in the pool are good aerobic activities.  Exercise can also be done in bed and in a chair.

·       Read more.  The cost to read is better health, more knowledge, and more information of your choice.  The actual cost of reading material can be as free as you make it using the library and Internet.

·       Develop a home entertainment program.  Your choices of your interests have proven to be healthier.  There is less stress over programs and their content.  If it must include television, make your own library with your preferred DVDs and TV sticks that attach to the television.  This works on your schedule. It is free of thoughtless commercial time, unpleasant images, and loud opinions that take away from a program’s content.  Cutting the cable cord can be healthy and good for wellness as well as a big money saver.

·       Take more staycation.  Vacations at home and nearer to home can be much healthier, cheaper, and less stressful.

·       Try to buy mainly that which is necessary leaving the desired for another time when extra money is available.  Reward yourself every now and then, but stay within your means.

·       Save consistently.

For more ways to save money check out “10 Money Saving Medical Tips” http://bit.ly/1Gt4f8I .  Best health!

The Medicine Disease Effect

You have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.  Your doctor prescribes a medication for it.  On your six week follow up visit your blood pressure is still up.  Your blood tests now reveal elevated blood sugar, cholesterol, and uric acid.  Your blood tests on the previous visit were within normal limits.  Your doctor gives you two more prescriptions for the diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and advises you on symptoms of gout in case that may occur.


In six weeks after years of normal blood tests you all of a sudden have new diseases.  How did this happen? The medicine effect has given you these new maladies.  Unknown to many are the fact that medication can cause disease as well as heal it.  What a conundrum!  As more medication is added more new diseases can occur.  Additive effects may lead to more new symptoms. 


It is a documented fact that medications have side effects.  Using another drug or drugs to treat the side effects adds up.  Some side effects are actually new diseases. Your need of the medicine may outweigh the consequences that occur if you go without it.  The med effect is a serious disease in itself, but for some it is a healthy way of life.


As your list of medicines grows so does the potential for serious adverse reactions.  Avoiding drug induced disease is certainly a challenge.  One of the best ways to avoid or control it is of course avoidance. This is one reason why it is important for you to know your medicine especially side effects. When you know this, you may be able to maintain better health without so many drugs. For instance, if your blood pressure medicine causes elevated blood sugar, then it is up to you to learn about controlling it with diet and healthy lifestyle changes.


When you get new medications, discuss the benefits as well as the risks with your doctor and pharmacist.  Review the side effects carefully by reading the information that comes with it from the pharmacy.  Also, look it up in a book or on the Internet.  You may be surprised to find out that more new symptoms you were having came from your medication.*  This applies to prescription as well as non-prescription drugs.  Best health!


*"Overmedication and Illness" http://bit.ly/1IRfGiF

Abnormal Health Test Followup

What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with a test that they have done on their own? The patient has decided that I may need this test because heart disease, or cancer runs in my family, and they pose serious health risks. Should I have a heart scan, or a virtual colonoscopy? My doctor has told me that tests like these may find things that are benign, but something serious may show up. It could be something that would turn up in a few years and possibly be life threatening, but if I check now maybe I can do something about it.

What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with abnormal test results from a test they order and pay for themselves? 
1. Repeat the test
2. Refer the patient to a specialist
3. Do more tests to check it out
4. Scold the patient and say “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.”



Some doctors are concerned that some preventive medical tests will lead to unnecessary procedures that could harm patients. Often these tests may show abnormal things that are “normal”.  Normal variants are common and usually cause no disease.  Some abnormal normal findings do require further workup and treatment.  Follow up with repeat interval testing and comparison of previous tests is a good way to check on abnormal tests.  If all remains stable, a procedure may be unnecessary.


Health decisions require a team approach between patient and doctor.  This is based on each individual patient's medical history.  There are guidelines that help guide treatment, but they must be tailored for each individual patient.  Any abnormal test results warrant follow up whether your doctor orders the test or you do. Best health!

Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health

Live healthy.  Live simply.  Check out new book "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" http://amzn.to/2nLf1u0.  This short book consists of one line health tips for better health and wellness. These tips will encourage you to live a lifestyle of good health.  "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" is available FREE on Kindle Unlimited.


Healthy life lines include:

• Be literate in health.
• Focus on prevention to avoid intervention.
• Constantly do things to improve your health.
• Embrace healthy routines.
• Limit and avoid multitasking.
• Find funny and laugh daily.
• Keep a health diary.

Best health!

Medical Treatments For Your Good Health

Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover? Whether it is conventional medical therapy or alternative treatment, it can be hard to know what to do. Two free, nonprescription treatments, prayer and meditation, are tops in alternative treatments patients use. Why? Because it works. So why aren't more doctors recommending it along with all the other treatments? Why does conventional treatment get first choice?

Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are often dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials done over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments from thousands of years ago.

One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.

Even more discouraging is that health insurance covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic conditions like arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function.


If drug dependence to the point of drug addiction occurs, treatment is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even though rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.  What began as arthritis pain can turn into drug dependence and adverse reactions with other side effects that may require rehabilitation or more drugs.  This can add at least two or more new diagnoses for the patient which may require some self pay in addition to insurance coverage.


Seek out other therapies for your diagnosis.  Many chronic conditions can be helped with proper diet, exercise, prayer, etc.  The healing activity must be continuous and maintained routinely to get good results.  Good lifestyle changes should be incorporated into daily life.  As one learns to take pills daily so can one learn healthy routines that improve their quality of life.  Best health!

Doctor Visit Tips

Visits to your doctor or any healthcare provider can be frustrating and time consuming for all involved.  These are some things you can do to make it an easier and more productive.

One of the first things you want to do is make a written or typed medical history to take with you, especially if this is your first visit to a new doctor. Make a copy for you and your doctor. You both will be able to refer to it as needed. This will save valuable time, and give you and your doctor more time to talk instead of flipping through your medical record. It can be difficult trying to "remember" what test or procedure you had 10 years ago or even last year.

It is a good to make appointments when you are well and stable.  Keep a list of things you want to talk to your doctor about. Update the list before each visit. This way you will be able to keep track of what has been discussed, and what needs to be discussed. Try to talk about the most important things first especially those that need immediate attention. Each time you go for your visit, you can refer to your list and take up where you left off. Be sure to express your immediate concerns first. We all know how short a doctor visit can be.

Request copies of your medical records from all your doctors. "The medical record is the cornerstone of keeping track of everything pertaining to your health." This gives you a complete assessment of all your medical problems. You will be able to check the accuracy of your records, and bring any errors or absent information to your doctor's attention. Let your doctor know about anything you do not understand, or if there is something you are unable to read due to poor handwriting. It is surprising to see how many doctors are often unable to read their own writing.

Schedule your appointment for first available times in the morning or afternoon.*  This will likely ensure that you will be seen on time with a shorter wait time and longer visit.  It will help you and your doctor focus on your total health care versus acute, intermittent health concerns that can easily take up your whole time. Unless an emergency arises, the wait should be less than 15 minutes.  If there is an emergency you should be notified and given the option of waiting or rescheduling, or going elsewhere for treatment. 

The easiest thing you can do is be on time.  Best health!

*How to Make Your Doctor Appointment http://bit.ly/akMrpX

by J.L, Richardson, M.D., family medicine expert and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, honorable mention of Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award** and Indie Excellence Award finalist.

(**Written by a reliable source, this book is the perfect quick reference for all of those squeamish people who hate going to the doctor. I am one of those people. I hate wondering why a certain test was performed, exactly what a common diagnosis may mean, what the proper specialist for my malady might be called, and negotiating the maze of health insurance forms and other paperwork that seems to accompany my ailment; thereby adding insult to injury. To avoid the mystery, misery, and tedium of the wellness process, I often remain sick in order to forego or delay much needed medical appointments. The author writes for people like me; she writes in a calming, professional tone and explains, in as simple and non-threatening a manner as possible, what I can expect along every step of the healing process. By learning to keep a medical diary, knowing what to expect of my medical staff as well as how to decode their complicated language, and then by understanding the basics of the complex American healthcare system, I can take charge of my own healthcare. This little book provides me with all the tools necessary to do just that. ~Writer's Digest)

Heart Month Health Tips

Check your heart list:

___Heart and vascular exam by health care provider
___Blood pressure, pulse, weight, height
___EKG


For further evaluation especially if symptoms are present, and/ or a strong family history of heart and vascular disease see a cardiologist. Tests may include:
___Doppler echocardiogram
___Stress test - nuclear, doppler or exercise
___Heart MRI scan
___Interventional studies like cardiac catherization


Heart health habits:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat healthy small portions.
Exercise regularly - every little bit counts! Just do it regularly.
Keep blood pressure under control.
Keep stress level low.
Get adequate sleep.
Take an aspirin a day if in a high risk group. Check with your health care provider.

Love, laugh, and let go! Have a happy, healthy heart!

Author Reading from "Patient Handbook to Medical Care"

In recognition of World Read Aloud Day this excerpt from Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is available for your listening.  Chapter 3, The Doctor Visit: History and Physical http://bit.ly/fXIuZY
Take charge of your health care with health literacy.  Reading and knowing as much as you can about your health keeps you informed.  This allows for you to get what is best for you.  Best health!

Take Charge of Your Healthcare

True wealth is great health. It is time for you to take responsibility for your health. It is time for you to know what your health numbers are. It is time for you to know your medical conditions, risk factors, and family medical history.


Give yourself a medical checkup. Start by writing or typing or recording your medical history - medical conditions, surgery, treatments, family history. Add your medication. Save it. Update it. Add to it. Correct it. Keep it current. Keep a copy in a secure place.

Examine as much of yourself as you can. Look at your skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, and every part of your body that is visible to you. Make note of any abnormalities. Make note of any symptoms you have - new, old and ongoing. Go through each body system. Add this information to your medical history.

Add to this your doctors' and health care providers' names, phone number, land address, and email address.

Call your doctor for an appointment for a comprehensive CPE (complete physical exam).  Get it done routinely (yearly, every other year, etc,). Take your information and notes with you on your appointment. Review everything with your doctor. Take notes.

Sign a medical record release to obtain a copy of your medical record from each doctor you see at the time of the visit.

Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment within a month or less to go over everything with your doctor. Get copies of your information including blood tests, and any other tests as well as medical notes.

Take charge. Care for your health, Be the healthiest you can be. Great health is true wealth!