Sisters, Stay Alive & Informed!

Officially join my family and receive information, insight and inspiration on living a healthy, happy and prosperous life.

    I am not a robot

    Our Privacy Policy
    mail
    arrow

    DID YOU HEAR THAT 130 IS THE NEW 140?

    by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | November 19th, 2017

    Last Monday, the new definition of hypertension (high blood pressure) was announced by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Forget the 140/90, you now have high blood pressure if the top number which is called the systolic blood pressure is 130 or above and/or the bottom number which is called the diastolic blood is 80 or above. Prehypertension is no longer a category. If the top number is between 120 and 129, your blood pressure is said to be elevated. We should all be aiming to have our blood pressure less than 120/80.

    Blood pressure is a measure of how hard your blood pushes against your arteries as it moves through your body.1 Blood pressure rises and falls naturally during the day. If the blood pressure stays too high, over time it can lead to health problems, such as a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness or heart failure. We know that if we can get our blood pressure below 120/80, we can prevent those problems. By changing the definition of high blood pressure, we can make sure that less people develop problems.

    Having your blood pressure less than 120/80 is the goal for everyone, even those that have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and are on medication. I have said it before, if you are on medication and your medication is not controlling your blood pressure, you are at risk for having all the health problems due to complications of high blood pressure.

    High blood pressure has been called the ‘silent killer’ because you cannot feel high blood pressure until it is too late and all the damage has been done to your body. High blood pressure needs to be controlled.

    What do we do now?

    1. Know your numbers – You need to know your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), your cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1C (screening test for diabetes). There are many people walking around with high blood pressure and diabetes and do not know. Please do not be that person.
    2. Have a healthy lifestyle – lose weight if you are overweight or obese, eat heart healthy (DASH diet), eat foods rich in potassium (banana, avocado, spinach, wild-caught salmon, sweet potato), exercise regularly, avoid or limit alcohol – by having a healthy lifestyle, you can probably get your blood pressure down where you will not need to be on medication. The new guidelines emphasize a healthy lifestyle before considering medication.
    3. If you have high blood pressure, you should own a blood pressure monitor – For those thinking of a gift to give a loved one – a blood pressure monitor is a worthwhile gift.
    4. If you are on medication for high blood pressure, take your medication as directed. Do not stop a medication prescribed by a health care provider without their advice. The goal of the medication is to get your blood pressure under control so that you do not develop other health problems.
    5. Talk with your health care provider about the new guidelines especially if you find that your blood pressure is high. Ask questions.

    For more information on the new guidelines, please click here.

    WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING

     

    1Information obtained from cardiosmart.org

    Leave a Reply

    Secure Your Copy of Sincerely, Your Gynecologist by Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu.
    secimg

    With her trademark wit and straightforward communication, Dr. Osuagwu continues to dole out valuable medical advice using the letter form and addressing women’s health conditions and issues in a method that was praised for its innovative approach in her earlier award-winning book, Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist. In this book, each letter is paired with reference sources and statistics about the condition that is the subject of the letter.

    Click here to Buy Now on Amazon

    Secure Your Copy of Letters to My Sisters by Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu.
    secimg

    The book discusses common gynecological and women’s health issues in a series of witty and entertaining letters. These letters, all educational, offer suggestions on what approaches to take in tackling the medical problems that typically bring women to an ob/gynecologist. The letters are spiced with art, a poem and quotes. Although its emphasis is on gynecology and women’s health, it touches on some other medical issues that make women visit their doctors.

    The second half of the book briefly discusses the most common gynecological conditions and also provides an overview of sexually transmitted infections. A list of annotated websites dealing with the different topics in the book is provided for the reader who wants to pursue each subject in depth.




    Ready to Commit to Living a Healthier Life, Start Here with…

    Dr Ngozi’s 30 Day Alive & Healthy Challenge
    alive

    Get 30 days of insight and inspiration on creating and sustaining a healthy lifestyle straight from the
    doctor. Share this valuable resource with your mother, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins
    and girlfriends. Do it solo, or in a group. Simply do it! Join our mailing list and get instant access to this life-saving resource now!