23 January 2004
You Know It's Time To Change Your Life When ...
If you've been reading anything that I write then you know that I have discovered something about my blood pressure that I find somewhat concerning. Alas I was unable to question my doctor about what I've discovered, so I've been forced to do some research on my own.
Let's review: When I went to see the doctor the other day I discovered that my blood pressure is 106 over 92. The 106 is the good news but the 92 is somewhat on the high side. Between that and the fact that I weigh more now than I ever have in my life even though I'm probably in better shape than I've been in years, I became somewhat concerned. However, as I said, I was unable to question my doctor about my blood pressure numbers.
Now, I'm a curious person by nature, and I truly believe that the World Wide Web exists for the purpose of being an intellectual playground for people like me. The first thing I did when I got home that night was start doing research, and in the process I learned a few things.
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: The systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. The normal range of values for blood pressure is a systolic value of less than 120 and a diastolic value of less than 80. At 106 over 92 my systolic pressure is good but the diastolic pressure is problematic.
The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard, and that weakens some of the muscles. This action contributes to hardening of the arteries and also increases the potential risk of heart attack and stroke.
When your diastolic blood pressure is higher than your systolic blood pressure then you become a risk for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. An elevated diastolic pressure is common in younger people. As you get older your diastolic pressure decreases and your systolic pressure increases.
Now, there really isn't a lot of reason for me to start the worry wagon just yet, because your blood pressure will vary throughout the day. The values that the nurse acquired from me were for that moment of the day and have no bearing on my blood pressure throughout the rest of the day. Besides which, even if my blood pressure were to remain fairly constant throughout the day it doesn't necessarily mean that I am in any danger. It just means that I have some work to do.
The key to dealing with a high blood pressure, or to avoiding it altogether, lies in the leading of a healthy lifestyle. Eat the right foods, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest. And watch your salt intake while you're at it, because increased sodium intake is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure.
Even though I do not have a confirmed medical diagnosis, and given the current state of health care in this city I don't know when I'm going to be able to get one, it remains slightly more than obvious to me that I need to change my lifestyle. I need to eat healthier than I have been, I need to exercise more than I have been, and I need to lower my salt intake. While I'm at it I should probably also get my cholesterol checked to see what else I have to work on. And taking vitamins probably wouldn't hurt either.
The point is, it's not a death sentence, and it doesn't have to be. If I can beat depression, and I beat it every day of my life, then I can beat high blood pressure. I just need to map out exactly what I need to do and then buckle down and do it, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
This can be beaten and I'm going to beat it because I will have it no other way. So there.