GET BUSY!!!

1.  Know Where You Are.  Get results. Plot your Progress from year to year.  

2. Make a plan, a commitment to get Healthy. Write it Down.  Follow your Progress. This is the Reality Check.

3. Eat everything but in moderation. Eat less fat/fried foods, eat & drink items with low sugar content, eat only half of what you are given or take, eat more vegetables/fruits, eat less “White Stuff.”

4. MOVE!

5. DISCONNECT!

6. Spend time with those you love – quality time.

7. PRAY!

“ Obesity Costs Us All”

 According to a recently published study by Cornell University, obesity now accounts for over 20 percent of U.S. health care costs – more than double previous estimates. The study reports that an obese person consumes almost $2,800 more in medical care costs than if he or she were not obese. This increase equates to $190.2 billion per year nationwide, and in this state, the 5th most obesity in the country, we likely bear a disproportionate amount of this cost. 

For far too long, our state government has been slow to embrace obesity prevention initiatives. Many legislators and policymakers have considered the disease simply a private, personal issue. This study and others like it prove that it is anything but. The increases in medical costs for Medicaid and other public health programs that are already straining the state budget will continue to swell as the complications, such as diabetes and heart disease, of an overweight population continue to grow. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in American, killing more than the next four causes combined including cancer. When it comes to taking action to prevent obesity, we can’t afford to wait.”

 This letter will appear in the editorial of the local newspaper, Tuesday, April 17th.  This is where our American Heart Association donor dollars make a difference-education, advocacy, prevention, research, treatment! I am proud to be a volunteer with the Heart Association.

Later posts will present info on Risk Factor Modification for any Cardiovascular Condition of which Diabetes is considered a leading cause.

Janice D. Sigur, RN, BSN

1. Company utilizing fresh graduate technologists for screening purposes who do not have much experience in diagnostic ultrasound or experience in pathology detection. 

2.  Company that screens patients in a fast-paced, noisy, distracting environment with poor lighting.

3. Lack of confidence in the sonographer and lack of confidence/knowledge in the interpreting physician if there is one.

4. Lost of continuum of care?  If something is wrong, how long will it take for action or your MD to be notified.  

5. Technologists who will scare participants about their results.

6. Technologists who are working for a larger business that wants to increase their patient volume by promoting testing at their hospital facility.  Is the further testing really necessary?

Delta Diagnostics is an Independent Testing Facility offering Mobile Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Screening by 2 experienced, registered technologists with > 55 combined yrs of experience in testing protocols and pathology.  The ultrasound equipment which is utilized is the top of the line .  A cardiovascular nurse reviews all results with the participants and assists in outlining a Suggested Plan of Care for Risk Factor Modification in prevention of Heart Disease and Stroke.  A continuum of care between patients and their physician of choice is maintained. If results are highly positive with Hemodynamically Significant Disease, the physician will be notified by phone call and sent results within 24 hours.  Other participants are encouraged to bring their results to their physicians for discussion and also results of every screening participant are mailed to the physician of choice.    

Local Business 

 Visibility in Medical Community

 Proven reputation for Quality and Service

    Who needs to look any further?

Delta Diagnostics and Health Resources, Inc. 

Please understand that medication may be prescribed and may not be a therapy to be discontinued.  Hypertension is controlled with medication therapy and if medication is discontinued  by you because your BP readings are in the normal range, your BP is likely to increase again.  Only the physician is trained to inform you when and if you can/cannot get off BP medication.  

On rare occasions, some individuals have a sudden sharp increase in BP levels that may be associated with symptoms of dizziness, heart rhythm changes, palpitations, and chest discomfort.  Please try to get an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible; however, if symptoms are severe and BP is higher than 180/110, seriously consider getting medical attention immediately.  Go To The ER! 

What causes Hypertension?  In most cases, the cause of high blood pressure is not known.  There may be a hereditary factor or just this tendency.  In rare cases, hypertension is associated with a kidney malfunction or kidney disease. 

What does Hypertension Cause if not Treated?  An individual with high blood pressure that is not well controlled or not controlled will develop changes in the Heart Muscle – thickening and enlargement.  The best analogy – consider a new rubber band that has a great stretch, pop, and elasticity. It can hurt you if someone smacks you with that tight rubberband.  But what happens when you keep stretching it over and over again.  The rubberband will loose its bounce and not be able to hurt your next victim.  If your heart is pumping against a great pressure in your blood vessels, over time it will get thicker, enlarge, and loose its wonderful stretch and pump feature.  Uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure.  Another side effect of poorly managed blood pressure is damage to the lining of the blood vessel walls due to years of  tightness, pressure and scarring.  Hypertension will speed up vascular disease. High blood pressure is also a risk associated with Stroke.

Get your blood pressure checked routinely.  If changes occur consult your physician.  Follow his program as outlined for BP control.  Lower the sodium in your diet, exercise, loose weight, and check your blood pressure routinely to document improvement with habit changes and/or medication. 

The alternative of failing to comply is not a pretty sight – Congestive Heart Failure & Stroke just for starters!

Cholesterol is the most serious culprit relating to the development of Cardiovascular Disease.  Cholesterol is a product that is made by our bodies; however too much cholesterol can lead to an accumulation of fatty substances inside the artery and arterial wall layers.   Cholesterol will be elevated if there is an inherited family condition that passes from generation to generation to cause this to occur; however what is eaten is another significant factor related to the development of high cholesterol.  Do not generalize and think that being skinny absolves an individual from high cholesterol.  There is no law that if an individual is overweight the cholesterol level is high, and the thinner framed individuals all have low cholesterol.  High cholesterol is a condition related to genetics and food sources, not just body mass. Here are other general rules re: cholesterol.  

Cholesterol levels in women will change with menopause.   As estrogen decreases there is a correlation between this decrease, a decrease in HDL or good cholesterol, and the possibility of  both the total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol, LDL, increasing.   Men generally have lower HDL cholesterol levels as compared to women and if the HDL levels of men are <35, this is considered a risk factor for heart disease.  HDL assists in the movement of LDL (bad cholesterol) into the liver.  If there are lower levels of HDL, LDL levels will increase and thicken the arterial walls. 

Do not feel SAFE, if the total cholesterol level is < 200.  Always be aware of the lipid profile results which breakdown  cholesterol results into Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, and ratio comparisons.  All these results will be considered in treatment options, if necessary.  Cholesterol levels should be checked as fasting levels to get the most accurate results.  A fingerstick within a couple of hours of eating will not be as accurate as a fasting level.  Be sure and review the American Heart Association guideline that is provided with this blog as it instructs readers to the recommendations for screening and the goals that are considered healthy numbers. For more information go to the following websites: www.heart.org/numbersthatcount or www.heart.org/screenings.  

There are options in the treatment of High Cholesterol.  If you have heart or vascular disease the treatment options will be recommended to maintain an LDL level of 100 and an HDL level >40.  If you do not have evidence of heart or vascular disease the optimum LDL levels are < 130; HDL levels, > 50.

Medications may be prescribed if total cholesterol levels and ratios are not healthy.  Many medications  are available in treatment of high cholesterol.  Be sure to communicate with your physician if side effects are noted.  Also, do not delay follow-up bloodwork to determine the effectiveness of medical therapy.

Regarding what to eat or not to eat, here are some facts.  If a product has “No Cholesterol”‘ however the same product is > 5GMS/Fat/Serving , this product is high in fat and needs to be limited in frequency and serving size.  Read Labels and note serving size as well as GMS of Fat/Serving. Label reading is a good tool to eating healthy.

Eat at home!  This does not mean take out,either. Fast food is full of fat! Some restaurants post calories/serving of even the healthy salads but do not be surprised of the results.  A salad may be 800-1000 calories and the dressings are full of fat, as well as the cheese, croutons, eggs, deli sliced turkey, ham etc. etc. etc!  Start preparing a menu of what will be eaten for breakfast, lunch, supper and follow.  It is easier to prepare meals at home if you are prepared to cook at home. This may be very difficult if you are busy with after school activities. So, choose an eating place that has healthy selections on the menu.  You may try Applebees, Outback, Olive Garden,  La Madelines, Subway – to name a few.  Even some Mexican eateries will provide a choice of healthier meals if you can avoid the tortilla chips and salsa before.

Avoid fatty cuts of meat.  Eat lean.  Refer to the Diet/Nutrition Guide of the Healthy Heart Numbers by the American Heart Association.  Note the serving size and equivalent comparisons for serving size with objects that you may use daily. 

Use low fat or fat free diary products. 

Eat no more than 3 servings of fats/oils per day. 

I think that information is enough to “digest” today!