The Informed Health Consumer Participant

 

“This is not a time to be passive. This is the time to shape, sculpt, paint, participate…. the time to get sweaty, to get dirty, to fall in love, to forgive, to forget, to hug, to kiss…. this is the time to experience, participate and live your life as a Verb. ”

 

- Steve Maraboli
Text Box: In This Issue Did You Know?: Blood Pressure facts and goals Quid Nunc?: Home Blood Pressure management Strategies Considering: Social Determinants of Health—Part I Research Resource: www.Supertracker.usda.gov Know What You Use: Thiazide Diuretics Clinical Brief: Hypertension Brain Gym: New Puzzlers & Answers to last month’s puzzle Text Box: Quid Nunc ?

Introduction:

We have changed the name of our Newsletter!  After a great discussion we decided that the word “consumer” was too passive for the role that patients must assume in this healthcare delivery system and not in alignment  with the goal of this publication. Hence “participant”, the role you should play in all your health affairs, replaces “consumer”.

In this issue, we will focus on some intangibles are critical to you remaining  healthy, and a critical parameter—blood pressure– that significantly impact health.   Enjoy!
Text Box: A Publication of Eylan Health Text Box: February /March 2014 . Volume I . Issue II

þ Choose low sodium foods to ò water retention and ò blood pressure.

þ Increase exercise to ò weight and òstress on the heart and blood vessels.

þ Reduce dietary fat and cholesterol to ò blood viscosity (thickness) and ò blood pressure.

þ Quit smoking to ò blood vessel damage and ò blood pressure.

þ Check out this month’s research resource “ Supertracker” .

Text Box: Did You Know? Untreated high blood pressure (hypertension) can cause damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. 140/90 is: The “target” blood pressure for those ≤ 60 years old Including those ≥18 years old with diabetes or chronic kidney disease 150/90 is: The “target” blood pressure for those ≥ 60 years old. Hypertension cause about 1,000 deaths daily and costs about $47.5 billions to manage and treat annually. 40% of those with hypertension are not being treated