If you are one of the millions of Americans with high blood pressure (HBP) or Diabetes holidays present a real challenge, poor control missing medications can get us a stroke or heart attack or worst!
– Know what your ‘normal’ blood pressure (the numbers) and monitor closely during this season.
– Customarily it takes a few different medications to best control your BP each working from a different angle.
– Know at what BP (numbers) to increase or decrease medication ( if on more than 1 drug find out which one).
– Ask what time to take your medications-taking them all at once is never best! Always take medications with 8 oz. of water.
Remember just because you take medication for a medical problem you are not cured you have to still control your diet. Salt (sodium) is the enemy of BP FYI – 1 tsp salt = 2300 mg sodium, ‘lite’ salt has 1160 mg in 1 tsp. I prefer sea salt to table iodized salt that has added chemicals.
A few tips to follow:
– Watch out for salty foods your diet should have a limited salt intake – check with your healthcare provider. Standard low salt diet allows up to 1500mg a day.
– Read food labels especially now.
– Know what foods are chuck full of sodium: soy, salad dressings, salami, cured meats, bacon, sun dried tomatoes, snack foods, pickled products and cheeses.
– Do not think you’ll wait till your ankles swell or you get a headache to check your pressure, as this occurs when you have retained at least 3 lbs. of fluid! Check your BP more frequently during the festive times.
– A buddy system works great also in health matters, who will watch out for the loved on with high blood pressure, Diabetes or simply that medications are taken , excitement is a great distracted from routines.
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