May is National Blood Pressure Awareness Month, “Social Connection and Loneliness” May 5, “Making Health Care Choices” May 15
High Blood Pressure is often called the “Silent Killer.” Many people are unaware that they have it because it often shows no signs or symptoms. Yet it can cause serious illness if not treated. High blood pressure increases your chance of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and poor blood circulation.
The official motto of the Blood Pressure Awareness initiative is “know your numbers.”
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. The top number is the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) and the lower number is the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes). Generally, the lower the blood pressure, the better.
Stage 1 Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is defined as 140/90-159/99.
Pre-Hypertension is 120/80-139/89. Studies have shown that controlling pre-hypertension has life-long benefits of lowering your risk of complications caused by hypertension. Preventing high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle is key:
1. Maintain a healthy weight
2. Reduce salt and sodium to
1,500 mg/day
3. Follow the DASH plan (Di-
etary Approaches to Stop Hy-
pertension)
4. Be physically active
5. Limit alcohol intake
6. Quit smoking
7. Have regular check ups with
your doctor and ask questions
if you have concerns about
high blood pressure
8. Have the parish nurse take your
blood pressure.
An excellent website is www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Mark your calendars for Upcoming Health and Wellness Events:
“Social Connection and Loneliness” will be presented from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, in Kensington Room by Bjorn Hanson. Hanson has a master of science in psychology and is working toward a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Illinois Institute of Technology. He is conducting research in cognitive models of depression at the Northwestern University Stress and Depression Lab. (Hanson is also the husband of Intern Pastor Dara Schuller-Hanson!) This talk is being presented as part of the series Finding Ways to a Healthier Lifestyle. This will be the group’s last meeting until September. Ideas for topics for the fall series are welcomed at this meeting.
“Making Health Care Choices” will be presented at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 16, in Kensington Room. Ann Gornik, parish nurse and certified advanced care planning facilitator, will lead attendees in understanding, reflecting and communicating future medical treatment preferences, especially if a time should come when they could not speak for themselves.
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)
Peace and Health,
Ann Gornik
RN, MSN, FCN, Advocate Paris
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