Category: Health Issues

ou might not be spending your Friday nights on the dance floor anymore, but there are plenty of other reasons to maintain good health to stay sprightly. Life does not end when you start running down the other side of the hill, but health problems do start to creep up as you age. One of the most common ailments for men over 40 is increased blood pressure. While it is normal for blood pressure to creep up as you get older, you do have to be proactive about keeping your blood pressure under control.

When To Seek Medical Advice

There are some symptoms of high blood pressure that can clue you in. Getting in tune with your body is not as easy as it seems, but jotting down a few notes about unusual symptoms that you are experiencing lets you notice any concerning patterns.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure that you can pinpoint by writing yourself notes about your health.

• Frequent headaches

• Blurred vision

• Dizziness

• Pain in the chest

• Difficulty breathing

• Nausea

• Vomiting

These symptoms can be relate to a wide range of serious conditions, so it is important for you to consult with your medical provider if you are experiencing one of more of these symptoms.

The Importance of Health Screenings

How do you know for sure that you are suffering from high blood pressure? The symptoms listed above can give you a clue, but the only way to really know is by having a health screening. There are many reasons to get an annual checkup, and ensuring that your blood pressure is in line is just one of them.

High blood pressure does not always come with discernible symptoms. There are complications that can be experienced as a result of this health issue, so it is important for you to go to a doctor at least once each year to have your health assessed. Here are some of the more serious complications of high blood pressure.

• High blood pressure has been linked to a thickening in the arteries, and it is possible for people who have high blood pressure to have a heart attack if the condition is not properly treated.

• An increase in blood pressure may cause bulges in the blood vessels that can lead to an aneurysm. This is a life-threatening condition that is more likely to occur when blood pressure is unregulated.

• The heart works harder to pump blood when blood pressure is high. Since the heart is a muscle, having to work harder causes a thickening. Heart failure may result.

• Men who are over 40 often experience a loss of cognitive function that they believe is related to aging. However, high blood pressure may actually be to blame for loss of concentration or difficulty remembering.

• High blood pressure puts men at an increased risk for developing diabetes.

As you can see, there are many complications of high blood pressure that can lead to serious or even fatal conditions. Health screenings detect high blood pressure sooner to ensure that you are given the chance to get your blood pressure under control well before you experience one of these complications.

Tips For Managing Blood Pressure

Some people need medication to regulate blood pressure, so it is important for you to discuss your options with a medical provider. However, there are natural ways to reduce blood pressure that work for many people. Here are some tips for you to try at home before you go in for your annual appointment.

• Get rid of any extra weight that you are carrying around. Even if you have been used to being a healthy weight, the pounds start to sneak up on you after you hit 40. You might not be aware that you are carrying around 10 extra pounds, and being even a little overweight can cause a wide range of health problems.

• Engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day can significantly reduce your blood pressure. Many people find that losing excess weight and exercising regularly is a combination that works to regulate blood pressure without medication.

• Reduce your sodium intake. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult goal to achieve. Packaged foods are typically very high in sodium, so you will probably have to make some dietary changes to reduce sodium to an appropriate level.

• Limit your alcohol intake if you are used to having a drink each day. Red wine actually helps to lower blood pressure, but this benefit is only enjoyed if you stick with small amounts of this particular beverage. Excess alcohol consumption works to raise your blood pressure, so stick with having a drink other than a small glass of red wine only during special occasions.

• Smoking actually increases blood pressure for up to an hour after you smoke. While this rise is temporary, people who smoke frequently can experience a constant increase in blood pressure due to smoking. Quitting is the best option, and smoking cessation has many other health benefits that you should take advantage of as well.

• Stress is one factor leading to high blood pressure that may seem impossible to manage. While you have obligations that may stress you out, it is important for you to find a way to unwind for better overall health. Meditating, practicing yoga, exercising and getting a massage are all effective methods of managing stress.

itness is a quantifiable measure of health. It’s a lifestyle, and it’s a state of being that everyone wants to achieve. The problem is that the goal of perfect health and fitness seems to slip away as we age, and keeping our bodies in shape isn’t as easy as it was a few decades ago. Everyone wants to be fit, but we often create limitations or excuses that prevent us from achieving our goals. Walking might not be your favorite exercise, but it is an activity that you can make your own at any age. It’s also a very effective aerobic exercise. Unless you buy a treadmill or a gym membership, it’s practically free. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes.

The Benefits of Walking

You might be reluctant to accept it, but running isn’t the best way or the only way to achieve better health. If you already have arthritis or joint issues, your knees will thank you for walking instead of running. Moderate aerobic activities, such as walking, are ideal for training your body to become fitter and healthier. On the outside, you might drop a few pounds and look fitter and trimmer. On the inside, you’ll be growing lean muscles that are ready to burn fat and work off that Saturday afternoon cheeseburger and fries.

As a newborn power walker, you’ll be improving your cardiovascular health, strengthening your muscles and enhancing your overall health. Moderate exercises that require deep breathing but don’t get you winded are great for increasing your fitness. Walking happens to be a perfect exercise to work the big muscle groups in the lower body. As you walk, you’ll be awakening your sense of balance and reducing your risk of diabetes, stroke, cancer and all kinds of ailments. You’ll also sleep better and be in a better mood.

If you suffer from arthritis or joint problems, here’s another reason to get out there and walk. A Boston University study found that osteoarthritis patients, who have wear and tear joint damage, reduced their mobility limitations by 16 percent for every 1,000 extra steps taken. By avoiding exercise, you’re putting on more weight and weakening the muscles that support your joints. Both conditions increase inflammation and pain.

Workout Frequency

How often should you exercise? How long should you walk? These are two of the most common exercise-related questions. The Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both recommend that everyone exercise for 30 minutes daily. Another recommendation is to walk 10,000 steps each day. Individuals with osteoarthritis should walk up to 6,000 steps daily.

If you’ve been out of the saddle and in the easy chair, don’t start with 30-minute walks. Fitness guru Covert Bailey says that people who are overweight need to exercise more frequently and for shorter durations. To start, exercise for 10 or 15 minutes two or three times a day until your body is ready for more.

Time vs. Distance

Ever since grade school, we’ve been trained to measure walking or running in miles or laps, but it’s time to change that mindset. Pushing yourself to run a mile on your first day out is a recipe for trouble. There’s no shame in moving the target closer. If you pull a hamstring during your first workout, your buddies will laugh.

To create a sustainable, injury-free workout plan, always walk for distance instead of time. Increasing your pace won’t make a 20-minute workout go any faster. By going for a fixed time, you’ll find the pace that’s best for you. This is the way to prevent injuries and make sure that you continue on your path to fitness.

Tracking Your Progress

As your fitness improves, you’ll find that you can walk longer without any trouble. You can track your progress with a pedometer, mobile phone app or treadmill. Measuring your heart rate during exercise is one way to tell how much your fitness has improved. If you walk outdoors, you’ll find that you can pick up the pace and walk a greater distance while staying in the ideal aerobic zone. Tracking your progress is also an excellent way to set goals.

Workout Variations

When your body is accustomed to working out, your walks won’t be as difficult. Eventually, you’ll need to add something extra to get the same benefits. You can increase the aerobic intensity of your walks by adding hand weights or carrying a weighted backpack. Walking on hills, taking a hike or increasing the incline of your treadmill will also make your walks harder. You could incorporate a flight of stairs into your regular walking course. Finally, you can increase the intensity by adding short 40-second wind sprints. Sprinting doesn’t mean running at full speed until your muscles ache and you can hardly breathe. All you need to do is step up your pace until you feel slightly out of breath. Then, your usual pace will seem more difficult.

If you’re serious about getting fit, make walking your exercise of choice. Get out there, and do it. Excuses aren’t acceptable unless you need a reason to hit the golf course and carry your own clubs. Start slow, and maintain a positive attitude at all times. Remember that some exercise is significantly better than none at all. Use these tips to walk your way to a new level of fitness.

The Health of Your Mouth Mirrors Your Overall Health

Your mouth is a mirror that reflects your overall health and well-being, according to Donna E. Shalala in the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health. It’s also a key determinant of your nutritional status and your self-esteem. “Oral health means more than sound teeth. Oral health is integral to overall health,” she said.

The report, which was the first that the U.S. Surgeon General has undertaken to assess the nation’s oral health, is intended to “alert Americans to the full meaning of oral health and its importance to general health and well-being.”

But what is oral health?

First of all, the word “oral” refers to the mouth, which includes not only the teeth and gums and their supportive tissues, but also the roof and the floor of the mouth (the hard and soft palate), the tongue, the lining of the mouth and the throat (called the mucosa), the lips, the salivary glands, the upper and lower jaws, and the chewing muscles. Oral health also involves the branches of the nervous system, the immune system and the vascular system (blood vessels) that serve this part of your body.

So consequently, oral health means more than just being free from cavities and gum disease. Oral health, the report states, means overall health in the tissues that “allow us to speak and smile; sigh and kiss; smell, taste, touch, chew and swallow; cry out in pain; and convey a world of feelings and emotions through facial expressions.”

Oral health and overall health—an intricate interrelationship

The health of the oral tissues is indicative of the health of organs and systems throughout your body. Your dentist and other healthcare providers can gather an enormous amount of information about your overall health simply by examining these tissues.

• A thorough oral exam can uncover nutritional deficiencies, microbial infections, immune disorders and some forms of cancer.
• Clues to a disease can be discovered by analyzing saliva under a microscope.
• Facial nerves have counterparts elsewhere in the body.
• The jaw bones and jaw joint function like other musculoskeletal regions of the body.

Conversely, research is showing us that disease within the mouth—especially periodontal (gum) disease—is connected to ailments throughout the body. Infections in the mouth are a gateway for disease-causing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and provoke a number of diseases, including:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Respiratory infection
• Diabetes
• Stomach ulcers
• Low birth weight or premature births

The answer? 
Decay (also called caries or cavities) and periodontal disease are the most common, widespread dental diseases. They’re also the most preventable. Community prevention programs, such as fluoridated drinking water, dental hygiene instruction in schools, nutrition education, and tobacco cessation programs, save billions of dollars per year in public health costs, according to the report. And best of all, they help most people keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.

Squaw Peak Dental

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Source – “Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General”