The following is an actual email from my sister. I told her that my blood pressure was a little high and asked her what I need to change it back to normal. The nurse in her sent the following email: VERY LONG, BUT VERY VERY VERY INFORMATIVE and more importantly, VERY SWEET of her to take the time to EXPLAIN everything about BP to me....Thanks sis, you are amazing!
Dear Sheena & Nelson, Jubin & Jinu and Gchan
Dear Sheena & Nelson, Jubin & Jinu and Gchan
Finally we have all arrived to that place that we used to look at as if it was long time coming..... We all have blood pressure issues...Sad but true.... This letter is long....Before you erase this letter.. Please read to the end.. so it will add a few years to your life...
1. What is BP... It is blood pressure not bharya pedi(afraid of your wife).. I had to explain it in English for Jubin.. probably still at the word bharya.. :) J/K
BP has 2 numbers. Top number measures the pressure at which your heart is working to push the blood out of the heart. This is called Systolic, Normal range is (90-120). Bottom number measures your hearts pressure at rest . This is called diastolic, normal range is (60-80).
2. Why is BP important? Our blood carries important nutrients and oxygen to our organs most importantly the brain. If your brain does not get enough oxygen you have problems such as dizzy spells or worse... stroke
3. How can I explain BP... hmm.. Think of a highway..If you have no road blocks.. you can travel easily. If you have an area with a block..such as a car accident or police stopping someone.. The 3 way becomes a 2 way or a single lane, now think of the traffic build up. Same with veins and arteries. If you have blockages.. your blood slows down or pumps harder to push the blood out of your heart to your brain. If your blood slows down...it can form a clot.. Blood has a tendency to clot when its stagnant. This clot can completely block off any blood from flowing and that is why you have heart attacks. Now if your heart is pumping harder to get the blood out, your heart might become weak.
4. How can I explain a weak heart? When we exercise our arms and legs get bigger.. similarly our heart is a muscle and if it works extra hard to pump the blood... over time.. it will get bigger. For a heart, this not good. When the heart muscle gets bigger, the pumping effect becomes weaker. This is called cardiomyopathy (diseased heart), when your heart does not function at same level your heart used to before.. it becomes kind of lazy and all the blood does not flow out of your heart, causing your heart to back flow into your belly and legs and lungs, making it difficult to breath... (This is called congestive heart failure)
5. How can I describe a weak artery? ... I can't think of any analogies... but let me explain it.. when your blood is being pushed through your artery at high pressure... overtime it erodes the inner layer of the arterial wall. Then it tends to erode the next layer.. creating a pocket effect. And if your blood pressure is continuously high.. it can cause aneurysm.... which overtime can burst like a balloon and there is no saving grace at this time...
6. Why am I describing all this to you guys? I love you all.. and I don't want to see any one of us in these situations so early in our life. If you think heart issues are only for old people.. then we need to change our perception. I have taken care of many 25-40 year olds who did not take care of themselves and are on my floor waiting for heart transplant or on IV medications to make their heart a little bit stronger so they can live one more day for their family. If we don't care for our selves.. then no one can help us.
7. What can you do? I don't know if you are thinking this or not... you might be thinking... geez.. all I have is a slight rise in my BP.. nothing to get worked up over...you are making too much of this. Maybe.. but if your BP is constantly high, then you need to act now.. but heart attack.. stroke.. and aneurysms are all silent killers... sorry but I have to use those words. There are few things you can do... easily.. 1) lower the salt intake... remember.. where the salt goes...water follows and increases the blood pressure. 2. Change your diet to low fat.. (this might be a little harder).. I'll give you an example.. I hate oatmeal but for the first time today.. I had oat meal.. with some toasted almond.. not bad.. all the while thinking "for my health". 3. Add exercise.. (something more harder and time consuming). You don't have to go to the gym.. I actually looked up on you tube for core exercises.. such as abs, cardio and pilates... they show you 5-10 mins worth of different exercises that you can do in privacy but if you have your spouse.. you can make it lots of fun...lol!! 4. Drink lots of water instead of soda or coffee...to cleanse out your body of unnecessary waste... 5. Eat fruits(this is very difficult for me. but I am starting with a banana)... take your multivitamins and Omega...
8. Don't I have to loose weight...may be a question. But if you start eating healthy and doing exercises.. weight will slowly come off.. people think they have to diet and loose all the weight.. No... diet is one letter added to "die". We just have to choose "health"y way of eating.
9. I almost forgot. Invest in a BP machine preferebly ones that have both battery and electric attachment.. so you don't have to carry battery all the time. You might also look for 2 different size of cuffs.. Larger for the guys and medium ones for ladies...
10. Sit down... you and your spouse... and track your BP atleast once a day for a week or 2... If you notice that your BP is consistently is high.. Time to take action. Don't blame each other for high BP.. but support each other to become a better and healthier person.. I bet you... your family life will improve in every way...
11. Also make sure you see your doctor...get some numbers... such as cholesterol... body mass index... get an EKG and echocardiogram (2 different tests) and tell the doctor you would like to know what your hearts function is ... 50-70% is good.. , check and see if you are prediabetic... (I need to do these things...easy to preach.)
12. Pray together... I can not emphasize that enough... You may be strong... but when it comes to eating and exercising... we are weak... So ask God for self control... It says God has not given you a spirit of fear.. but of power, love and self control. I did not write this letter to scare you but for you understand how important it is to take care of your health.. Think of what our spouse or children would have to deal with if we have a stroke or heart attack and we can't work... or we are not here take care of them...
With love.... Sheeba... :)
P.S. If you guys do take some action for a healthier life... let me know so we can encourage each other... If you have any questions.. don't hesitate to ask... if I don't know the answer.. I'll try to find it for you.
Next letter will be about diabetes..... I don't know when though... hehe
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| My sister, Sheeba! |
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