YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE: WHERE DO YOU PLACE IN THE NEW GUIDELINES If you didn’t previously have high blood pressure, there’s a chance you do now. That’s my case—suddenly my blood pressure isn’t “normal” any longer. Six months ago the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released updated blood pressure guidelines. I thought I was doing pretty good with a blood pressure reading of 127/70, however this is now considered elevated. Here’s info on what’s new from Monique Tello, MD, MPH in the November, 2017 Harvard Medical School article New high blood pressure guidelines: Think your blood pressure...
GOOD POSTURE: IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR CONFIDENCE & YOUR HEALTH When I was young my mother often told me to stand up straight. Or, when we were out, would point out certain folks who obviously had better posture than me—“Look at that man, he must be in the military, look how straight he stands and walks.” Of course she was right in trying to correct my slouching. Yet, after all these years, my posture still ain’t that great. I think I’ve finally improved my stance in running—neck up, chin down—and I’m trying to carry it over to my everyday sitting,...
HOW SAFE IS YOUR GROCERY STORE? If you’re like me, you don’t think much about germs when visiting your local supermarket. Yet, from the grocery cart to the produce aisle and meat counter to the checkout counter, microbes are lurking. You’re at high risk just reusing your own reusable bag. Here are excerpts from the March 24, 2017 today.com/food article by Karen B. Gibbs The 10 germiest things in the grocery store—and how to stay safe We asked Dr. Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona (his nickname is Dr. Germ), to reveal the...
SHINGRIX—THE NEW SHINGLES VACCINE You probably had chickenpox when you were younger, which means you’re subject to getting shingles later in life. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they’re caused by the same virus (varicella zoster). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body. But it can reactivate years later and cause shingles. The pain of shingles is one of the worst hurts in medicine. My good friend Laura had it for many months and she said it was worse than labor and delivery of her kids. Our risk of getting shingles increases as we...
WHAT RESTAURANTS RATHER YOU DIDN’T KNOW Most of us love to eat out at restaurants. As we get older I think we especially enjoy not having to cook or clean up. However, this means trusting others to prepare and handle our food. At home you keep your kitchen and dining area clean and prepare your food with proper regard to its freshness and at appropriate temperatures. Who knows at a restaurant? More people are getting sick with flu this year—which can strike especially hard at seniors. Plus a dose of food poisoning is mighty unpleasant at any age. Still, with...
