Griffin Speaks

PUT THE PIG AND SALTSHAKER DOWN

This will not be a long article mainly because I am writing it on the Fourth of July! However, this article may save someone’s life. Put the pig down and while you are at it put the saltshaker down as well. Black folks are killing themselves with outrageous eating habits. What will you avoid: High Blood Pressure! How do we define high blood pressure? First of all the medical term is hypertension. Hypertension is defined as abnormally high blood pressure. It is considered high if the top number (systolic pressure) is over 140 most of the time. It is considered normal if it is below120 most of the time. It is considered high if the bottom number (diastolic pressure) is over 90 most of the time. Normal readings would be a top number of 120 or below most of the time and a bottom number of 80 and below most of the time. 

What causes hypertension?  Many factors can affect blood pressure, including: How much water and salt you have in your body, the condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels and the levels of different hormones. You are more likely to be told that you have high blood pressure, as you get older. This is because your blood vessels get stiffer as you age. When that happens your pressure increases. This increases your chances of a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, and early death. 

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include confusion, ear noise or buzzing, fatigue, headache, irregular heartbeat, nosebleed and vision changes. I suggest that you check your pressure and visit your primary care doctor to monitor your pressure. Undiagnosed high blood pressure is a death sentence. 

I am not a doctor but I know several. They all suggest that to control blood pressure you should eat a healthy diet, including potassium and fiber, and drink lots of water. Exercise regularly at least 30 minutes a day. If you smoke, quit. Limit alcohol consumption, 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men. Limit the amount of salt you eat, aim for less than 1500 mg per day. Reduce stress and stay at a healthy body weight. Most of the time, high blood pressure can be controlled with medicine and lifestyle changes.  Listen to me and live! Do not become another casualty of the “pig” and “saltshaker”. 

 In the words of my dad, “You must honor the chair whether it is sitting, walking or lying down.”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com or write to him at P.O. Box 250194 Montgomery, Alabama 36125-0194. 

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