Wellness News at Weighing Success: heart

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

May is National High Blood Pressure
Education Month
May 17, World Hypertension Day

The World Hypertension League (WHL) is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), and is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Hypertension Day was established to highlight preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body.

Know Your Blood Pressure Number
The first number, systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure exerted as the heart contracts. A measurement over 90 and under 140 is generally considered normal for an adult.
The lower number indicates diastolic pressure is a measurement taken between beats, when the heart is at rest. A measurement over 60 and under 90 is generally considered normal for an adult.

High Blood Pressure is a Global Epidemic. Over 1.5 billion people world-wide suffer from high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Lower Your Sodium

Prevention and Control of High Blood Pressure

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

2. Eat More Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

3. Cut Back on Salt Intake
4. Exercise
5. Check your Blood Pressure Regularly
6. If you are on medication, take the medication as prescribed.

Hypertension, I Forgot to Mention

Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High Blood Pressure Education Month

The International Society of Hypertension (ISH). ISH's main objectives are to promote and encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of research and its application to prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.

The World Hypertension League (WHL). The objectives of the World Hypertension League (WHL) are to promote the detection, control and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

April 7, 2013 - World Health Day
Control Your Blood Pressure

World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 to commemorate the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. Each year a theme is chosen to address a significant global health concern. The theme for World Health Day 2013 is controlling high blood pressure, which affects more than one in three adults worldwide. High blood pressure or hypertension can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, and chronic heart and kidney disease.

Many people do not know they have high blood pressure because it does not always cause symptoms. Hypertension is easily diagnosed and treated if health care services are available.

For many people, lifestyle changes are sufficient to control blood pressure. For others, medication is needed.
Early detection is key; all adults should know their blood pressure.

Salt Matters: Preserving Choice,
Protecting Health

Where does sodium come from?

Sodium comes from natural sources or are added to foods. Most foods in their natural state contain some sodium. However, the majority of sodium Americans consume comes from sodium added to processed foods by manufacturers. While some of this sodium is added to foods for safety reasons, the amount of salt added to processed foods is above what is required for safety and function of the food supply.

Reading Labels
When you buy prepared and packaged foods, read the labels. You can tell the sodium content by looking at the Nutrition Facts panel of a food. Listed are the amount for sodium, in milligrams (mg), and the “% Daily Value.” Also read the ingredient list to watch for the words "soda" (referring to sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda), "sodium" and the symbol "Na" to see if the product contains sodium.

Salt and/or Sodium Descriptors
Salt Free: Meets requirements for "sodium free."
Sodium Free: Fewer than 5 milligrams sodium per serving.
Very Low Sodium: 35 milligrams or less sodium per serving.
Low Sodium: 140 milligrams or less per serving
Reduced Sodium: At least 25 percent less sodium per serving.
Unsalted: Has no salt added during processing. To use this term, the product it resembles must normally be processed with salt and the label must note that the food is not a sodium-free food if it does not meet the requirements for "sodium free".

The FDA and USDA state an individual food that has the claim "healthy" must not exceed 480 mg sodium per reference amount. "Meal type" products must not exceed 600 mg sodium per labeled serving size.

Sodium and Hypertension.
In order for a food to make an Allowable Health Claim it must contain a defined amount of nutrients. In relationship to sodium and Hypertension the amount is 140 milligrams or less sodium per serving.

American Heart Association (AHA)
The American Heart Association recommends you choose and prepare foods with little or no salt to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aim to eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day (less that 3/4 teaspoon of salt).
The AHA is working with federal agencies to identify ways to reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply. The association is encouraging food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the amount of sodium in foods by 50 percent over a 10-year period. AHA will help Americans lower the amount of sodium they consume by the following strategies:
1. Reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply,
2. Make more healthy foods available (e.g., more fruits and vegetables); and
3. Provide consumers with education and decision-making tools to make better choices.

Tips for reducing sodium in the diet
1. Choose fresh, frozen or canned food items without added salts.
2. Select unsalted nuts or seeds, dried beans, peas and lentils.
3. Limit salty snacks like chips and pretzels.
4. Avoid adding salt and canned vegetables to homemade dishes.
5. Select unsalted, lower sodium, fat-free broths, bouillons or soups.
6. Select fat-free or low-fat milk, low-sodium, low-fat cheeses and low-fat yogurt.
7. Use spices and herbs to enhance the taste of your food.
8. Add fresh lemon juice instead of salt to fish and vegetables.
9. When dining out, ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.
10. Don’t use the salt shaker.

Resources.
WHO, A global brief on hypertension

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

The International Society of Hypertension (ISH). ISH's main objectives are to promote and encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of research and its application to prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.

The World Hypertension League (WHL). The objectives of the World Hypertension League (WHL) are to promote the detection, control and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

Friday, February 1, 2013

February Wellness News
Topics for Journalists, Writers,
Educators and Bloggers

Current News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment, Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals. Wellness News is up-dated daily. To view the entire Newsletter online click here or subscribe to Wellness News by adding your email address to the link on the left.

Wellness News

February Highlights

American Heart Month

Eating Disorder Awareness Month

International Expect Success Month

Library Lovers Month

National Care about Your Indoor Air Month

National Children's Dental Health Month

National Parent Leadership Month
National Time Management Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
Responsible Pet Owner's Month

Youth Leadership Month

February Monthly Food Events

Bake for Family Fun Month

Canned Food Month

Chocolate Month

February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry

National Grapefruit Month

Great American Pies Month

National Cherry Month

National Hot Breakfast Month

National Potato Month

National Snack Food Month

National Wise Health Care Consumer

North Carolina Sweet Potato Month

Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket

National Pet Dental Health Month

Saturday, September 29, 2012

September 29
World Heart Day

"One World, One Home, One Heart"

World Heart Day was created to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.1 million lives each year, 80% in the developing world.

The World Heart Federation exists to prevent and control these diseases through awareness campaigns and action, promoting the exchange of information, ideas and science among those involved in cardiovascular care, advocating for disease prevention and control by promoting healthy diets, physical activity and tobacco free living at an individual, community and policy maker level. There work is organized in four programme areas.

Awareness

Advocacy

Applied Research
Sharing Science and Building Capacity

Over 70 per cent of all cardiac and breathing emergencies occur in the home when a family member is present and available to help a victim.

Learn the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack include:
* Chest discomfort, including squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest between the breasts or behind the breastbone
* Discomfort and/or pain spreading to other areas of the upper body such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
* Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
Other signs include: unexplained weakness or fatigue, anxiety or unusual nervousness, indigestion or gas-like pain, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness and collapse.

Warning Signs of a Stroke include:

* Sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of the body
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

*  Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If experiencing any of these signs, which could come and go, call your emergency services/ambulance immediately. If there is no emergency response number, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

CVD risk factors include:

*  Being overweight
*  High blood cholesterol
*  Tobacco use
*  Lack of physical activity*  High blood pressure
*  Presence of diabetes

Visit the World Heart Foundation for more information.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May is National High Blood Pressure
Education Month
World Hypertension Day, May 17th