High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because you can have it for years
without being aware of it. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood
your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The
more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood
pressure. Blood pressure consists of two numbers: the top number indicates Systolic
pressure; the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood out
through your arteries. The bottom number indicates Diastolic; the amount of
pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest. Some causes of high blood
pressure are kidney disease, thyroid disease, abnormal blood vessels, preeclamsia,
sleep apnea, and adrenal disease.

Many of the signs and symptoms for high blood pressure are often ignored. They
can include a dull ache in the back of the head, excessive perspiration and muscle
cramps, weakness, frequent urination and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Though
many people experience these symptoms they may experience all of the symptoms
at all times and may attribute the symptoms to another cause. Always check with
your doctor if you have any of above the symptoms.

There are many risk factors for high blood pressure. Be sure you know your family
history and risk factors so you can make informed choices when it comes to your
healthcare. Some of the risk factors are:

AGE: your risk increases with age.

RACE: High blood pressure occurs more frequently in blacks than any other racial
group

SEX: High blood pressure is more common in men than women before the age of
60. However after the age of 60 the reverse is true.

FAMILY HISTORY: Some families have a history of high blood pressure

OBSEITY: The greater body mass you have the more blood you need to supply
oxygen and nutrients to your tissues.

INACTIVITY: Lack of physical activity increases your risk.

TOBACCO USE: Nicotine constricts your blood vessels and forces your heart to work
harder.

SODIUM: People who are sodium sensitive have fluid retention and increased blood
pressure when using sodium.

LOW POTASSIUM: If you don’t consume or retain enough potassium, you can
accumulate too much sodium, which raises the blood pressure.

EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL: Over time heavy drinking can damage your heart muscle,
which can lead to high blood pressure and other complications.

STRESS: High levels of stress can lead to temporary increases in blood pressure.

Excessive high blood pressure can lead to a stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood
vessel, which supplies blood to the brain, bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.
Within minutes the nerve cells in that area of the brain are damaged, and they die
within a few hours. As a result, the part of the body controlled by the damaged
section of the brain cannot function properly. Before having a stroke you may have
one or more transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which are a warning signal that a
stroke may soon occur.

The symptoms of a stroke can be any or all of the following: Numbness, weakness,
or paralysis or the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Vision
problems in one or both eyes, double vision, or loss of vision.
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding with trouble walking, dizziness, loss
of balance or coordination,
and a severe headache.

Remember to monitor your blood pressure, and to speak to your doctor if you have
any of the symptoms mentioned above. If you have a history of high blood pressure
be pro-active and take your blood pressure often. Blood pressure monitors can be
purchased at pharmacies. You can also have your blood pressure taken at a
pharmacy at no charge.

Contact your doctor immediately, or go to the closest hospital if you have any of the
above symptoms!

Libby Sustacheck has over twenty years of experience in the healthcare field working
with such industry giants as Kaiser Permanente and Aetna. She has assisted many
organizations with their wellness programs, and has a solid understanding of the
needs of employers and their employees. Her experience includes delivery of
successful smoking cessation programs.

Libby has participated in health fairs and specialized health screenings in addition
to being a featured participant at Health Conferences.” Evonne Smith, Wellness
Coordinator, Cox Cable. Located in San Marcos, California, Total Health Solutions
provides health education to employers, and individuals in San Diego County.
Owner, Libby Sustachek, has 20 years experience in the healthcare industry, a BA in
Psychology, an MA in Health Education, and experience in providing excellent
customer service in all aspects in the wellness arena.

You can read more from Libby at http://www.healthsolutionsandyou.com Or contact
her at info@healthsolutionsandyou.com

If it hurts to touch a point that’s in the middle of one side of your buttocks, you probably have piriformis syndrome. This chronic condition is very difficult to diagnose, because other injuries may produce exactly the same symptoms. Similar pain may be the result of an injury to bones, muscles, tendons, bursae (pads between the tendons and bones), the hip joint, or the sciatic nerve, but there are ways to determine from which condition you might be suffering.

If you feel most pain when you land after hopping on one leg, you might have an injured hip joint or a stress fracture in your pelvis or upper leg bones. An x-ray will usually reveal a joint injury, but only a bone scan will reveal a stress fracture.

If you feel pain in your buttocks, particularly when you touch your toes while keeping your knees straight, you might have a tear in the large muscles or tendons that run down the back of your hips.

If you feel pain when you touch a spot that’s either on the lowest point of your pelvis (the part that touches a chair when you sit) or at the top of your femur (thigh), you might have injured your bursae (bursitis) or torn the tendons that are attached to bones at these sites.

If your back hurts, particularly when you bend backwards, and the pain goes down the back of your leg to below your knees, your sciatic nerve is probably being pinched in your back.

Cause: The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It starts on the lower part of your spine, [passes through a hole between the piriformis muscle above it and several other muscles beneath it, and goes down the back of your leg to below the knee. When you run, the piriformis muscle contracts and squeezes the sciatic nerve underneath it. Repeatedly squeezing and relaxing the piriformis muscle can damage the sciatic nerve and cause pain. This injury is thought to be caused by an innate tightness of the piriformis muscle or a structural abnormality in the path of the sciatic nerve. It can’t be attributed to a specific error in training.

Treatment: Priformis syndrome won’t ease until you stop running. Don’t run again until you can run without feeling pain in your buttocks. If it hurts to touch, it hasn’t healed.

In most cases, pedaling a bicycle will also be painful. You probably shouldn’t do any exercise that causes you to bend at the hip while keeping your knees straight, because this will stretch the sciatic nerve. You might be able to swim, if it isn’t painful. Medication doesn’t usually alleviate the pain, and even if it does, the pain will return as soon as you stop taking it.

Sometimes, the pain will disappear after a rest of a few days to several months; frequently it does not. In this case your doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis by injecting a mixture of xylocaine and corticosteroid drugs directly into the piriformis muscle where it passes over the sciatic nerve. If the pain disappears, you may resume running only after a few weeks, but remember that this injury tends to recur. If you feel pain in that area, stop running immediately, and don’t attempt to run again until you can do so without pain.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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For other common injuries see my articles on * Elbow Pain: “Tennis Elbow” * Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis * Ankle Pain: Achilles Tendinitis * Shin Splints * Shoulder Pain: Rotator Cuff Injuries * Stress Fractures

Is there a key to living a longer healthier life? Why does it seem that some cultures live longer than others? Do they have secrets to living a long, healthy life? Not exactly. They just seem like secrets because, although most of us already know how to live long and healthy, most of us are not putting this knowledge to use. Healthy diet, lifestyle, exercise, and a positive outlook, as well as faith, family and companionship all add up to better wellness.

We all know that eating fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruits are great ways to improve our wellness and create good health. Exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle free from stress also add to our longevity. So why is it that so many of simply do not practice any of these things? They certainly aren’t difficult, but changing your lifestyle can be something that is not easy to achieve, no matter how much we know it will help us.

Here are a few reasons that sometimes inhibit our willingness to and make a change or take a chance, even if we know it is good for us:

- Looking at the “big” picture can seem overwhelming. And the bigger the task, the more overwhelming it can seem. Break the task apart into smaller pieces. If you want to lose 50 pounds try losing 10 pounds and repeat the process five times! Need to start an exercise program? Begin with short, simple exercises and then slowly expand your routine. Don’t exercise too hard when first starting-out or you will become stiff, tired, disillusioned and soon quit. If you want to start eating more fruits and veggies, add them into your regular eating routine gradually.

- Have you ever not wanted to start something for fear of failure? Take the first step, acknowledge the fear and the next step will come easier. Once fears are acknowledged, they usually quiet down.

- Sometimes we start to think that a task is unpleasant or boring. Just like any other activity, this can also be true for exercise and eating right. There are days when we just plain lack the enthusiasm and motivation to continue. It’s part of human nature. On days like these focus on ‘why’ you are doing it. Think about all the people you care about and who may need and rely on you. What would happen if you became ill or disabled and was unable to work for a period of time, or worse, if you were out of the picture completely. How would things change? If something happened tomorrow, how would your family or business manage without you? What do you want your life to be like in the future? There are many tasks or chores we do, that we may not like, but are necessary to live a happen and productive life. Focus on the bigger picture.

- Indecision can be defeating, but doing “anything” is better than doing nothing. There are no wrong choices and very few choices that can’t be undone or done again. Can’t decide on a particular exercise program or routine? Pick a few exercises and start with something simple. If you don’t like it, go on to the next exercise.

- When you lack the confidence to start something new, take a deep breath and try to figure out why. Are you hesitating because you really lack the skill or is it just imagined? If it’s real, try to find out where to gain the skills you need or find someone with the right skills who can help. In the case of exercise, finding a qualified personal fitness trainer can sometimes do the trick, but be wary…some PFT’s are overzealous and tend to start newcomers on programs that are too strenuous.

- Have you ever subconsciously (or otherwise) invited distractions so that you have a “good” reason not to get something done? Sometimes it’s the simple things like answering the phone or sitting down to watch that “one” TV program, that distract us. When you find yourself doing this, take control of the situation and make a conscious decision to do what you are avoiding.

We all have the ability to improve our chances of living longer. Diet and exercise are under our control. So is living a healthy lifestyle. We just need to take away the roadblocks that impede us . The time to start living a long, healthy life is right now.

Lee Dobbins writes for Health Webzone where you can learn more about health and wellness.