BLOG

03Jul 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

30-Days To Good Blood Pressure Control: DAY 1

Blog

I am really excited to invite you to participate in this 30-days to good blood pressure control challenge! This blood pressure challenge is not for those wanting an instant fix for good blood pressure control. It is for adults who want to take a practical step-by-step approach to lower their blood pressure to normal. The knowledge that you obtain from this series does not replace the advice given to you by your health care provider. This information is not medical advice. I encourage you to work with your health care provider during this challenge for the treatment of your blood pressure. Each of the 30-days, I will challenge you to read the content of this blog series and do specific actions. I hope to inspire you to develop good habits…

02Jul 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

5 Best Kept Secrets When Contacting Your Doctor

Blog

Here are 5 best kept secrets when contacting your doctor. From time to time you will need to contact your doctor or healthcare provider. 1) Know your doctor's office number and call your doctor's office after hours for non-emergencies: there is usually a health care provider on call that can help you. 2) Know your pharmacy number whenever you call your doctor's office just in case your prescription needs to be changed or a new prescription needs to be called in 3) Know your blood pressure numbers when you call your doctor's office. Have at least 12 readings. Morning and evening measurements are most useful. 4) Carry an accurate list of your medication. You may download a blood pressure log, which includes a medication list 5) Know your allergies: carry…

26Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Now! Know First Steps To Prevent A Heart Attack

Blog

Overall, you should keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at your target goals to prevent a heart attack. Most people know their target blood pressure goal, but are unaware of their target cholesterol level goals. As you probably know, the average person's blood pressure target goal is less than 140/90 mm Hg. The target blood pressure goal for non-diabetic adults who are 50 years or older is less than 120/80 mm Hg. The rest of this post will focus on cholesterol. Well, why should you care about your cholesterol and get it tested? After all, you need cholesterol to make all your important hormones that keep you alive. Like lowering blood pressure, when you lower your cholesterol, you can lower your risk of heart disease or at. About 1 out…

26Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

What You Must Know If You Take Statin Drugs

Blog

This is what you must know if you are prescribed a statin for your high cholesterol. If your low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol is 200 mg/dl or higher, you will likely be prescribed a statin medication. However, the optimal LDL cholesterol target goal for the general population is 150 mg/dl. Usually, most health care providers give you 3 months to lower your cholesterol with diet before staring a stain. Nevertheless, medication will be started immediately for diabetics people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, and people with metabolic syndrome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEhxb8Ze98I Stain medication will lower your LDL cholesterol and decrease your risk of having a heart attack. Research has shown that statins prevent death from heart disease. Zocor (Simvastatin), Lipitor (Atorvastatin), and Crestor (Rosuvastatin calcium) are some examples of statin drugs. You…

23Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

What You Don’t Know About These 2 Medications Might Hurt You

Blog

What you don't know about Clonidine or Hydralazine might hurt you. Clonidine and Hydralazine are two very effective blood pressure medications. Some patients have labeled them the two worst blood pressure medications due to their side effects. They have also labeled the worst drugs here because both may cause you to feel sleepy, weak or fatigued. These symptoms might influence you to stop taking the medication as prescribed to feel better. This would be the wrong decision to make without the guidance of your health care provider. Stopping Clonidine or Hydralazine suddenly may be fatal. If you are on these medications and they are working well for you, they are good for you. On the other hand, if the side effects are keeping you from being adherent, you might get…

21Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Muscle Pain On Statin Drugs: It’s Not All In Your Head

Blog

Are you on cholesterol medication called statins for your elevated cholesterol and having pain? Research has shown that statins are effective cholesterol lowering medication. This class of drugs consists of several kinds of medications like Lipitor or atorvastatin. The video below will give you more information about statins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY1r36UTliQ Do you have pain in your legs, arms, or back muscles? Do your legs feel weak while walking? Any of these symptoms could mean that you might be developing muscle damage from statin drugs. Have you reported these symptoms to your health care provider and you were told it is all in your head? In other words, your provider suggested that you see a mental health profession. Or worst, were you prescribed antipsychotic or pain medication for your complaint of pain?…

18Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Who’s Taking Care Of Your Blood Pressure?

Blog

Most people say their doctor. Some say their spouse. Others say a family member or someone else. But if YOU are not taking care of your blood pressure, you are missing an opportunity to improve your health. What Gets Measured Gets Managed When you measure your blood pressure at home, you get information to help you look at your health in a new way. If you don't measure your blood pressure then you may not have any idea of your true blood pressure. The Most Accurate Home Blood Pressure Monitoring There have been many studies conducted in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Italy that have shown that home blood pressure monitoring is the as reliable as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Ambulatory monitoring is the use of a blood pressure…

15Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

How To Find The Best Doctor

Blog

It is important to have a primary care provider because it can save your time, money, and maybe even your life. A primary care a health care provider will provide the free preventive services that most insurances allow. When selecting a health care provider, start with your insurance. Get familiar with your health care plan to see which providers are allowed. There should be a list of providers that you can select from. Take a look at the short video below that explains health insurance in less than 6 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-58VD3z7ZiQ Decide what you desire in a health care provider and consider if you want a medical doctor or mid-level provider (nurse practitioner, chiropractor, or physician assistance). Most people may say they want a doctor because a physician would be…

13Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

How To Reduce Your Blood Pressure With Apple Cider Vinegar

Blog

Apple cider vinegar helps reduces blood pressure and aid in weight loss. It also helps maintain blood sugar by ushering insulin into your cells. Use one to two table spoons of apple cider vinegar in at least 2 ounces of warm water. Add lemon one teaspoon of juice for flavoring to decrease the pungent taste. The best type of apple cider vinegar to use is the raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized with the mother. https://amzn.to/2XJWVqt Although there are not many studies to show an association between apple cider vinegar and reduced blood pressure or weight loss, many patients have experienced reduced blood pressure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZtHW2inWYQ

12Jun 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

8 Most Important Things You Must Know if You Have High Blood Pressure

Blog

Here are eight most important things you should know if you have high blood pressure. The first thing you must know is how to accurately use a home blood pressure monitor. If you don't know by now, I will tell you a simple fact. Home blood pressure measurements are the most accurate blood pressure measurement if done right with an Omron arm cuff monitor or a similar monitor. Office blood pressure monitoring is inaccurate at best due to the potential for white coat syndrome or masked hypertension. Although blood pressure measurement is an important vital sign, the average medical office is too busy to use the technique recommended by the 2017-hypertension guidelines. https://amzn.to/2KgVZ9S https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFBZWUlUSis The second thing you must know is your blood pressure target goal. You need to know…

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)