problem”.
.....On the one hand, I suppose the good news is that this new “problem” may get more people to try to keep their blood pressure as low as they can get it.
.....On the other hand, what worries me is that
.....1) since we should all keep our blood pressure
levels as low as possible, there really is no
lower level at which to cut off this “pre- hyper-tension” bar, so eventually, we may all be told we have “pre-hypertension” (every one of us, after all, is already pre-dead, when you think about it)
.....2) although articles on pre-hypertension still
always stress that it should be treated first
with lifestyle adjustments (no smoking,
regular exercise, moderate alcohol intake, and weight control), I can smell that there will soon be a much harder emphasis on treating it with drugs, and I am not at all sure that the more widespread use of power- ful and often problematic blood pressure- lowering medications will end up doing more good than harm in such a vastly expanded population.
.....The bottom line, folks, is that the better you control your blood pressure, the less you’ll have to worry about, so please do more exercise and try to keep a lid on your weight, but if that doesn’t work, then educate yourselves thoroughly about what high blood pressure is, what it can do to you, and about the pros and cons of the many medications used to keep blood pressure in check, and if you end up having to take a particular drug, continually discuss that drug with your health care providers, especially your family doctor and your pharmacist.
.....Anyway, I’m outta here now, before “they” tap my computer to find out what I’m writing about and try to shut me down, and besides, I promised my family I’d stop by my therapist today.
.....But why does my family think I need to see a therapist? Is my family also on “their” side? This therapy could take a while.
Dr. Art Hister can be heard on CKNW and other Corus Radio Network stations on House Calls on Saturdays at 10 AM, as well as seen on Global TV news on Saturday mornings at 9:20. |
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