Dr. Afroze Ahmad
CAN I IMPROVE MY OUTCOMES FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
While my practice has a large percentage of couples, they may not choose to share the same exam room with each other during a clinic visit, but generally share many of the same diseases.
So, when Maria and George Taylor requested a same-day and same-time appointment, it surprised me. Talking to them later, in the exam room, it was apparent the Taylors were committed to their New Year’s resolution to improve their outcomes with high blood pressure.
HE SNORES, AND DRIVES ME CRAZY
To achieve their New Year’s resolution, we started with non-medical strategies.
“Doctor, you recommend 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week, and I easily can do it in the morning, once the kids are off to school,” Maria said. “However, George snores all night long, which renders me sleepless and groggy in the morning, with no desire to exercise.”
George interjected, “Really? Do I really snore heavily?”
Snoring is no longer just a cause for divorce. Snoring and other altered breathing patterns during sleep have been associated with increased risk of heart problems, including irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke and even sudden death. Just as exercise drops the blood pressure by four to nine points, treatment for sleep disorders also helps with improving blood pressure readings.
EATING PLAN
“Healthy eating is such a cliché, and it certainly does not help me with my grocery shopping,” said Maria. “Is there a better cheat sheet to use for meal planning?”
I can understand the frustration in her voice.
Nutrition is vital for both prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. Meal planning should comprise of the mindful and dedicated reduction in saturated fats, sugars and cholesterol-rich foods. At the same time, incorporating fruits, nuts, whole grains and vegetables would result in the drop of blood pressure by eight to 14 points.
“Pizza and cheese are the major sources of saturated fats at our dining table,” I informed the couple. “Meal planning with two days of vegan dishes would go a long way in favorable outcomes with blood pressure. The best way to plan or consume a vegan diet is to hold or look at the food about to be consumed, and always ask yourself, ‘Did this food ever have a mama?’ If the answer is yes, it is not vegan,” I said.
“That will be easy,” Maria said. “With George being a Cuban American, we eat beans three to four times a week.”
“That is great,” I added, “as long as the beans are not eaten with sour cream.”
With a twinkle in her eye, Maria said, “I get it. Sour cream comes from a mama. So, I will be careful.”
SALT INTAKE
George complained that salt prudence or salt restrictions are general terms, and he wished for some precise guidance. An easy way to remember is one-quarter of a teaspoonful is equal to 600 mg of salt. An intake of 2,400 mg is a good target, which means the total salt intake of both cooked and uncooked food should not exceed one teaspoon.
“Wow, I never knew this fact,” said Maria.
Adhering to salt intake of one teaspoon or less can drop the blood pressure by four to eight points.
WEIGHT LOSS
I reminded both Maria and George of the fact their weight loss also is going to help them lower their blood pressure.
George asked, “When and what kind of results are we looking at?”
I informed him, for every 20 pounds of weight loss, the blood pressure drops by seven to 20 points.
STRESS REDUCTION
Anxiety at work, home or in any interpersonal relationship may adversely affect blood pressure. Utilizing stress busters like yoga, breathing exercises and acupuncture, if supervised by a physician, would drop the blood pressure by five points.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
“I am no champagne George, but I still would like to know the alcohol limits, and the impact on blood pressure,” George stated.
As long as the alcohol intake is restricted to no more than seven drinks a week, I told him the drop in blood pressure is two to four points.
TOBACCO
Maria has been a winner so far, with a complete exclusion of tobacco for the past eight months. I informed her that her cessation will help drop her blood pressure by three to five points.
Our clinic visit was coming to an end. I summarized the various interventions, including exercise, salt, alcohol, diet, weight reduction, and stress busters, and their effects on blood pressure.
“By profession, I am an accountant,” George added. “I have summed up all the points. To me, it looks like by Halloween of this year, I would drop my blood pressure by 33 to 45 points.”
Maria smiled, gave him a high-five, and said, “Me, too.”
Dr. Afroze Ahmad is a cardiologist who cares and listens. She is a multiple board certified cardiologist. Las Sendas Cardiology is located at 3514 N. Power Road, Suite 107. For information, or to make an appointment, please call (480) 361-9949.