Archives for June 2018

How Hypertension Affects Women

Hypertension Define

If there is one cardiovascular risk every woman needs to be aware of it is hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Up until age 65, men and women are equally likely to have high blood pressure—but as we age the risk of high blood pressure in women increases dramatically. High blood pressure occurs when a high rate of blood is forced against the artery walls. Over time the high force of blood within the artery walls will result in health problems associated with high blood pressure. Blood pressure grows higher when the heart pumps excessive amounts of blood at a quick rate into narrow blood vessels.

Hypertension affects people differently. Symptoms vary, but by the time symptoms appear, it may be too late to avoid additional health problem; such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, blindness, heart failure and kidney disease.

Understanding your blood pressure reading is the first step in controlling high blood pressure. Two numbers measure blood pressure; the systolic is the upper number, and diastolic is the lower. Systolic measures the amount of blood in your arteries when the heart contracts. Diastolic measures the amount of blood in the arteries when the heart is between beats.

The American Heart Association places a normal blood pressure as less than 120 over 80.

Stages of Hypertension

If either the systolic or diastolic numbers are above the normal range, it is an indication that blood pressure is too high.

Hypertension Stage 1

  • 130-139 over 80-89.

Hypertension Stage 2

  • 140 or higher over 90 or higher

Hypertension Stage 3

  • More than 180 over higher than 120

Hypertension is bad news for anyone, but the negative effects on women are cause for concern. The American Heart Association claims that women account for nearly half of adults with high blood pressure. The fact that high blood pressure isn’t gender related doesn’t change the fact that women 65 years of age and older contract high blood pressure at a higher rate than men.

From pregnancy, right through menopause, women should take special care to know their blood pressure numbers so they can eliminate problems related to hypertension.

Family Planning

Women who take birth control pills are at risk of high blood pressure, especially if there’s a family history or if she had high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy. Weight is also a factor. This is true at any stage. There is a link between obesity and high blood pressure. High blood pressure doesn’t occur for all women taking birth control pills, but women who take birth control should definitely monitor their blood pressure. Before prescribing oral contraceptives, your family medicine provider should take your blood pressure. He or she should then apprise their patient of the risk.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women are susceptible to gestational hypertension, which occurs for some women after 20-weeks. Hypertension may have never been an issue prior to pregnancy, but this secondary condition of hypertension is actually caused by the pregnancy. Even though the condition will disappear after delivery, it is imperative that the mom is treated so that the danger is eliminated for her and her child. Gestational hypertension can trigger another dangerous illness related to pregnancy, pre-eclampsia or toxemia. Like hypertension, it begins about 20 weeks post baby delivery. The only cure for preeclampsia is for the baby to be born.

By the way, ACE inhibitors, drugs that fight high blood pressure, don’t mix well with pregnancy. Women should not take ACE inhibitors during pregnancy. Speak to your health professional about maintaining normal blood pressure during pregnancy.

Menopause

The chances of increasing normal blood pressure are likely with age, even if your blood pressure has always been normal. Menopausal women should monitor their blood pressure. Get your family medicine provider involved. Make regular visits, once every six months to have your pressure checked.

Monitoring blood pressure is crucial. Women who wish to stay healthy throughout their lives will do everything within their power to get and keep their blood pressure under control.

At Advanced Medical, PA, we pride ourselves in providing quality healthcare in both internal medicine and primary care. To learn more about us and the services we offer, or to schedule a visit, call us at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment.

How Much Calcium Do You Need?

When we think of the contributions that the mineral calcium makes to our bodies, the first thing that comes to mind is strong bone, and this is true. However, calcium has multiple jobs. Yes, it builds bones, but our blood wouldn’t clot without calcium. Our heart would cease to beat and muscles would only expand and not contract.

Calcium is extremely important to good health and yet we are constantly losing the mineral from the body, just through the daily grind of living our lives. Calcium is lost through body waste: sweat, urine, and feces. We lose calcium through our largest organ, the skin that covers our bodies and through nail beds and hair. It is constantly being released.

While we are constantly losing calcium, the body doesn’t produce the mineral on its own. Calcium is delivered to our bodies through the foods we eat. If we don’t receive the right amount of calcium through calcium-rich foods, then the body will rob it from calcium-rich bones. Over time this becomes dangerous and compromises the bone’s strength and makes them easier to fracture.

Required Daily Amount 

The following is recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board and found in the Dietary Reference Intakes.  Recommended daily Intake requirements of calcium are calculated by age and gender. There is also a recommended daily allowance for pregnant and lactating women.

Male

  • 0-6 months of age

200 mg of calcium per day

  • 7-12 months of age

260 mg

  • 1-3 years

700 mg

  • 4-8 years

1000 mg

  • 9-13 years

1300 mg

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg 

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

  • 51-70 years

1000 mg

  • 71+ years

1200 mg

Female

  • 0-6 months

200 mg

  • 7-12 months

260 mg

  • 1-3 years

700 mg

  • 4-8 years

1000mg

  • 9-13 years

1300 mg

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

  • 51-70 years

1200 mg

  • 71+ years

1200 mg

Pregnant

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

Lactating

  • 14-18 years

1300 mg

  • 19-50 years

1000 mg

The recommended daily allowance of calcium is necessary for proper bone health. It is also for keeping the correct amount of calcium in healthy people.

Calcium Rich Food Sources

Dairy is rich in calcium and will help to achieve the recommended daily allowance: cheese, milk, and yogurt. Additionally, there are non-dairy food sources that include calcium such as leafy green vegetables like Chinese cabbage, kale, broccoli, and spinach.

Other options include foods that don’t naturally have calcium in them but are fortified with the mineral. Read food labels to learn how much calcium is included in the foods you eat and drink. Keeping track of intake will assist you in knowing just how much you lack, and to know if taking a calcium supplement will be necessary to reach the recommended daily allowance.

Supplements

If you find it difficult to attain the recommended daily allowance of calcium for your gender and age category, then you may wish to take a calcium supplement. The mineral is taken in two forms, citrate or carbonate. Carbonate is the most common form and is readily available. A variety of over the counter medications includes carbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid. Some carbonate medications, depending on strength, will provide between 200 – 400 mg of calcium.

The National Institutes of Health’s’ Office of Dietary Supplements reports, “43 percent of the U.S. population (including almost 70 percent of older women) uses dietary supplements containing calcium, increasing calcium intakes by about 330 mg per day among supplement users.”

How to Know You’re Receiving the Right Amount of Calcium

It is imperative to know for sure that you’re receiving the correct amount of calcium. Your health provider can measure the calcium with a simple blood test.

There are two tests available. A total calcium blood test or an ionized calcium blood test will measure the amount of calcium present. If the correct amount of calcium isn’t found in your bloodstream, the family medicine provider will make a recommendation that may include an adjustment in your diet or a prescription for a calcium supplement.