Tag: blood pressure

Taking Control of High Blood Pressure

By Phoebe Chi, MD, MPH

Have you ever been told that your blood pressure is high? Are you already on medications for your blood pressure? If so, you are not alone. Just in the U.S., it is estimated that half of all adults–over 100 million people–live with this condition.

In this post, I will discuss the fundamentals of high blood pressure, how to properly monitor your own blood pressure, and what you can do on a daily basis to help improve your blood pressure.

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Taking Control of Diabetes

By Phoebe Chi, MD, MPH

Like most chronic condition, diabetes is a disease that–while serious–should not deprive you of a long and fulfilling life. With that said, the seemingly little things that you do on a day-to-day basis can end up making a big difference in how the disease affects your health and quality of life, with what you do (or don’t do) playing an important role in determining how well your diabetes is controlled and whether or not the disease gets worse over time.

In this post—which is a part of my Taking Control of Chronic Conditions series—I will discuss what you can do to manage your diabetes, so that you will be equipped with the skills you need to take control of your health once again.

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Taking Control Over Salt

By Phoebe Chi, MD, MPH

Do you enjoy salty snacks? Or find yourself reaching for the salt shaker at the dinner table?

If you do, you are not alone.

In general, people in the U.S. eat much more sodium (salt) than they should. But why is it important to watch the amount of sodium you eat? It is because the more sodium you consume, the higher your blood pressure becomes. Some conditions, such as certain heart and kidney problems, cause the body to hold onto sodium, which causes extra fluid to build up in the body. This extra fluid forces the heart to work harder. Therefore, if you live with chronic conditions, it is especially important to control the amount of sodium you eat.

So how much sodium should you be consuming in a day? While for most people it is recommended to not go over 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium, for those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney problems, the daily limit for sodium is even lower– 1,500 mg ideally, but no more than 2,000 mg.

Pop quiz: How many milligrams of sodium are in one small teaspoon of salt?

Answer: 2,300 milligrams!

1 teaspoon of salt
=
2,300 mg of sodium

Surprised? What this means is that adding any salt to your meals can cause you to go over the recommended limit. So is it even possible to stay within this recommended limit? Yes–it is possible! And today I will discuss exactly how.

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