Blood Pressure Clinic

Blood Pressure Clinic

Sponsored by the Wellness Ministry Team

Why have a Blood Pressure taken?

• Determines if you need to visit a doctor
• Indicates if a medication is working
• Provides a record to take to the doctor at the next visit’
• Is an opportunity to talk to the nurse about concerns
• Give peace of mind that your BP is OK
• :Your doctor has recommended you have BP checked
• It is available for you without extra travel time or cost

What do the numbers mean and are they important?

Blood Pressure is the measurement of pressure inside the blood vessels as the heart pumps and relaxes with each beat. There are two measurements taken to indicate the stress on the body vessels.

• Systolic – The high pressure number during the heart’s pumping phase. It measures the force against the blood vessels during the pumping phase.
• Diastolic – The low pressure number during the heart’s resting phase before the next pump. It measures the pressure that is constant on the vessels.

• Hypertension – High Blood Pressure should be avoided because it causes damage to the heart, kidneys and general  body function. Usually there are no symptoms to indicate hypertension so the only way to detect this is to have BP taken or measured.

Each person has their own “normal” blood pressure number. Check with your doctor about the guidelines for your specific situation.

How to reduce your blood pressure

Limit the following activities to help reduce your Blood Pressure.

Increase activity – more walking if nothing else

Relaxation & reduce bad stress

Reduce your weight

Medications – taken as prescribed’

Smoking – stop all forms (cigarettes, pipe, cigar, second hand smoke )

Alcohol consumption

Diseases that increase BP:

• Diabetes
• Gout
• Obesity
• High Cholesterol
• Kidney Disease

Hi Blood Pressure directly increases the risk of Coronary Artery disease which leads to heart attack and stroke.

Take care of your body – it’s the only one you have.

• Eat a balanced diet
• Increase vegetables, fiber, reduced sugar & fat
• Fruits  in place of sweets

It pays to lower your blood pressure and keep healthy – your life depends on it!!!!!

It's Flu Time, Act Now

     

Wellness Ministry  Article

September, 2012

INFLUENZA (or Flu)

Cause – Viruses (there are hundreds of strains waiting to infect us)

Transmitted by airborne water droplets from nose and mouth by:

            Sneezing

Coughing

Blowing your nose

Breathing into another’s face

Touching your nose or mouth and then touching a surface that others touch

Prevent the spread of the flu virus by:

Staying home when you are ill.

Covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing (into your elbow not your hands).

Getting a flu shot (the number one prevention activity) and now is the time to do this.

Washing your hands thoroughly and wiping with disposable towels.

Using disposable tissues when blowing your nose and then throwing them away.

Wearing a mask if you must be around others when you are sick.

Ways to prevent the flu from making you sick:

                Get the flu vaccine (The ideal time is early fall but any time will help you build protection.)

                Wash your hands often and thoroughly:

Before eating, after using the rest room, after eating, before handling food, after blowing your nose, after caring for someone who is ill.

                Drink 8 glasses of water or the equivalent daily.

                Get 8 hours of sleep each night to keep your immune system at peak functioning.

                Stay away from those who are sick.

                Wear a mask if you must care for those who are sick.

                Eat a well balanced diet daily to keep your body healthy.

Antibiotics will NOT cure the Flu. They should only be used if you develop a secondary bacterial infection. Do not insist that your doctor give you an antibiotic to prevent an infection. This practice is what is responsible for the antibiotic resistant strains of some bacteria.

Take care and have a healthy winter. 

Safe care of contact lens

How can I reduce my risk for getting Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) if I wear contact lenses?

Contact lens use is very common among people who get AK. Although public health officials do not yet know what risk factors are involved in this apparent increase, all contact lens users should follow these recommendations to help reduce their risk for AK and other eye infections:

• Visit your eye care provider for regular eye examinations.
• Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care provider.
• Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
• Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses.
• Clean contact lenses according to the manufacturer's guidelines and instructions from your eye care provider.
  1. Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution.
  2. Never use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant.
• Store reusable lenses in the proper storage case.
  1. Storage cases should be rinsed with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and left open to dry after each use.
  2. Replace storage cases at least once every three months.

Contact lens users with questions regarding which solutions are best for them should consult their eye care providers. They should also consult their eye care providers if they have any of the following symptoms: eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, sensation of something in the eye, or excessive tearing.

Information from CDC web site

Dispose of Medication The Safe Way:

The Dakota County Sheriff, Attorney and Environmental Management Office, along with our law enforcement partners, have teamed together to offer the public a place to safely and anyonymously disposer of prescription and other drugs.

 Drop boxes have been placed in the following locations:

                                Burnsville Police Department

                                100 civic Center Parkway, Burnsville
                                (952) 895-4600

                                Hastings Sheriff’s Office

                                (Drive-Up Location in Front of the Law enforcement Center)
                                1580 Highway 55, Hastings
                                (651) 438-4710

                                West St. Paul Police Department

                                1616 Humboldt Avenue. West St. Paul
                                (651) 552-4200

How to Drop Off your Medicine:

 ·         Drop-off is safe and anonymous. No ID is required and no questions will be asked

·         Keep medicine in their original container and place them in a sealed, clear plastic bag (pills can   remain in their blister packs).
·         Use a marker to cross out your name on the medicine containers.
·         Place the medicine that is not longer in its original container in a clear plastic bag and write the name of the medicine on the bag.

 Medicines Accepted from Households:

 ·         Medicines from households are accepted in any form including prescriptions, over-the-counter. and pet medications.

·         No medicines from businesses including health care facilities, long-term care facilities, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and veterinary clinics can be accepted.

 What is Not Accepted:

 ·         Needles                        =

·         S harps                          =    Take these three to the Recycling Zone , 3365 Dodd Road, Eagan      
·         Fever thermometers  =             (651) 905-4520  to be disposed for FREE

First parish nurse post

Welcome to St. Anne's Parish Nurse blog.