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Titled: Do Not Be A Statistic Get the Heart and Circulation category RSS Feed

Do Not Be A Statistic

Article Summary: Do you know what your doctor is looking for when you go in for your yearly tests? What do the numbers mean when you go for your regular check ups? How can you tell when someone has had a stroke? What is one of this century's miracle heart food? How can you avoid to belong to "An Epidemic Of Heart Failure"?

What many aging people fear is having a stroke. The second fear? Having a stroke go undetected.

Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.
My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously. Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE .
T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE i.e. . . It is sunny out today.
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

NOTE : Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911, or your own emergency number... immediately!! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
It's been well established that omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat found primarily in seafood, can improve your chances of living longer if you have heart disease. But its healing powers don't stop there. Other organs may benefit. They have a positive impact from the womb to old age.

Blood glucose/blood sugar levels

The terms "blood glucose levels" and "blood sugar levels" mean the same thing and either one can be used to describe the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The term "plasma glucose" is also used. You and your healthcare team will set goals for your blood glucose levels. The American Diabetes Association suggests general goals of 90 to 130 mg/dL before meals, with a peak after-meal goal of greater than 180 mg/dL. Ask your health professional about your target goals for after meals.
Blood Glucose from Cdn Reading to USA Reading
mg/dL is the bigger number, so divide it by 18 to get mmol/L
mmol/L is the smaller number, so multiply it by 18 to get mg/dL
Normal blood glucose range: 3.5 to 8 millimoles per litre (mmol/L)
Blood glucose control in diabetes. Measure: Before a meal 2 hours after a meal.
Ideal 4 to 6 mmol/L up to 8 mmol/L (72 to 108)
Fair 6 to 8 mmol/L up to 10 mmol/L (108 to 144)
Poor 8 mmol/L or more 10 mmol/L or more (144 to 180)
Cholesterol Readings:
Various studies sponsored by the U.S. government established that high blood cholesterol level is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Studies showed that the higher the cholesterol level, the greater the CHD risk. Coronary heart disease is uncommon at total cholesterol levels below 150 (mg/dL). A direct link between high blood cholesterol and coronary heart disease has been confirmed. There are many government agencies on the internet with reliable information about cholesterol and heart disease.
To convert mmol/l of HDL or LDL cholesterol to mg/dl, multiply by 39.
To convert mg/dl of HDL or LDL cholesterol to mmol/l, divide by 39.

Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL High 190 mg/dL and above Very High

Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. Unless indicated otherwise, blood pressure refers to systemic arterial blood pressure, i.e., the pressure in the large arteries delivering blood to body parts other than the lungs, such as the brachial artery (in the arm).

The systolic pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries during the cardiac cycle; the diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure are other important quantities.
Typical values for a resting, healthy adult are approximately 120 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic (written as 120/80 mm Hg), with large individual variations. These measures of blood pressure are not static, but undergo natural variations from one heartbeat to another or throughout the day (in a circadian rhythm); they also change in response to stress, nutritional factors, drugs, or disease.
Blood PressureNormal Less than 120/80
High blood pressure Stage 1 140/159
High Stage2 160/100

More conversions:

To convert mmol/l of triglycerides to mg/dl, multiply by 89.
To convert mg/dl of triglycerides to mmol/l, divide by 89.
To convert umol (micromoles) /l of creatinine to mg/dl, divide by 88.
To convert mg/dl of creatinine to umol/l, multiply by 88.
It's been well established that omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat found primarily in seafood, can improve your chances of living longer if you have heart disease. But its healing powers don't stop there. Other organs may benefit. They have a positive impact from the womb to old age.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Ruth Bird
Ruth is a wife, a stepmom, a dog owner and a business woman. She has been married to her husband Chris for almost 30 years. Chris is battling the monster MS. Her passions are health for people and pets. Visit her at http://www.mimfreedom.com/aboutus.htm http://www.mimfreedom.com