Yes I believe also we all need support to make changes in habits such as eating, exercising, meditating, making contact with supportive friends or supportive communities, doing more art, music activities and /or more reading. Recently, my Primary PCP - Doctor alerted me to my blood pressure getting too high; 148 over 70. This was about a month and a half ago. It was hard for me to face this reality. She suggested that I get my own blood pressure cuff from the drug store, and suggested I take my blood pressure regularly. She also suggested I get on a statin drug. I did get the blood pressure cuff, and it scared me to use it, because the reality was so devastating to me that my blood pressure was high. I asked her if I could have three weeks to try some life styles changes before taking the statin drug. She was willing to let me do that. I also chose to consult with a very good Doctor, Dr. Ralph Golan, here in Seattle, Washington, even though it meant I had to pay extra to see him because my insurance wouldn't cover his fees. Dr. Golan requested that I get very detailed labs to flag risk of heart disease. He asked me if I have heart disease in my family, and I told him I do, my mother and her father. He went over the results of the labs with me, and I have moderate to some risk for cardiovascular disease. I have plaque starting in my arteries, which causes the risk to be higher for me. He suggested I make the life style change to get off dairy products because he said plaque has been known to have a calcium deposition. So I started a statin drug ( low dose), from my Primary doctor three weeks ago; and also got off dairy products at the same time. I get my protein from beans, legumes, and nut butters. I enjoy cashew milk yogurt (made from cashews) with berries. I choose to eat egg whites, and no meat.
I went to my PCP's office yesterday, and my blood pressure was 126/ over 70- a good range. Dr. Golan suggested I do meditation at night as well as in the morning, and of course continue moderate exercise. So it is possible to make life style changes. For me it took a wake up call of two doctors stating that I needed
Yes I believe also we all need support to make changes in habits such as eating, exercising, meditating, making contact with supportive friends or supportive communities, doing more art, music activities and /or more reading. Recently, my Primary PCP - Doctor alerted me to my blood pressure getting too high; 148 over 70. This was about a month and a half ago. It was hard for me to face this reality. She suggested that I get my own blood pressure cuff from the drug store, and suggested I take my blood pressure regularly. She also suggested I get on a statin drug. I did get the blood pressure cuff, and it scared me to use it, because the reality was so devastating to me that my blood pressure was high. I asked her if I could have three weeks to try some life styles changes before taking the statin drug. She was willing to let me do that. I also chose to consult with a very good Doctor, Dr. Ralph Golan, here in Seattle, Washington, even though it meant I had to pay extra to see him because my insurance wouldn't cover his fees. Dr. Golan requested that I get very detailed labs to flag risk of heart disease. He asked me if I have heart disease in my family, and I told him I do, my mother and her father. He went over the results of the labs with me, and I have moderate to some risk for cardiovascular disease. I have plaque starting in my arteries, which causes the risk to be higher for me. He suggested I make the life style change to get off dairy products because he said plaque has been known to have a calcium deposition. So I started a statin drug ( low dose), from my Primary doctor three weeks ago; and also got off dairy products at the same time. I get my protein from beans, legumes, and nut butters. I enjoy cashew milk yogurt (made from cashews) with berries. I choose to eat egg whites, and no meat.
I went to my PCP's office yesterday, and my blood pressure was 126/ over 70- a good range. Dr. Golan suggested I do meditation at night as well as in the morning, and of course continue moderate exercise. So it is possible to make life style changes. For me it took a wake up call of two doctors stating that I needed
to make some changes.
Congratulations on making those changes, Laura! For many of us it takes an unpleasant wake up call to convince us to change. At least it does for me.