• Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure).
  
  
• For adults, HIGH blood pressure is defined as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg / 90 mm Hg.
  
  
• What can happen as a result of high blood pressure?
  - High blood pressure is the silent killer. Without warning, high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
  
  
• Why should you monitor your blood pressure at home?
  - To be consistently aware of a vital indicator about your overall health
  - Doctors recommend it
  - To see how you’re responding to medication
  
  
• How often should you monitor your blood pressure?
  - Your blood pressure can vary throughout the day and be affected by activity, stress, medications and other factors. This is why you should consult with your healthcare professional to determine how often and when you should monitor your blood pressure.

• Stress
• Gender
• Lack of exercise
• Increasing age
• Poor diet
• Being overweight

• Have your blood pressure checked by your doctor.
  
  
• If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about changing your diet and lifestyle habits.
  
  
• If your doctor has prescribed medication for your high blood pressure, it is very important to take it regularly. If you have any new symptoms, call your doctor.
  
  
• Measure and record your blood pressure at home regularly. This information may be valuable to your doctor in evaluating your condition.
  
  
• Cooperate. You and your doctor must work together in order to keep your blood pressure and your diabetes under control.

• Fever defined and the causes:
  
  

  -	A fever is when the body’s temperature is higher than normal due to an infection.
  -	The fever is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. It is a way in which the body fights infection.
  -	A fever is not dangerous, and does not always mean that a person has a serious illness.

  
  
• Treatment:
  
  The prevailing idea seems to be that high fevers cause brain damage. This is essentially untrue. The truth is that the brain is able to act like a thermostat and keep the temperature from going beyond a safe range; i.e. about 106.2 degrees. The only exceptions are devastating infections of the brain itself, as in bacterial meningitis, most of which are now prevented by immunization. Use a thermometer as a guide for temperature measurement. Usually, the infection is caused by a virus, and antibiotics do not help viral infections. If the infection is bacterial it can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. While waiting for the medication to take effect, the temperature can be brought down by warm water baths; cold water or ice water is not recommended as they can cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict, and decrease the body’s ability to get rid of extra heat. Also, cold or chilly water will cause a child to shiver, which will increase the body’s internal heat. Additionally, you should do the following to provide extra comfort:
  
  

  1.	Drink plenty of clear fluid.
  2.	Dress as lightly as possible.
  3.	Keep the child cool.
  4.	NEVER use alcohol

  
  
• Additional helpful hints:
  
  

  1.	Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is gradually replacing acetaminophen(Tylenol) as the medication of choice because it lasts longer and is anti-inflammatory as well.
  2.	Aspirin is NOT recommended for children under 18 years of age due to the risk of Reyes syndrome, a liver disorder associated with the use of aspirin and certain viral infections.
  3.	When in doubt, call your pediatrician or doctor.

• An estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.
  
  
• The risk of death rises with increasing weight.
  
  
• Even moderate weight excess (10 to 20 pounds for a person of average height) increases the risk of death, particularly among adults aged 30 to 64 years.
  
  
• Individuals who are obese (BMI > 30) have a 50 to 100% increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to individuals with a healthy weight.

Obesity Health Risks - Heart Disease

• The incidence of heart disease (heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm) is increased in persons who are overweight or obese (BMI > 25).
  
  
• High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.
  
  
• Obesity is associated with elevated triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol").

Obesity Health Risks - Diabetes

• A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of individuals who have not gained weight.
  
  
• Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.

Obesity Health Risks - Cancer

• Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer including endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer.
  
  
• Women gaining more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women whose weight remains stable.

Obesity Health Risks - Breathing Problems

• Sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping) is more common in obese persons.
  
  
• Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma.

Obesity Health Risks - Arthritis

• For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of arthritis increases by 9 to 13%.
  
  
• Symptoms of arthritis can improve with weight loss.

Obesity Health Risks - Reproductive Complications & Complications of Pregnancy

• Obesity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times.
  
  
• In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.
  
  
• Infants born to women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to be high birth weight and, therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage and seizures).
  
  
• Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects, such as spinal bifida.
  
  
• Obesity in premenopausal women is associated with irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

Obesity Health Risks - Additional Health Consequences

• Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risks of gall bladder disease, incontinence, increased surgical risk, and depression.
  
  
• Obesity can affect the quality of life through limited mobility and decreased physical endurance as well as through social, academic, and job discrimination.

Obesity Health Risks - Children & Adolescents

• Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adolescents compared to those with a healthy weight.
  
  
• Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity are closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
  
  
• Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
  
  
• The most immediate consequence of overweight, as perceived by children

Source: US Surgeon General (2002)

Importance of Home BP Monitoring

Doctors, diabetes educators, physician assistants, nurses and other healthcare professionals recommend home blood pressure monitoring for various reasons, including the ability to provide them with better information to understand and manage your high blood pressure.

Many types of hypertension can only be detected by monitoring your blood pressure at home, including:

• White-coat Hypertension: blood pressure reading is high in doctor’s office but lower at home
  
  
• Masked Hypertension: blood pressure reading is low in doctor’s office but higher at home
  
  
• Morning Hypertension: blood pressure reading is higher in the morning

Additionally, many factors can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications and stress, so having your blood pressure monitored at a Pharmacy with an in-store device after you have been shopping or walking around might not provide you with the most accurate measurement.

Monitoring your blood pressure at home allows you to more easily get to a relaxed state and the flexibility to take your measurements at various times during the day. By keeping track of your home blood pressure readings, you can provide your healthcare professional with a log of blood pressure measurements over time, which can help them evaluate the effectiveness or need for medication.