Tag Archive for 'Hypertension'

BCBSNC Bariatric surgery policy for morbid obesity

Published on February 20, 2011 in BCBSNC and Health and Wellness. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

Bariatric surgery, also called “weight-loss” surgery, is performed to help extremely overweight people to lose weight, attain better health and heighten their quality of life. In the United States alone, morbid obesity has almost risen to epidemic proportions, causing around 11 million to suffer from its crippling effects.

Morbid obesity is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 kg/m2 or 35 kg/m2 with related complications such as diabetes, hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea. Those who suffer from morbid obesity are at a substantially  higher risk for different types of cancers and even a shortened life span.

For the Corporate Medical Policy on morbid obesity with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, click http://docs.healthplansofnorthcarolina.com/page7/files/Surgery%20for%20Morbid%20Obesity.pdf

Hypertension may be a culprit in developing dementia

Published on January 27, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

New research has found that one of the best ways to keep from getting dementia is to control your blood pressure.

During the study, scientists scanned the brains of people to reveal that hypertension causes some kind of scarring that is related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The scars can begin to form in middle age, years before memory problems are apparent.

The new evidence is so strong that the National Institutes of Health is planning on studying thousands of people with hypertension to see if vigorous treatment will help protect their hearts and their brains. This aggressive treatment will involve getting blood pressure lower than normal recommendations.

The largest factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia is age. Dementia affects about one in eight people who are 65 and older.

For a long time now, scientists knew that many of the triggers for heart disease such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes appear to increase the chances for getting dementia. This said, they thought that the link was with “vascular dementia”, which are memory problems related to small strokes; not the frightening Alzheimer’s disease. Now, specialists are finding that many patients have a mixture of both types of dementia.

Having hypertension, which is a blood pressure reading of 140 over 90 or higher, weakens arteries and  also seems to spur Alzheimer’s disease-like activity. One culprit could be the scarring known as white matter lesions. White matter works like the brain’s telephone network with a system of  nerve fibers that permit the brain cells to communicate with each other. Unfortunately even small increases in blood pressure can cause harm to the tiny blood vessels that sustain the white matter. This damage causes interruptions to those signals.

The new studies found that MRI scans revealed that women 65 and older with hypertension had notably more white matter lesions in their brains eight years later. The journal Stroke just published comparable evidence from a John Hopkins University-led study that observed 983 people for more than 15 years, beginning in middle age. The results showed that the more time people spent with uncontrolled high blood pressure, the more white matter harm they incurred.

All this said, hypertension by itself doesn’t mean one is condemned to get dementia. There are far more people with hypertension than dementia; about one in three adults in the U.S.

Even the young and fit should be concerned about blood pressure

Published on December 8, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 4 Comments Tags: , , .

People who are not obese, don’t smoke, use little salt and have a family history free of hypertension don’t need to worry about high blood pressure, right? Wrong. According to syndicated radio host Dr.Joy Browne and cardiologist Dr. James Rippe, too many people, women in particular, feel that they don’t need to check their blood pressure regularly, because they have been told that their blood pressure is O.K. in the past. These two say that even the active and young should stay concerned about high blood pressure.

Women are usually more concerned with diseases such as breast cancer than hypertension, but hypertension is a condition which may only have a deadly symptom such as a stroke or heart attack. About 1 in 3 in the U.S., a whopping 73 million adults, have hypertension.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim that normal blood pressure is under 120 over 80 for men and women. Readings such as 120 to 139 over 80 to 89 used to be labeled as high normal. Newer guidelines now consider these readings as pre-hypertension. Some people with these readings can play it safe by checking their blood pressure regularly and getting healthier with diet and exercise. If numbers are greater than 140 over 90, medication is almost always necessary.

So what exactly is blood pressure? It is the force of blood against the artery walls. The systolic number is the first or top number. It stands for the pressure when the heart contracts. The diastolic number is the second or bottom number that stands for the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

During the day, blood pressure goes up and down. It is considered hypertension when it stays high for too long. Having high blood pressure, usually 140/90 or more, may often not be felt until it is too late. Many people with hypertension may feel fine. Heart attack, stroke or kidney failure may be the result if it is left untreated.

Just because you have a history of high blood pressure doesn’t mean you are safe. Dr. James Rippe says that “if you have normal blood pressure at 55, you still have a greater than 90 percent chance of having high blood pressure before you die because it’s age-related.” That is why regular screening is very important.

Some people think that if you do get on medicine for hypertension and it does not work well, you are stuck. Not true, according to Dr. Rippe. He suggests starting a dialogue with your doctor. He said “you don’t have to accept side effects.”

There are things you can do to prevent future problems with hypertension. First of all, get your blood pressure checked by a doctor, because monitors in public places such as the grocery store may not always be accurate. Avoid smoking and drink alcohol in moderation, although a glass of red wine daily has been known to be good for the heart. Of course, we all know that more exercise is usually a plus, but consult with your doctor first about how to get started if you have been sedentary for awhile. Because process food usually contains a lot of salt and calories, cook your own meals when you can, and don’t add salt while you’re cooking. It is also helpful to not have a salt shaker on the table. You can get more potassium by eating more fruits and vegetables.

Anyone can get high blood pressure, but there are three categories of people who are most likely to acquire it. These are African Americans, overweight people and adults over age 55.

Diabetes and hypertension often go hand in hand

Published on September 5, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts, if you have hypertension, you should get tested for diabetes. This panel studies the results for prevention strategies such as taking aspirin or diabetes testing. Recommendations from the task force usually become guidelines for primary care doctors and certain specialists.

Since high blood pressure and diabetes often go together, treating them both at the same time is the best solution. People with diabetes who control their blood pressure, cut their chances of having a heart attack, stroke or dying of heart disease in half. On the flip side, people with high blood pressure who control their blood sugar, can reduce the chances of losing their sight, losing feelings in the fingers or feet, losing a limb, and suffering kidney damage.

The American Diabetes Association recommends the fasting blood sugar test for diabetes testing. For this test, a small sample of blood is drawn in the morning before the patient has had anything to eat or drink. If the blood sugar reading is 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher, and is confirmed by performing a second test a few days later, that person has diabetes. There are some doctors who check for diabetes by testing blood sugar two hours after a sugary beverage is provided or by checking the blood for the percentage of sugar-coated hemoglobin (known as hemoglobin A1c).