Week 12: Stress-Break

Filed Under (Blood Pressure, Stress) by Small Changes on 19-04-2010

Stress BreakWe all have stress in our lives, and stress affects each of us differently. Recent studies have linked stress to the following negative health problems: high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, migraine headaches, alcoholism, poor blood sugar control, depression, and weight gain. In addition to these serious health problems, stress can make you feel anxious, uptight, and angry. Learning to identify and manage the stressors in your life can increase your energy, give you peace of mind and improve your overall health. So don’t let stress control your life; take control of your stress by taking a break from it. Read the rest of this entry »

Week 1 – Knowing Your Numbers

Filed Under (BMI, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar) by Small Changes on 27-01-2010

Your Small Change for Week 1: Make sure that you get your blood pressure, blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels checked.

If you know your weight and BMI, there are a few other numbers to know to get a good idea of your current health status: your blood pressure, blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels. Checking these numbers periodically can help to identify health and disease risks early, and allow you to make changes to prevent more serious consequences. Knowing those numbers will help you make effective health goals, too.

More Information: The American Heart Association recommends that everyone “know their numbers”. What does that mean? Knowing your numbers refers to having your blood pressure, blood sugar and serum cholesterol checked on a regular basis. Besides knowing these important numbers, it also important to monitor your weight and know your Body Mass Index (BMI). When we know our starting numbers, we can easily note the progress we make as we make small changes for health. These numbers can also assist us in making realistic goals based on our risk for chronic disease(s).

Know what each of your numbers mean to you:
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