High Blood Pressure Readings Call for Additional Medication

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 32. I am 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weigh 130 pounds. I’ve been taking 240 mg of verapamil for all of these years. A few years back, my medication started coming in 120-mg dosages, so I started taking one in the morning and one at night. My blood pressure both at home and at the doctor’s office is often higher than I think it should be, averaging 138/88. Recently, I used a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, which showed that more than 50% of my daytime readings were above 140/90, while my nighttime readings averaged 118/82. I am still waiting to hear back from my doctor regarding the results of this test, but I wanted to get your thoughts. Should I be on some other type of medication? Should I alter the timing to get better daytime readings? -- E.T.

ANSWER: In my opinion, these readings are not ideal. Twenty-four-hour, ambulatory blood pressure readings are usually 5 to 10 points lower than office blood pressure readings, so your average daytime readings are correspondingly higher. There is strong evidence that in people at high risk for heart attack (such as those who are already known to have blockages), controlling blood pressure to an average of less than 120 systolic (the first or top number) and less than 70 diastolic (the second or bottom number) reduces risk. It’s not as clear for people who are at a lower risk, such as people who have high blood pressure without any additional risks. In my own practice, however, I will usually try to get my patients close to those optimal numbers, as long as the medication does not cause side effects. In a situation like yours, I would consider additional daytime medicine. More verapamil might be reasonable, but many doctors might use a different medication, such as a diuretic, in the morning to try to get the optimal blood pressure with less risk of side effects. Very often, the choice of blood pressure medication depends on any other medical issues a person may have. Only your doctor knows enough about your medical condition to make a personalized recommendation.

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Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

© 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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WHAT’S YOUR ADVANCE CARE PLAN?

(NAPSI) — No matter your stage of life, it’s always a good idea to have a long-range care plan in place.A good way to begin is to talk candidly with your family and friends. By starting the conversation, you can express your views on treatment, relay your care preferences and communicate who will make decisions on your behalf. This process of advance-care planning can help ensure your wishes are carried out and bring peace of mind to those you love.

Build your advance care plan

• Durable financial power of attorney: This document authorizes a person to make legal or financial decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.

• Durable healthcare power of attorney: This document authorizes a person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

• Advance-care directive: This document specifies how you receive care in the event you are unable to make those decisions on your own.

• Long-term care insurance: This is an insurance product that pays for long-term care services in a variety of settings.

Documents and requirements may differ by state. Please consult a legal or financial advisor to ensure use of the correct forms.

Make the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) part of your plan

As you make plans for the future, consider the potential need for long-term care and the effect it could have on you and your family.

Long-term care is the ongoing aid you need if you can no longer perform everyday tasks by yourself due to chronic illness, injury, disability, or the aging process. This type of care is expensive but there’s a way to get help paying for it.

Applying for long-term care insurance coverage under the FLTCIP may be a smart choice for you. The FLTCIP is designed to reimburse for qualified long-term care services and can help lessen or eliminate your reliance on a loved one to provide hands-on care.

The FLTCIP offers you a choice of caregivers. Informal care provided by friends and family members is covered, as long as the caregiver isn’t your spouse or domestic partner and doesn’t live in your home at the time you become eligible for benefits. (Benefits for care provided by family members is limited to 500 days.)

Care provided in an assisted-living facility, an adult daycare, or a nursing home is also covered. If home care is your preference, the stay-at-home benefit includes a range of services that support care in your home, helping you maintain your quality of life in familiar surroundings.

Taking

The FLTCIP is sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, insured by John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, and administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC. To learn more about the comprehensive benefits and features, call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) TTY 1-800-843-3557 or visit LTCFEDS.com.

Stock Up On Healthful Food

(NAPSI) — During these challenging times, people are avoiding the supermarket and, instead, stocking up on shelf-stable and frozen foods. Unfortunately, these can often be loaded with preservatives and lack nutrition. Many families also resort to take-out foods that can be high in sodium, hydrogenated fats and refined sugars.

“The best solution is to find healthy, prepared products that can be purchased in bulk at the supermarket, online and delivered to your doorstep,” advises consumer trends expert Merilee Kern.

One of Kern’s personal favorites is Veggies Made Great, which offers easy, familyfriendly and delicious veggie-rich meals and snacks such as muffins, frittatas and veggie cakes. They can fill freezers and keep families healthy—even during stressful times.

Vegetables including carrots, zucchini and kale are the first and primary ingredients in any Veggies Made Great item, and all are free of gluten, soy, peanuts and dairy. Available in the freezer section, each is individually wrapped and can be quickly and easily heated in the oven or microwave. It’s an easy and tasty way to have veggiedriven nutrition on the menu every day.

You can find them at www.TheHealthfoodStore.com and locate retailers at www.VeggiesMadeGreat.com.

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Did You Know?

Animals verbalize in many different ways to communicate. One thing cat owners may notice is that cats have a tendency to meow as a form of speaking with humans. However, according to the North Shore Animal League America, cats almost never meow at other cats, as meowing is a sound generally reserved for interacting with humans. Cat owners should talk back to their cats often, as cats enjoy hearing their own names and their owners’ voices.

PAW’S CORNER

By Sam Mazzotta

Cat reacts to Thunderstorms

Cocoa is the sweetest girl who just had a litter of 6 beautiful puppies.

Send us a photo and brief write-up of your pet and we’ll feature it. Email to: sales@gvpennysaver.com or mail to: P.O. Box 340, Avon, NY 14414. Pets will be published at discretion of GVPS.

Help Reduce Animal Overpopulation

One of the easiest ways to prevent pet overpopulation is to spay and neuter animals. Cats can reproduce at very fast rates. According to the Cat Rescue, Adoption & Foster Team of Central Oregon, two uncontrolled breeding cats can create the following situation if they have two litters a year at a survival rate of 2.8 kittens per litter: 12 cats in the first year, 66 cats in the second year, and 2,201 cats in the third year. Cats reach puberty between 4 and 12 months of age. Female cats reproduce between January and September, and might come back into “heat” every 14 to 21 days until they have bred or daylight decreases considerably. Cats can give birth 60 days after they have bred.

How to protect your pets

from extreme heat

Change pet’s exercise regimen. Pet owners who make sure their pets get daily exercise should change such routines when temperatures are on the rise. Midday walks or jogs should be switched to evenings or early mornings, when temperatures tend to be at their most moderate. In addition, cut back on the time spent exercising, as pets may have trouble breathing on hot days. When taking your dog for a jog or a run in the summertime, do so on the grass, avoiding asphalt, as hot asphalt can do significant damage to your pet’s paws.

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Yesterday, we had a pretty big thunderstorm roll through. My 8-year-old cat, Sphinx, is normally never afraid of anything. But for the rst time, he hid underneath the sofa, and even a er the storm passed he stayed underneath the co ee table and wouldn’t come out. Why would he suddenly be afraid when he wasn’t before? --

Claire A., Utica, New York

DEAR CLAIRE: A sudden change in behavior may warrant a trip to the veterinarian. is can rule out any physical causes for the change in behavior, such as a silent infection or a chronic condition.

Cats may seem aloof and resilient to us, but they are actually creatures of habit -- much more so than dogs, who thrive on applied structure, like walks at the same time each day. Cats develop their own daily routine: when they eat and drink, when they “patrol” the house, where they sleep at di erent times of the day.

Any change in that routine can be very upsetting to them, but most still won’t let you know it. (Some will -- they might turn their back on you, meow incessantly, or even, when deeply aggrieved, leave a special present right where you can nd it.)

Observe Sphinx as much as you can, and think about any changes to the home. Did you recently rearrange furniture or install new ooring? Did a family member leave or did a new person move in?

To reduce his anxiety, spend more time playing with Sphinx. When a storm rolls in, place one of your favorite old shirts next to him wherever he is hiding. Speak to him calmly during the storm. If his anxiety doesn’t improve, or begins to get worse, talk to his veterinarian about temporarily giving him anti-anxiety medication.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Banish Mosquitoes From Your Yard

Inspect property for hidden pockets of water. While bird baths, pet bowls and kiddie pools are easy to find, homeowners may be unknowingly hosting mosquito breeding grounds elsewhere on their properties. For example,tarpsusedtocoverpools,automobilesorgrillsthatarenottightly secured can fold up, creating pockets where rain water can collect and give mosquitoes somewhere to breed. Mosquitoes also may use gutters to breed, so homeowners should routinely inspect and clean their gutters during spring and summer.

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THE TYPE OF LODGING ACCOMMODATION

Hotel: Hotels cater to people who will be staying a few nights. They often feature spacious lobbies and some amenities, such as swimming pools or exercise rooms. Some hotels have restaurants attached to them. Hotels are among the most popular accommodations. According to the travel resource Dauntless Jaunter, hotels are categorized according to a “star” rating system.

· 1-star: This is a bare essentials hotel that offers just the basics with no extra bells and whistles.

· 2-star: A two-star hotel is usually reasonably priced and has minimal services and amenities and a neutral decor.

· 3-star: This hotel is meant to offer an above-average stay as far as options and amenities. Modern conveniences can be expected at three-star properties.

· 4-and 5-star: These hotels offer deluxe service and guests can expect luxury amenities and a wide range of offerings at these properties. However, they also can expect to pay more for accommodations.

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