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November 23 • 2017 33 jn Introducing the new Connect+ concealed Washlet ® connection kit. Comprised of a Connect+ Washlet and Connect+ toilet, the kit is specially designed to conceal the Washlet's power cord and supply hose for a seamless installation that will seamlessly blend into your bathroom décor. PEOPLE-FIRST INNOVATION™ totousa.com | 800-350-TOTO Products Shown | Carlyle ® II 1G ® Connect+ + t c e n n o C e 0 5 3 S t e l h s a W h t i w t e l i o T Sales & Showroom 1977 E. West Maple Rd. Walled Lake, MI 48390 P: (248) 669-7474 Sales 150 Parsons St. Detroit, MI 48201 P: (313) 831-7770 www.advanceplumbing.com Ask Dr. Vieder For more health information, visit the Ask Dr. Vieder page at LakesUrgentCare.com Dr. Sanford Vieder, DO, FACOEP, Medical Director at Lakes Urgent Care, West Bloomfi eld / Livonia Why are there now new guidelines on safe blood pressure? We have known for a long time that high blood pressure is a silent killer, often with no symptoms. New treatment guidelines were announced at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology on November 13, 2017. The new guidelines may impact up to 50% of our adult population and are based upon extensive research by a panel of scientifi c health experts. But there is still much work to be done within the medical fi eld to effectively roll out and apply these recommendations in the clinical setting. Proactively treating patients sooner will help reduce the risk of poor outcomes and complications associated with untreated hypertension. If you do not have a primary care physician, the physicians at Lakes Urgent Care can help with your initial assessment and direct your follow up care with a high- quality primary care provider. How often should a person have their blood pressure checked? Children, teenagers and young adults should get their blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years. Given the new guidelines, I recommend that this same group get their blood pressure checked at least once annually. As you age, your blood pressure is likely to increase and should be checked more often. If you have any type of underlying chronic illness, more frequent blood pressure checks are mandatory. Your blood pressure fl uctuates during the day, so when you start tracking your blood pressure, you should check it at different times of the day, about 5-6 times. If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension and are taking high blood pressure medication, your blood pressure measurements should coincide with your doses. The best time to check it is before you take your medication. Your primary care physi- cian should provide you with education and recommendations for a routine to check your own blood pressure and track those results in a blood pressure diary. What would you recommend as the most effective natural ways to lower blood pressure? If you smoke, quit. Add some form of regular exercise. Reduce your intake of sodium, alcohol, caffeine, added sugars and refi ned carbohydrates. Lose some weight. By reducing your body mass index (BMI) by just 5%, you could signifi cantly lower your blood pressure. Add calcium, magnesium and potassium rich foods, soy, dark chocolate or cocoa and fresh berries to your diet. Many nutritionists recommend whey protein, Co-Q-10, fi sh oil, Hibiscus, Berberine and aged garlic extract for their benefi cial effect on blood-pressure reduction. Add any type of stress reduction activities in addition to meditation. There is a well-known connection between daily stress associated with work, family or fi nancial diffi culties and its negative impact on our blood pressure. Developing effective stress management reduction skills will have a very powerful benefi cial impact on your general wellness and mental fi tness. Finally, sleep apnea (excessive snoring) has been directly linked to high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses. Lakes Urgent Care can help you set up a sleep study if you are unable to do so through your primary care physician.