| MEDICAL FAQs
How much calcium and vitamin
D do I need to help maintain healthy bones?
The first step you can take to help prevent osteoporosis,
or thinning of the bones, is to be sure you get enough calcium
and vitamin D. It is recommended that older adults get 1000
to 1500 mg/day of calcium and 400-800 IU/day of vitamin D.
Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D at an earlier age
may also help preserve bone density later on.
The best source of these building blocks is a well-balanced
diet; foods that are rich in calcium include dairy products,
dark green leafy vegetables, cereals and orange juice fortified
with calcium. You can get vitamin D from saltwater fish, egg
yolks as well as dairy and cereal products fortified with
vitamin D. If you cannot get enough calcium and vitamin D
from your diet, you may need to take dietary supplements to
reach the recommended amounts.
For more information about osteoporosis, contact the National
Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disease
National Resource Center at http://www.osteo.org
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Is it normal for blood pressure
to rise with age?
Hypertension, defined as blood pressure that measures 140/90
or higher, is more common in older adults. However, the normal
range is the same throughout adulthood, and there is no age
at which higher blood pressure readings are considered normal.
The bad news is that hypertension increases the risk of stroke,
heart disease and kidney disease. The good news is that blood
pressure can be reduced with lifestyle modifications and,
if necessary, with medication.
Losing as little as ten pounds can help lower blood pressure.
A diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables as well
as low-fat dairy products can begin to reduce blood pressure
within two weeks. Exercising regularly and avoiding excessive
alcohol use can also help. When lifestyle changes aren't enough,
medication may be needed. Due to advances in medical research,
most blood pressure medications can be well tolerated and
are taken only once a day.
For more information about hypertension, contact the American
Heart Association at http://www.americanheart.org/hbp
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Why is there an increase
in Diabetes in children?
Diabetes is caused by failure of the body to produce enough
insulin (type 1 Diabetes) or by failure of the body to use
insulin properly (type 2 Diabetes). In both types of diabetes,
the level of blood sugar can become too high. Over time, high
blood sugar can cause heart disease, stroke, kidney failure,
blindness and nerve damage.
Type 1 Diabetes usually starts in childhood or adolescence
and always requires insulin treatment, because the body does
not produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar under control.
Type 2 Diabetes usually starts later in life and can be treated
with diet, oral medication and-sometimes-insulin. In type
2 Diabetes, although insulin is produced, the body does not
utilize it properly.
Until recently, experts believed that only adults had type
2 Diabetes. However, due to inactivity and overweight in young
people, more children are being diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes.
Unlike type 1 Diabetes, many cases of type 2 Diabetes can
be prevented with proper diet, weight control and regular
exercise.
A healthy lifestyle should start in childhood. Children should
be encouraged to
· maintain normal body weight
· eat a healthy diet low in fat and rich in vegetables,
fruits and whole grains, and
· engage in regular physical activity-at least 30 minutes
of brisk walking, sports or active games, 3 or 4 times each
week
For more information, visit this website: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/index_cwd.htm
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The Lowdown on
High Cholesterol
What is cholesterol, and why is it important?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in our blood. The body normally
produces some cholesterol and the rest comes from foods that
are of animal origin, including meat, eggs, butter, cheese
and whole milk. Foods from plants, including fruits and vegetables,
contain no cholesterol.
What happens when cholesterol is high?
High levels of cholesterol cause fat to build up in the walls
of our arteries and, over time, the arteries become narrow
and hard. This can cause a reduction or a blockage of blood
flow to vital organs including the heart and brain. This can
increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Other risk factors
include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and family
history of heart disease before age 50.
What do the numbers mean?
Everyone age 20 and older should have cholesterol levels checked
with a blood test at least every 5 years. If you have other
risk factors, or if your levels are high, you should be checked
more often. The best test to have is a fasting lipid panel,
also known as a lipoprotein profile, which measures levels of:
- Total cholesterol-under 200 is desirable
- LDL (bad) cholesterol-the main cause of cholesterol buildup
and blockage of arteries-under 100 is optimal
- HDL (good) cholesterol-actually helps prevent cholesterol
buildup and blockage of arteries-under 40 is low
- Triglycerides-another type of fat in the blood that can
increase risk of heart attack and stroke-under 150 is desirable
How is high cholesterol treated?
The goal of treatment is to lower LDL and triglyceride levels
and to raise HDL levels. This will help reduce the risk of
heart attack and stroke. Treatment of high cholesterol always
begins with lifestyle changes.
The first step is to adopt an eating plan that is low in cholesterol
and saturated fat. This means fewer than 7% of calories from
saturated fat, and fewer than 200 mg of cholesterol daily.
Achieving ideal body weight is also important, since weight
control can help lower LDL and triglycerides, and raise HDL.
Regular physical activity such as walking or aerobics is also
important; experts recommend 30 minutes per day at least 4
days each week.
If lifestyle changes don't bring cholesterol levels into the
target range, medication may be needed. If so, it is important
to continue to eat properly and to exercise regularly. Several
types of cholesterol-lowering medications are available, and
your physician can recommend what's best for you.
Where can I get more information?
The following web sites provide up-to-date, reliable health
care information about the health risks of high cholesterol:
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd
www.healthfinder.gov
www.nutrition.gov
www.fitness.gov
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