7 Ways to Stop High Blood Pressure from Killing You

High blood pressure is called the "silent killer." Most people who have it do not feel sick and don't know that they have it. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure.

If you've ever tried to run water through a garden hose that's been hardened by age or gunked up with hard-water deposits, you know how hard it is to get a good water flow. Blood flow through your arteries works the same way. 

Stiff or blocked arteries can make your heart strain to push blood through all your blood vessels. The result is high blood pressure, which damages both your heart and your blood vessels. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits and taking medicines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 67 million Americans have high blood pressure and more than half do not have it under control. Almost 1 in 4 Americans with uncontrolled high blood pressure do not take their medication regularly.

A blood pressure reading can tell you whether you have high blood pressure. The reading uses two numbers, the systolic and dias­tolic pressures, written one above or before the other. A reading of:

• 120/80 or lower is normal· 
• 140/90 or higher is high blood pressure.
• 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number, is pre-hypertension.

If you have high blood pressure (consistently higher than 140/90) and see a conventional doctor, chances are pretty good that the doctor will tell you that you'll have to take drugs, probably for the rest of your life.

If you frequently feel stressed, angry or sad, you may be at higher risk of having a heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked each time you go to the doctor. And, talk to him or her if you cannot get your blood pressure under control.

Here are the 7 ways to stop high blood pressure from killing you:

1.   If your blood pressure is not where it should be, work in close partnership with your doctor to control it. Get your blood pressure checked regularly.

2.  Take all blood pressure medications as prescribed by your doctor.

3.  Request 90-day prescriptions for your blood pressure medication.

4.  Let your doctor know if you experience unwanted side effects from your blood pressure medication.

5.  Eat a healthy, low-salt diet and consume alcohol in moderation. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.

6.  Smoking can increase your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation plan for you.

7.   Identify causes of stress, then work to minimize or eliminate those things that cause stress for you.


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Is There a Difference Between Counseling or Therapy?

Counseling zeros in on real world, everyday problems which include such concerns as "I'm facing foreclosure. What should I do?" "My son is hanging out with the wrong crowd. What should I do?" "My boss is too demanding. What should I do?" "I think my husband is having an affair. What should I do?

Therapy is another option. It has the goal of helping you to develop competencies to deal with the world in which you live. It is not about telling you how to live. But, it will offer options to you that extend beyond your worldview and will result in a disruption of your usual, rigid, thinking patterns. 

These patterns are those which have created the stress you are experiencing and have limited your spontaneity and creativity.

The types of questions therapy tend to deal with are associated with thoughts, moods, and actions. When you have such concerns as: You feel as if you can't go it alone. You feel boxed in and as if there is nowhere else to turn. You are constantly worrying and never seem to find a solution. 
Moreover, it is affecting your sleep, eating, employment, and relationships. And, you have tried to change, but you are just not experiencing any improvement.

Effective therapy will engage you in an active educational process. It will go far beyond conversational therapy and actively guide, coach, model, and teach you how to solve problems, feel better, relate better, and achieve goals. Problems are solved when you make a determined effort to solve them. 

If you continue to feel, act, and think in a certain way, chances are you are choosing that way when you could actually find out how to change and, with help, make the special effort to change. 

I hope that this clarifies what I believe is a real distinction that has to be made. Let me know what you think. Need immediate help? Call (773) 614-3201. 

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Need a Therapist? Here are 6 Attributes to Look for

Clients are often referred to therapists by their employers' health service provider, their physician, their pediatrician, their lawyer, or other professionals with whom they may have a professional relationship.

However, it is important that the therapist has specific attributes that would allow for a productive professional relationship--a relationship that would be beneficial to you in your efforts to find solutions.

Also be prepared to talk with several therapists if necessary before choosing a therapist.

Here are some attributes that I think therapists should have:

1. Expertise in a given area and enough honesty to say when that expertise doesn't exist. Examples of mental health expertise can include such areas as depression, anxiety, manic-depressive, marital problems, and parent-child relationships.

2. Good listening and questioning attributes are important. Focused questions and careful listening is important to acquire an adequate understanding of your presenting problem. If the therapist draws conclusions too quickly, he or she may miss some key elements of your problem that must be addressed properly if the therapy is to be effective.

3. Working knowledge of multiple theoretical approaches and the ability to use these approaches when necessary. Some therapists makes the mistake of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

A behaviorist therapist may try to apply this theoretical orientation to every problem or a cognitive therapist may try to apply this theoretical orientation to every problem. This would be a disservice.

4. A theoretical approach or approaches that are culturally neutral - that is, can be applied cross-culturally. Such an approach must recognize that all human being beings have certain basic needs and have relationships of one type or another and problems often arise from pursuing unproductive ways of addressing these needs and having unhealthy relationships.


5. Freedom from pre-conceived notions and prejudices with regards to race, sex, or occupation.

6. And, the attitude that everyone has the capacity to change, but sometimes just need help by choosing the right therapist.In choosing a therapist look for these attributes. You will be more likely to find one that you can relate to and can provide you with the help you need.


Do you know any other attributes that you think a therapist should have?  Leave your comments below.