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PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GERMS

-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

-Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

-Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or  
  sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

-If you have flu-like symptoms, call the clinic first and then follow the doctor's instructions.

Stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services yesterday confirmed 23 additional cases of swine flu on Guam, bringing the island's total to 84.

We typically determine blood pressure measurements with two numbers. The higher number, called the systolic pressure, represents the pressure in the artery when the heart beats. The lower number, called the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure when the heart is at rest. Healthy blood pressure is in the range of 120/80. As mentioned, ideal pressure is somewhat lower. A key to healthy blood pressure is the ratio between the two numbers. They should remain at a 3:2 ratio whatever the actual pressure may be.

If your blood pressure is “ideal,” congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. If it is higher or lower than ideal, don’t worry: Most blood pressure problems can be solved with the right approach. Let’s dissect the common problems with blood pressure and see what we can learn about possible solutions.

Systolic too high
A healthy systolic number is 120. This number represents how hard your heart must beat to get blood out to your body. If your arteries are stiff, inflexible, inflamed or too narrow your heart will have to beat harder and this will create a higher systolic number. The most common cause of a high systolic number is too much adrenaline and other stress-related hormones in the bloodstream. These hormones have the effect of artificially narrowing your arteries in a “fight or flight” stress response.

Stress-induced high blood pressure will usually be seen with a high systolic number and a normal diastolic number such as 150/80. We will often see this number normalize with just 20 minutes of deep breathing. Some people respond well to biofeedback and supplementation with:
Co-Q10, especially at bedtime to relax the heart
Vitamin C morning and evening to relax the blood vessels
Adaptogen 10 Plus morning and evening to help reduce the effects of stress

Both numbers too high
When both the systolic and diastolic numbers are high (160/110), the most common problem is inflammation leading to atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries.” This is a medical emergency; you should be under medical care as the disease has already progressed to the point where emergency measures are necessary. Dietary measures, such as the Dr. Dean Ornish “Reversing Heart Disease” diet, should be at the center of your self-care. Daily exercise, stress management and, very likely, medications will be needed to reverse this disease.

An anti-inflammatory lifestyle will be helpful. Include supplements such as:
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids from OmegaPrime at every meal to reduce inflammation
Vitamin C and Co-Q10 as suggested above
Betalains found in Nopalea can reduce inflammation in the blood vessels and help your body drain away the excess fluid associated with blood pressure
Achieving an optimal body fat percentage is also critical when caring for high blood pressure. The target body composition for men is 14% body fat; for women it is 23%. Remember, this type of high blood pressure is a medical emergency and it should be treated as such.

Diastolic too high
When the bottom number in your blood pressure reading is too high (120/90), but the systolic or top number is normal, it can mean that your lungs, kidneys and liver are not properly detoxifying your body.