In June I had some blood tests done that showed that I have some health issues I need to work on. High blood pressure is the big one, but some probs with cholesterol too. I am going to note my progress. First, the data.
Blood pressure in the 150 range.
tests on 6/19:
cholesterol: 190 (desirable range 100-199, lower is better)
HDL cholesterol: 37 (desirable range 40-59, higher is better)
LDL cholesterol: 111 (desirable range 60-129, lower is better)
triglycerides: 209 (desirable range 1-149)
The doctor, a Russian, Dr. Elena Andrews, got me going on hydrochlorothiazide, once a day plus a baby aspirin at night. She said to reduce carbohydrate intake to lower trig. and raise HDL. Also exercise 30-60 min daily.
Well, I have totally failed at these. I do not pay any attention to carbohydrate intake, and exercise-- well I have tried to do some, but it is more like once a week than once a day. So I definitely need some changes in my routine. I doubt whether the Qi Gung exercise in the morning counts for anything, as it is barely aerobic.
Dr Andrews had told me she was leaving for Miami, so I started with another doctor this week, Dr. Sam Weir. He stressed the need for exercise, after telling me I have a 20% chance of dying within the next ten years. Exercise and a glass of red wine daily are good to bring down the HDL. I can't drink wine, so it will have to be Exercise! My BP has come down to the 130-40 range, so that medicine is working. Maybe if I get on a good aerobic routine it will help the BP too and I might be able to stop taking that medicine. My weight is now 176, which is down about 10 pounds from a year ago.
Diet is the way to attack the cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. The doctor recommend the
DASH diet.
I have about 4 months to resolve this, January some time, then I am to go back and get blood tests redone. If I do it, then it is just a matter of continuing, if not -- then it's medication. I do not like to think of myself bound to a regimen of meds for the rest of my life. I suppose no one does. So I decided to write this all up and post it, as a way to help keep myself motivated.
I also want to learn how to work this blog, like can I set up a spreadsheet or table of some kind to track my progress?
