by Amy Mullins, PhD, RDN | Apr 10, 2013
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Check your blood pressure regularly to monitor hypertension.
For World Health Day on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) chose to highlight high blood pressure as a major public health concern. This chronic disease is responsible for increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 68 million (1 in 3 adults) in the United States have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Because many people show no signs or symptoms of the disease, hypertension is known as a “silent killer” because people often don’t realize they have it.
Having your blood pressure checked regularly is the only way to know if you have a problem. Checking your blood pressure is easy. Your doctor will do this during regular visits, or you can find an automatic blood pressure machine at most pharmacies and major grocery stores. Do you know what your numbers should look like?
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Blood Pressure Levels
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Normal
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Systolic: less than 120 mmHg
Diastolic: less than 80 mmHg
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At risk (pre-hypertension)
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Systolic: 120–139 mmHg
Diastolic: 80–89 mmHg
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High
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Systolic: 140 mmHg or higher
Diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher
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What Can You Do?
Many factors can influence your blood pressure, which is defined as the force of blood against your artery walls during circulation. Although hypertension risk can be hereditary and tends to increase as we get older, many other factors can be controlled to reduce your risk of developing the disease. The CDC identifies the use of tobacco or alcohol, as well as being overweight, not getting enough daily physical activity, and excessive dietary sodium as controllable risk-factors.
- Take action to manage your weight by reducing excess calories, fat, and sugar.
- Increase your physical activity everyday, even if it is just walking 30 minutes a day.
- If you smoke, stop now.
- If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation.
- Reduce your sodium intake.
Most sodium in the American diet comes from salt added during food processing. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010) recommends reducing daily sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) for adults, and to no more than 1,500 mg for persons over the age of 51, African Americans, or those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Americans can reduce their sodium consumption in several ways:
- Read the Nutrition Facts label for the sodium content of purchased products and look for lower sodium options.
- Consume more fresh foods and fewer processed foods, such as canned soups, cured meats, condiments, and prepackaged meals.
- Eat more home-prepared meals, where you have more control over added salt. Don’t use seasonings that contain sodium.
- When dining out, ask that salt not be added or choose lower-sodium options, if available.
Don’t wait. Check your blood pressure today and talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your risk for developing chronic hypertension. For more information about lifestyle changes and hypertension, click here. For information on reading labels and ideas on how to cook with less sodium, click here.
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References:
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, High Blood Pressure. http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/index.htm
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010. http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov
Linda B. Bobroff, PhD, RD, LD/N, professor and Extension nutrition specialist; Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; , Nutrition for Health and Fitness: Sodium in Your Diet. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; University of Florida, September 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he696
by Kristin Jackson | Apr 3, 2013
Could this be one of the germiest places in your home?
In 2011, NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, conducted a study with 22 families and analyzed 30 items in their homes. One item that disappointingly made NSF International’s list of the “Top Ten Germiest Places in the Home” was the coffee reservoir. This could be sad news for the approximately 239 million individuals, or 83 percent of American adults, who drank coffee in the US in 2012 (National Coffee Association).
Perk up, coffee drinkers. The good news is the solution is easy: simply clean your coffee maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions and then sanitize. Cleaning will wash/wipe away many bacteria, but sanitizing, according to the National Restaurant Association, is the process of reducing the number of microorganisms that are on a properly cleaned surface to a safe level.
You can sanitize your coffee maker using vinegar. Vinegar can be an effective sanitizing agent for your coffee maker if:
- you use white distilled vinegar (at least 5% acidity).
- the vinegar remains undiluted.
- you heat the vinegar to 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius.
- you leave the heated vinegar on the surface for at least one minute.
Once the vinegar has remained in the coffee reservoir for at least one minute, you can run the vinegar through the coffee maker. In order to remove the vinegar odor and taste, you may want to follow with a few cycles of clean water. Remember, the water must be clean and you should air dry the reservoir or use a clean paper towel to dry.
Now that you know how simple the process is, you are probably wondering how frequently you should take on the task. According to the National Restaurant Association, you should you sanitize:
- after each use
- anytime as necessary
- after 4 hours in use
So now you see how simple it is to keep the coffee maker from being one of the germiest places in your home. To find out other ways to clean and sanitize your kitchen, visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY128000.pdf and read Cleaning and Sanitizing the Kitchen: Using Inexpensive Household Food-safe Products. If you have any additional questions or concerns, you can contact your local Family and Consumer Sciences Agent (http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/ ).
References:
NSF International (2004). Top Ten Germiest Places in the Home. Retrieved 26 March 2013 from http://www.nsf.org/consumer/newsroom/fact_top10_germiest_places.asp
ServSafe Essentials 6th Edition. 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0133075687
Janet Buffer, Lydia Medeiros, Mary Schroeder, Patricia Kendall, Jeff LeJeune, and John Sofos; adapted by Amy Simonne for use in Florida with permission. FCS8 OH 2010. Cleaning and Sanitizing the Kitchen: Using Inexpensive Household Food-safe Products. Retrieved 26 March 2013 from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY128000.pdf
Yang, H., Kendall, P., Medeiros, L., Sofos, J. (2009) Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella Typhimurium with compounds available in households. J. Food Prot. 72(6); 1201-1208
by Bill Mahan | Feb 4, 2013
Years ago when I adopted my first cats, my veterinarian told me that unlike dogs, cats do not get heartworms, so I didn’t need to give my cats any preventive medicine for them.
However, fast forward about 20 years and now veterinarians know that cats, too, can become infected with heartworm. In fact, recently, the number of feline heartworm cases was thought to be on the decline. However, over the past few years, the number of feline heartworm infections seems to be increasing. The jury is still out on if the increase in the number of cases is the result of an increased number of infections, or if veterinarians have become better at diagnosing heartworm in cats as they have learned more about the problem.
So what is heartworm? According to a recent report in the November 2012 issue of “Catnip,” a newsletter published by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, heartworm is caused by an infection of a parasitic worm named Dirfilia immitis. As it turns out, the disease is most commonly found in warm, muggy climates that are inhabited by mosquitoes that carry the heartworm larvae. As the mosquito flies from one animal to another, it bites and transfers the larvae to the animal, infecting it. The larva then develops and matures over a period of several months into worms that can grow to be nearly a foot long.
Eventually, the worms take up residence in the cat’s pulmonary arteries; these are the blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart to the lungs. In an advanced heartworm infection, the mature worms usually cause damage to the walls of the pulmonary arteries and also slow down the blood flow. This can cause abnormal strain on the cat’s heart with potentially fatal results.
Just like in dogs, heartworm is difficult to treat in cats and the treatment can be fatal. However, heartworm can be prevented. The key to prevention is to provide your cat year-round protection by giving them preventive medications such as selamectin, milbermycin, or ivermectin to all the cats you own. This is very important in our area because of our mosquito population.
If you have any questions about heartworms and your cat, please contact your local veterinarian for answers and advice. As always, before you give any kind of medication to your cat, check with your veterinarian for recommendations on the best products, dosage, and treatment schedule for your pet.
Wishing you, your family, and pets a Safe & Healthy 2013!!
References:
“Short Takes – Heartworm On the Rise,” in ‘Catnip, The Newsletter for Caring Cat Owners:’ written by Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. November 2012, Vol. 20, No. 11
(Bill Mahan is a FL Sea Grant Agent and Director of the Franklin UF-IFAS Extension Program. Contact him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UFIFASFranklinExtension?ref=hl, via e-mail at bmahan@ufl.edu, or at (850) 653-9337, 697-2112 x 360.)
by Bill Mahan | Dec 4, 2012
A
s a dog owner, I’ve always been told to not let your dog have chocolate because it is poisonous for them to eat. Well, a question that I’ve had for years is “How much chocolate can a dog eat before it has a health problem?”
My curiosity finally got the best of me (I must be a cat) and I decided to do some research on the topic of dogs and chocolate. I have to be honest: I was a bit surprised by the information I found.
The following information is from the November 2012 “Your Dog” newsletter written by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
As it turns out, it is not the chocolate that is the potential problem; it is a caffeine-like chemical found in chocolate called theobromine that is the troublemaker. Theobromine can cause symptoms in a dog that are similar to those we can experience during a major caffeine overdose. Symptoms include: agitation, hyper-excitation, and possible seizures.
However, as you can read in the table below, the size of your dog and the type of chocolate they get into are major factors in determining the impact of that “stolen” chocolate snack on your pet! For example, if you have a 30-pound dog and they “steal” an 8-ounce milk chocolate candy bar, they should be okay unless they are diabetic or have other health issues.
How Much Chocolate is Toxic?
| Dogs Weight |
Toxic Amount of Milk Chocolate |
Toxic Amount of Dark Chocolate |
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5 pounds
|
4 ounces
|
0.5 ounce
|
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10 pounds
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8 ounces
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1.0 ounce
|
|
20 pounds
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1.0 pound
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2.5 ounces
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30 pounds
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2.0 pounds
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3.25 ounces
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40 pounds
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2.5 pounds
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4.5 ounces
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50 pounds
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3.0 pounds
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5.5 ounces
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60 pounds
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4.0 pounds
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7.0 ounces
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70 pounds
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5.0 pounds
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8.5 ounces
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80 pounds
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6.0 pounds
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10.0 ounces
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|
100 pounds
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8.0 pounds
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13.0 ounces
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|
120 pounds
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10.0 pounds
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1 pound
|
On the other hand, if you have a small dog, that 8-ounce chocolate candy bar that went missing can be a real problem! In my case, my dog, Sienna, weighs 12 pounds and my daughter loves dark chocolate so I know there is going to be dark chocolate around the house. A few dark chocolate Kisses lying around where Sienna can get them could turn into a major problem!
So, be very careful if you have chocolate treats, especially dark chocolate, around the house and you have dogs “running” around!
Other potential problem foods for your dog include onions and garlic. Both of these foods can cause hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells) in your dog. As with chocolate, while it is better to keep these items out of your dog’s reach, your canine friend would need to eat a “large” amount of onion or garlic to become sick.
However, what you do need to be extremely careful about is making sure your dog never gets into any grapes or raisins, both of which are associated with kidney failure in dogs! Even just a few may be enough to make your dog ill.
As always, if you have any questions about your pets, contact your local veterinarian for answers.
References:
‘Your Dog – The Newsletter for caring dog owners.’ Written by Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University; November 2012, Vol. XVIII, Number 11.
by Dorothy C. Lee | Oct 24, 2012
What you don’t know can hurt you. “I didn’t know.” In these words lies the story of countless deaths and injuries in countless homes.
About one-half of the accidental deaths of children occur in the home— from falls, suffocation/choking, scalding, poisoning, and burning. Elderly persons, likewise, are subject to greater dangers because of infirmities and impaired faculties. Yet the concern about home accidents is not only for the very young or the very old. Accidents at home can strike people of all ages.
Every year, over two million poisonings are reported to Poison Control Centers across the country, and more than ninety percent of those happen in the home. The majority of non-fatal poisonings occur among children younger than six years, and poisoning is one of the leading causes of death among adults.
The medicine cabinet is a favorite attraction for curious young children. It is not enough to put poisons and certain types of medicines on high shelves because exploring children like to climb. Dangerous substances need to be locked up.
A significant number of children are being poisoned by consuming medicines brought into the home by grandparents or visitors. Poisonings also have occurred when youngsters have visited homes where no children live.
Substances which can cause accidental poisoning in children also are found outside the medicine cabinet. The list is a lengthy one—detergents, cleaning compounds, insect sprays, paint thinners, and antifreeze, just to name a few.
Children are not the only victims of accidental poisoning. Every year, there are numerous cases of men and women who poison themselves unintentionally. To help prevent a tragic accident in your home, follow safety-wise guidelines.
Keep household products separated. Take care that foods are not exposed and become contaminated when you use insect sprays, cleaning agents, and rodent poisons.
- Containers with flammable liquids should be clearly labeled.
- Flammable liquids such as gasoline should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place, not inside the home.
- Never pour flammable liquids down sinks or other drains.
- Store medicines and cleaning supplies in locked cabinets out of children’s reach.
The Centers for Disease Control report that about 12,000 children every year are victims of poisonous plants or berries they have ingested, or in some cases, just put into their mouths. Most persons are reasonably familiar with dangerous outdoor plants, such as poison ivy, oleander, or deadly nightshade, but what they do not know is even some of the most common houseplants can cause serious, even fatal reactions. For example, tea brewed from mistletoe berries is lethal and rhubarb leaves (not the stalks) contain oxalic acid, which can cause severe kidney damage.
One home safety issue that is not well-publicized regards pressurized containers. Pressurized containers have revolutionized packaging economy, but caution is necessary in their use. Never incinerate a pressurized container. The heat will cause the air inside to expand, which, in turn, may cause the container to burst. Read the warning message on the container to find out if the mixture is flammable. Keep pressurized containers away from children.
Keeping home safety in mind at all times can mean the difference between a happy home environment and a tragedy.
Note: See the following article for additional information on home safety and children, http://www.nanny.net/blog/9-most-common-household-poisons/
