Revenge of the Curves

Ask Dr. Kasongo: I recently discovered that my blood pressure is high. When should I see a doctor?

Q:  Usually, I have low to normal blood pressure, but I recently discovered my blood pressure was high during an annual fitness test at my gym at work. I went to the nurse and she confirmed it and suggested that I come back twice a week to keep a record. At what point should I see a doctor?

Dr. Kasongo: Not to be an alarmist, but the short answer is: now. Blood pressure really measure the strength of your blood as it passes through your vessels.  Normal blood pressure is 120/80. Anything between this and 140/90, puts you at risk for high blood pressure, but life-style modifications like a decrease in salt intake and exercise can be helpful. Any pressure that is consistently over 140/90, makes you hypertensive and this is serious.

High blood pressure or hypertension is known as a silent killer because you can go years without symptoms and without knowing the havoc it is wreaking on your body. Hypertension can lead to kidney disease (dialysis, blindness, strokes and heart attacks.) Risk factors for high blood pressure include smoking, unhealthy eating habits, high cholesterol, and lack of physical activity. There are other risk factors that are out of your control, including your gender (male), age, and race (Black). High blood pressure can also run in your family, passing from generation to generation. About 70 million Americans suffer from hypertension, but about 40% of the adult Black population suffer from this while the about 25% of the White population are affected. The reasons aren't quite clear but are probably linked to diet and acces to health care.

Whatever the risk factors, high blood pressure can and should be managed with lifestyle changes and possibly with medications.

 

Mana Kasongo, MD is a board-certified emergency physician as well as a nationally published writer with expertise in emergency health care issues and women's health.  Email her at Dr.Kasongo@revengeofthecurves.com with your women's health questions.  All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential and your name will not be used if your question is selected.  The Ask Dr. Kasongo column is for entertainment purposes only and the recommendations are merely suggestions.   If you have a true concern you should consult your personal physician. 

Ask Dr. Kasongo: "Osteoporosis runs in my family. Should I take calcium in addition to my multi-vitamin?"

Q:  Osteoporosis runs in my family. Should I take calcium in addition to my multi-vitamin?

Dr. Kasongo: Calcium is an important nutrient and is needed for many of the body’s functions, including blood clotting and the proper function of the heart, muscles, and nerves. Calcium is also critical for the health and strength of bones. Not getting enough calcium can contribute to the development of  osteoporosis.  Bones and teeth contain 99% of the body's total calcium. Bones act as reservoirs for calcium that the body can use, if enough calcium is not taken in,  the body takes it from bone which leads to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can lead to, among other problems,  easily broken bones, particularly in older women.

The amount of calcium you need really depends on your age, but in general, the average adult needs about 1000mg a day. Most  vitamins don't have more than 200mg, so you should compliment this with either diet and/or a supplement. However,There are some specially formulated vitamins that are targeted to women with a higher level of calcium, like One A Day Women. Foods high in calcium include dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt. 

 

Mana Kasongo, MD is a board-certified emergency physician as well as a nationally published writer with expertise in emergency health care issues and women's health.  Email her at Dr.Kasongo@revengeofthecurves.com with your women's health questions.  All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential and your name will not be used if your question is selected.  The Ask Dr. Kasongo column is for entertainment purposes only and the recommendations are merely suggestions.   If you have a true concern you should consult your personal physician. 

Ask Dr. Kasongo: "I'm 37. Should I wait to get a mammogram?"

Q: It seems that there are many people who are getting breast cancer in their 30s.  I'm 37 and the suggested age for a mammogram is 40. Should I wait to get a mammogram?

Dr. Kasongo: This is a great question and one that I have written on extensively. Yes, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) you should get your first mammogram at age 40. However, the ACS have recently refined their guidelines and stated that any woman considered "high risk" should start get a mammogram and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by age 30. Women who are considered high risk have a 20-25% risk of developing the disease over their lifetime, while the average woman has a risk of 12% of developing the disease.

Women considered high risk include: Women who are first degrees relatives (parents, sibling, child) of women who carry genetic mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, women who have had breast cancer  previously, women with first degree relatives who developed the disease prior to menopause, and women who have received radiation therapy between ages 10-30 for previous cancers. To view the guidelines you can go check the American Cancer Society or you can check out my article Battling Breast Cancer in Real Health magazine's August 2007 issue.

Mana Kasongo, MD is a board-certified emergency physician as well as a nationally published writer with expertise in emergency health care issues and women's health.  Email her at Dr.Kasongo@revengeofthecurves.com with your women's health questions.  All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential and your name will not be used if your question is selected.  The Ask Dr. Kasongo column is for entertainment purposes only and the recommendations are merely suggestions.   If you have a true concern you should consult your personal physician. 

 

Ask Dr. Kasongo: What is a healthy amount of weight to lose per week?

Q: What is a healthy amount of weight to lose per week?

Dr. Kasongo: Most medical experts say, in general,  that it is healthy and realistic to lose about 1 pound a week, and this can be achieved by cutting out 500 calories from your diet every day,  give or take some calories to account for metabolism and genetics. You can lose up to 2  pounds a week if you add exercise 3-4 times  a week. Also by exercising and calorie-cutting, you ensure that you are primarily losing fat and not muscle. Some athletes have been known to lose as much as 4 pounds a week but that also includes muscle loss. It really isn't possible to lose weight any faster without dehydrating yourself or causing other health problems.

To help with your weight loss, consider using a calorie journal and getting a sense of how much you eat. There are numerous websites that are helpful in this way, but my favorite is My Calorie Counter.

 

Mana Kasongo, MD is a board-certified emergency physician as well as a nationally published writer with expertise in emergency health care issues and women's health.  Email her at Dr.Kasongo@revengeofthecurves.com with your women's health questions.  All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential and your name will not be used if your question is selected.  The Ask Dr. Kasongo column is for entertainment purposes only and the recommendations are merely suggestions.   If you have a true concern you should consult your personal physician. 

*Editor's note: Dr. Kasongo's column normally appears on Thursdays.  Look for her next column on July 24.