Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa Doctor - Hypertension: Detecting the Silent Killer - Part 2

Hypertension: Detecting the Silent Killer - Part 2

Last week I discussed the mechanics of hypertension, or high blood pressure, including the additional risks it confers to patients with this condition.  People with high blood pressure are at increased risk of having a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure.  About 25% of Americans have hypertension, and only about a quarter of them have it under control.

Normal blood pressure is anything less than 120 over anything less than 80 (120/80).  Prehypertension is when pressures run 121 to 139 over 81-89.  If you are diagnosed with prehypertension, you have about a 50% chance of developing hypertension and cardiovascular complications.  However, multiple studies have shown that medications to lower blood pressure are not beneficial for folks with prehypertension.

The formal diagnosis of hypertension is made with blood pressure of 140 or greater over 90 or greater (140/90) and this is even more concerning as pressures approach 160 over 100.  Most people have primary or "essential" hypertension, the cause of which is typically unknown.  A minority of people experience hypertension caused by an endocrine disorder or kidney abnormality that is potentially treatable; this is termed "secondary" hypertension.  We screen for this at diagnosis.

          Treatment of hypertension usually begins with lifestyle changes. Making these lifestyle changes involves little or no risk and is also a good idea for people with prehypertension. Recommended changes often include:

·       Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, especially by limiting packaged, frozen, and processed foods and be wary of the amount of salt in restaurant foods

·       Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

·       Eat more fruits and vegetables, more fish, and more fiber

·       Avoid drinking more than two alcoholic beverages daily (1-2 drinks daily appears to benefit the heart in patients over 40)

·       Avoid excess caffeine - limit yourself to two caffeinated drinks daily

·       Stop smoking

·       Exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week

When these lifestyle changes are not enough, we often recommend beginning medication for hypertension.  There are many different medications available that work by different mechanisms; we try to individualize treatment based on a person's other risk factors, diseases, age, and the severity of their hypertension.

References:
Blog: https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbogard/
https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
News: https://hype.news/dr-matthew-bogard/
News: https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4

*** Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa doctor, is an emergency medicine doctor primarily at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Presently, he is Board Certified in Family Medicine by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa Doctor - Colorectal cancer is easy to treat if caught early

Colorectal cancer is easy to treat if caught early

I visited this topic back in November but it is important enough to review as March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month.  Among cancers that affect both men and women, it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 142,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year and 50,000 people in this country will die from it.  The risks of getting colon cancer increase with age; more than 90% of cases are in patients 50 or older.

Colorectal cancer, more commonly called colon cancer, is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth arising in the last few feet of one’s bowels.  Almost all colon cancers develop over multiple years. Initially, they are slow growing and easy to treat “precancers” called adenomas or adenomatous polyps.  If not treated, this abnormal growth will invade the bowel and can erode completely through the colon while continuing to enlarge.

Risk factors for colon cancer include a family history of colon cancer in other relatives, diets low in fiber and whole grains and high in fats, and heavy alcohol intake, any smoking, and lack of exercise. 

Everyone should be screened for colon cancer beginning at age 50, although possibly sooner if you have a family history. The most accurate way of screening is through colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a procedure where a doctor uses a very small camera to look at the insides of the colon.  If any polyps are found during colonoscopy, they are removed and sent to the laboratory for analysis.  The colonoscopy should be repeated every ten years until about age 80, although it may be recommended to repeat sooner.

In recent years, fewer patients nationwide are getting appropriate colon cancer screening.   The best way to make sure you are not one of the 142,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the next year is to be sure to undergo proper colon cancer screening.  If you are age 50 or older and have not had a colonoscopy within the last ten years you should talk to your doctor about scheduling one soon. 

*** Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa doctor, is an emergency medicine doctor primarily at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Presently, he is Board Certified in Family Medicine by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

References:

 
Blog: https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbogard/
https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
News: https://hype.news/dr-matthew-bogard/
News: https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4