Page 8 - Sanger Herald 12-7-17 E-edition

SANGER HERALD 8A THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017
HealtH, Beauty & Fitness
When you get a prescription for antibiotics, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages patients and families to Be Anti- biotics Aware by learning about safe antibiotic use. Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people get infected with antibiotic- resistant bacteria. At least 23,000 die as a result.
Antibiotic resistance, one of the most urgent threats to the public’s health, occurs when bacteria devel- op the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.
What Do Antibiotics Treat?
Antibiotics are critical tools for treating a number of common infections, such as pneumonia, and for life-threatening conditions including sepsis. Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria.
What Don’t Antibiotics Treat?
Antibiotics do not work on virus- es, such as colds and flu, or runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow or green. Antibiotics also won’t help some common bacterial infections including most cases of bronchitis, many sinus infections, and some ear infections.
What Are The Side Effects of Antibiotics? Any time antibiotics are used,
they can cause side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics aren’t needed, they won’t help you, and the side effects could still hurt you. Com- mon side effects range from things like rashes and yeast infections to severe health problems. More seri- ous side effects include Clostridi-
um difficile infection (also called C. difficile or C. diff), which causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and death.
If you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Patients and families can talk to their health- care professional if they have any questions about their antibiotics, or if they develop side effects, espe- cially diarrhea, since that could be C. difficile, which needs to be treated.
Can I Feel Better Without Antibiotics? Patients and families can ask
their healthcare professional about the best way to feel better while their body fights off the virus. Respiratory viruses usually go away in a week or two without treatment.
How Can I Stay Healthy?
We can all stay healthy and keep others healthy by cleaning our hands, covering our coughs, stay- ing home when sick, and getting recommended vaccines, for the flu, for example.
Antibiotics save lives. When a patient needs antibiotics, the ben- efits outweigh the risks of side effects and antibiotic resistance. Improving the way we take anti- biotics helps keep us healthy now, helps fight antibiotic resistance, and ensures that life-saving anti- biotics will be available for future generations.
To learn more about antibiotic prescribing and use, visit www. cdc.gov/antibiotic-use.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and Ameri- can College of Cardiology recently announced new blood pressure guidelines that will change how high blood pressure is detected, prevented, managed and treated.
The big news? There’s a whole new de nition for what constitutes high blood pressure. It’s now considered any measure over 130/80 mm Hg, rather than the old de ni- tion of 140/90.
The guidelines classify blood pressure into different categories, eliminating the previous pre-hypertension category. They also recommend treatment based on risk factors such as family history, age, gender and race. Re-
gardless of your risk or blood pressure level, however, one thing is the same: Treating high blood pressure starts with lifestyle modi cations including healthy diet, regular exercise, limit or avoid drinking alcohol and nonsmoking.
To highlight the importance of keeping blood pres- sure under control, the AHA, along with the American Medical Association and the Ad Council, has launched a new campaign that encourages people to talk with their doctors, and visit LowerYourHBP.org for tools and re- sources to help manage blood pressure.
New De nitions And Classi cations
Normal: If your blood pressure is less than 120/80, it’s
Antibiotics Aren’t Always The Answer CDC Urges Public To Be Antibiotics Aware
New Guidelines Mean More Americans Have High Blood Pressure—You Could Be One Of Them
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You might not see or feel its symptoms, but the results—a heart attack or stroke—are far from invisible or silent. Go to LowerYourHBP.org before it’s too late.
considered normal and should be checked at least once per year. You still need to take care of yourself to help prevent hypertension or make it easier to control in the future, as blood pressure can rise as you age. Those with other risk factors for heart disease or stroke should pe- riodically check blood pressure to ensure their numbers stay healthy. High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, so people with uncontrolled high blood pres- sure might feel ne and think they’re OK.
Elevated: When your blood pressure’s top number is 120–129 while the bottom number is less than 80, it’s considered elevated and you need to take action to pre- serve your heart and brain health. Lifestyle changes are suggested with a blood pressure re-evaluation in three to six months. Partnering with your doctor to create a treatment plan you can stick to lowers your risk for se- rious health consequences.
Stage 1: This occurs when your top blood pressure number is 130–139 OR your bottom 80–89. If you’re oth- erwise healthy, the guidelines suggest making healthy lifestyle changes and re-evaluating in three to six months. If you have other risks for cardiovascular dis- ease, you may need lifestyle changes plus medication. Your doctor can use a “risk calculator” to tell you your risk level. Then, you would re-evaluate every month un- til your numbers are controlled.
Stage 2: This is when your blood pressure is at least 140/90. At this level, the new guidelines recommend you be evaluated by your primary care provider within one month of your diagnosis. Two types of medication as well as lifestyle changes with a monthly re-evaluation of your numbers are recommended because the risk of heart attack or stroke is higher.
Hypertensive crisis: If your blood pressure is greater than 180/120, you need to act swiftly to bring it down. This is a hypertensive “crisis” and you should consult your doctor immediately. Quick management is impor- tant to reduce the risk of organ damage.
No matter where you t within the new blood pres- sure guidelines, talk to your doctor to determine your risk and treatment. It’s smart to check your pressure regularly and stay in touch with your doctor for the best way to handle any changes.
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