| High Blood Pressure And YouDid you know that | | | | study took place in Italy with 1000 children aged |
| nearly two thirds, yes 66% of Americans under | | | | 3-5 years old. It found that 1/3 of all children who |
| sixty have or are on the verge of high blood | | | | used pacifiers or sucked their thumb had |
| pressure and at least 1/3 do not know it. Having | | | | malocclussion, where the teeth did not line up |
| this "silent killer" not only increases there risk of | | | | properly. 89% of had an open bite, where the |
| heart disease or stroke but puts them in a higher | | | | front teeth do not meet. Whereas only 11% of |
| risk category for hospitalization and death | | | | those with an open bite were breast fed.This |
| according to a recent study.There are new | | | | study took place when the children were 3-5 |
| guidelines for high blood pressure that have been | | | | years old and based on information about how |
| agreed upon over the last several years and you | | | | they were fed and the use of pacifiers or |
| need to know about them. First the new | | | | thumbs. It also is based on the 1st set of teeth - |
| guidelines are that normal blood pressure is when | | | | the baby teeth. It is felt by the researchers that |
| the systolic ( top number) is 119 or lower and the | | | | the pattern for the teeth is set by how the 1st |
| bottom number is 79 or less. In the recent past | | | | set is treated. |
| we felt that abnormal blood pressure was | | | | Dr Bob's Take: although this may have quite a bit |
| anything that was 140 or above over 90 or | | | | of significance for our children's future and their |
| above. Now, people who have this are definitely | | | | biting and chewing abilities I don't see many of us |
| hypertensive or have high blood pressure.When | | | | changing what we are doing or what we have |
| the reading is 120 - 139 for the systolic and / or | | | | done. But, you know the orthodontists will |
| 80 - 89 for the diastolic we are to be considered | | | | continue to flourish.Prescription Tablet |
| "pre- hypertension. Each of needs to know what | | | | SplittingSome of you may have remembered the |
| our blood pressure reading is, so don't be shy, ask | | | | articles in the papers about 3 years ago when it |
| your doctor. | | | | was suggested by some health plans that |
| Also, it makes good sense that if your blood | | | | members cut their tablets in half with some |
| pressure is not normal get a blood pressure cuff | | | | medications. Well in Florida a pharmacist has noted |
| in the drug store and have your spouse, partner | | | | that with cholesterol lowering medication a savings |
| or children take it periodically and jot down the | | | | of about $850 could be saved per year by |
| numbers for your doctor. There is such a | | | | splitting the tablet. He goes on to say that this is |
| diagnosis of "white coat" syndrome" where blood | | | | one way to fight some of the escalation in prices |
| pressure rises when you go to the doctors | | | | for medications. It was found that with patients |
| office.Dr Bob's Take: It is so important to know | | | | of the Veterans Affairs Dept there was a savings |
| what your blood pressure is and if it is | | | | of $46 million when eligible patients split their |
| pre-hypertensive or in the category of high blood | | | | Zocor.Dr Bob's Take: before you go and do this |
| pressure (hypertensive) get it treated and you | | | | you first need to check with your doctor. Bring in |
| can make a dramatic difference in your | | | | a sample of the medication so he/she can judge |
| life.Anti-Oxidant UpdateLast month we talked | | | | whether or not it would be wise to split the |
| about Vitamin E and the potential for increasing | | | | tablet.Grape Juice and CholesterolYes, the studies |
| the risk for heart disease. Initially when the first | | | | are in, grape juice does have a positive effect on |
| studies came out about 10-15 years ago it was | | | | raising the HDL part of cholesterol. Dr Jane |
| felt that Vitamin E was going to be a panacea for | | | | Freedman, associate professor of Pharmacology |
| "preventing" heart disease.Well, there are more | | | | at Boston University studied a group of 17 men |
| studies that are being released which is showing | | | | and 3 women with a grant from Welch's. The |
| that the herbal remedies that are being touted as | | | | participants were 63 years old on average and |
| anti-oxidants are not proving very effective in | | | | were 2 weeks on the juice, off for 2 weeks than |
| preventing diseases like cancer. These are | | | | given a placebo (non-juice) for another 2 |
| substances like beta carotene, vitamin C, and | | | | weeks.The outcome showed that the grape juice |
| selenium. The researchers in France have been | | | | drinkers elevated their HDL on average from 45 |
| looking at this and have concluded that there may | | | | to 50mg, about a 10% rise. This group also |
| be a small benefit for men (none for women) but | | | | lowered a chemical in their system that shows |
| that the benefits can easily be derived by eating a | | | | the presence of inflammation in the blood vessels. |
| balanced diet. This study was recently reported in | | | | It is felt that yes grape juice can work like red |
| the November issue of Archives of Internal | | | | wine in humans. And for those who don't drink |
| Medicine.Dr Bob's Take: as an American I like you | | | | red wine there is an alternative. |
| are looking for the "holy grail" which in the US is | | | | With that good news I will close for this year and |
| "take a pill and cure it" is not the answer here. We | | | | talk with you again next year.Dr Bob is a Family |
| need to really eat right and exercise and this will | | | | Physician who has developed a website for |
| lead to a healthy "us".Pacifiers and Baby's TeethA | | | | common problems that we all have or encounter |
| study in the Archives of Disease in Children this | | | | at He has developed a unique newsletter which |
| month, shows that there is a difference in the | | | | deals with current and timely topics with a down |
| formation of "baby teeth" when a baby breast | | | | to earth interpretation of the latest findings for his |
| feeds or uses their thumb to suck or is given a | | | | readers. |
| pacifier during the first 3 months of their life. The | | | | |