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Reasons to Track Your Blood Pressure Readings a Part of a Weight Loss Regimen
A blood pressure monitor can be a very useful tool in virtually any weight loss program. The primary reason is the basic methods of weight loss, i.e. diet and exercise, can have significant effects on pressure within the arteries which can be beneficial or deleterious. Additionally, some of the frequently used weight loss drugs can also affect blood pressure.
Since it is common knowledge that high blood pressure or hypertension is more prevalent among individuals that are overweight, it is important to know if your arterial pressure is normal before beginning and during any type of weight loss program whether or not you have been previously diagnosed with hypertension.
Even though exercise over time can lower arterial pressure, acutely, and particularly during vigorous or strenuous exercise, arterial pressure increases and if it reaches a certain level can result in harmful consequences such as a heart attack or stroke from bleeding into the brain. There have been numerous accounts of individuals who have suddenly suffered cardiac arrests while vigorously exercising as part of a weight loss program.
The guidance and medical expertise of a physician is certainly recommended while participating in a weight loss program, but the arterial pressure data obtained during periodic office visits is oftentimes insufficient for optimal safe supervision. Evaluation by a doctor prior to starting a weight loss program certainly has its value, but a one time blood pressure office reading does not represent your average arterial pressure or your arterial pressure on different days under different circumstances.
Although 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is the gold standard for determining true arterial pressure throughout the day and night, it is not practical for routine use, especially on a continuous basis during efforts to lose weight because of the expense involved.
Medical authorities have recognized that home blood pressure monitoring with an accurate monitor is an acceptable alternative to ambulatory monitoring. Experts in the field of hypertension recommend performing three readings 1 minute apart and averaging them in the morning and performing three readings 1 minute apart and averaging them at night, but additional readings can be obtained at other times such as immediately before exercise, midway through an exercise session or if any bothersome symptoms such as dizziness or headache are experienced. The important thing is that the readings and symptoms be reported to your doctor.
Recording the readings in a free-standing blood pressure tracker or the graph section of a personal health record software program are excellent economical ways of tracking your blood pressure during your weight-loss program, but if you do not have budget constraints there are some automatic monitors which will perform three successive readings, average them for you, and upload the results to a computer onto tracker software that accompanies the monitor has been installed.
Arterial pressure tracking graphs can be extremely valuable in helping your healthcare professional supervise your weight-loss efforts from a safety standpoint, especially if you are being treated for hypertension and if changes need to be made in your medication based on blood pressure changes which occur during your weight-loss efforts.
Tracking graphs can also serve as motivation in your weight loss efforts if you record shows favorable blood pressure changes that correlate with weight loss. It is the old magic-like phenomenon of recording it and reviewing it that imprints it in your brain as positive feedback.
Since the dietary arm of a weight loss program, should include the reduction of fat, alcohol and salt, a drop in arterial pressure is likely to follow, because of the association between these substances and hypertension. Additionally, the weight loss which occurs with restriction of calories is also oftentimes associated with a decline in blood pressure.
Finally, one of the three FDA approved weight reduction drugs, Phentermine, and several of the over-the-counter appetite suppressant diet pills can cause elevations in arterial pressure which can result in serious adverse effects such as heart attack or stroke, depending on the degree of elevation. Although supervision by a doctor is strongly recommended if one of these medications is a part of your weight-loss program, performing daily blood pressure readings with a home blood pressure monitor and reporting any noteworthy changes to your doctor can be an added safety valve during your quest to lose weight.
In addition to improving the safety and possibly the effectiveness of your weight-loss program, home blood pressure monitoring can also help your healthcare provider more effectively control your blood pressure.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purpose only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. The author encourages users of the Internet to be careful when using medical information obtained from the Internet and to consult your physician if you are unsure about your medical condition.
About the Author
I understand the value of self involvement in your healthcare and the role it plays in improving outcomes including blood pressure control and weight management. Find the best blood pressure monitor for your needs and educate yourself on hypertension and safe weight loss resources.
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Body Tracker Body Fat Tracking Software with Picture Slideshow List Price: Sale Price: $17.40 You save: $7.59 (30%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours |
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Diet Tracker - The Missing Piece To Your Weight Loss Puzzle?
A good diet tracker can easily make all of the difference in your weight loss program. Let's check in with Jade and Kathy, two friends who both decide to start a diet on the same day. One chooses to use a diet tracking system and one doesn't.
Jade, who is getting married next month, wants to lose ten pounds before her wedding. She decides to follow a low-carb, calorie reduced diet to reach her goal. Her best friend, Kathy, who will be the maid of honor, also wants to lose ten pounds before the wedding. Kathy, wanting to support her best friend, agrees to follow the same diet as Jade.
Both girls have the same weight loss goals and are following the same diet, but Jade, who is busy with wedding plans and last minute details, decides to "guess-ti-mate" her daily calorie intake. After all, she has dieted before and she has a pretty good idea how much she can eat and still lose weight. She also has a fundamental understanding of the nutritional content of most foods. So Jade makes her eating decisions on the fly, trying to mentally follow her diet throughout the course of her busy days.
Kathy, on the other hand, knows that she cannot trust her own instincts when it comes to dieting. She has learned through dismal experience that she often eats larger portions than she is willing to admit, and frequently discounts the true calorie content of most foods.
Because she so desperately wants to look good for Jade's wedding, Kathy decides to add a safety net to her diet. Knowing she isn't always honest with herself, Kathy starts keeping a diet journal. She weighs and measures everything she eats, making sure she is eating the correct portion amounts. Using a pocket calorie guide, Kathy also researches the caloric values of her food, and records the total calorie count of each meal in her diet journal.
When tempted at work by the open bag of Oreos, Kathy turns away and gets back to work. She knows that if she eats one, she will have to record it in her journal and she doesn't want to blow the day's calorie count with a cookie. She no longer eats "just a bite" of her boyfriend's dessert, or nibbles on chips while opening the mail. Her conscience just won't let her get away with dismissing these calories.
A short month later, Jade's wedding day arrives and Jade, while certainly a beautiful bride, is disappointed that her dress had to be let out at the last minute. Jade was stunned to learn that she had actually gained three pounds during her month of dieting.
Kathy, on the other hand, is the belle of the ball. Having followed her diet to a T, she exceeded her original weight loss goal and lost a total of twelve pounds while dieting. Having learned the secret to successful dieting, Kathy is determined to continue tracking her portions and calories, but decides she needs an easier way to do it. After doing a little investigation, Kathy chooses a diet tracker software program and uses it to maintain her newfound figure. She finds it easier than researching the calorie content of her foods, and is pleased that the software also helps her track her daily nutritional requirements.
The happy ending? A few months later, still at her target weight, Kathy gets engaged and invites Jade to be her maid-of-honor. Still wanting to lose ten pounds, Jade decides to follow her friend's suggestion and uses a diet tracker to reach her weight loss goal before the wedding!
About the Author
Barb Dearing frequently writes on the topics of health and weight loss. For this article, she researched diet tracker software at the DietPower web site.
How To Create A Spreadsheet Weight Loss Tracking Graph - Slow Carb App
