The White Falcon - 10.05.1985, Blaðsíða 4

High blood pressure:
do you have it?
National High Blood Pressure Month, May 1985,
is the 11th year that community health and service
organizations across the U.S. will combine their
efforts to control high blood pressure. During
May, the local base hospital will offer a screen-
ing program to help detect people who may have
high blood pressure and not be aware of it. Any-
one not known to have high blood pressure may come
into the emergency room any time for a screening
blood pressure.
The National High Blood Pressure Education Pro-
gram Coordinating Committee, administered by the
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, spon-
sored the latest report of the Joint National Com-
mittee on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of
High Blood Pressure. The report, published in May
1984 in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" and
in the "Journal of the American Osteopathic As-
sociation," reflects current findings on high
blood pressure and provides guidelines for physi-
cians in treating their patients and for community
groups in developing and administering their pro-
grams. High blood pressure is one of three major
risk factors, along with eleva.ted blood choles-
terol and cigarette smoking, for the development
of heart disease or stroke.
The 1984 report defines the categories of high
blood presure and offers guidelines for treatment.
A diastolic blood pressure of less than 85 mm Hg
is considered normal, 85 to 99 mm Hg is high nor-
mal and bears watching, 90 to 104 mm Hg on repeat-
ed visits is mild high blood pressure, 105 to 114
mm Hg is moderate and a reading of 115 or hinher
is severe. The high normal, blood pressure cate-
gory is a new concept, first published in 'the
report. The committee also classifies two new
categories based on systolic blood pressure:
borderline isolated systolic hypertension (sys-
tolic pressure of 140 to 159 mm Hg when the dias-
tolic pressure is less than 90) and isolated sys-
tolic hypertension (systolic pressure at or above
160 mm Hg when the diastolic pressure is less than
90).
The non-drug therapies recommended by the com-
mittee include modifications in diet for weight
loss and moderate exercise (which may be benefi-
cial even to persons who are not overweight). The
report also recommends that patients cut down on
sodium (sodium restriction may also enhance the
effectiveness of drugs used to treat hyperten-
sion) and reduce alcohol consumption and saturat-
ed fats. Smoking cessation is recommended for
all hypertensive patients.
Although these non-drug therapies may be ef-
fective for some patients with mild high blood
pressure,not everyone will respond to them alone.
The physician should allow a reasonable time for
non-drug methods to work and then initiate drug
treatment if blood pressure remains elevated.
What’s happening
in Iceland
Tours and entertainment can be coordinated
through the Tour Office located in the Viking
Mall, reservations are required. Office
hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until
4:45 p.m. Call 4200 or 4420.
o Saturday, 11 May -- Ski trip to the Blue
Mountains or a bus tour to Gullfoss and
Geysir.
o Sunday, 19 May -- Bus tour to Grindavik-
Krisuvik-Hveragerdi to see Iceland's geo-
thermal wonders.
o Thursday, 23 May -- Evening Icelandic
Symphony concert in Reykjavik conducted by
Jean Pierre Jacquellot.
o Saturday, 25 May -- Bus tour to
Stokkseyri-Eyrarbakki-Selfoss to enjoy the
farm and fishing areas of Iceland.
o Sunday, 26 May -- Bus tour to see the
Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir and other his-
torical landmarks like Thingvellir.
o Monday, 27 May -- A day long shopping
trip to Reykjavik.
HOLIDAYS IN MAY
There are three holidays during the remain-
der of May which are days off for Icelandic
employees and on which Icelandic shops will
be closed, they are:
ASCENSION DAY May 16
WHITSUNDAY May 26
WHITM0NDAY May 27
May 18 AUTO RACING Jo-Jo Road Rally Keflavik
May 26 Drag Racing By Aluminium
June 1&2 Rally Cross factory Reykjavik
June 8 4-wheelers competi- Hell a (beyond
ition Selfoss)
June 9 Motocross Grindavik
June 14-16 Road Rally Snaefel1snes
June 16 Rally Cross Snaefellsnes
June 23 Drag Racing Aluminum
June 29 Motocross factory Grindavik
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May 10, 1985 The White Falcon