I was inspired to write this blog entry after a couple of things that happened yesterday. I had a “physical” in order to get life insurance. The insurance company sent a nurse to our house to conduct a physical. She took our medical histories, blood, urine, weighed and measured us. In talking with the nurse I was reminded me of how much weight plays a role in our overall health. Later that day, I saw the Dr Oz show. His show not only focused on his personal journey with a colonoscopy but at the end of the show he talked about our increasing the years of our lives and 5 key life-saving numbers we need to know for our overall health. Those were blood pressure, weight, waist measurement, cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose. For women, weight under 175 is considered good and a waist under 35 inches is good. Blood pressure number to watch out for is the top number or systolic number being 140 or below. I was thinking to myself, well thank goodness I lost the weight. I am now below 175 pounds and my waist size has shrunk to 31 inches. A third thing that makes me aware that losing weight is good for your health is my work. I have been a medical transcriptionist for 11-1/2 years and over that time, I have noticed the trend in the role weight plays on someone’s health. When I start typing on someone who has diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, depression, etc, invariably that person is overweight or obese. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that being overweight contributes greatly to these conditions. In speaking with the visiting nurse during my physical yesterday and mentioning about my gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with Steven 12 years ago, I was reminded at the huge step I took to maintaining my health by losing the weight. I remember reading years ago that women with gestational diabetes stand a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Had I not lost the weight, I feel I would have developed diabetes. My blood pressure has never been an issue for me thank goodness. It has always run low even at my highest weight. A nurse once told me it was the blood pressure of a teenager. I have been lucky in that regard. Losing the weight will help me continue to have good blood pressure readings. Now we await the blood work to return. I had the blood work drawn last December when I started the Medi Weight-Loss Program and my numbers were all within the normal range then so I look forward to seeing if they have even improved somewhat to the lower end of the normal range. So if you have issues with your weight and are fighting with yourself to get motivated to get it off, I encourage you to do so for your health. If you have any issues now with elevated blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc, it can be reversible with diet and exercise. I am not a doctor or a nurse but my experience with transcribing medical reports over the years shows me that with a reduction in your weight, you can be healthier.
Also, get a colonoscopy when you reach 50 – Here is a link to Dr. Oz's web page about his colonoscopy: http://www.doctoroz.com/colonoscopy-videos/screening-colonoscopy It changed my mind about the procedure. If you catch a precancerous polyp early, it will avoid you having real issues in the future.
You are completely right about weight affecting other aspects of a person's health. I can definitely see that in my mom. She was pre-diabetic, had high blood pressure, had sleep apnea, and was so overweight that she had a really hard time walking around for extended periods of time. She's lost 75 pounds now and no longer is pre-diabetic, doesn't have breathing problems at night anymore, and can walk up the stairs at work without getting out of breath! She's an inspiration to me, that someday I will be able to see great improvements in my health too.
ReplyDeletesounds like you are well on the road to a healthy life style. I too have been bit by that weight bug and have started on this healthy road as well. I joined a gym and started working out regularly and dropped 28 pounds since the beginnng of March. Slow process but keep plugging away at it. My motto is to lose 50 by 50. I will be 49 in November 2010 so still have time to lose the next 22 pounds or more. Thanks for sharing and will have to keep each other motivated.
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