Breakfast

Dear Nurse Annie,

I keep hearing eating breakfast is good for you and helps keep weight down. I have gained weight lately and want help to lose it.

I have absolutely no interest in eating at breakfast time. I feel sick at the smell of cooked breakfast meat and just don’t like eggs.

I do like coffee. A coffee shop drink is all I can get down on the way to work.

By mid-morning I am starving and stuff myself with snacks from the machines at work.

This is not good. I don’t know what to do. Help.

Fat, Hungry Francis.

Dear Francis,

I can understand not wanting to eat early in the morning. Many folks do break the nightly fast with coffee. I would suggest you consider what is being put the coffee. High amounts of sugar or corn syrup may well drop your blood sugar after you pour them in. The body reaction  would be  you are  ravenously hungry. I can understand the trip to the vending machines and agree with you that the machines are not the best choice.

The next step is to address what to eat when you do want to eat. What would you like to eat when you do become hungry?

Consider choices that are good for you. You could purchase at work or bring food from home to snack before lunch.

Let me know what you think.

I do applaud you in looking for good ways to solve this problem.

Nurse Annie.

Dizzy Dave loses 5 pounds

Dear Nurse Annie,

I am so happy. I think I am getting better.

I am walking 20 minutes most days before work. I would like to start back to a slow run this weekend.

I have lost over 5 pounds!!

I have been taking my blood pressure at the store each week. I think it was 106/68 last time.

I still have to pee all the time, but it is great to be feeling more energy and losing a few pounds.

Can I stop these pills?

Gotta Go, Gotta Pee Dave

Dear Dave,

You are doing well. I am glad you have increased your activity and are seeing a weight loss.

I would suggest you write your blood pressure down each time you take it. This will help your doctor decide about your medicine.

It may be time to go in and talk to the doctor about decreasing your dose of medication.

Drink water.

Keep moving.

Watch the Salt and Fat.

Let me know how you are doing.

Nurse Annie

Gained Weight

Dear Nurse Annie,

I used to run five or six times a week. Now that I think about it, I am not running. And you are right. I gained over twenty pounds last year.

What happened is,  I had headaches and went to the doctor. That is when I was told to take blood pressure medicine.

I still feel awful on this blood pressure medicine. I always feel the urge to pee.

Also, I have started a job with a lot of pressure and eat out more because of the travel.

Wow. Now that I think about what I am saying I can see why I gained weight. How do I lose weight?

Dizzy, Fat Dave.

Dear Dave,

You are right. Stopping your stress relieving running, could have easily have led to your weight gain and the increase in blood pressure.

The first step is to gently increase your activity. Walk 45 minutes a day. As you get stronger you can increase your activity.

Review the foods you are eating. Keep the salt down. Consider reducing your saturated fat.

What do you tend to eat? Which vegetables do you enjoy eating?

Dave, you are starting to see ways to reduce your blood pressure with healthful activities. I expect you have a good chance to back away from you medication when your doctor agrees.

Nurse Annie

Dear Nurse Annie,

I spoke to my Pharmacist and the Nurse at the doctor’s clinic. They have changed my medicine to HCTZ. I still feel a little Dizzy and now I have to get up at night to PEE. This Stinks. What can I Do to get off these drugs? I’ve been being told I have to take them for less than a year.  I always kept my BP down before. Why has this changed? Dizzy, Must Pee, Dave.

Dear Dave,

Let’s think about what changed in your life that has added to your increased blood pressure. Please send me more about your medical history.

In the meantime, think about your activity.  Are you active at least 45 minutes a day or 5 hours a week? Any activity is fine and it does not have to be all at once. Activity can include, walking, stair climbing, running or playing games. Do you have favorite active hobbies?

Do you drink water? You will want to drink several glasses of water every day.

Have you gained weight recently?

Move the Tush Dave!
Nurse Annie.