•Stop smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease; this includes second hand smoke. Women who smoke and use birth control pills increase their risk. Nicotine skin patches, nicotine gum or prescription medicines can help you to stop smoking
•Control blood pressure
Blood pressure is considered high if it's greater than 140/90. In diabetics, blood pressure should never exceed 130/80. Limiting the amount of salt consumed in the diet, losing weight and exercising regularly will help to control high blood pressure. If these steps don't lower blood pressure, then medicines should be prescribed.
•Control cholesterol level
All adults aged 20 or older should have a fasting lipid profile once every five years. It gives information about total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides. You may need to have your cholesterol checked more often if:
• Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more.
•You are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 50.
• Your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL.
• For high-risk patients the LDL cholesterol should be lowered to below 100 mg/dL. Recent evidence, however, supports lowering it to below 70 mg/dL.
A healthy diet is key to lowering high cholesterol levels. Keep fat calories to 30 per cent or less of the total calories eaten during a day and avoid saturated fat (like the fat in meats and dairy products).
However, some people may need to take medicine in addition to improving their diet and exercise.
n Take care of diabetes
In diabetics' regular exercise, weight control, a low-fat diet and regular doctor visits are important. Medicine for diabetes should be taken exactly as prescribed. That's Dr Boohoo's advice.
The last two points of maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly are close to my heart. I've been struggling with it, like all the women I've known all my life and I would like to share my experiences with you in next week's column. In the meantime please keep sending me your stories on your own struggles to quit smoking and resist that extra creamy slice of chocolate mousse.
n To be continued next week...