Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Spring 2021

THE INTERNAL MEDICINE DOCTOR SAYS: Your doctor may decide that you need medication to help control your blood pressure. If so, be sure to take it exactly as directed. Skipping a day or splitting your pills to make them last longer decreases your dosage and could be dangerous. If you’re having a hard time paying for your medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. There may be generic forms of your medicine that don’t cost as much. Ask the experts How can I keepmy blood pressure under control? THE FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR SAYS: Measuring your blood pressure at home can help you get better control. It will allow you to keep a record of your measurements to show your doctor how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. It can also help determine whether your treatment program is working. When you first buy your blood pressure home monitor, take it to your doctor’s office to check it for accuracy. Ivan Arismendi Ortiz, M.D. El Dorado Springs Medical Center 322 E. Hospital Road El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 417-876-2118 Kayla Kittle, M.D. Bolivar Family Care Center 1240 N. Butterfield Road Bolivar, MO 65613 417-326-6021 Rhonda Orrell, M.S., RDN, CDES CMH Diabetes Education 1155 W. Parkview St. Bolivar, MO 65613 417-328-7957 Matthew Havens, PA-C Butterfield Park Medical Center 1300 N. Oakland Ave. Bolivar, MO 65613 417-326-7676 THE DIETITIAN SAYS: Try to cut down on your sodium (salt) intake. Consuming less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day can help lower blood pressure. Be aware that most of the sodium in our diets comes from processed foods and ready-to-eat foods—not from the salt shaker on the table. Become a food label reader. Look at the nutrition facts label to find the daily value of sodium in the foods you eat. THE PHYSICIANASSISTANT SAYS: Start a regular exercise program. You can begin with something as simple as taking a brisk walk for 10 minutes three times a day. Your goal is to get at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise on most days of the week or a total of 150 minutes a week. If you haven’t been active in a while, you may want to consult your health care provider before starting a vigorous exercise regimen. HEART HEALTH citizensmemorial.com 7