5 Things to Check to Prevent Heart Disease

1. Check your Blood Pressure
Normal blood pressure is 119/79. Prehypertension is 120 - 139/80 - 89. Anything above that range is considered high.

2. Check you Cholesterol
High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is considered abnormal when: Total cholesterol is 200 or higher. HDL (good cholesterol) is less than 40. LDL (bad cholesterol is more than 160.

3. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI)
This is quick way to measure body fat. Use Web MD's BMI calculator to see where you stand. A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is ideal, 25-29.9 is overweight, 30-39 indicates obesity and 40 or more indicates morbid obesity. You can change this by starting NOW, its not too late.

4. Check you Blood Sugar
If you are overweight and under-active, you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes which increases numerous health risks including heart disease. A fasting blood sugar test is the most common way to diagnose diabetes. A normal fasting blood sugar is less than 100. Pre-diabetes is 100-125 and 126 or greater indicates diabetes.

5. Check your Activity Level
Are you a couch potato? Doctors recommend you get 30 minutes of exercise a day. That can be anything from walking to swimming to biking - Whatever. Don't have 30 minutes at a time? Take 3 ten-minute walks during the day. Anything is better than nothing.

Sunscreen

It's about that time to wear your sunscreen block. More than 1 million people in the US will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year and the number increases over the past 10 years. Sunscreen is very important than ever with our weather going out of wack. It is very hard to know what to buy in sunscreen today with all the confusing labeling.

Just remember to look for:
1. SPF 30 or higher for the best protection
2. At least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for the broad spectrum protection

Avoid:
1. Sprays and Powder (inhaling sunscreen can pose extra risks)
2. Fragrance (allergies and reproductive problems)
3. Sunscreen with bug repellent (too much pesticide in your body)

Here are some tips to remember when you should wear your sunscreen.
1. Avoid midday sun - between 10am and 4pm.
2. Seek shade - cover up with a hat, sunglasses, shirt or an beach umbrella.
3. Reapply often - 15 minutes before going out in the sun and after you go swimming

Here are the top Sunscreens that I know of:


OR CVS with zinc oxide or walgreen with zinc oxide for the face, nose and ears are great products too.

Tip: Keep a small bottle of sunblock in your car. I was in traffic for about an hour going to the beach during the weekend and I got sun burn on my left side shoulder and arm because of the sun beaming down through n that side of my driver window.

Voots

Voots are tablets supplements for 3 full servings of fruits and vegetables in each servings of 2 tarts. This is a great easy way to get your full servings in one day and the best part they taste like candy. Not bad to get in your vegetables in. They are having a special to try it FREE by calling this number: 800.123.4567 must pay for S/H.

UGH!

From a beautiful sunny 3-day weekend and now, back to the grind of my routine job. Boy, it hard to get back to work especially when its still sunny out. I went to my colon doctor this morning and know I'm schedule for an appointment for a Colonoscopy. UGH! I am not looking forward to this and finding out what is wrong. But I'm trying to have positive thinking that I am OK and everything will be alright. I'm still going on my vacation trip to Maine, even if there is something wrong. I CAN'T give up a dream that I have been waiting for since I was 8-years old. My doctor wanted me to take this test before I go so I don't have to worry and I know what will be my next adventure or not in my health.

If you don't know what a Colonoscopy, which later everyone needs to take the test - click here is link that describe the test and preparation for it. Here is another information website, I found that is more detail - click here.