Retired Physicians Organization

of theHarris County Medical Society

Audio-visual equipment provided through a grant by

Texas Medical Association Foundation

1. ARE YOU AT RISK?2. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIND OUT

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?3. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO LESSEN

THE RISK OR TO CONTROL YOUR PROBLEM?

4. KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU IGNORE YOUR RISK.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FORTHE HEALTH OF YOU AND

YOUR FAMILY?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FORTHE HEALTH OF YOU AND

YOUR FAMILY?

YOU ARE!

MANY CHRONIC DISEASES

CAUSE NO SYMPTOMS EARLY BUT LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH

PROBLEMS LATER IF UNCONTROLLED.

HOW YOU CAN FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE NO

WARNING SIGNS?

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

STAYING HEALTHYFOUR STEPS TO

PREVENT/CONTROLCHRONIC DISEASE

COMMON RISK FACTORSRACESEXAGEFAMILY

HISTORYWEIGHTINACTIVITY

HIGH BLOOD PRESSUREAFRO-AMERICAN

MALEFAMILY HISTORY

OLDEROVERWEIGHTINACTIVEHIGH SALT INTAKE

TOBACCO

HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT?TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURENORMAL IS LESS THAN

135/80

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURETWO TYPES• ESSENTIAL• SECONDARY

IF ELEVATED SEE YOUR DOCTOR. YOUR JOB:

MONITOR YOUR BP REGULARLY AND KEEP

RECORDS OF THE RESULTS.DIETEXERCISECONTROL WEIGHTFOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S INSTRUCTIONS

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

COMPLICATIONSSTROKEHEART DISEASEANEURYSMKIDNEY FAILUREHEMORRHAGE IN THE

EYE

DIABETES

DIABETES

HISPANIC AND NATIVE AMERICAN

FAMILY HISTORYOVERWEIGHTINACTIVITYAGEPREGNANCY

CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR

FASTING NORMAL LESS THAN 120 MG.

2 HOURS AFTER EATING LESS THAN 180 MG

DIABETES

TWO TYPES

Type 1Type 2

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

COMPLICATIONSHEART DISEASEKIDNEY FAILURENERVE DAMAGEEYE

DISEASE/BLINDNESSGANGRENESKIN DISEASESEVERE INFECTIONS

TREATMENTEXERCISE & WEIGHT CONTROL

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURELOW FAT, LOW SALT DIETMEDICATIONS

DIABETESLOW SUGAR, LOW FAT DIETMEDICATIONS

PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO HEALTH

EARLY DETECTION CAN PREVENT OR CONTROL CHRONIC DISEASES AND AVOID OR DELAY COMPLICATIONS

BE RESPONSIBLE

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH