Food to avoid when you have high blood pressure

Salty foods: chips, pretzel, canned soups, deli meats etc. Sugary foods, condiments, fatty foods, processed meats, alcohol, caffeine

DASH Diet

What is a pap smear?

A pap smear is a procedure that uses a small brush or spatula to collect cells from the cervix to check for HPV or cervical cancer cells. It can also detect other cells such as inflammatory cells and infection.

All sexually active women should get a pap smear atleast every 3 years.

Women who are HIV positive should have frequent pap smears; once a year throughout their lifetime.

Is It Painful?

A pap smear can be uncomfortable, especially if its your first time, but it shouldn't be painful.

The pain usually comes when the patient squeezes their pelvic muscles because of discomfort. It is better to take deep breaths and relax throughout the procedure

What do you need to know about diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It develops when your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin any insulin, or when your body isn't responding to the effects of insulin properly.

Glucose mainly comes from carbohydrates (starch) in your food and drinks

Complications: Over time having constantly high blood glucose can cause heart, neurovascular or eye problems. It can also cause strokes and heart attacks.

It is important to maintain healthy diet, get physical activity, maintain ideal weight, BMI of 18-25. Get adequate sleep (7-9 hrs), quit smoking and take your medication as directed by your practitioner

Cervical cancer

DASH diet is a dietary approach to stop hypertension. It is based on eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low fat diary, while limiting salt to 1.5g/day, added sugar, saturated fats and alcoholic beaverages

It helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol and the risks of heart disease, strokes, typr 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity

Women's Health

Cervical cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the cervix. it is caused by various strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common infection that is passed through sexual contact.

The government has successfully initiated school immunization programs for young girls between the ages of 9 and 14.

This program can be improved by also vaccinating young boys as well since they remain carriers of the HPV and can spread it through sexual contact.

Initially, cervical cancer may be asymptomatic. As it grows, the following symptoms may appear:

Pain and vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, in-between periods, or after menopause.
Prolonged and heavy menstruation
Bloody, foul-smelling discharge

Seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms.

Seek medical attention if you have:

Vaginal discharge that is green, yellow, gray or frothy
Discharge that smells bad or fishy
Thick, white or clumpy vaginal discharge
Pain during urination or intercourse or in the lower abdomen

Other Symptoms: Itching, burning, redness, swelling, sores or blisters.

Possible causes:

Vaginal infection such as yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or sexually transmitted disease (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniais)
Reaction to a foreign object such as a tampon, a condom, soap or spermicide
Cancers: cervical, uterine

Syphilis

Herpes Simplex Virus

Genital warts